Wonder Man Review: Marvel Somehow Fumbled Its Best MCU Show in Years

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2025 wasn’t a strong year for Marvel Studios, and the Marvel Cinematic Universe didn’t really connect with audiences. Now, looking ahead to 2026, a new hero is being introduced: Simon Williams, portrayed by Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, in the series Wonder Man. While the project started with a lot of promise, it quickly becomes clear that the show feels like two separate stories.

In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Williams is an actor hoping to become a star when he crosses paths with the talented Sir Ben Kingsley, who plays Trevor Slattery. Together, they form the central partnership driving the story, taking viewers on a ride through personal growth and the world of Hollywood. While the show starts strong with excellent episodes, Wonder Man unfortunately loses steam, falling into predictable clichés and failing to develop truly compelling characters.

Wonder Man’s Opening Episodes Are Some of the Best That Marvel Has Made

Marvel’s TV shows have been inconsistent with audiences. While Secret Invasion was widely disliked, series like WandaVision and Agatha All Along were very popular. Wonder Man stands out with a particularly strong start, offering some of the best initial episodes in the entire franchise, and maintains that quality for the first half of the season.

As a fan, I have to say the first four episodes of this series really blew me away. They felt truly special – like the absolute best the Marvel Cinematic Universe is capable of. Watching Williams and Slattery deal with things like being rejected, struggling with depression, and navigating relationships, all while set against the backdrop of Hollywood, was just incredible. It wasn’t just a superhero story; it felt like something much more meaningful and touching.

The first four episodes of the series are genuinely moving and heartfelt, but unfortunately, this quality diminishes as the story progresses. Initially, the show focuses on a very personal narrative and offers a look at the inner workings of Hollywood. It portrays the main character, Simon, as someone deeply troubled, grappling with his identity and strained family relationships.

What’s most compelling in the beginning of the series is its look at the current film and TV industry. Simon is often overlooked and dismissed, and both he and Trevor face the tough realities of auditions, constantly at the mercy of agents, directors, and those making casting decisions.

The show focuses on exposing the harsh realities and emotional toll faced by people in Hollywood, particularly actors. This extends to the personal life of the main character, Simon, as he constantly battles negativity from family and in his relationships. Watching Simon repeatedly told he’ll fail, while pursuing his dreams, is powerfully moving for viewers.

The show doesn’t immediately grab your attention with its visuals, even in the beginning. However, one episode is truly outstanding – it’s a pivotal moment not just for Wonder Man, but for Marvel television as a whole. This episode offers a unique story, inventive visuals, and a genuinely compelling narrative.

The early episodes of Wonder Man were promising and gave viewers a lot to look forward to. Unfortunately, the series finale and Simon Williams’s downward turn ultimately shattered those expectations.

Mateen and Kingsley Are a Strong Onscreen Pair

A strong point of the show is the character of Simon. Mateen quickly makes the audience care about Simon in the early episodes. He’s relatable, sympathetic, and his desires – for love, respect, and belief – are easy to understand. Each setback he faces feels impactful, both for him and for viewers.

I always thought Slattery was just there for comic relief in the MCU, you know? He was always the guy everyone laughed at, and honestly, I didn’t think they ever intended for him to be anything more. But Wonder Man totally changes that! It finally gives Ben Kingsley a chance to really show what an amazing actor he is – it’s like we’re finally seeing the performance fans have always known he was capable of.

Trevor’s transformation from a boastful, self-centered actor into someone kind and considerate is truly remarkable. While Simon falters later in the series, Trevor’s character continues to shine. His appearance in Wonder Man represents the peak of his growth, and it feels like a long-awaited moment.

Mateen initially creates a lot of positive feeling towards Simon, but the show ultimately ruins that goodwill with Simon’s character development. This isn’t Mateen’s fault – they deliver a consistent performance throughout Wonder Man – it’s simply that Simon’s character is poorly written. He goes from being someone you sympathize with to someone you quickly start to dislike.

It’s heartbreaking to watch Simon initially struggle and strive to find his footing, but that empathy turns to frustration as his personality changes. At first, his unusual behavior seems like a young actor trying to make a good impression and be noticed. However, as time goes on, it just comes across as arrogance and a lack of respect for others.

The story turns into a struggle to keep viewers rooting for the character, and that only happens thanks to Trevor and how he treats Simon. Although Simon finds some redemption near the end, the negative impression he made earlier is difficult to overcome, making it hard for audiences to warm up to him if he were to return.

The Ending of Wonder Man Brings Down the Whole Show

Whether Simon will return is still very uncertain, something fans have noticed in recent projects. Wonder Man really highlights this issue, as it feels largely separate from the rest of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. You could even understand Trevor’s backstory just from the story and flashbacks within Wonder Man itself.

Surprisingly, this approach really works for Wonder Man. The show’s initial episodes deliberately avoid many common superhero tropes, and that’s what makes it engaging. It offers a new angle, letting viewers get to know the character before introducing the usual capes and villains.

Look, I’m a huge superhero fan, so I don’t think shows with that style are bad. But honestly, Wonder Man was a breath of fresh air because it felt like the creators actually had a story they wanted to tell, not just cool powers to show off. That’s why the ending really bummed me out – it felt like all that good storytelling was wasted and ultimately brought the whole series down.

After Simon’s character arc concluded, the show reverted to predictable storylines. It lost its unique qualities and felt hurried, as if it was simply checking off boxes to satisfy fans rather than telling a compelling story organically. While it gave viewers what they expected, these moments felt forced and unnecessary.

While Trevor’s storyline helped bring Wonder Man to a close, it wasn’t quite enough to make the ending truly memorable. The show could have delivered a more impactful and emotionally resonant finale if it had focused on its original themes instead of prioritizing fan-service moments.

While Wonder Man hasn’t been a complete success lately, it does have some significant flaws. The performances by Mateen and Kingsley are excellent, and their characters share a genuinely moving connection. However, this isn’t enough to overcome the show’s hurried and disappointing conclusion, which diminishes the strengths it built up earlier. Though fans would love to see Simon Williams reappear, the series leaves it uncertain whether Marvel is truly committed to bringing that character back.

All episodes of Marvel Television’s Wonder Man debut on Disney+ on January 27.

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2026-01-23 07:43