Originally Posted by
SiegePerilous02
Nobody is claiming they want JUST a power fantasy, just that it's an important part of the package, and Superman's power fantasy trappings are unique in their own way. The power fantasy is seeing the most powerful hero on Earth win the day, but that doesn't mean he cannot be challenged in the process, doesn't have weaknesses, or has everything easy. The man went through a large portion of his life believing he was an outsider, and in one iteration lost his adopted parents at a young age and had to grow up fast. Sure he can fly and shoot laser beams and is the strongest man on Earth, but there is a whole collection of psychopaths in the Phantom Zone who can do all those things and they obviously outnumber him; all his innate power doesn't mean squat when confronted with Mxy; and then there are the social justice problems he cannot solve with just his fists. To say the power fantasy aspect needs to be compromised so he can be challenged more and be more relateable has, frankly, always kind of been nonsense, because there was already plenty of nuance and challenges there. And it doesn't seem like anybody, most fans and casuals alike, really want it anyway.
I'm not sure what you mean about Luthor...?
The movie was serious when it was appropriate, thank God, but it was overall lighter in tone than MoS. The movie was challenging Diana to hold on to her inner light when confronted with such atrocities, and yes she went through some turmoil (Steve dying being the big one), but she still decisively won the day and held onto her heroism. There is no gray area there, it wasn't necessary to make her not be a power fantasy (to women in particular) to get a point across. And lo and behold, she's getting at least one sequel that will continue her character arc and is not likely to be hijacked by guest stars the way Superman's was.