Customer Reviews

Wonder Woman: The Complete Second Season

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In addition to last year's Season One release, Warner Bros. is pleasing Lynda Carter fans everywhere with this new Season Two box set. As with last year's release we are benefited with goreous cover art depicting Wonder Woman in her new 70s outfit as in the series time flashes forward thirty years from the first season setting. In this new season, Wonder Woman returns to the outside world to help the son of 40s Steve Trevor as a secret agent in the Washington DC based IADC. The package comes in a four disc set containing the following episodes:

Disc 1: Side A - The Return of Wonder Woman; Anschluss '77; The Man Who Could Move the World Side B - The Bermuda Triangle Crisis; Knockout; The Pied Piper.

Disc 2: Side A - The Queen and the Thief; I Do, I Do; The Man Who Made Volcanoes Side B - Mind Stealers from Outer Space - 1; Mind Stealers from Outer Space - 2; The Deadly Toys

Disc 3: Side A - Light-Fingered Lady; Screaming Javelin; Diana's Disappearing Act Side B - Death in Disguise; I.R.A.C. Is Missing; Flight to Oblivion

Disc 4: Side A - Seance of Terror; The Man Who Wouldn't Tell Side B - The Girl from Ilandia; The Murderous Missile + Special Feature Documentary

Columbia House previously released the Wonder Woman series on video tape, but fortunately the DVD release contians some of the episodes that company had for some reason ignored on their release list, such as Pied Piper. Adding this DVD set to your collection is something you can enjoy over and over again.

Well what can I say, except yay! After ABC quietly shelved the war series, Warner sold the series to CBS where it was updated to the "contemporary" era and ran for 2 years. This is the first of those two sets. Now instead of the war department, Diana goes to work for the Inter Agency Defense Command, a sort of government security agency. Working with her was Steve Trevor Jr (again played by Lyle Waggoner) so the couple seemed unchanged. Replacing Blankenship and Etta from the war series was her new boss Joe Atkinson (played by Normann Burton best remembered as Will Giddings the first person to burn to death in Irwin Allen's Towering Inferno) a war veteran himself. Most of her opponents now were modern criminals, but she does get a run in with an ex Nazi living in South America, his doctor and a clone of Hitler in the first episode after the "contemporary" pilot. After the first few months however, Atkinson gets "bumped upstairs" and Steve Jr gets promoted leaving Diana to go alone on missions (most of the time and many times without her glasses as well). The most remembered character of the contemporary series would be the talking computer IRA who gave insight on the characters who would come down Diana's path on each mission. 1 episode (the season's only 2 parter "Mind Stealers From Outer Space" brings back Andros from the war series episode "Judgment From Outer Space" only he's now played by Dack Rambo as opposed to Tom O'Connor (there is confusing dialogue in this episode as first we hear this is the son of the original Andros, and then it appears to be the same one). Also at the end of the second part, Andros addresses Steve as "major", which becomes a common occurrence for the rest of the season (we never learn where it comes from as Steve Jr wasn't in the military), and in the final season he just as unexplicably gets promoted to "colonel", but more on that later. Also for those of you who get a kick out of the new lyrics for the contemporary theme song, don't get too comfortable. In the episode where Normann Burton (Joe Atkinson) leaves the show, the coming attractions teasers are replaced by the first actual scene of the episode and the theme music becomes instrumental with clips from actual shows, although the last stanza is still used for the closing credits and the stars from the theme music (both themes) is still used for commercial breaks for the remainder of the season, but those comic book blocks "Meanwhile at the War Dept" or "Meanwhile at the IADC" are dropped once Burton leaves. I will enjoy this set once Amazon ships it and am waiting for them to announce the last one.:-)

I remember a TV critic at the time commenting that there were only two good things about the Wonder Woman TV show and they were both holding up Lynda Carter's strapless leotard. Ok...that may be a bit harsh but there's certainly no denying that it was the gorgeous, and well-endowed Lynda Carter that made so many young men, including myself, tune into the show back in the mid 1970's. She was a 14 year old boy's fantasy (along with Charlies Angels) back then. Season two brought some positive changes to the show. First, the show switched from ABC to CBS. Second, it was moved out of the WWII period to modern day to give it a little more to do rather than battle Nazi enemies. Lyle Waggoner is back as Steve Trevor only this time he is playing the son of the original Steve Trevor. The updated setting to modern times allowed much greater freedom for the writers to pit Wonder Woman against other threats and villians and was decidedly better than the first season. Also season two had a very strong comic feel to it, perfectly in line with what DC comics was doing at the time.

