The MCU Just Released Its Own Version of Quentin Tarantino’s $213M Masterpiece (& It’s Great)

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Wonder Man offered a refreshing change of pace for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Beyond teasing future storylines involving organizations like Damage Control and potential team-ups with the Avengers, the show stands out due to its unique storytelling and style. The show’s clever, self-aware look at the entertainment industry allowed the creators to take risks and deliver unexpected moments – like the black-and-white episode focusing on ‘Doorman,’ which cleverly explained the challenges of super-powered individuals working as actors within the MCU.

A standout episode of Wonder Man, titled “Found Footage,” really sets the show apart from typical Marvel stories. It centers around Simon and Trevor Slattery, who are excited about potentially landing roles in the in-universe Wonder Man movie. Their celebration is interrupted when they’re confronted by drug dealers to whom Trevor owes money. Simon uses his powers to protect Trevor, and they soon discover a young boy named Jayden filmed the entire encounter. This leads to a chaotic chase across California, reminiscent of a classic Quentin Tarantino film.

Wonder Man Episode 5 Is the MCU’s Version of a Pulp Fiction Segment

Despite being a TV-14 show, the episode “Found Footage” feels similar to a scene from Pulp Fiction. It’s a self-contained story about drugs where Simon and Trevor get caught up in more trouble than they expected. What begins as a simple task – getting back a stolen motorcycle – quickly turns into a dangerous shootout between drug dealers and the police. The episode has a fast-paced, energetic feel reminiscent of Quentin Tarantino’s work, keeping viewers engaged and surprised.

Many consider Pulp Fiction a top crime film because it expertly builds suspense, even during its witty conversations and character-driven scenes. The film is structured like a series of short stories, each with its own high stakes – often a matter of life or death. For example, Vincent is frantic to save Mia Wallace from an overdose, knowing the consequences he’ll face if she doesn’t make it. While Wonder Woman isn’t as intense, it still creates a strong sense of tension. Simon is desperate to prevent leaked footage from ruining his promising acting career, and audiences connect with his urgency as he tries to fix the situation.

Like a classic Pulp Fiction story, things don’t go smoothly for Simon and Trevor in “Found Footage.” Just as unexpected problems arose for Vincent and Mia, and Butch and Marsellus, their simple task of getting Jayden’s bike quickly spirals into a series of complications. They discover Jayden wasn’t truthful with them, leading to a funny argument about trust, and things get even worse when drug dealers return and kidnap Jayden. Similar to the most memorable scenes in Pulp Fiction, “Found Footage” is a comedic mess that escalates into total chaos when the police arrive at Estevan’s house. With a more mature rating, this scenario would fit perfectly into a Tarantino movie.

To make things even more chaotic, Simon finds out his audition for Wonder Man has been moved up, and he needs to meet with director Von Kovak immediately. This unexpected twist makes the episode, “Found Footage,” even funnier, adding to the already intense stress and suspense. Luckily, like Pulp Fiction, the episode gives its main characters a positive outcome. Pulp Fiction was groundbreaking thanks to Tarantino’s unique style, but it wasn’t afraid to use traditional Hollywood happy endings to give viewers a breather after all the craziness (Mia survives, Butch escapes, and so on). While Marvel might not have intentionally been inspired by Pulp Fiction when creating Wonder Man, the similarities are clear—and the result is thoroughly enjoyable.

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2026-02-20 21:41