Wonder Man

This is one of the most entertaining MCU shows — if deliberately weird and non-superheroic in a way that I expect to baffle many Marvel fans — in quite some time.

Wonder Man remains its own thing from beginning to end, a hangout show in no hurry to move along and all the better for it.

The strength of this show lies in its depiction of the relationship between the leads and its interrogation of the effects of art and how it gets corrupted. Forgive me, but it’s a rather clever, tender and altogether wonder-ful thing.

With Wonder Man, it has reconnected with that daring spirit and made its best new show in years.

Wonder Man is a Marvel show that’s accessible to even non-Marvel fans mainly because it’s less about the MCU and more about an actor who is trying to land the biggest role in Hollywood while not getting too lost in his own head. If that includes his superpowers, all the better.

Abdul-Mateen and Kingsley work well together; their energies are complementary, laid back and loose versus worked up and tight and, of course, each will have something to teach one another about who they are and who they could be. I was genuinely anxious for them.

The platonic chemistry is the real draw. Abdul-Mateen and Kingsley make their characters equally ridiculous and romantic, urged on by a motivation more intimate and individual than saving the world.

What makes Wonder Man fresh despite all the competition is the care with which Simon, Trevor, and their fraught relationship are rendered by Abdul-Mateen, Kingsley, and the creators. Characters this vivid and enjoyable to spend time with are hard to find in any genre, let alone superhero fare.

Wonder Man turns Simon’s ordinariness into its secret weapon, delivering a dramedy that’s all the more charming for being so low-key.

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Ben Kingsley’s superb double act makes this one of the best shows in the MCU to date. 

The series quickly establishes a winning balance of meta-humor and quiet character drama. And while that alone isn’t necessarily enough to justify a full miniseries, the final moments of this episode do manage to hint at a bigger picture to ease any concerns.

While it will undoubtedly receive plenty of outrage from the so-called "die-hard fans" who hold the comic books as the gospel, it will certainly connect with anyone willing to follow the MCU's innovative and bold exploration of a lesser-known character.

“Wonder Man” stands on it[s] own, although fans who know the character may have a better grasp on Trevor’s background. For Marvel, “Wonder Man” is a slight story with limited action sequences and at times feels too subtle for its own good. But credit Marvel with taking a risk and trying something different that often succeeds.

It’s a different kind of Marvel epic. Special effects take a backseat to laughs as Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Sir Ben Kingsley spoof egomaniac actors who learn it’s better to stop chasing fame and be in it for the love of the game.

The series also indulges in too much inside baseball, like a lot of stories about showbiz tend to do. None of that, however, outshines the fact that seeing Simon and Trevor achieve their dreams is the most exhilarating, superheroic feat the MCU has shown us in years.

The ones who makes this all work are the two leads. Kingsley is a natural-born showman and channels legendary thespian vibes with every line he delivers, while Abdul-Matten II makes you feel the neuroses rooted in the psyche of his trying-too-hard character, who feels like an imposter.

Investing in what they do and how it shapes who they are is critical, and while “Wonder Man” can get a little bogged down in actor-speak, it’s still a sincere testimonial to the profession’s purest intentions. .... It’s a clear step in the right direction. Two great performances and a series, an actual series, that supports them both — what an idea!

By telling more intimate stories like "Wonder Man," Marvel taps back into that core strength — reminding us that heroes matter most when they feel human first, and super second.

A show like “Wonder Man” might be the remedy for the superhero fatigue real Hollywood’s suffered for years.

Even while the show's struggling to find its rhythm, the characters and performances are instantly compelling.

It’s a good, solid show—even if it likely won’t be the thing that single-handedly resuscitates Marvel from its slump.

Superhero stories demand high stakes; playing against that, in a series whose best moments are quiet and low key, is interesting in theory but herky-jerky in practice. “Wonder Man” is consistently charming, though, when Abdul-Mateen and Kingsley are together.

An MCU-style industry send-up à la The Studio or The Franchise that features fewer laughs than those satires but, courtesy of its leads, a surprising amount of heart.

As binge viewing, Wonder Man is a pleasant diversion with some unexpectedly moving moments, thanks mostly to engaging performances from its leading men.

Although the main two performances are great, "Wonder" struggles with tone and pacing.

Kingsley and Abdul-Mateen’s glowing chemistry and heartfelt attempt at newness contribute to a decent, wildly entertaining miniseries in “Wonder Man.” Though its ambition surpasses its grasp, it leaves one yearning for more of this dynamic duo in the franchise’s ever-inconsistent future.

As a character study, “Wonder Man” is uncommonly quiet and focused for the MCU. It still, however, suffers a bit from a common Marvel miniseries problem: a short season of half-hour episodes (especially dropped all at once, as these are) winds up feeling more like an oddly paced movie than a TV show.

Their misadventures spiral into odd, escalating situations that would play better with sharper writing or more adventurous direction. Worse, the show ultimately backs away from its most interesting instincts. Though it sidesteps the usual Marvel crescendo of apocalyptic spectacle, the final stretch still resorts to a superhero-size resolution that flattens the human texture the series has worked to establish.