When I first told my kids that I was planning to watch Wonder Man, they asked, “is he the male version of Wonder Woman?” I laughed out loud, and replied, “nah kids, he’s totally different but I get your question!”
Its seemingly derivative name aside, Disney+’s Wonder Man is one of the top four superhero-themed shows that I have watched to-date. The reasons I like it are aplenty but I’ll tell you a couple of reasons why I really like it. 👇
It’s the characters, silly!
This doesn’t feel like a show about superheroes and supervillains. It actually plays like an action-packed, buddy sitcom—following the trials and tribulations of two struggling actors trying to make it in Hollywood.
Trevor Slattery (Ben Kingsley) and Simon Williams aka Wonder Man (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) have electric chemistry. They both have dark secrets, which will lead to high stakes later on in the series. But they also share a love for acting. The latter is the tie that binds them, and fuels the show.
It stands on its own…
Sure, it’s a part of the MCU but the show, Trevor Slattery (Iron Man 3 and Shang-Chi) aside, spends very little time focusing on broader franchise tie-ins or world-building.
And I love it for that!
The show is present and that resonates with me. It’s low on spectacle but high on character. Some of my favorite MCU content focuses on the human condition.
For example, Spider-Man: Homecoming deals with Peter Parker’s coming of age as an Avenger, but more importantly, his coming of age as a high schooler—trying to find acceptance, love and more.
Similarly, Wonder Man is wrestling with suppressing his “super” qualities while trying to find love (unsuccessfully) and his big acting break (successfully). Along the way, he finds a buddy for life in Slattery.
That’s immersing in character. And people. Not the superhero. And it is refreshing, and Wonderful!
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