If you’re looking for the typical Marvel action sequences, you’re not going to find them in Wonder Man.
Unlike Marvel Studios’ previous attempts to lean into comedy on Disney+, Wonder Man gets in its lane and stays there.
It’s very rare when punches are thrown in this series, and most of those come during an in-universe look at a cheesy Wonder Man movie.
For anyone who’s still on the fence, Watch With Us will now answer this question: Is Marvel’s new Wonder Man series worth watching? And if so, why isn’t anyone talking about it?
It’s Marvel’s Version of ‘Entourage’
It’s been almost 15 years since Entourage wrapped up its run on HBO, but Wonder Man seems like its successor. This show doesn’t become as farcical as Apple TV‘s Emmy-winning comedy The Studio, and it manages to walk a fine line between parody and a straightforward comedy. To give this series credibility, a handful of real actors appear as themselves, including Josh Gad, Ashley Greene, Mario Lopez and Joe Pantoliano.
The irony is that aside from perhaps Gad, those established performers are lower on the A-list than Wonder Man‘s stars, both of whom play struggling actors. Yahya Abdul-Mateen II leads the series as Simon Williams, while Ben Kingsley reprises his role as Trevor Slattery from Iron Man 3 and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. The biggest thing that Simon and Trevor have in common is a desire to be recognized for their acting prowess. They’re trying to break into a ridiculous world that may not want them, but every rejection makes them desire it even more.
Abdul-Mateen and Kingsley Have a Fun ‘Bromance’
The relationship between Simon and Trevor is the beating heart of this series. Wonder Man depicts their first meeting and their subsequent encounters in the initial episode, which is done in a very charming way. Trevor actually gets a great audition out of Simon by helping him get out of his own way. If their friendship had only grown out of that moment, it would be almost heartwarming.
Unfortunately for Simon, Trevor does have an ulterior motive for getting so close to him. We’re not going to spoil it for you here, but Trevor’s future may depend upon his willingness to figuratively stab Simon in the back. That’s the underlying tension, because these two guys genuinely like each other. Simon and Trevor may not agree about their acting methods, but their shared love for performing gives them something real to latch on to. Bro-mancing was also a big part of Entourage, which is why the comparison between the two shows seems so appropriate.
‘Wonder Man’ Shakes Up the MCU Formula for the Better
Let’s get this out of the way: Simon does have superpowers, but he isn’t interested in being a hero. Simon isn’t looking to become an Avenger or a costumed vigilante; he just wants to make his mark on the entertainment industry. However, he has to hide his powers, or else he’ll never get another opportunity to show off what he can do in front of the cameras.
There are only a handful of times in the entire series that Simon uses his powers, and he does so accidentally more often than intentionally. That’s something that may frustrate MCU fans who could use an action fix, but it’s a refreshing dose of character and small stakes drama/comedy that brings the Marvel Cinematic Universe back down to Earth. That’s the entire point of this show, and if that sounds good to you, then this is the superhero series you need to watch.
Maybe that’s why no one is talking about Wonder Man. Because it offers something more subtle than the usual superhero fare, the show isn’t discussed on social media as much as, say, The Boys. Hopefully, that doesn’t mean no one is watching. It’s enough that Wonder Man fulfils what it sets out to accomplish — to look at superheroes from a different angle that doesn’t involve one mindless action sequence after another. That’s what makes Wonder Man truly special — the show’s superpower is its restraint and your reward.
Wonder Man is now streaming on Disney+.
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