Wonder Woman - The Complete Seasons 1 & 2 (1976)

"In your satin tights / Fighting for your rights / And the old Red, White, and Blue!... / Wonder Woman!" Could anyone who grew up in the '70s ever forget that super-catchy theme song? Originally packaged as the female version of the Batman TV show (producer Stanley Ralph Ross penned 32 of the caped crusader's episodes), Wonder Woman ended up redefining the campy, comic book genre. The primetime show immediately became a social and cultural phenomenon, attracting a wide audience that continued to tune in to America's favorite socially progressive superheroine.

Looking back on it now, it is easy to see the attraction of this unique show that oozed '70s culture, but was set in the 1940s. While trying to stop a Nazi plane from reaching the U.S., Major Steve Trevor (Lyle Waggoner) is shot down, landing on mythical Paradise Island. The uncharted island is the hidden home to the lost tribe of eternally young Amazon women. The Amazons take in the Major and nurse him back to health. During his recovery he attracts the sympathy and interest of Princess Diana (Lynda Carter, former Miss USA 1973) who is intrigued by the man from the mainland and his tales of the evil Nazis. She decides she must follow the Major back to the U.S. and join the forces of good against the tyranny of evil. So begins the saga of the beautiful Amazon Wonder Woman, armed with super strength, bulletproof bracelets, and the unbreakable, "truth-telling," golden lasso. What sets season 1 apart from the two subsequent seasons is that the pilot and each of the 13 episodes take place during World War II, corresponding to the original comic stories. In this season we see Wonder Woman battle spies, uncover Fausta the Nazi Wonder Woman, stop thieves trying to steal the secret substance of Amazonian power (Feminum), wrestle a Nazi-trained circus gorilla, and rescue an interplanetary visitor held captive by the Third Reich--all of which are priceless.

With World War II coming to an end, what will Amazonian Diana Prince do for Wonder Woman's second season? Sporting the biggest continuity jump in TV history, Wonder Woman's new network (now on CBS from ABC) decided to catapult the show 35 years into the future into "modern day" Los Angeles, 1977. Not surprisingly, the 35 years haven't aged the immortal one bit. In fact, she seems to have gotten stronger, her super powers have increased, and her mind is sharper and focused on fighting the evils of the modern world: nuclear weapons, terrorists, aliens, and the mind controlling influences of rock music. Season 2 kicks off with the awesome hour-and-a-half season premiere, "The Return of Wonder Woman." Returning once again from Paradise Island, Diana Prince teams up this time with former colleague Major Steve Trevor's son (still played by Lyle Waggoner) to protect humankind and to keep Paradise Island hidden from the free world. In the 21 episodes that follow, Wonder Woman will take on a nuclear facility planning to build near Paradise Island, a mad scientist plotting against the super heroine with telekinesis, mind-stealing aliens from outer space, an evil toymaker's demented androids, and a rock star (Martin Mull?!) who is using hypnosis to control the minds of his fans. In this new millennium, Wonder Woman may seem a bit cheesy to some, but to others this show and Lynda Carter represent the pinnacle of '70s television culture. Wonder Woman: The Complete Second Season is a completely satisfying guilty pleasure for those who want to indulge. --Rob Bracco Amazon.com

And the Magic that you Do

This show has magic for the fans. Excellent cast, excellent stories. Too bad it didn't run longer back then May 11, 2008

Wonder woman!

If you're a wonder woman fan, you will be so excited that all these high quality DVDs have no commercial breaks to disrupt the episodes! Lynda Carter could not be more beautiful and I am enjoying every minute of this classic TV series....you won't regret having these to keep! October 19, 2005

Excellent!!!

After looking for this series on video or DVD for years, finally I can enjoy it again! Excellent quality and sound, and best of all, this DVD edition plays in all regions! September 1, 2005

A Wonderful Series

I admit it. Even as a kid, I always like Wonder Woman the best. And for the silliest reason. I love her ability to change from Diana Prince to Wonder Woman by spinning. I always thought that was so cool. Naturally, this was one of the few shows I was going to buy if it ever came out on DVD.

So my list of shows I'm allowed to buy has grown, but this show remains a great one to have on DVD. This set is for the first two of the three seasons. As of today, that's all that's been released.

Season one finds Wonder Woman (Lynda Carter) leaving Paradise Island to help America fight the Nazis in World War II. The set includes all 13 of the WWII episodes, including the extended pilot. I'll admit to never having been a super fan of this season. To this day, it seems cheesy to me. I think one problem is that they give Wonder Woman too many "love will solve everything" lines.

Season two finds our heroine on a new network and in a new decade. Wonder Woman is called to the world of men once again to fight the evils of the "modern" 70's. Teaming up with the son of the original Steve Trevor (still played by Lyle Waggoner), she joins the Inter Agency Defense Command and finds plenty of danger to keep her busy. I much prefer the modern episodes because they allow Diana and Wonder Woman to develop a personality. I find her a fun character to watch. And she takes on the bad guys head on, more concerned with catching them then transforming them.

These DVD sets are great for fans. Both sets are two sided discs to keep the price down. With three episodes per side, you get a sharp picture and clear sound. Presented like they were on TV 30 years ago, there's nothing here that will blow you away, but there doesn't have to be. Season 1 has a commentary on the pilot and then a "how the series came to be" documentary. Season 2 has a documentary as well.

So the series is slightly (ok, greatly) dated. It's still fun for the nostalgia crowd. And Lynda Carter will always be Wonder Woman to me. I'm thrilled to have these, and can't wait to get my hands on season 3. Long live Wonder Woman! March 5, 2005

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