Painkiller Jane (TV series)
Encyclopedia
Painkiller Jane was an American
-Canadian
science fiction
and action
television series based on the comic book character
of the same name. Airing on the Sci Fi Channel
in the US starting April 13, 2007 and Global
in Canada, it starred Kristanna Loken
as the titular character. On August 15, 2007, it was canceled after one season of 22 episodes.
agency. The team is based in a disused subway
station named Deckard Street. She is forced to join the team after she probes "too far" into their operations. It is then revealed that the team's mission is to identify and neutralize "neuros" — "neurological aberrants" — human mutant
s with supernormal mental powers. Dialogue in the pilot
states there are dozens of variations, and the reasons neuros use their abilities vary. It is then theorized that the aberrations interfere with the brain
's ability to distinguish right from wrong.
During the pilot episode, Vasco discovers that she, too, has superhuman abilities — supernormal regenerative powers bordering on invulnerability. This is realized when she is pushed through a forty story window to her apparent death, only to later revive and then recover completely. However, she still feels the pain of her injuries before they heal. The team's doctor, Seth Carpenter, identifies her abilities as not like those of the neuros they track, but "something else."
yielded positive results. The film differed significantly from the original comic's storyline; the TV series has discarded the film's back-story
and started fresh. According to story creator Jimmy Palmiotti
, the new series is "closer to the original concept we came up with in the comic". Executive producer Gil Grant
has said the new series is "partly true" to the original comic, but will still differ to some extent.
The series credits include several people in the role of producer
. Most are credited only for a few episodes. This includes Loken (the star), who is credited as co-executive producer
for several episodes.
The TV series was filmed at Insight Film Studios in Maple Ridge
, British Columbia
, Canada
and various locations around the Lower Mainland
of British Columbia
. The final four episodes were filmed and set in Budapest
, Hungary
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
-Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
and action
Action film
Action film is a film genre where one or more heroes is thrust into a series of challenges that require physical feats, extended fights and frenetic chases...
television series based on the comic book character
Painkiller Jane
Painkiller Jane is a fictional character, a comic book heroine created by Jimmy Palmiotti and Joe Quesada for Event Comics in 1995. Originally a five-issue mini-series, the character went on to star in numerous crossover titles with the likes of the Punisher, Vampirella, and Hellboy. Recently, the...
of the same name. Airing on the Sci Fi Channel
Syfy
Syfy , formerly known as the Sci-Fi Channel and SCI FI, is an American cable television channel featuring science fiction, supernatural, fantasy, reality, paranormal, wrestling, and horror programming. Launched on September 24, 1992, it is part of the entertainment conglomerate NBCUniversal, a...
in the US starting April 13, 2007 and Global
Global Television Network
Global Television Network is an English language privately owned television network in Canada, owned by Calgary-based Shaw Communications, as part of its Shaw Media division...
in Canada, it starred Kristanna Loken
Kristanna Loken
Kristanna Sommer Loken is an American actress known for her work in both film and television, and as a fashion model.-Early life:Loken was born in Ghent, New York, the daughter of Rande , a model, and Merlin "Chris" Loken, a writer and apple farmer. All four of her grandparents were born in Norway...
as the titular character. On August 15, 2007, it was canceled after one season of 22 episodes.
Plot
The series stars Loken as Jane Vasco, the titular character. She begins as a DEA agent, where in the course of her work she encounters Andre McBride (Rob Stewart), who is the leader of a team of agents working for an unspecified governmentGovernment
Government refers to the legislators, administrators, and arbitrators in the administrative bureaucracy who control a state at a given time, and to the system of government by which they are organized...
agency. The team is based in a disused subway
Rapid transit
A rapid transit, underground, subway, elevated railway, metro or metropolitan railway system is an electric passenger railway in an urban area with a high capacity and frequency, and grade separation from other traffic. Rapid transit systems are typically located either in underground tunnels or on...
station named Deckard Street. She is forced to join the team after she probes "too far" into their operations. It is then revealed that the team's mission is to identify and neutralize "neuros" — "neurological aberrants" — human mutant
Mutant
In biology and especially genetics, a mutant is an individual, organism, or new genetic character, arising or resulting from an instance of mutation, which is a base-pair sequence change within the DNA of a gene or chromosome of an organism resulting in the creation of a new character or trait not...
s with supernormal mental powers. Dialogue in the pilot
Television pilot
A "television pilot" is a standalone episode of a television series that is used to sell the show to a television network. At the time of its inception, the pilot is meant to be the "testing ground" to see if a series will be possibly desired and successful and therefore a test episode of an...
states there are dozens of variations, and the reasons neuros use their abilities vary. It is then theorized that the aberrations interfere with the brain
Brain
The brain is the center of the nervous system in all vertebrate and most invertebrate animals—only a few primitive invertebrates such as sponges, jellyfish, sea squirts and starfishes do not have one. It is located in the head, usually close to primary sensory apparatus such as vision, hearing,...
's ability to distinguish right from wrong.
