Wonder Man is Officially the End of an Era for the MCU

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When Marvel Studios started making shows for Disney+, the series Wonder Man marked a change from a pattern seen in many of their releases. Following the huge success of films like Avengers: Endgame and Spider-Man: No Way Home, it seemed like streaming shows would be a guaranteed success. However, many of the Disney+ shows haven’t lived up to expectations. Wonder Man is notable because it moves away from the typical large-scale battle that often concludes these series.

Marvel movies and shows often feel the need to finish with a large-scale battle, even when the story doesn’t necessarily call for it. However, in Wonder Man, Simon Williams only uses his powers to fight bad guys once, midway through the series. The other character with powers, DeMarr Davis, doesn’t fight at all – instead, he rescues people from a fire and goes through a dramatic personal journey that involves a missing celebrity. Despite ending with a powerful display of Wonder Man’s abilities, the show doesn’t conclude with a typical finale fight.

Since Wandavision, the Best and Worst MCU Series Suffered From ‘Big Finale Fight Scenes’

During the pandemic, WandaVision took MCU fans and critics by surprise with its innovative take on TV storytelling. After eight episodes that captured the public’s attention, the series concluded with a fairly standard superhero battle above West View, leaving many viewers feeling let down. This reaction is somewhat harsh, considering how original and intelligent WandaVision had been; the conventional finale simply didn’t live up to the show’s earlier creativity.

Honestly, I was really disappointed with Secret Invasion. It started with such a cool idea – the possibility of Skrulls infiltrating everything – but it just didn’t deliver. It felt like all the big reveals, like the President’s anti-alien law or even the fact that Rhodey was a Skrull, didn’t really matter in the grand scheme of things. And G’iah suddenly having all those powers? It just felt thrown in and didn’t connect to the main story. It was hard to get invested when these huge plot points felt so disconnected from everything else that was working.

Even when series finales are well-received, they often rely too much on a large, climactic conflict. While it’s enjoyable to watch action sequences – like the archers battling the Tracksuit Mafia in the MCU – many viewers would prefer more time spent developing the characters. The finale of Daredevil: Born Again had good fights too, but this focus on action often feels like a necessary element rather than an artistic choice.

Wonder Man Breaks the Finale Trend With an Understated and Character-Focused Ending

Many viewers felt the season finale didn’t quite wrap things up, and that’s partly because the Marvel Cinematic Universe has set such a high standard for continuous storytelling. Fans are unaccustomed to not knowing what’s next for a character like Simon Williams, especially after he’s fully embraced his abilities. However, this deliberate ambiguity – leaving the audience with unanswered questions and no immediate promise of continuation – was a brave choice that ultimately served the story Wonder Man aimed to tell. He won’t be joining the West Coast Avengers or participating in events like Avengers: Doomsday or Secret Wars. Instead, the show intentionally leaves the consequences of his actions open-ended, encouraging viewers to think about them long after the credits roll.

I always loved that show because it wasn’t really about superheroes, you know? It was about a guy, Simon Williams, who actually didn’t want to be one! He was an artist, and his powers kept getting in the way of his dream. It was frustrating watching him struggle for so long, especially after he messed up and almost lost everything. But then, after seven episodes, he finally used his powers – not to save the world, but to help a friend. It was a really cool moment because he finally took control and did what he thought was right, even if it was risky. It wasn’t about being a hero; it was about him finally figuring things out.

The twist that the Mandarin in Iron Man 3 was actually an out-of-work actor named Trevor Slattery surprised many. While trying to get released from prison, Trevor meets Simon, another actor who shares his passion for performing. Simon’s superpowers manifested after discovering his only friend was secretly working with the Department of Damage Control. To protect Simon, Trevor reluctantly reprised his role as the Mandarin, which resulted in a life sentence for himself. Later, after experiencing success with an in-universe Wonder Man film, Simon sacrifices everything to free Trevor.

Wonder Man Proves Marvel Studios’ TV Series Do Not Need a Big Finale Fight

Though initially planned as a limited series, there’s uncertainty about its future. However, even if it doesn’t continue, Wonder Man‘s biggest impact on the Marvel Cinematic Universe isn’t about fitting into existing storylines. The show demonstrates that superhero stories don’t have to follow typical superhero formulas. For example, the show features a great live-action version of Wonder Man’s comic book costume, but only for about a minute. It’s notable that the very next scene includes someone commenting on how amazing the previous fight scene was.

The story of “Yucca Valley” isn’t about a superhero battle to save the day. It’s about Simon realizing that his friendship with Trevor is more important than achieving his dreams. He doesn’t use his acting skills to get a new job; instead, he uses them to trick a guard and get close to Trevor. Like other heroes who fully embraced their identities in the finales of their series, Simon does become Wonder Man. However, he doesn’t use his powers in a grand fight—he simply uses them to help Trevor escape from prison.

Given Marvel Studios’ typical approach, it’s highly likely Wonder Man will reappear somehow. The recent series emphasized that he’s actually unaware of the source of his powers. Interestingly, the actor’s initial interest in playing the role wasn’t about the character’s abilities or joining the mainstream MCU hero lineup. Instead, it stemmed from a personal connection to his late father and the impact the original Wonder Man film had on his childhood love of movies.

Simon Williams spent his life pursuing an acting career as a way to avoid confronting his own feelings of loneliness and self-doubt. That’s what makes the story of Wonder Man so compelling: Simon literally uses his skills and identity to escape with Trevor. Through interactions with established heroes and villains in the MCU, Trevor gets to see the real Simon beneath his intimidating powers. Like many origin stories, Wonder Man is about Simon learning to cope with the challenges that come with having superpowers – but it doesn’t require him to wear a costume or fight a traditional villain. The show proves Von Kovak’s point: the person behind the powers is always the most fascinating part of the story, and future MCU shows could learn from that approach.

The complete Wonder Man miniseries is now streaming on Disney+.

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2026-02-02 21:10