Wonder Man Does Everything I Wish Marvel Would Do On A Regular Basis

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Whenever people discuss Marvel Cinematic Universe projects, conversations often get bogged down with things like proving their fan status, debating what worked and what didn’t, or explaining the story so far. The new Marvel series Wonder Man could definitely lead to those kinds of discussions, but it feels different. It’s a genuinely fun and lighthearted show that both new viewers and longtime Marvel fans will enjoy.

I generally enjoy Marvel’s more unusual and experimental shows like WandaVision and Agatha All Along, so I really liked Wonder Man. However, I understand it won’t appeal to everyone. It’s not a typical superhero story, and it’s different from most of Marvel’s other projects, even with Ben Kingsley returning as his character Trevor Slattery from Iron Man 3 and Shang-Chi. If you can appreciate its unique approach, you’ll probably enjoy it.

Even if you’re not sure about the overall story, Wonder Man really stands out because it does some things Marvel hasn’t consistently done well across its movies and shows. Here are a few things the series gets right—things I hope we see more of in future Marvel projects. Maybe we will, especially with the TV shows planned for 2026 and beyond.

Episodes Are Short, Light And Extremely Easy To Binge

As a total TV junkie, I’ve noticed a lot of shows these days just drag on and on, especially on streaming. But the team behind Wonder Man did everyone a huge favor by keeping the episodes short – under 30 minutes! Honestly, it’s the only Marvel show where I’m actually surprised when the credits roll, because time flies by. It makes hitting ‘next episode’ so easy, knowing you’re in for another quick, breezy watch.

Wonder Man Is More Character Study Than Plotty Superhero Storytelling

Simon Williams is a complex character who longs to be a movie star. He’s known for being incredibly detail-oriented, which can make him challenging to collaborate with. Despite the show being a comedy, it doesn’t make fun of Simon’s struggles with mental health or his awkward social interactions. Instead, the series focuses on the delicate balance between his internal turmoil and the chaos he presents to the world.

He genuinely wants to be in a Wonder Man movie for deeply personal reasons, and others are trying to take advantage of that. Like the stories of Wanda Maximoff and Agatha Harkness dealing with loss and resentment, his story is just as compelling, even without a lot of complicated plot twists or superhero action.

It’s Funny As Hell WIthout All The Usual MCU Snark

It’s surprising to realize this is Ben Kingsley’s third Marvel role, and it finally allows his character, Trevor Slattery, to become fully developed. What’s even more impressive is the fun and charming friendship between his character and Simon, which is as good as any other duo in the Marvel universe. The two lead actors clearly enjoy working together, and that positive energy is contagious to everyone around them – even in brief appearances by stars like Joe Pantoliano.

Unlike many Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) shows that rely heavily on witty remarks and inside jokes, Wonder Man‘s humor comes naturally from the awkward or questionable actions of its characters, Simon and Trevor. This approach is a strength, considering showrunner Andrew Guest’s impressive background in comedy – he’s worked on acclaimed series like Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Community, and 30 Rock. He clearly knows how to be funny in any situation, making Wonder Man different from most MCU shows where replacing Marvel references with general ones would likely fall flat.

The Scaled-Down Threat Doesn’t Put The Entire World In Danger

A common criticism of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, even from dedicated fans, is that the stories often focus on villains and threats that endanger entire cities, countries, or even planets. It would be incredibly stressful to live as an ordinary person in that world! That’s why I find the smaller, more personal stories much more engaging – when the stakes feel more direct and relatable, I’m more invested in what happens.

Arian Moayed, known for his role in Succession, returns as Agent Cleary from Damage Control in Wonder Man. Fans may remember him from Spider-Man: No Way Home and Ms. Marvel. As always, Cleary isn’t a character who rushes into action, and he seems more like an annoyance in the background than a major villain. Ultimately, Simon’s biggest challenge isn’t an external enemy, but his own internal struggles – a bit like the Hulk’s problem, but without the military intervention.

The Ending Is Satisfying Without Going Overboard

It’s frustrating when a promising TV show or movie loses its way at the end, something that sometimes happens in the Marvel Cinematic Universe where strong character work is replaced by massive, effects-heavy action. But the season finale of Wonder Man avoids this pitfall. It’s just as good as the rest of the season, provides a satisfying conclusion, and keeps things appropriately scaled – it doesn’t try to be bigger than it needs to be.

It’s best not to reveal too much about where the story goes, but it’s worth pointing out that even though Wonder Man starts as a smaller series, there’s potential for the character to appear in more stories and projects later on. I’m hoping enough people subscribe to Disney+ and enjoy the show, and then tell their friends about it, so Marvel’s Kevin Feige and other decision-makers will feel confident enough to create another season.

I’m so excited for Wonder Man! It’s coming to Disney+ on January 27th, and the best part is, all eight episodes will be released at once, so we can binge-watch the whole thing right away!

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2026-01-23 16:10