'Wonder Man' Season One Review
Image Source: Blunt Magazine
“We will make the last movie on Earth ‘cause no one will have the balls to make another!”
It’s not a unique observation to say that the Marvel Cinematic Universe has experienced peaks and valleys over the last 5 years. Ever since the MCU returned from a year-long hiatus in 2021, it has had very high highs and some lows of varying quality. While WandaVision, Spider-Man: No Way Home, Loki, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, andGuardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 3 all enjoyed critical and financial success, projects such as Eternals, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, Secret Invasion, Echo, and Captain America: Brave New World were less lucky in those departments. There were films such as Thunderbolts*, which enjoyed highly positive critical and fan reception but failed to make an impact at the box office, while films such as Deadpool & Wolverine broke box-office records but became the poster child for issues people have with the MCU in its current state. A lot has been said about “superhero fatigue” and how the genre doesn’t hit the same mark as it once did. But with the recent successes of Superman and The Fantastic Four: First Steps and a handful of filmmakers who kept the genre going in the post-pandemic era, there are signs that the genre is picking up steam yet again. 2026 seems to be the year of the MCU bounce back, with every project poised to shake things up. While the film side of things is a tad scarce, with only two, Spider-Man: Brand New Dayand Avengers: Doomsday, aren’t anything to sneeze at. On Disney+, Daredevil: Born Again and Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man return for their second seasons, a quick turnaround as both shows began last year. VisionQuest, showran by Terry Matalas, is also expected to air sometime this year. But first, we travel to the glamorous world of Hollywood with Wonder Man.
Simon Williams, an ambitious actor, guns for the iconic role of Wonder Man. A high-profile remake of his favorite childhood film feels like a calling to Simon, leading him to cross paths with Trevor Slattery, an actor known for playing the fictional terrorist, The Mandarin. Both Simon and Trevor seek a fresh start, hoping their lead roles in Wonder Man will transform their lives. On the surface, this may not seem like your typical MCU fare, and you’ll be right. Wonder Man defies expectations, offering a grounded, intimate, and emotionally resonant chapter in the MCU. As part of the Marvel Spotlight banner, Wonder Man stands entirely on its own, to the point where you forget this is a Marvel series. This refreshing approach is a strength, allowing the series to shine as a unique gem within the franchise.
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Image Source: Tech Radar
More TV-savvy MCU fans will see similarities between Wonder Man and other recent satirical film-centric comedy shows such as The Franchise and The Studio. While it may not possess The Studio’s flashier Emmy-winning directing style, it maintains its energy and overall quality. And thankfully, Wonder Man avoids the clichéd and often unimaginative humor of The Franchise. Andrew Guest (30 Rock, Community, Suburgatory) and his team of writers supply the series with a strong sense of wit and confidence. Due to the series’ grounded nature, there is no need for the narrative to speed up the proceedings to get to the hero fighting the villain in the finale. Instead, we’re treated to 8 vignettes about the struggles of creativity, the impact of art, and the importance of friendship.
Wonder Man has a lot more to offer than “Ha ha, aren’t there just SO MANY SUPERHEROES MOVIES?!” and “LMAO, Hollywood is so crazy!” It’s not the writers making fun of Marvel and the superhero genre as a whole for 8 episodes in a row. Instead, we’re treated to Simon and Trevor’s journeys as struggling actors trying to make it big. We’re treated to a subtle but impactful backstory for Simon Williams: why he wants to be an actor and how his superpowers get in the way. But it’s also a story about how Simon’s own arrogance and selfishness are just as big of obstacles as his powers are. In addition to genuinely great character work, the humor fires on all cylinders, especially in the season’s fifth episode "Found Footage".
Complimenting the writing is the directing talent. This time around, we have four filmmakers directing two blocks of episodes each. We start with Destin Daniel Cretton, series co-creator and MCU veteran. Even when he’s not dealing with exhilarating action sequences, Cretton’s knack for kinetic energy and style is as present in his two episodes of Wonder Man as it was in Shang-Chi. Cretton’s reunion with frequent cinematographer Brett Pawlak also helps the show stand out visually from other MCU projects. The same can be said for the musical score by Cretton’s frequent composer, Joel P. West, who gives us a subtle but highly effective and memorable score. Tiffany Johnson (Black Monday, Poker Face, Dear White People), James Ponsoldt (The End of the Tour, Shrinking, Daisy and the Six), and Stella Meghie (Everything, Everything, The Photograph, Insecure) also bring their directorial A-game to the series. Meghie and Ponsoldt’s backgrounds in film and television really elevate their episodes, even with their small-scale nature.
