OWW Chuck reviews Wonder Woman pilot

[Ahriman238]

Right, so a bit less than two years ago there was maybe going to be a live-action Wonder Woman TV show. The series was never picked up, the pilot shown to network officials and critics but never aired.

Chuck's review of the pilot Here.

I haven't seen the pilot, only this review. But I get impression it had the same problem as the comics, namely having no clue what to do with the heroine. She's supposed to be strong and assertive, a warrior, but also a diplomat and teacher sent out into the world to teach people to find peaceful solutions to their problems. Giving her two 'civilian' identities for the show didn't really help matters. And the pilot didn't even get into the mess of "is this supposed to be a mythic with gods, magic and monsters or an examination of the human psyche?"

What would have worked a lot better is having a cultural disconnect. WW wants to cut through all the BS of warrants and due process of law to apply simple, direct solutions like she's used to. But instead of heaping admiration on her, the common man reacts with horror, the villain gets off because all evidence is tainted, and the cops treat her as something between a criminal they can;t touch and a bumbling amateur spoiling their otherwise perfect bust and months or years of effort.

[Crazedwraith]

Remember Linkara and co doing this one already. I think they were harsher to it even than Chuck.

[Majin Gojira]

I watched Linkara's and co's take on it and dread even looking into more clips of the thing.

But I get impression it had the same problem as the comics, namely having no clue what to do with the heroine.

Which I always found odd considering I could always sum her up as "Grecko-Roman Jesus" quite easily, but it also displays the fundamental flaw of her character: her perfection. She doesn't have much in the way of personal demons to overcome or emotional fears. She knows who she is, and the world is just going to have to deal with it.

But the sick thing is, she's not arrogant about it. How's that for a mindscrew?

She's supposed to be strong and assertive, a warrior, but also a diplomat and teacher sent out into the world to teach people to find peaceful solutions to their problems. Giving her two 'civilian' identities for the show didn't really help matters. And the pilot didn't even get into the mess of "is this supposed to be a mythic with gods, magic and monsters or an examination of the human psyche?"

There's only been a few writers who knew what to do with her to any strong degree, mostly because most don't know what to do with her.

Of those I have read, Greg Rucka made it myth and politics, with Diana as a diplomat and a member of the mythic pantheons.

Brian Azzarello is very much steeped in myth and is apparently working under a mindset which can be summed up as "You do remember that Zeus was a rapist asshole, right?".

Gail Simone wrote hers like she was the lead in a Harryhausen movie.

But there are two things which emotionally define her more than anything else.

Gail Simone, in her first issue of Wonder Woman, had Diana, after beating on her enemies (and winning, mind you) stop and ask to talk, saying this line:

My hand is empty, my mind is open.

Diana is basically defined by two things; Truth and Love. At one point, she actually ascended to godhood as the goddess of Truth. And during her Blackest Night tie-in (written by Rucka), even when going and casually decapitating Black Lantern Maxwell Lord (a person she killed to save Superman), he could only read one emotion from her: love.

The writers who get that dual core really get her. It's why I call her "Grecko-Roman Jesus" becauase she confirms a bit to the idealized version of Jesus that permeates popular culture.

But is far more badass and willing to fight. I believe one oath she has goes like "If my enemy is unwilling to yield then I ask that they fall honorably in battle."

For all the flack Azzarello gets for altering her origin and what he did to the Amazons (even if I like the story, it's a drastic change), he remembers that she is full of love for everything and everyone.

The creature in this pilot is not Wonder Woman.

[Grumman]

But I get impression it had the same problem as the comics, namely having no clue what to do with the heroine.

I think that is giving the writer too much credit. You don't even need to know who Wonder Woman is to recognise that you're making your character look like a horrible person.

[Lord Revan]

This "version" of Wonder Womans seems like the worst 90's anti-heroes, thugs and bullies who are the heroes cause the story says so.

Granted I've not read WW comics and my main knowlage of the character comes from the DCAU Justice League series.

while I liked the review, you can clearly see why this wasn't picked up for production.

[Ahriman238]

Huh, the whole conversation between Diana and Ms. Kale (who, IIRC is the Cheetah) actually makes less sense in context. Kale denies involvement with the super-steroids, then accuses Diana of being jealous and fearful that they'll produce her equal. then says she wants to be Diana's friend, as you saw, then they threaten each other, Kale saying her industry and company has many firends in Washington and Diana straight out saying she'll kill Kale. WTF? Are both of them supposed to be derranged?

Also, it seems there is no scene to explain why WW is so personally involved, why THIS specific case of drugs is so important she'll drop all other crimefighting (something at least pointed out by others in the show) risk her reputation and company to publicly accuse someone with zero evidence, lie, break the law, torture and kill.

And the whole Amazon angle is never brought up. Nearly actively denied, since in the flashback of breaking up with her beau she says if she becomes what she thinks she can, she will have powerful enemies. A WW pilot that doesn't even establish what her mission is, while leaving the question of how and why she has superpowers wide open. That's...impressive, and not in a good way.