Notable season two episodes include:

"The Return of Wonder Woman" - It's now 35 years later after the end of the first season and Wonder Woman convinces her mother, the Queen of the Amazons, that she must once again go into the outside world to help protect the free world from its enemies as well as the secret of Paradise Island and its ancient culture.

"The Man who Could Move the World" - Wonder Woman is pitted against the awesome telekenetic powers of a Japanese man who was interned during World War 2 and has been planning revenge for 35 years.

"The Pied Piper" Guest starring Martin Mull and Eve Plumb of the Brady Bunch...Wonder Woman must use all her powers to save Joe Alkinson's daughter from the evils of Super Rock Star.

"The Deadly Toys" - It's the Christmas season and Wonder Woman finds out that some toys can be very harmful. Guest Stars Frank Gorshin

"Diana's Disappearing Act" - Wonder Woman saves the world from an oil crisis when she exposes a magician's method of changing lead into gold. Dick Gautier plays magician Cagliostro.

The Man Who Wouldn't Tell" - When a janitor discovers the key ingredient for an experimental explosives formula he is pursued by those who would use it for evil. Guest Stars Phillip Michael Thomas of Miami Vice fame.

"The Murderous Missile" - Wonder Woman must stop the hi-jacking of an experimental thought-controlled missile, but she is continuously delayed by a small-town sheriff.

In all you get 22 Episodes which includes the 90 minute 2nd season opening episode. yes Wonder Woman is pure Cheese but it's darn fun cheese If I do say so myself. Carter always gave it 100% and she's still the person who any new Wonder Woman will be measured against. The set has only one extra which is a new documentary featuring interviews with Carter, as well as comic artist Alex Ross.

Pure fun!

I truly loved this season. Wonder Woman, (Lynda Carter) is just beautiful, sexy, smart, strong, feminine and ageless. What I loved about this season was that it moved from the era of the 40's to jump into th 70's and fought the bad guys on their terms. In the 40's she tried to show them the way of peace but were hard headed, now she's just trying to put the bad guys away. I loved that. Wait until season 3 were she beats the hell ot of the bad guys. Wonder Woman's gloves are off! Woooo hooo! I think my favorite episode was the "Skrill" where she is fighting the aliens from another planet. Dack Rambo plays Andros a sort of alien bounty hunter (if you will) looking for those aliens to bring them back to his home planet before Andros' higher authority tries decontaminate planet earth which may harm/kill millions of innocent people. I think the writers blooped in the storytelling though, first the "Andros" character was a relative (the son) of the original "Andros" character from season 1 episode "Judgement Day" then it seems like he was the same character from season 1 played by a different actor. (I thought Dack Rambo was hot anyway.) I have all the episodes on tape but now i'm collecting them on dvd! I also loved that towards the end of season 2 they let Lynda Carter use her real hair instead of that wig. But i'm so glad Wonder Woman is being released on dvd. It's about time. Now all I need is for "Universal Studios" to release "The Bionic Woman" on dvd and i'll truly be screaming my head off!

As others have noted, the picture and sound quality for the WW second series set is really excellent. The definition is so crisp, however, that white "sparkles" (dirt on the film) can be spotted here and there throughout the episodes. It's a shame the prints couldn't have been thoroughly cleaned to give them a truly pristine look, but this is a minor quibble in an otherwise great DVD set.

WW's second season brought the series forward into the contemporary 1970's, heralding a new look and style to the series. At times, it feels as if the production team were trying to "find their feet" in terms of storylines. After the wonderful "The Man Who Could Move The World," subsequent plots involved crimes hardly worthy of an Amazon princess. This was all to change by the time of "The Man Who Made Volcanoes," when the villains and threats to the world were set on a grander scale.