During the pilot episode, Vasco discovers that she, too, has superhuman abilities — supernormal regenerative powers bordering on invulnerability. This is realized when she is pushed through a forty story window to her apparent death, only to later revive and then recover completely. However, she still feels the pain of her injuries before they heal. The team's doctor, Seth Carpenter, identifies her abilities as not like those of the neuros they track, but "something else."
Cast
- Kristanna LokenKristanna LokenKristanna Sommer Loken is an American actress known for her work in both film and television, and as a fashion model.-Early life:Loken was born in Ghent, New York, the daughter of Rande , a model, and Merlin "Chris" Loken, a writer and apple farmer. All four of her grandparents were born in Norway...
as Jane VascoJane VascoJane Vasco is the protagonist of the Painkiller Jane television series created by Gil Grant that began its run in 2007 on the Sci-Fi Channel.-Overview:Vasco is a former DEA agent whose life is fundamentally changed after contact with a neuro during a mission...
– the show's protagonist. - Rob Stewart as Andre McBrideAndre McBrideAndre McBride is a character who appears on the Painkiller Jane TV Series, created by Gil Grant that began its run in 2007 on the Sci-Fi Channel. He is the leader of a Black Ops team of agents working for an unspecified government agency. The team's job is to hunt down and apprehend Neuros...
– the leader of the special team. - Stephen LoboStephen LoboStephen Lobo is a Canadian actor, best known for his roles in the television series Godiva's, Painkiller Jane, Falcon Beach and Little Mosque on the Prairie...
as Dr. Seth Carpenter – a doctor/scientist working with the team. - Noah DanbyNoah DanbyNoah Dalton Danby is a Canadian film and television actor. He is best known for portraying Connor King on the series Painkiller Jane.-Life:...
as Connor KingConnor KingConnor King , is a character who appears on the Painkiller Jane TV Series, created by Gil Grant that began its run in 2007 on the Sci-Fi Channel.-Overview:...
– the "muscles" of the team; a field operative with a short fuse. - Sean Owen Roberts as Riley Jensen – a computer and communication technology specialist working for the team.
- Nathaniel Deveaux as Joe Waterman – former subway caretaker working for the team.
- Alaina HuffmanAlaina HuffmanAlaina Huffman is a Canadian film and television actress, also known professionally as Alaina Kalanj ....
as Maureen Bowers – Jane's best friend and former DEA partner.
Production
The TV series received a 22-episode production order after the 2005 Painkiller Jane TV-moviePainkiller Jane (film)
Painkiller Jane is a made-for-television movie based on the comic book character of the same name. It was first broadcast on the Sci-Fi Channel in December 2005. The 2-hour film stars Emmanuelle Vaugier as the titular heroine...
yielded positive results. The film differed significantly from the original comic's storyline; the TV series has discarded the film's back-story
Back-story
A back-story, background story, or backstory is the literary device of a narrative chronologically earlier than, and related to, a narrative of primary interest. Generally, it is the history of characters or other elements that underlie the situation existing at the main narrative's start...
and started fresh. According to story creator Jimmy Palmiotti
Jimmy Palmiotti
James "Jimmy" Palmiotti is an American writer and inker of comic books, who also does writing for games, television and film.-Early life:Palmiotti is a graduate of the High School of Art and Design in New York City.-Career:...
, the new series is "closer to the original concept we came up with in the comic". Executive producer Gil Grant
Gil Grant
Gil Grant is an American writer and producer who is currently working on the CBS hit series NCIS: Los Angeles. He is also developing a television series version of Gattaca for Sony International TV. He has worked on television shows such as 24, NCIS, and "NCIS: Los Angeles"...
has said the new series is "partly true" to the original comic, but will still differ to some extent.
The series credits include several people in the role of producer
Television producer
The primary role of a television Producer is to allow all aspects of video production, ranging from show idea development and cast hiring to shoot supervision and fact-checking...
. Most are credited only for a few episodes. This includes Loken (the star), who is credited as co-executive producer
Executive producer
An executive producer is a producer who is not involved in any technical aspects of the film making or music process, but who is still responsible for the overall production...
for several episodes.
The TV series was filmed at Insight Film Studios in Maple Ridge
Maple Ridge, British Columbia
Maple Ridge is a District Municipality in British Columbia, located in the northeastern section of Metro Vancouver. Maple Ridge has a population of approximately 68,949.-History:...
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and various locations around the Lower Mainland
Lower Mainland
The Lower Mainland is a name commonly applied to the region surrounding and including Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. As of 2007, 2,524,113 people live in the region; sixteen of the province's thirty most populous municipalities are located there.While the term Lower Mainland has been...
of British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
. The final four episodes were filmed and set in Budapest
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
, Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
.
External links
- PKJ Files
- Painkiller Jane at TVGuide.comTV GuideTV Guide is a weekly American magazine with listings of TV shows.In addition to TV listings, the publication features television-related news, celebrity interviews, gossip and film reviews and crossword puzzles...