When I read Wonder Woman the script, it reminded me of all the weaknesses in the Wonder Woman canon. But, Wonder Woman, the pilot, improved all that.
Wonder Woman: The Pilot Script (Early Draft)
Although DC Comics’ Wonder Woman is a well-defined character, Diana Price, her alter-ego, is not. Understandably, David E. Kelly needed to build Diana Prince from the ground-up to make her realistic. Unfortunately, in re-writing Diana Price, he also re-wrote Wonder Woman.
The script turned Wonder Woman into an illegal, condescending prick who enacted scenes ripped out of Iron Man 2. She steals suspects from the police, tells beat cops she outranks them, holds libel-worthy press conferences accusing rivals (without evidence), and walks out of congressional hearings. Unfortunately, her alter-egos, Diana Themyscira, the business woman (that everyone fawns over), and Diana Price, the ordinary girl (who cries while eating ice cream), weren’t much better. Basically, David E. Kelly’s versions weren’t Wonder Woman, they were Ally McBeal 2.0 with Beyonce-like star power.
However, the script held some good points. Kelley explained away the invisible jet as Wonder Woman’s obsession with planes, included nice flashbacks to Themyscira and introduced the fun-loving lab tech “animals.”
Unfortunately, the bad outweighed the good. The soundtracks incorporating Lady Gaga and Beyonce didn’t fit the character. Playing “Single Ladies” while Wonder Woman ran through a cartoon parade felt disrespectful. Also, she really didn’t need TWO secret identities. It felt like Kelley was afraid to embrace the superpower, so he focused on the boardroom and Wonder Woman as a “real character.”
But, none of the three versions felt real. Kelley seemed too obsessed with Wonder Woman’s would-be super-goddess pop life than her actual crime-fighting. Despite referencing her anger, the show only contained two fight scenes: one which showcased her clothes-lining the suspect and one at the end.
Plus, neither Diana Prince nor Diana Themyscira, her alter-egos, struck me as strong. I always hate when male writers feel they have to break strong female characters by calling it a ‘breakthrough.’ Sorry, it isn’t. It’s more interesting and original when they actually let a strong woman remain strong. I don’t want to see Wonder Woman cry over some guy she dated five years ago because he’s married now, even if he is her ‘soul mate.’
That’s too girly even for me. For the TV pilot review, read on.
Clacked by An Nicholson 
on Sep 26, 2011 @ 08:00 EST5EDT
I’m very, very tired of talking of Wonder Woman, but I’ll chime in to say:
– She didn’t have TWO secret identities, she had one, Prince. The Themyscira identity was very publicly Wonder Woman.
– Not having high hopes for Palacki means that you probably haven’t watched FNL and know just how awesome she is
– The employees at Themyscira Industries no more know that Prince is Themyscira than the employees at the Daily Planet know that Clark Kent is Superman.
I watched the Pilot a long time after I’d read the script, so I didn’t remember the specifics of why I didn’t like the script originally. But I saw nothing in the Pilot, other than Palacki (and Thoms … How can you not love Tracie Thoms), that would make me want to tune in each week (Keeping in mind that I’m the one who actually thinks that there’s enough in the horrid Charlie’s Angels pilot to find a half decent series)
*POST AUTHOR*
I’d like to point out I used alter-egos twice and secret identities once as a synonym. While, yes, contemporary society wouldn’t allow someone called ‘Wonder Woman’ to own a company, but giving her TWO alter-egos (even if one is public) was still foolish. Maybe Kelly tried to pull the Kal-El/Superman name bit, but it didn’t work.
Regarding Diana Prince, if I see my tall, attractive, brunette boss walk into her office apartment and then 5 minutes later a tall, attractive, brunette wearing glasses walks out (but my boss doesn’t follow) … after awhile you’d have to know a spade’s a spade. Maybe Kelly tried to pull another Superman, but it didn’t work (especially considering most times Superman changes outside the DP or pulls a super-speed quick change). Her employees like to congregate outside her office when she returns from battle, wouldn’t they notice something? Also, wouldn’t payroll notice they’re giving out two different checks to one SSN? Or, wouldn’t the building notice they’re renting to Diana Themyscira? Either way it seemed odd.
I judged Palicki on the awkward, insecure-looking advanced shots. Admittedly, those shots matched the WW written in the initial draft. It’s rare to see a contemporary actress pull off strong, without the hint of flirtatiousness/vulnerability. Palicki’s interpretation was enough to make me want to return. The pilot wouldn’t make a basis for a strong show, but it would make a great, fun SyFy mini-series.
Also: https://troll.me/images/futurama-fry/not-sure-if-clever-or-just-beating-a-dead-horse.jpghttps://troll.me/images/futurama-fry/not-sure-if-clever-or-just-beating-a-dead-horse.jpg Let’s just pretend I’m clever ;)
As long as you continue to try to to apply real world logic to a comic book world, I’ll never be able to agree with anything you say on the topic :)
https://3.bp.blogspot.com/_n4Fsev7O4eQ/SNXJT5J4_uI/AAAAAAAACFA/SJN34S138Zw/s400/Superboy.jpg
*POST AUTHOR*
Dude, comics ARE real! They’re the augmentation of contemporary society’s issues! That’s the point! Besos y abrazos!
. . . . .
*Ugh*.
Just *ugh*. Given the opportunity, I still would have no desire whatsoever to see this pilot.
An? Overall I trust your judgment on this with what you’ve stated above where you’ve dissected some of the details, but it sounds like there are elements I would loathe. “On-line dating service” … ?!? What the hell … ?!? Pop soundtracks? “Two secret identities” … ?!? Little confused there … but I think Ivey cleared it up. Regardless – even with the things you liked about the revamp – I can’t say I would be on board.
I’m just happy it never saw the light of day.
I’m going to go glue stuff now.
Maybe you need to sniff some of that glue to get inside Kelly’s head.
Just sayin’.
*POST AUTHOR*
Talk to Mr. W about the pilot. However, I had low expectations for the pilot, based on the script. But, as I said, everything I hated, they improved. I think if they had started with the pilot’s final script as the show’s initial draft, WW would’ve been in a better place.
WW would’ve done better if they took a cue from Smallville. Smallville’s producers appeared familiar with the Superman mythology and had a specific story arc planned. WW didn’t have that, hence the multiple crises of identity with its heroine.