The first half of the season featured Diana Prince, Steve Trevor Jr. and Joe Atkinson of the IADC being prepped for missions by an unseen President. This always seemed too "Charlie's Angels" (an unseen Charlie sending the Angels on missions) for me, and I was glad it was dispensed with halfway through the season. Again, this seemed to be a case of the production team uncertain as to how to get Diana into situations that needed WW. Steve would ultimately be given a promotion and would send Diana on missions for the IADC.

Despite a bit of a shaky start, WW's second season quickly grew strong and sowed the seeds for an outstanding third and final season. Buy this DVD, kick back and enjoy!

Wonder Woman season 2 Rocks!!! First of all the show takes place during the 1970's, my favorite decade!!! The episodes are crisp considering the show is almost 30 years old, and I love the extra lyrics on the theme song. It's corny but so cute!!! WONDER WOMAN I'M SO GLAD YOU'RE ON OUR SIDE!!!
I just loved the episode when Wonder Woman had to jump in the water so she turned around the opposite way and automatically ended up in a really sexy wet suit! I remember all the kids at school talking about how cool Wonder Woman looked in her diving suit with matching red "swim shoes". I remember shortly after that episode aired Wonder Woman bathing suits came out, and ofcourse my mother bought me one!!!
When I heard that Warner Brothers was in the process of making a Wonder Woman feature film, the first thing I thought was there was not one current famous actress that even came close to filling Lynda Carter's shoes!!! First of all today's current actresses don't even come close to the beauty of actresses of the 1970's! The Actresses of the 1970's were true goddesses like Veronica Hamel,Victoria Principal, Jaclyn Smith,Farrah Fawcett,Stephanie Powers,and Lynda Carter was among them!!! Needless to say it would be better for Warner Brothers to cast an unknown who might slightly come close to the beauty and talent of Lynda Carter, the one and only true Wonder Woman!!!!

Dare I say that Lynda Carter as Wonder Woman ranks among the best performances in television history? Yes, I do! Her take on Wonder Woman is realistic, yet fun and refreshing. And when the viewer isn't taken in by Carter's unparralleled beauty and uncompromising grace, he/she will note the compassion and dedication that Carter brings to the role. Simply amazing! I was a child when this series originally aired, and I loved it. But I never realized until recently how truly brilliant Lynda Carter was! You go, Lynda Carter!!

With that said, this DVD set is a HOOT! The second season takes place in the '70s, which makes for lots of fun. We get to see "IRA," which is what passed for a super-computer in the '70s. Also, the special effects here are pretty dated ()except for the flawless "bullets and bracelets" effects), but the series is so fun that you won't care. Also, Wonder Woman's powers increase dramatically from the first season, which means she jumps very high and often. Also, her lasso tricks are better. And her costume changes, eliminating the "missile breasts" from the first season. But Carter, of course, fills out the new outfit VERY NICELY.

Although rumor has it that Lyle Waggonner (known mostly as Playgirl's first centerfold and a regular on the Carol Burnett show) doesn't fondly remember doing this series, he was great as Steve Trevor. Equal parts striking leading man and "golly gee," he turns in a vibrant performance ... and the viewer never doubts that this character has his head in the clouds just enough so that he never figures out that his secret-agent partner Diana Prince is really Wonder Woman.

All in all, this show does what it's meant to do: It entertains ... in spades. Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful!!!

This is a cool set. We get two different theme songs and another commentary with Lynda Carter!! While some have noted some flaws in some episodes, its overall very great collection. A must for any Wonder Woman fan!!!

After ABC stalled on renewing the successful, if not top-rated WWII-era "Wonder Woman" TV series, the series' producers pitched it to CBS, who agreed to add it to their roster, as "The New Adventures of Wonder Woman", updated to the present day (1970s)...and Lynda Carter, attired in a sleeker, sexier 'uniform', makes "Wonder Woman - The Complete Second Season" even more fun than Season One.

