**This review contains some SPOILERS***
Watch the SPOILER review on YouTube
Released without a lot of fanfare, “Wonder Man” is one of Marvel’s best television shows so far, but those hoping for the next superhero action-packed story may be disappointed by the grounded tale we’re given about unlikely friends struggling to reach their lofty goals.
The plot is mostly straightforward: Struggling new actor Simon Williams overthinks himself so much that he can’t seem to capitalize on his talent to make it big in Hollywood, while washed-up actor Trevor Slattery works to pull himself from rock-bottom and find his redemption. The pair bond as they both try out for a part in a big-budget remake of a superhero film called “Wonder Man.” Outside of the down-to-earth dilemmas that they come across, there’s not much in the name of danger here. No saving the world, or even the neighborhood. However, Slattery’s past and William’s secret do give the show some tension and also tease a big betrayal.
This show is purely powered by its leads. Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Williams uses his natural charisma to take a character with a lot of personality traits that could make him unlikable and make him someone the audience still wants to root for. And while Ben Kingsley’s Slattery has been portrayed mostly as a joke up to this point in his previous MCU appearances, he’s toned-down here to the point that his charm shines through but he still retains some of that cluelessness the character has been associated with. But the real magic is the way these actors and the characters they play interact with each other. Their friendship happens quickly but believably, and you find yourself being emotionally invested in the highs and the lows of their journey.
The look of the show works for the story they’re telling. They mostly filmed in LA, which helps give the film an authentic feel, but the directing also brings some flavor by adding interesting shots throughout. There are a handful of scenes that involve special effects, and while they’re not the greatest, they don’t distract from the story.
Overall, despite not being a superhero show, “Wonder Man” is a solid entry in the MCU about struggling actors and unlikely friendships. With each episode barely more than thirty minutes long and all eight episodes dropped the same day, the series is a breeze the watch in one sitting and rarely overstays its welcome.
*** out of *****