To some, Wonder Woman is the first “good old-fashioned superhero” of the DC Extended Universe. She is not dark or grim or hostile or edgy. She is defined by her hopefulness and belief in goodness. She is confident in her abilities and firm in her morals. It is a refreshing take on a superhero.

Warning: Spoilers Ahead!

Themyscira and the Amazons

Wonder Woman, or Diana Prince, was born on the island of Themyscira, a paradise inhabited only by female warriors called Amazons. Gods created these women in order “to show mankind what sort of greatness they [could] achieve,” but after mankind enslaved them and a war ensued, the Amazons returned to their island, sequestered from the rest of the world, training constantly in case they ever needed to fight humans again.

When German soldiers do invade the island at the beginning of the film, a massive fight begins. As a review by Vox put it, “Amazons deal beautiful death.” They fight gracefully, beautifully, and precisely, but also with incredible strength and brutality. Despite their best efforts, the Amazons are killed one by one, unable to combat the Germans’ guns. Shots of these women falling to the ground, struck by bullets, tears at the audience’s heartstrings and establishes Wonder Woman’s motivation to end war and suffering.

Steve Trevor, the Sidekick

In male-led superhero movies, their female counterparts are often physically weaker and require constant protection or rescue. In Wonder Woman, Steve Trevor fills that role, subverting the traditional expectation of the romantic lead. Wonder Woman serves as his protector while Steve helps to guide her through the new world she suddenly is forced to face as she leaves Themyscira. They have “compelling chemistry” and the romance between them does not minimize Diana’s independence and strong-willed nature.

The Nature of Strength

Diana is not only physically strong and agile; her strength also comes from her morality and optimism. In a genre that is dominated by dark, pessimistic protagonists, Wonder Woman is unique. She is able to do what she does because of her emotional strength and belief that human beings are inherently good, even though her male counterpart, Steve, feels the opposite way. In the final battle against Ares, he argues that humans do not deserve the protection that Wonder Woman is granting them and she responds, “It’s not about deserve, it’s about what you believe. And I believe in love.” This belief in love and hope is the reason she is able to defeat Ares and save mankind. Women are often called “emotional” as an insult, but Diana shows that it is a powerful strength.

 

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There is so much more that I could discuss about this movie like the No Man’s Land scene, the inclusion of a female villain, and the sexism Diana experiences in London, so I might make yet another post about Wonder Woman! (Let me know in the comments if you think I should or if you’re tired of me talking about Wonder Woman!)