The updating of the series was quite clever; Lyle Waggoner returned, but as the look-alike son of "Diana Prince's" former boss, who had passed away, a few years earlier (the resolution of the pair's relationship was never explained; Wonder Woman had returned to Paradise Island after the war, and one can assume she erased everyone's memory of "Yeoman Diana Prince" before she left). Steve Trevor, Jr. is a top agent of a government agency (the fictitious IADC), and after he's rescued, unconscious, by the Amazons, Diana wins a competition to accompany him back to the 'real' world. Hypnotizing him into believing she's his assistant, "Diana Prince", she quickly inserts a false resume into the agency's sentient, speaking IRAC computer ("Ira"), and Wonder Woman returns, to thwart evildoers!

The plotline was a 'work in progress', throughout the season; Normann Burton ("Diamonds Are Forever"), is introduced as Trevor's boss, receiving orders from the White House (by voice transmissions); after a few episodes, the Executive branch connection would be dropped, as would Burton; Trevor became boss, with Prince, his top operative. While fewer discussions of feminist issues would occur than Season 1, Prince was extraordinarily strong and independent, and would be a very positive role model. The episodes were played far more believably, with plenty of action and adventure, and two new WW costumes would be introduced, a tight-fitting wetsuit, for underwater activities, and 'biker' gear, for the occasional motorcycle or skateboard ride. She would also display a greater telepathic affinity to animals.

Key to the program's success would be, again, Lynda Carter, who had become an even better actress, and would become 'identified' in the role. After thirty years, she is still considered the 'definitive' Wonder Woman!

And she's certainly a major reason to own this terrific collection!

This 1977-78 Season was the season when Warner Bros. had Wonder Woman moved from ABC to CBS.

Wonder Woman's 2nd Season was quite a big transition & was obviously quite a bit more upgraded than Wonder Woman's 1st Season was along with the fact that the plots, locations, summaries, and even some of the characters had changed too, since Diana Price(Lynda Carter) Maj. Steve Trevor(Lyle Wagner) were no longer working for the Navy and had started working for the IADC in Washington, D.C. instead along with the fact that I noticed Wonder Woman's uniform had changed too, including her bracelets, since her bracelets went from being a sky blue in the First Season to being gold bracelets in the Second & Third Seasons.

It was also interesting seeing guest stars like
-Frank Gorshin in "The Deadly Toys" episode after his co-starring days as The Riddler on BATMAN
-James Luisi in "The Deadly Missile" episode during his co-starring days as Becker's hard-assed superior officer(Lt. Chapman)a.k.a. "Chappy" on THE ROCKFORD FILES and before his co-starring days on DAYS OF OUR LIVES & ANOTHER WORLD
-Bill Bixby's ex-wife(Brenda Benet) in the "Diana's Disappearing Act" episode
-Ted Schakelford in the "Knockout" episode before his co-starring days on KNOTTS LANDING
-Singer(Rick Springfield) in "The Screaming Javelin" episode before his co-starring days on GENERAL HOSPITAL and before his musician days when the songs JESSE'S GIRL, I'VE DONE EVERYTHING FOR YOU, DON'T TALK TO STRANGERS, AFFAIR OF THE HEART were all big hits on the radio in the early 1980's.
-David Hedison in "The Queen & The Thief" episode after his co-starring days on VOYAGE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA and before his co-starring days on DAYS OF OUR LIVES
-Henry Darrow in the "I Do, I Do" episode before his co-starring days on SANTA BARBARA and after his co-starring days on GENERAL HOSPITAL
-John Colicos in "The Queen & The Thief" before his co-starring days as Balter on BATTLESTAR GALACTICA
-Famous British veteran actor(Roddy McDowell) in "The Man Who Made Volcanoes" episode
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This season of Wonder Woman also takes me all the way back to memory lane when WONDER WOMAN & THE INCREDIBLE HULK were both part of CBS's Friday night line-up, which started with WONDER WOMAN at 8PM followed by THE INCREDIBLE HULK at 9PM, which always gave me something to look forward to every Friday night, which also takes me all the way back to my childhood days to when I was 5 years old living in my hometown(El Centro, CA)since I was raised in the boring Imperial Valley where I had lived at for 21 years.