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Ron: Hello and welcome to Stereo Geeks. Today, we’re reviewing Wonder Man, the latest Disney+ show based in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. I’m Ron.

Mon: And I’m Mon. Wonder Man releases on January 27 so this season review will be spoiler-free.

Ron: Before we start our episode, we would like to acknowledge that the land we are recording on is the traditional territory of many nations, including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples. It is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. We also acknowledge that Toronto is covered by Treaty 13 with the Mississaugas of the Credit.

Mon: While we are making this land acknowledgement, we understand that this is not enough and that positive action is required by the people of Canada to make substantive change for the Indigenous nations and communities whose lands we now reside on.

[Music]

Mon: Wonder Man follows struggling actor Simon Williams, played by Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, as he attempts to get the role of a lifetime. 

Ron: He meets fellow actor Trevor Slattery — Sir Ben Kingsley — and the two form a surprising partnership. But both characters are hiding secrets that could derail their dreams. 

Mon: I know very little about Wonder Man, the character. All I know is that he is Vision’s brother in the comics — and hence, Scarlet Witch’s brother-in-law. I mean, this is from an eon ago. Not sure it’s relevant to present-day comics. 

Ron: I did some quick research on Wonder Man before the show. He was initially introduced as a villain and he even fought the Avengers. But DC sued Marvel for using the name Wonder Man because they had Wonder Woman. So he was taken out of circulation. Eventually he was reintroduced as a hero and led the West Coast Avengers. 

Mon: Oh, fascinating. See, I usually like doing some research, by which I mean reading a bunch of comics. But the Wonder Man release date has been unpredictable and snuck up on me.

Ron: Agreed. I do like having some idea of the superhero backstories, especially since the MCU is so vast now. But honestly, I don’t think you need the history to watch this show. 

Mon: I agree. 

Ron: Without revealing too much, I can say that Wonder Man doesn’t feel like a MCU show, and I absolutely love that. It’s a bit like Ironheart, very grounded in real stories. It’s about people who are like us, not rich people with fancy suits, or super soldiers. 

Mon: I was intrigued by the concept of the show. The little I knew of it, anyway. We’re following an actor, Simon Williams. How would that resonate with us Marvel viewers? We’re used to our MCU heroes having more grounded origins. An actor? 

Ron: That’s an excellent point. Because with Riri Williams—despite the surnames, I don’t believe the characters are related—she’s a student who wants to change the world. A lot of us have been there! But most of us haven’t wanted to be actors. In fact, most MCU goers probably have nothing to do with the entertainment industry. Yet, Wonder Man manages to speak to audiences. There were so many moments that had me gasping out loud with how profound the dialogue was. 

Mon: Here’s the thing about the MCU, and it’s something a lot of the haters completely miss — the MCU characters maybe out there, but their experiences and their reactions, they feel real. We don’t have to inject ourselves with super-serum to feel impotent frustration at not being able to fix the world. We don’t have to be billionaire philanthropists to want to step out of the shadow of who we once were.

Ron: The MCU has been riding the coattails of their larger than life characters. But if Shang-Chi and Ms Marvel are any indication, sometimes, it’s nice to see people who are just as lost as we are. 

Mon: Exactly. And here, in Wonder Man, we don’t have to be part of the cutthroat world of acting to feel like we’re wasting our time chasing a dream that may never happen. And that’s just skimming the surface of the heart of the story. It’s why we couldn’t stop watching each episode. 

Ron: It often felt like this show was about giving viewers acting lessons. As such, it’s a great showcase for the cast’s skills. The scenes where Simon and Trevor are auditioning and rehearsing gives us a real sense of the characters. Simon is wound up, unable to be free. Trevor is a freebird and happy to impart knowledge. Do these scenes add to the plot? Not as much. But they do build out the world that Simon is existing in. And that aspect of the show became surprisingly compelling for me. 

Mon: I do not like acting lessons. I’ve unwillingly been part of a few. And I always find these kinds of scenes so cringy in films and shows. It’s like, too navel-gaze-y. Wonder Man tries to avoid that. I think they do a good job in avoiding the cringe. 

Ron: That’s a good point. Because there are a lot of audition scenes and acting exercises but they don’t come across as cringe. I found them to be riveting. I was literally sitting up in my chair yelling encouragement at Simon. It was like watching sports. 

Mon: Yeah, the whole point is to be with the characters. This is their world, and we’re living in it with them. My question, I guess is, wouldn’t a show or story about people in a more regular job have been a better choice? The entertainment industry wallowing in a story about the entertainment industry, at times it felt like the concept of universality fell by the wayside. 

Ron: Oh I don’t know about that. I mean, yes, showing more normal jobs would have been nice. But the acting profession is but a vehicle here to discuss creativity and loneliness. This show is ultimately about profoundly lonely people finding each other. It’s also about how much creative professions demand of you. There were so many times when we were talking to the characters, and we felt like we should be saying those things to ourselves.

Mon: Oh yeah, absolutely. I guess I just wish Marvel had considered this approach for other professions. To make these statements even more accessible. Or, this is escapist fare and that’s exactly the point. 

Ron: It certainly is. 