[Sidewinder]

The commentary on torture, and how it was UNNECESSARY because Wonder Woman had the option of using the Lasso of Truth, is telling. I also liked the comparison to Batman in 'The Dark Knight'.

[Isolder74]

The commentary on torture, and how it was UNNECESSARY because Wonder Woman had the option of using the Lasso of Truth, is telling. I also liked the comparison to Batman in 'The Dark Knight'.

Unless of course this show is somehow implying that the Lasso of Truth is just a gold rope in this universe. Given that they have her show off almost every other power of the comic book Wonder Woman that becomes a very large stretch.

[Sinewmire]

Also, the TWO secret identities?
So, she's Bruce Wayne, the millionaire industrialist jet-setter with his own named company, who grittily beats up criminals using methods the cops can't...

AND she's Clark Kent, dowdy everyday guy whose disguise consists of a pair of glasses and not wearing his underpants on the outside, who, when trouble calls, dons a spangly outfit and fights crime, cheered on by adoring Americans.

They really can't decide who they're ripping off, can they?

[Batman]

I'm impressed. This not only sucks even more than anything DC ever subjected Diana to, but even more important somebody in the chain of command noticed and prevented this from going forward.
I really wish I could say that at least the costume didn't suck, but-yeah, it did.

[Steve]

Actually, it was NBC who simply refused to air the pilot.

And it's actually Veronica Cale, a mad scientist character from the comic books, not Cheetah.

[Batman]

I don't know how NBC fucked up compared to the rest of US television over the years, but at least for this one I have to say good move. Even what I got to see from Chuck's review makes the '70s series worthwhile of reconsidering reairing instead.

[Ahriman238]

I thought the costume was tolerable while it had pants, it's not like WW has ever had a costume that wasn't silly, especially when they tried to do serious with a leather jacket. Actually, borrowing from Wonder Girl might have worked out better. Still, when she went to bikini bottom for the end fight, that was truly ridiculous.

[Havok]

Uh, who cares about a review of a show that never even had it's pilot aired it was so bad? Is there something I am missing here?

[Stark]

No, it's a bunch of nerds 'analyzing' a show so bad even the executives said fuck no. Easy targets don't get much easier I guess?

[tim31]

He admits as much at the start. "It is a pilot and in retrospect, I probably should never have agreed to do this in the first place."

[Stark]

Will he ever learn?

Spoiler warning: no.

[The Romulan Republic]

I thought the costume was tolerable while it had pants, it's not like WW has ever had a costume that wasn't silly, especially when they tried to do serious with a leather jacket. Actually, borrowing from Wonder Girl might have worked out better. Still, when she went to bikini bottom for the end fight, that was truly ridiculous.

What do you think would make a good costume?

I agree that pants would be an improvement over the binkini. Even a skirt would be an improvement. I want her to look like an ambassador/warrior, not a patriotic porn star.

But I also want something that looks like Wonder Woman, and just wearing regular clothes doesn't.

[Havok]

Actually the costume is the only thing worth mentioning as it at least provides a glimpse at what something may look like if anyone can ever get the character right for TV or movies, but we already had that thread.

[FaxModem1]

First off, a link to the Nash, Linkara and Film Brain review of the Wonder Woman pilot. LINK

Now, as for a good look for Wonder Woman, you have a couple options. My preferred look for her is the Eyes of the Gorgon armor, the armor she wore to fight Medusa. Cover

Smallville actually had Lois Lane dressed in it for an episode.Link

Or, you could go for the Kingdom Come armor, but that might look utterly silly in live action.

[Panzersharkcat]

403 forbidden for the Eyes of the Gorgon armor. I assume it's this one, right? It's my favorite of the Wonder Woman outfits.

[Crazedwraith]

Well yeah if you like Xena's armour painted in garish colours.

[FaxModem1]

Yeah, that's the one. It's Greek armor, with the Wonder Woman color scheme. It's functional, keeps to the roots of her character, and shows enough T&A for those who want to see her as a sex symbol.

[Batman]

Methinks somebody went a little overboard on the weaponry That being said, the Gorgon variation is likely as close as you can get to having it look like actually useful armour without losing the classic Wonder Woman design.
And the Kingdom Come one makes her look like Shayera.

[Havok]

People need to get the fuck away from the whole blue and stars thing for starters. There is absolutely zero reason to make her red white and blue anymore because y'know, this isn't the fucking forties, fifties or even the sixties. Her colors should be white and gold which is how the Amazons of Themyscira are usually shown, along with their flag IIRC.

Unless you are going to just say fuck it and do this...


Then you need to do something like Smallville did...



Or something more Greek, elegant and warriorish...


A mix between the Smallville and last one is what I would want to see, and then at the end of said movie, she can move to something more fucking practical and less bikini corset.