WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Justice Society: World War II, now available digitally.
In DC's animated movie, Justice Society: World War II, Diana of Themyscira cuts a colder figure than she's usually shown to be. Previous cartoons and films, especially the live-action version played by Gal Gadot, portray Wonder Woman as being a bit more warm and light-hearted, but this one's more militant, focused on bringing down Nazis. However, she learns the error of her ways the hard way, as the finale gives the character her most heartbreaking moment yet. At the same time, it produces one of the most hopeful moments linked to Diana.
In Justice Society: World War II, Wonder Woman is bitter towards mankind due to the loss of Themyscira, and so, without Paradise Island, she adopts Queen Hippolyta's business-like stance, making her hellbent on bringing the Third Reich down. But she does have a soft spot for Steve Trevor, her government liaison who's head over heels for her. He even has her picture in the cockpit, making it clear that she's his inspiration.
A time-displaced Barry Allen is a bit weirded out, though, by Steve proposing to her every day, as he thinks it's a tad creepy. But as Black Canary, Jay Garrick, Hawkman and the rest of her allies reveal, it's all innocent as Steve really is in love and despite Diana brushing it off, she actually has feelings for him too. Nevertheless, she can't accept because duty calls first, something they both know. Sadly, the finale ends with Steve getting impaled through the back by the mysterious advisor who corrupted Aquaman to invade New York on Hitler's behalf.
The villain escapes as the heroes eventually win this fight, but it's too late for Steve. The team finds him bleeding out in the smoldering streets with Diana finally letting her guard down. She rushes over and asks for a medic, but Steve tells her he's on the verge of dying, so it's time to grant his last wish. With his last breath, he proposes one more time and while she says yes, his life gives out before he can place the ring on her finger. It falls to the ground leaving Wonder Woman cradling the body of the hopeless romantic who really was her true north. Audiences don't often see Diana vulnerable like this, but she's filled with regret over denying all of Steve's proposals, realizing that she wasted something that could have made her truly happy.
However, a glimmer of light emerges from this tragedy because Wonder Woman gives the ring to Barry before the journey back to his world. She begs him not to make the same mistake she did, since Diana knows Barry's been worried about marrying Iris West. He didn't want to endanger her with his secret but Wonder Woman makes it clear it's about trust and cherishing the now.
Diana paid the ultimate price as an immortal, forcing her to realize she's been taking tomorrow for granted, and she wants Barry to follow his heart. And so, when he gets back, he honors Diana's optimism and belief in love by proposing to an elated Iris at a park in Metropolis. Thus, Justice Society: World War II ends with Barry finally realizing that the beauty of life can disappear in, well, a flash.
Produced by Warner Bros. Animation, DC and Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, Justice Society: World War II stars Stana Katic as Wonder Woman, Matt Bomer as The Flash, Elysia Rotaru as Black Canary, Chris Diamantopoulos as Steve Trevor, Omid Abtahi as Hawkman, Matthew Mercer as Hourman, Armen Taylor as Jay Garrick, Liam McIntyre as Aquaman, Ashleigh LaThrop as Iris West, Geoffrey Arend as Charles Halstead/Advisor, Keith Ferguson as Dr. Fate and Darin De Paul as Roosevelt. The film is now available digitally and will be released on 4K UHD and Blu-ray on May 11.
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