Marvel’s TV output in recent years has been very hit and miss, to say the least. From fan favourites such as Loki and Moon Knight, to underwhelming projects such as Secret Invasion, and even the occasional surprise like Agatha All Along, to say the quality has been inconsistent is an understatement. This is where Wonder Man comes in, to hopefully offer something different and more consistent that breaks up the traditional MCU formula.
The series follows struggling actor Simon Williams (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II), who teams up with veteran actor Trevor Slattery (Ben Kingsley) so they can both earn roles in the remake of the superhero film Wonder Man.
Wonder Man is refreshing for several reasons. Firstly, everything from its writing to overall execution feels surprisingly earnest and genuine. The emphasis on character more than anything gives the series an honest sense of relatability and charm that is unlike any Marvel project to date. Though there have been projects in the past, such as Daredevil and Echo, that have gone down the dark and gritty route, Wonder Man, instead, is more concerned with character-driven drama and seeing how much empathy and humour can be squeezed from these individuals in a given scenario. Even the way the show is shot is noticeably different to other MCU outings as it has a certain filmic look that complements the handheld camerawork on display, in many ways reminiscent of last year’s The Studio.
Secondly, due to its more mature and realistic approach, one would think the superhero element to it all may feel jarring, but that’s not the case here. The reality of Simon’s powers bubbles in the background and is purely brought into play to reinforce his growing stresses and anxieties as a struggling actor in Los Angeles. For once, the priorities are flipped; the very thing that would usually be front and centre in any other Marvel show is instead left to brew under the surface. This also means that when the powers become more prominent as the series goes on, the level of suspense that has been building quietly from the start is able to explode out in an intensely satisfying manner during its closing episodes.
However, the true driving force behind this show is the chemistry between Abdul-Mateen and Kingsley. These characters bounce off each other so naturally from start to finish. Even as secrets are revealed over the course of the show, the sympathy these two actors share with each other is palpable from every conversation and glance they have together.
Abdul-Mateen effortlessly shows his range throughout the series, always carrying an endearing demeanour through Simon, even during more stressful scenes. Kingsley, on the other hand, really plays to the comedic strengths of Trevor that have been established in previous MCU films, whilst adding a considerable amount of heart and depth to the role that has never been present before. There is also a bit of irony to be found in the fact that, through this show, a character who was initially written as a joke back in Iron Man 3 now has more depth than some of the core, title characters within the MCU.
Wonder Man is one of those rare Marvel shows that will genuinely work for anybody. Fans of the franchise will find a lot to like with how the series subverts expectations and tries something new tonally, whereas outsiders can comfortably watch the show for its own merits as it confidently stands on its own two feet. At the end of the day, this isn’t just a good MCU project; it’s a legitimately well-made show that anyone can jump straight into and enjoy.
8 out of 8 episodes were available to view.
Wonder Man is currently available to stream on Disney+.
