Mulher Maravilha

When Lynda Carter first graced TV screens around the globe, most viewers, when thinking about comic book adaptations of a super-hero, would probably think of Batman, the larger than life, tongue-in-cheek series of the 1960s. What made Wonder Woman so special, and Lynda Carter's portrayal so memorable, was that when the first script in which she featured (a pilot set in the 1940s)contained many influences that could be traced back to Batman, and some very over-the-top performances, Lynda Carter played it straight. Both Wonder Woman, and Diana Prince, had to believe in what they were doing. And that belief made it all seem very real to audiences, in particular the generation of children who watched each episode. Writers and directors rapidly responded, and an unexpectedly credible series emerges. Guest actors didn't give camp or exaggerated performances, as Lynda Carter made this role very much her own. Just as Christopher Reeve made Superman an almost impossible mountain for any other actor to climb, so Lynda Carter gave a performance that 30 years later still makes it impossible to imagine any other actress in the role. Beautiful she certainly was, and created by nature to have all the physical attributes that Wonder Woman required, but it is her decision to play it straight and give the series its believability and a unique feel all its own that has helped the series endure in the memories of people around the world.

I was jumping happily around my house when I suddenly remember Wonder Woman on this Good Friday. Yeah, yeah, yeah! The series walked with me through my 7th, 8th and 9th year of my life. I never forget that right after school, I rushed back home for some snacks and the Cantonese voice-overed Wonder Woman's power and justice.

As a little girl at such tender age, I was not interested in or envied her hourglass figure. I wanted to have her bracelets, her boots, her crown and of course her power! Not many of my little classmates followed this series because they loved Japanese cartoons more. From time to time I imagined I was powerful like WW to save people's life or even the world with my two bracelets like Lynda Carter. By the way, she's a great beauty, like most of the young fans, I followed her news for some time.

What made me even happier was the appearance of Justice League because the amazon woman was an important member. Once my elder sister asked me very innocently that if WW would be marrying Superman! Now I am thinking about what power their children will be endowed with if and only if they tie the knot! Super Wonder Kids!

Amongst the female American superhero like She-Ra or Superwoman, none of them achieved as successfully as WW. She is a part of my young memory.

As a young male, I found Wonder Woman entertaining for two reasons-Lynda Carter was beautiful and the show was, in my opinion, as camp and as fun as the 60's Batman show.

I think a lot of women loved Wonder Woman because she was totally independent. She didn't need a man to help her save the day. She could beat the bad guys herself.

But, back to the show itself. Throughout the show Wonder Woman faced all kinds from regular bad guys to mad scientists. The show was very tongue-in-cheek and despite the show making me realize just how much us guys need women, I enjoyed it very much. There was the type of action you just don't see anymore on TV and plenty of original humour.

Wonder Woman was indeed wonderful.

"Wonder Woman" is a series that is a lot of fun to watch. Lynda Carter certainly embodies the character better than anyone could, and the producers and writers put a lot of imagination in this show. Some fans prefer the first season, WWII based episodes, while others like the later, "modern dress" episodes of the latter two seasons. There is really a lot of fun to be had in all three. It is really a hoot to see Cloris Leachman as Wonder Woman's mother in the extended pilot episode. She plays the role much like her Phyllis Lindstrom character in "The Mary Tyler Moore Show"! Debra Winger makes an impression as Wonder Girl in the first season, but she allegedly turned down a request from the producers to do a "Wonder Girl" spin-off. Lynda Carter is really a versatile performer. Some years ago I had the good fortune to see her perform her cabaret show here in Chicago, and she was outstanding! A terrific singer and performer. Love ya, WW!

It's too bad that "Wonder Woman" strayed from its origins after it moved from ABC to CBS. The original ABC episodes were probably some of the best efforts at bringing comic book fun to life. Once the series was moved from its WWII setting to the present, the only thing that improved was Lynda Carter's costume. "Wonder Woman" became too much of a routine type of adventure show and lost its sense of good-natured fun and camp that the WWII episodes served up (and poor Lyle Waggoner became practically non-existent as "Steve Trevor, Jr.")

Still, there is little doubt that Lynda Carter made a lasting impression as Wonder Woman. Her qualities of incredible beauty and wide-eyed innocence enabled her to make the part her own and the reason why we've never seen a big screen adapation of Wonder Woman is because Carter's portrayal still looms large even today.