Popular Culture Review 29.2
“ The Man Who Could Move the World ,” Wonder Woman confronts the revenge of a telekinetic Japanese man who was held in an American internment camp during World War II , where there was no law , “ only military oppression of my people .” The man tears down the former camp around them with intense closeups . Even though Wonder Woman only acknowledges so much wrongdoing on the part of mainstream society , she takes off her bracelets and belt , the sources of her powers , to find the root of the man ’ s pain , and reunites him with the family he thought he lost .
In “ Knockout ,” Wonder Woman confronts a female police officer turned violent revolutionary . When Wonder Woman acts as a mediator between the revolutionary and police , the revolutionary says , “ I ’ m not afraid of you , do you understand that ?” to which Wonder Woman replies , “ I ’ ve never wanted you to be afraid of me .” The former officer relents , saying , “ At least it ’ s ended ,” to which Wonder Woman returns , “ At least it ’ s begun .” Diana later states to her superiors that “ any jury will understand ” the former police officer ’ s choice to turn from a life of violence . In “ The Pied Paper ,” when Wonder Woman finally captures in her lasso a truly sinister brainwashing musician similar to the comics ’ Cavalier , rather than simply taking him away , she says , “ You were given a gift , the ability to make people happy with your music . Instead you took that gift and used it to make children steal for you .” Eventually , she removes the lasso , her voice gets quieter , and she finds the root of his actions as a disgruntled musician in debt . She ultimately finds a role for him to work on his rehabilitation , and considers with Steve the possibility of a judge ordering “ a psychiatric observation period .” The audience goes from hoping Wonder Woman takes down a supervillain to being surprised with a thought-provoking reflection that helps the situation move forward . Wonder Woman does not
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