Ron: Moving to the characters. Yahya is an absolute win in my book. He was incredible as Black Manta in the Aquaman movies. But this is such a different performance. He’s not a man bent on vengeance, enhanced by a superpowered suit. Instead, he’s an everyman. Going about his day, trying to book jobs, happy to have made a friend. Worried about not living up to his family’s expectations. It was often painful to watch him just be us. 

Mon: Let’s not forget Yahya was also in the Watchmen tv show. He won quite a few hearts in that show. 

Ron: Oh yes. Yahya is phenomenal in everything I’ve seen him in. His Black Manta was menacing but understandable. And in Watchmen, his character was so human, and yet, not. 

Mon: Yahya is so amazing. So natural. So guarded. There were times when his actions and reactions, embarrassingly, reminded me of myself. That’s down to the performance and the writing. They wrote a character who is naturally anxious and scared. And with good reason. How that comes across is annoyingly human. I wanted to shake Simon out of his frustrations. It’s a visceral combo and really carries the show.  

Ron: He really felt like a mirror at times. The introvert who just wants to channel his creativity. If only he can get a break. How many times have we said those words to each other? Simon feels so real in Yahya’s hands, probably more real than anyone else in the MCU. 

Mon: Also, the way he made the acting scenes work — man, I believed him. I’d have cast Simon if that was my job.

Ron: Surely that’s a mark of a great actor. Like, we could tell when he was tanking the auditions and when he was nailing it. How do you act badly when you’re an actor? I loved it! 

Mon: Yahya, of course, makes it all look easy. I just couldn’t get over how he carried himself. This is a man with a secret and with secret pain. And you know it from how he holds himself. How he emotes, or more importantly, how he doesn’t. 

Ron: And the show lets the emotions flow. The first three episodes can best be described as quiet. The hijinks begin after that. But it isn’t unbelievable. Don’t expect world-ending activities in this show. I have to say I like that. As with Ironheart, I want to spend time with the characters, immersed in their world, even if it’s a simple, relatable world. I don’t always need to go to Asgard and Wakanda. Sometimes, I just want to be in a small apartment in LA, watching a desperate actor find the heart of his audition. Maybe it’s because I’m getting older, but I don’t always need things to happen. Let me live in the moment with the characters. 

Mon: Exactly. And when you say characters, let’s not skip over Sir Ben Kingsley as Trevor Slattery. How do they keep bringing this man back to the MCU? Iron Man 3 was decades ago. And here he is, being such a dandy as Trevor. 

Ron: Can we take a moment to note that Sir Ben is 81 years old? He doesn’t look it. 

Mon: That’s not possible! What’s his secret!

Ron: Wish I knew! He’s spritely and funny. His comedic timing is unbelievable. Never in a million years would I have imagined Trevor Slattery making me go awww, but here we are. 

Mon: And the chemistry between Yahya and Sir Ben. It’s such a crucial part of telling this quiet, gentle story. They work as an odd pair because of that chemistry. But also because of how the writers draw their relationship.

Ron: New bromance just dropped. How adorable are these two friends? The way they stand up for each other. This is so sweet. 

Mon: My main critique of the show is the pacing. In almost every episode, parts of the narrative sagged and dragged. It was almost like the creative team was trying to be a tad too meta with their wink-wink inside baseball jokes. Didn’t need so much of that in every go around. 

Ron: Didn’t feel it so much in the first couple, but in the third, there was one scene that dragged on a bit. I like Simon and Trevor showing off their acting prowess, and knowledge, to each other, but it still needs to help the story progress. Noticeably, a later episode that is heavily about their acting job didn’t have the same issue. I think it’s really down to how the director chooses to film and edit it. 

Mon: There were occasions that I felt Yahya was being left behind. I like Sir Ben as Trevor, and don’t mind his scenes. But I came here for Yahya and Simon.

Ron: Oh interesting. I felt that way at times, but Trevor is adding so much to the story that I actually thought it carried Simon along. Trevor’s actions are giving us more insight into Simon, even if Simon isn’t on screen. Trevor isn’t really here to serve as his own character—he’s the foil to Simon. 

Mon: Fair point. 

Mon: This was a weird show. Was it weird good? Yes — I loved seeing Simon and Trevor and a story about friendship and believing in one another. But this was so unexpected. It doesn’t feel like MCU fare at all. Despite the superhero elements. 

Ron: I wasn’t sure what to expect from Wonder Man but I’m glad I went in not knowing anything. It’s completely unlike anything in the MCU. It’s an origin story but not of a superhero as much as of a friendship. 

Mon: I don’t know how to feel about Wonder Man. But I can tell you that it’s an emotional ride that’s so human at its core, you may find yourself wondering if the story is secretly about you. I sure felt that way. Now where are those superpowers of mine?

Ron: I loved this show’s humanity. This could be a Shondaland production considering how real the characters and relationships felt. Yes, there’s the superpowered aspect, but this is ultimately a story of people finding each other and finding their creative spirit. What an unusual concept for the MCU. I think I want more of this. 

Mon: Yeah, but where is the MCU headed? It’s such a mystery. And we have no idea if and when we’ll see most of these new characters again. 

Ron: We need follow through from the MCU. The ending of this show and Ironheart are pleading for more screentime for these incredible characters. Will Marvel and Disney deliver?