Wonder Woman: The TV Pilot
The TV pilot I watched surprised me because everything I hated, they revamped. Thanks to Mr. W for his help.
I didn’t have high hopes for Adrienne Palicki, but she did an awesome Wonder Woman, especially in the fight scenes or showcasing her inner strength. Overall, the fan backlash made the show better. Wonder Woman’s CEO and staff were no longer blatantly unabashed fans. The writer(s) dropped Veronica Cale’s superficial jealousy. They reduced Wonder Woman’s blatant law-breaking and removed the more cartoon-ish scenes (including the cartoon parade chase, the adoring fan mob, the insane congressional inquiry, and the crazy pop soundtracks). Plus, they combined Etta Candy and her other assistant/friend into one character.
There were still off-moments. Wonder Woman’s sentimental rants about her busty-looking dolls went on too long. There was a creepy split-leg, under-skirt shot. In the show’s first half, Wonder Woman goes out of her way to state that Cale’s victims are kids living in racially-based ghettos, but in the final scene the illegal test victims are Caucasian men. I still didn’t like her blatant law-breaking. Wonder Woman’s violent nature should seethe under her peaceful exterior; yet, the deliberate torture seemed too much. Plus, the staff giving her a standing ovation for freeing 11 people, although she probably killed 20 men, seemed odd.
There were things I liked, but could’ve used improvement. I missed the animals and Amazonian references, but their removal made the pilot tighter. Combining Etta Candy and Mindy into one was good, but the character seemed too quiet and docile. She felt more like the 1970s Diana Prince than the loud-mouthed Etta in the original comics. Considering they cast Tracie Thoms (which I loved), they could’ve written Charles Moulton‘s version of Etta.
I liked the scenes in Diana Prince’s apartment. It seemed normal and relatable. Plus, without the blatant crying or the girly sleepover, the ending scene seemed even more powerful. However, having Wonder Woman change into Diana Price at Diana Themyscira’s workplace means anyone who works there with eyes KNOWS who Diana Prince is. Also, Diana’s decision to sign up for on-line dating made no sense. Didn’t she leave Steve for his protection? How is endangering an unknowing sod any different?
Although the show lost steam in the second half, what they got right I liked. They played up Wonder Woman’s violent personality. They dropped the search for the Amazonian city. They made her break-up with Steve Trevor and his re-appearance more logical. I LOVED Elizabeth Hurley as Veronica Cale. She was gorgeous. Plus, Kelley’s re-writing Veronica as a human version of Wonder Woman (gorgeous, fit, and successful), worked more than the petty villain in the first draft. I loved the fight scene. Yes, Palicki’s too thin, but her opponents, cartoon-ishly muscled Planet Fitness rejects in brightly colored tees, felt like a ’70s flashback.
Despite my misgivings, THIS version could’ve succeeded. And, yes, without straps, Palicki’s costume looked ridiculously uncomfortable, but I can overlook that. Like The Cape, this version would’ve done well as a TV mini-series for NBC or Syfy. Syfy has the right idea with Alice and Tin Man; maybe someday NBC will catch up.
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.