Ponsoldt specifically gets to have the most fun with the standalone episode Doorman, which is one part Jordan Peele film and one part intriguing insight into the MCU’s mutant-heavy future. Going back to Cretton, his initial reluctance to join the MCU hasn’t affected the quality of his work; he's already 2-for-2 with Marvel projects. We can only hope he can add Spider-Man: Brand New Day to his ever-growing list of great MCU projects.
Image Source: The Hollywood Reporter
Like all the best MCU projects, the characters are the best part. Wonder Man doesn’t have much in the way of iconic MCU characters, with Trevor Slattery and Agent P. Cleary being the only MCU alumni in the series. This works to the series’ advantage. Simon Williams is free of preconceived notions and unreasonable expectations because of the character’s obscurity. While the casting of Yahya Abdul-Mateen II caused the typical tidal wave of hand-wringing about “Blackwashing” (which isn’t a thing) and the forever calling card for media illiteracy, “WhAt If ThEy MaDe BlAcK PaNtHeR wHiTe?!” across social media circles, Yahya kills it. Hitting the scene with breakout roles as Clarence "Cadillac" Caldwell in The Get Down and Black Manta in James Wan’s Aquaman films,
Yahya Abdul-Manteen II has already proven himself as one of the finest actors in the game. Also known for his acclaimed performances in Aaron Sorkin’s The Trial of the Chicago 7, Lana Wachowski’s The Matrix Resurrections (in which he plays a young Morpheus), Nia DaCosta’s Candyman, and his Emmy-winning turn as Doctor Manhattan in Watchmen, Wonder Man is another winner in Manteen’s ever-growing list of impressive credits. Manteen is effortlessly charming but also walks the tightrope between drama and comedy without ever losing his footing in either. His performance as Simon is sympathetic, real, and engaging, and helps make the character one of the most relatable and compelling MCU heroes in the franchise’s 18-year history. Joining Florence Pugh’s Yelena Belova, Iman Vellani’s Kamala Khan, Oscar Isaac’s dual performances as Marc Spector and Steven Grant, and Hailee Steinfeld as Kate Bishop, Yahya Abdul-Manteen II stands out as one of the MCU’s best new characters in the post-Phase 3 era.
Sir Ben Kingsley is an actor who needs no introduction. Highly regarded as one of the most remarkable thespians of our time, it’s always an event when Kingsley works on any project. His fourth go-around as Trevor Slattery is far and away his best one to date. Slattery going from twist villain to Ringo Starr patsche to out-of-place comic relief in Shang-Chi to co-lead in Wonder Man has been a very interesting journey to watch. Especially when you remember Kingsley first played this role 13 years ago.
Kingsley and Manteen’s chemistry is natural and heartfelt to the point where you forget this is a Marvel show. Their interactions with each other and the rest of the cast deliver many of the biggest laughs across all 8 episodes. Sadly, that leaves my biggest (and, frankly, only) gripe with the series: it doesn’t make much use of an ensemble cast. Zlatko Burić (who superhero fans may recognize as President Gorkos in Superman) as Von Kovak is the most memorable supporting character, as he’s the only one to be given any significant screentime.
Image Source: Empire
Wonder Man is not only an antidote for so-called “superhero fatigue” but also an antidote for cynicism. In a time when people of all ages, races, and genders are irony-poisoned to the point where it’s an epidemic, it’s nice to know Marvel and the filmmakers emphasize the power of what superhero movies are supposed to do: inspire. For anyone who wants a heartfelt, breezy, and painfully relatable tale of humor, friendship, and cool sunglasses? Wonder Man is where it’s at. All in all, Wonder Man is the greatest MCU project ever made.
Rating: 10/10
All 8 episodes of Wonder Man are now streaming on Disney+.
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