Sheena (TV Series)

Sheena (TV Series)

Sheena is an American action-adventure/fantasy television series which was produced for first-run syndication from 2000 to 2002.

Based upon the comic book character Sheena, Queen of the Jungle, which previously spawned a popular 1950s TV series of the same title, the 2000s (decade) series updated the character to the 21st century. There were two seasons, containing 22 and 13 episodes. It starred Gena Lee Nolin and John Allen Nelson and was developed for television by Douglas Schwartz and Steven L. Sears. In this version Sheena was given the mystical ability to transform into almost any jungle animal. Several episodes from the first season are available to view for free in Minisode format on Crackle, as well as on Hulu.

Sheena's parents were archaeologists who died in the jungle when she was about six years old, leaving their daughter Shirley Hamilton (name from "Stranded in the Jungle" episode but otherwise she knows nothing of her past or parents before Africa). She was taken in by Kali, a local Shamaness of a tribe who brought her up, and five years ago she was taught how to morph into animals and birds, acquiring their abilities, even flight. Further, she became a mythical creature called "The Darachna" who relies on people' fear of the unknown. For this she covers herself in a dark liquid mud which allows her to be largely unseen in the low light of the jungle, and with more than normal strength, agility and speed, and armed with a pair of gloves with bone claws, she is a formidable one woman fighting force. She does kill sometimes.

In the first episode she meets Matt Cutter who runs a safari business by air, water and land. In his youth, Cutter had a promising career as a football player till a knee injury ruined it (he has no apparent injury now). He joined the CIA, being code-named "Jericho" and fought as a mercenary. He was a first class sniper but an accident meant he killed an innocent person which caused him to abandon his old life for the life he now leads.

On their first meeting, Sheena is not sure what side Cutter is on, as she is a protector of the jungle and Cutter seems willing to do anything for money. He is unknowingly helping criminals. Within several episodes Cutter had become more responsible, and less booze and money orientated. Sometimes there is some chemistry between Sheena and Cutter and other times she seems to just use him. This is notable in an episode where she meets an old "Agency" friend of Cutters and sleeps with him, something she has not been seen doing with Cutter.

Mendelsohn is a run down buddy of Cutter's who services his plane and does odd jobs for him. The three come up against the local petty tyrant, would be dictators, small armies, a police officer who cannot wholly be trusted, evil tribesmen, evil foreigners, people from their past, assorted traps, etc.