Okay, so I was really excited for Wonder Man, hoping Marvel would nail another character introduction. And honestly, while the actors really gave it their all and there were definitely some funny moments, the movie just felt… messy. It didn’t really come together for me until the very last act, which was a bummer because I wanted to love it from the start.
It’s been five years since Marvel started making superhero shows for Disney+, and during that time, they’ve tried mixing things up with different genres – with varying degrees of success.
WandaVision started as a parody of sitcoms but became a deeper story, Loki featured action and adventure with time travel, Ms. Marvel was a funny and relatable story about growing up, She-Hulk was a breezy legal show, Secret Invasion was a tense and dramatic spy story, and Agatha All Along was a musical fantasy that felt like a journey.
Marvel’s journey hasn’t been perfect, with both successes and failures, but they deserve credit for consistently trying new things. Their latest effort, Wonder Man, is a complicated and self-aware project that, unfortunately, doesn’t quite succeed.
Who is Simon Williams?
I’m really hooked on this show about Simon Williams, played by Yahya Abdul-Mateen II. He’s a super talented actor who’s starting to feel the pressure of getting older without having had that big break yet. It’s not that he can’t act – he’s actually really good! – it’s just that he keeps getting in his own way, which is so frustrating to watch, but also really relatable.
In the first episode, Simon briefly appeared on American Horror Story, but his character was quickly killed off – having his head bitten off, in fact. However, he immediately frustrated the show’s producers by asking for more depth and history for his character, and this led to him being fired.
Things quickly fall apart for Simon in this first story. Because he won’t open up to his girlfriend, she breaks up with him, and he becomes increasingly lonely and isolated.
As the story unfolds, it’s revealed that Williams intentionally keeps his distance from others, and for good reason: he possesses incredible powers and can control massive amounts of energy.
The problem is, Simon’s powers come out when he gets angry, causing things nearby to explode and putting everyone around him in danger. This has gotten the attention of Damage Control, who are now monitoring him.
What is Wonder Man about?
Simon and his father bonded over a Wonder Man movie years ago, and Simon has always dreamed of playing the character himself. Now, a new movie is being made, and Simon gets his wish. However, achieving this dream comes with significant consequences for both Simon and those he loves.
Trevor Slattery, the actor played by Ben Kingsley who initially appeared as a false Mandarin in Iron Man 3, is one of the returning characters. He was last seen in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings portraying a more genuinely heroic role.
They first connected at a showing of Midnight Cowboy, then auditioned for the same role in Wonder Man on the same day. A strong friendship quickly developed, with Trevor taking on a mentor-like role for Simon, offering guidance and support – except when he was preoccupied with his love for Chaka Khan.
Wonder Man explores a compelling friendship while also being a story about two unlikely friends. The witty banter and adventures of Simon and Trevor really showcase the great connection between actors Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Ben Kingsley. However, that’s just one part of what the film offers.
A show that can’t find its feet
The Wonder Man episodes vary wildly in quality. Some feel unimportant, others are confusing, and unfortunately, much of the show is just boring.
The show begins well, quickly setting up the story, introducing the main characters, and suggesting a possible enemy—though that enemy doesn’t end up playing a significant role. Unfortunately, after a good start, the plot wanders aimlessly for a large portion of the show’s duration.
The season includes a birthday party at Simon’s mother’s house that doesn’t really advance the story, an audition episode at a director’s home which focuses on character moments but doesn’t do much else, and an episode set at Joe Pantoliano’s house that feels unnecessary, except for a clever twist at the end.
One particularly unusual episode focuses on a bouncer who gains superpowers. He ends up working for Josh Gad and becomes known as ‘Door Man,’ briefly entering the world of entertainment – though this story feels separate from the main plot.
It’s disappointing to learn about supporting characters’ backstories before we get to see Simon’s, and completely skipping over the main characters for half an hour really hurts the show’s flow. The show didn’t have a lot of momentum to begin with, and this just makes it worse.
Is Wonder Man good?
The TV series Smallville distinguished itself by promising a take on the Superman story without the typical superhero costumes or flying. This approach paid off, as the show became a compelling exploration of the characters of Clark Kent and Lex Luthor.
Wonder Man shares similarities with other Marvel heroes, but the story doesn’t fully explore Simon Williams’s motivations or explain why he sometimes loses control.
The story felt directionless and lacked momentum, making me wonder what the point was. It should have been about Simon and his journey to becoming a real superhero, but that part of the story didn’t really develop.
Wonder Man feels similar to Seth Rogen’s film The Studio, and I half-expected a character like Matt Remick to appear and criticize the show for not having enough action, considering it’s advertised as a superhero series.
Are comic book fans really looking for shows that poke fun at Hollywood over thrilling adventures? And, do comedy fans want a boring backstory to interrupt their laughs?
Despite its aims, the show doesn’t quite succeed as either a comedy or a superhero story. It lacks enough genuinely funny moments to work as a buddy sitcom, and the exciting superhero action doesn’t appear until the very end.
This fundamental flaw makes Wonder Man feel less like a complete story and more like a drawn-out, disappointing introduction to something bigger.
Wonder Man score: 2/5
All eight episodes of Wonder Man will be available on Disney+ from January 27, 2026.
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2026-01-23 07:52