After years of controversy, false starts, and disappointments, the big-screen presence of Wonder Woman has been cast. Gal Gadot will play the Amazon warrior princess in the Man of Steel sequel against Henry Cavill’s Superman and Ben Affleck’s Batman.  It’s set in stone, much as Wonder Woman’s own humble beginnings as the statue child of Queen Hippolyta‘s barren dreams.

So, since everyone has been clamoring for the Amazon to make her splash after a way-too-long absence from physical form, you would imagine everyone is pleased as punch that the beloved Amazon will finally make her big screen debut. Not so much. Much like the backlash of Batfleck, the internet was all a twitter with the casting of Gal Gadot.  She’s too skinny. She’s not right. She’s not this. She’s not that. Blah. Blah. Blah. (Gosh, the internet can be so rude sometimes!)

I’ll be the first to admit I am very protective of Wonder Woman, but, frankly, I had given up on seeing her in movies in my lifetime and was sort of just happy my fears had been quelled.

Blame Lynda Carter. When a relatively unknown beauty queen and newbie actress Lynda Carter was cast in the titular role, she ruined Wonder Woman for all actresses to follow. She was perfect. She not only embodied the perfect look of Wonder Woman, magnificently filling the flawless costume designed stunningly by Bob Mackie, she brought a genuineness and goodness to the role that Wonder Woman should be.

Confident, charismatic, and kind, Lynda wasn’t just handed the role, as hard as that is to believe now. She had to fight for the role as an unknown quotient. Harder still to believe, her predecessor as WW was blonde Kathy Lee Crosby in the cheesy TV movie pilot.   Although it only lasted 3 seasons, Lynda Carter would forever be cemented in the collective consciousness as Princess Diana.

Look, for all I know, Gal Gadot could be a box of rocks and ruin the part of WW, but I figure with Superman now being a reckless murderer with no trunks, who really gives a crap?  Give the poor woman a chance.  Isn’t that what Wonder Woman would do?  Many actors juice up and pack on pounds of muscles for action flicks. I’m sure Gal will, too.  Sidebar: can she at least wear blue contacts? It would make the transition from Lynda a little easier to swallow.