Wonder Woman - The Complete Second Season!

When CBS picked up the Wonder Woman show after ABC dithered about the costs, they insisted that the setting be changed to the then modern 1970's. The reason is always given that the expense of period settings and costumes such was prohibitive for the show on an ongoing basis, but I suspect the reason is simply a lack of imagination. Executives couldn't figure out ways to make the show fit whatever mold they deemed the optimum for their attempts to entertain paying customers. 

At first the show seemed to hold its own in the new time, though I detected the same thing I often see with shows of the 70's (both movies and television) and that is a generally drabness to the real-world settings. Much like the low-cost movies and serials of the 1930's, one gets a glimpse of the actual real world because the studios cannot afford (or choose not to afford) something more refined. The stories are okay as Wonder Woman meets up with the son of Steve Trevor (also named "Steve" and also played by Lyle Waggoner) and returns to man's world again after leaving it following World War II. Unlike the first season the mythology of Wonder Woman will almost completely disappear after the initial episodes and the show becomes more and more like other crime shows of the era. Eventually she and this new Steve Trevor don't partner that much as he becomes more or less her boss and seems restricted to his desk. They work for the I.A.D.C. (Inter-Agency Defense Command) a mythical all-purpose government agency which seems to conveniently have jurisdiction everywhere. 

The villains are often over-the-top megalomaniacs who cackle with glee at the thought of their evil plots, but Diana Prince rarely has too much trouble bringing them to justice. One thing which permeates the show is bad old misogyny. There are some scenes in which some jerk is making passes at Diana that are actively uncomfortable to watch and downright creepy at times. It was a different era and I think we're supposed to brush those off as she does as just part of modern life, but it's hard not see the lack of respect for women which has all too often been a feature in American life. Still is actually, though we've made some strides in some areas. (Backsliding in others alas.)

Because of a certain movie which was popular around this time robots had become de rigueur for shows of this kind, and so too does Wonder Woman get I.R.A.C. (Information Retrieval Associative Computer) a computer that can use clues fed into its system to deduce the whereabouts and motivations of villains some of the time. I.R.A.C. or "Ira" as they take to calling him seems to have deduced Diana is Wonder Woman and drops hints to the viewer all the time about this little detail. Later another mobile unit called "Rover" is added and his most memorable aspect is that it uses the classic "Beep Beep!" of the Road Runner when it exits a room. 

The shows are entertaining but despite some nifty moments there's no doubt the show took a step backward with the change in setting. At least most of the threats confronted by Wonder Woman have legit global consequences, but all too often they seem too small potatoes to justify her leaving her responsibilities on Paradise Island. 

A quick look at the third season and general reflections on the series next time. 

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