Wonder Man

Oof, WONDER MAN was unexpectedly brilliant. Much as I’ve enjoyed many of the Marvel spin-offs (because I am Fan Girl and easy to please and old enough to remember the superhero movie wasteland that was the early 90s), this show was a Show. It’s a wonderfully meta buddy movie about cross-generational friendship and what it feels like to be a creative (especially a Black creative), what it feels like to have to hide a part of yourself, and what it feels like to have to make yourself smaller to be deemed acceptable in society. And it features brilliant performances by two absolute heavyweights who had such great chemistry. It’s also an example of a series where having the Marvel label attached has probably worked against it. Non-Marvel fans might be inclined to think, “meh, more superhero stuff” and Marvel fans are currently all “I have superhero fatigue and there are too many shows waaahh.”

As someone who cares deeply about word choice, I felt it in my SOUL when Simon and Trevor got to debate a specific line with a director, and that director cared enough to listen. It was especially validating as it reminds us he was right all along: he got sacked from his last job for worrying about cultural authenticity (it's telling that they were so dismissive of his concerns), but this attention to detail is actually his superpower (see what I did there?!)

WONDER MAN perfectly illustrates how “low” stakes can be tense and exciting, because I tell you I was INVESTED in Simon’s quest to get his big acting break. Both Simon and Trevor are hiding something - they are actors acting. And the more risks they took, and the higher Simon rose, the more dread I felt about the inevitable moment when it would all come crashing down. That is how you do stakes!

I really enjoyed the Doorman episode (where is Olaf?!), especially as his powers - essentially, making himself hollow - echo what happens to a person when the corporate machine takes their talents and creativity and offers them up as a commodity. And perhaps it also echoes what is required to achieve commercial success.

Simon is a talented creative who has sacrificed everything - romance, friends, even his own amazing superpowers - in order to pursue his dream. He is also a Black man who has to make himself smaller in order survive, and whose brilliance and dedication are turned against him. I loved the focus on friendship (a type of relationship I wish was explored more in fiction.) Some quotes:

“Acting isn’t a job it’s a calling. It’s the single most consequential thing anyone could do with their life.”

“Maybe it’s time to admit… that it’s never gonna be me.” (Felt this in my soul, too.)