Everybody has a lot of opinions about the current state of Marvel Studios' projects, in terms of their content volume and the quality of the writing. I have probably mentioned superhero fatigue on this blog before and how, over the years, I haven't felt it personally as much as most people do, but I have always been an advocate for something different. Wonder Man fulfills that need within the superhero genre by blending into subgenres, much like WandaVision did.
Marvel is learning its lesson not to always go big with Wonder Man, specifically by following a grounded story of Simon Williams, an aspiring actor who happens to run into MCU fan favorite Trevor Slattery to audition for a superhero role. Do remember that this is still an MCU show, so expect meta references about superheroes and the often felt fatigue around that topic, presented in a way that applies to a world where enhanced beings exist and how that affects the entertainment world.
However, the meta-ness applies not only to the superhero genre but also to Hollywood itself. Audiences will probably be wondering, 'Don't we have enough of those, especially Seth Rogen's The Studio, so fresh in memory and being an awards darling?' There's no denying that Marvel has made something special and worth watching, nonetheless, thanks to the undeniable chemistry between Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Sir Ben Kingsley.
Mateen has been in the genre before, and no matter what he does, whether superhero-related or not, he is always good. He solidifies this here even further, in a very different role from the other work he has done in the genre. The idea of a 'Conceal, Don't Feel' story here, in the case of Simon Williams, was relatable. With that, also shedding a light -- not the first to have done it -- on the struggles of trying to be an up-and-coming actor in Hollywood. From risking agent meetings to being too opinionated about scripts despite not having traction at a movie set, Simon is a lovable but destructive character you want to see develop.
All this while he hides his powers in an industry that no longer sees people like him as safe. This adds a lot of interpretation and nuance to the role, and a very specific episode that strays from the main storyline to explore how people have changed their perception of powered individuals. There are many moments of character writing here for both Mateen and Kingsley, two incredible actors to work with as they try to act like aspiring actors... There are just so many layers there to unfold.
Speaking of Kingsley, Trevor Slattery is back and needlessly gives us more Trevor Slattery than we could have ever asked for and more. It is indeed surprising that they are giving us more of this character, but Trevor is completely fleshed out, and if anyone watches Wonder Man, they will want to see more, especially if he is paired with Mateen's portrayal of Simon again. They manage to make many bold swings here with the character and with the show itself, especially in those last 2 episodes, which I think people will feast on.
Marvel has a knack for adapting moments rather than page-to-page recreations across the wider MCU. This is to keep focus, track the characters they can put on screen and introduce beforehand, and gain public interest, especially during crossover events. Wonder Man is probably one of the few projects in the MCU right now that does not rely on the source material, which I thought was a splendid choice. This is most evident in Simon Williams' character and origin. They are building something new here that strays from what most people who remember his arc and the characters involved in it in the comics remember.
It might be one of the better Disney Marvel projects thus far. I also think that dropping all episodes was a better choice for this show than a weekly model, given the length of the episodes and how closely they were interconnected. It was an ongoing story that followed the characters' journey over what I assumed was within a week. Waiting every week as a viewer to see what happens would have driven me crazy, and maybe even lose my eye on the game. Despite others' views on its release strategy, I do think people should check out Wonder Man. It is a stellar choice. Very different from what Marvel has done before, and I think audiences would appreciate the refreshing deviation from predictability this time around. Marvel has learned lessons, and I think it is time to give them their flowers.
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