Wonder Woman (1975) episode 10 kicks off the show’s second two-parter after “The Feminum Mystique”, so it’s got big boots to fill.
“Nonsense, Steve. You can’t be blamed because this alien uses some kind of a super-science gadget on you.” – General Blankenship
Having thoroughly enjoyed “The Feminum Mystique” (this show’s first two-parter), I was seriously looking forward to what the next extended story might have up its sleeve, and the opening of Wonder Woman episode 10 (“Judgement from Outer Space: Part One”) does not disappoint. Things kick off from space. Yes, that’s right, space. An uncharted solar system, even. I don’t know about you, but I was immediately thinking: “who are we about to meet? Some Kryptonians? The Lantern Corps? The Female Furies?”
I’m not hurt, but Wonder Woman episode 10 doesn’t take a liking to any of my guesses, and so instead introduces an alien fellow that none of us will recognise (whether you read comic books or not) called Andros (Tim O’Connor). But, don’t let this temper your excitement. We’re still in space, after all.
Here’s the deal. This Andros bloke has been observing Earth for a few thousand years, he’s taken a liking to the place, and even to the people too! So far so good, but Andros answers to this little group of also-aliens called the Council of Planets. This council is a bit worried about the impact a race of soon-to-be-space-travelling, war-mongering savages with atomic power (humans) will have on the tranquillity of the universe, and so they’re up for eliminating life on Earth and nipping all of that in the bud. Not good. Andros, bless him, wants to prove to the council that we’re alright when you get to know us, so they give him some more time down here to prove it.
Andros soon lands back on Earth, and he’s keen to get on with telling the world powers that if they don’t get their shit together dead soon, his alien pals are gonna torch humanity out of existence. Problem is, Andros here has happened to drop in on us during World War II, and, consequently, the amount of persuading that the Council of Planets is going to need, well… sky-rockets.
The stakes of Wonder Woman episode 10 gently rise as the council’s conditions get tighter and tighter, which, as much as they immediately get along (recognising each other’s own benevolent interest in humanity, and being mutual friends of the Socrates), puts Andros in an increasingly sticky situation, and Wonder Woman (Lynda Carter) in an increasingly desperate one. World War II of course continues all the while, with the Allies being very suspicious of an ambassador from space, and the Axis wanting to steal him away, and use him as a weapon – Andros does, incidentally, have power over all natural forces, and so could turn Canada into a volcano if he so fancied it, for example.
Wonder Woman episode 10 is not like “The Feminum Mystique” then; it’s not fun and quick on its feet, but is instead a cold sci-fi thriller – perhaps even the best attempt at being such in this series so far (being more to my taste than episode 8). There’s a simmering pace to the drama, and focus is very much on the moral quandary of Andros’ mission: is humanity capable of more than violence, and, if they are, how to prove so to their would-be exterminators?
As compelling as it is to watch Wonder Woman (1975) try and take on something this profound, I can’t help but feel the primary question is a little undermined by Andros’ own position as an order-following envoy for the Council of Planets. Does his role not somewhat mirror the role that the world’s soldiers found themselves in in 1942? The death and destruction present on Earth at that time was largely due to the orders of people in their own seats of authority, declared out of a hate or a fear for a people seen as different to themselves, and the Council of Planets seems to replicate that same hierarchy.
Perhaps this hypocrisy is the ‘point’ of Wonder Woman episode 10, or perhaps I’m overthinking it. Either way, fifty minutes of well-staged and escalating tension is an interesting break from the familiar Wonder Woman formula, and I’m very curious to see how the ‘70s creatives managed to write their way out of this little situation. Perhaps allowing Andros to visit Paradise Island would bring the aliens around to life on Earth?
Episode 10 of Wonder Woman (1975) is now available to watch on digital and on demand.
