Airdate:
11/18/77
Professor Chapman, a former government physicist, has
“changed his mind” and gone mad, plotting to destroy the world by activating
dormant volcanoes across the globe until world peace is achieved. Diana trek to
Mexico where his base is located, along with representatives from the other
volcano-stricken countries, China and the USSR, all of whom think the US is
behind it all. It’s up to WW to act as diplomat, negotiator and human laser
shield, all rolled into one, to stop this nefarious plot from being realized.
Strange, often-silly outing succeeds neither as high camp or
literate, reasonably credible drama (the two poles of possibility, it seems,
with this show). Roddy
McDowell is Chapman, whose bespectacled, over magnified
eyes are the best part of his performance, which commits the unpardonable sin
of dullness. The Chinese and Soviet agents are extra characters that don’t
really have a reason to be here except, I suppose, to promote the allegorical
message that humans will always fight each other, even in the name of peace.
Whatever.
High point here is the new opening- no longer animated but
now live-action, coming after a cold open, juxtaposing action highlights
together with superimposed titles. Biggest letdown: the theme song is mostly
instrumental (save for the chorus of “Wonder Woman”). Oh well, all things shall
pass.
Oh, let’s not forget the walls closing in scene, where WW
must do a quick change and bash in the bricks to escape. Reminiscent of the
sludge-wall in the Cathy Lee Crosby TV movie, and likely inspired by the trash
compactor scene from the then-huge Star
Wars. (Ahem, that’s just Star Wars not
Episode IV).
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