Disclaimer: I’m a blind film critic. Wonder Man is available on Disney Plus with audio description.

Marvel is in a funk, and they believe the only prescription to heal their wounds is Robert Downey Jr. Marvel is banking hard on Avengers: Doomsday, not to mention Tom Holland’s 4th outing as Spider-Man this year. They’ve started to try and distance themselves from the TV side of things, promising to spread things out more and focus less on every hero being an eventual Avenger. Of course, this comes at a time when they would go and drop one of their best shows so far, Wonder Man. It really does fall under the promise of standing on its own feet, and being unconnected to anything else (almost).

Simon (Yaya Abdul Mateen II) is an aspiring actor with a dream. He grew up idolizing a fictional (even more fictional) superhero named Wonder man, and watched these films with his dad. his dad encouraged him to go for it, and it has been a bit of a struggle. He gets fired from his latest gig, and is having a rough patch when he runs into one of the most infamous actors of his time. Trevor *(Ben Kingsley), aka The Mandarin.

Trevor tried returning home but was immediately detained. he’s being used as a pawn by an overzealous agent in Damage Control to prove Simon is enhanced. Trevor has to get dirt on Simon to avoid prison, but the two end up becoming friends as Trevor helps Simon audition for his dream role. Wonder Man.

Why is this show so damn good? It is better than it had any right to be. When i saw Trevor returning, I was very much in the group of people rolling their eyes. This fucking guy again? It was so random to see him in Shang Chi, but to ahve him in yet another project, he has to be the most useless extended character in the MCU, right? Nope.

What comes next is a near perfect show about working hard for your dreams. It is about complicated decisions, how there isn’t always a clear right or wrong, and sometimes a hero can do more harm than good. Wonder Man is somehow seemingly aware of every problem Marvel has been having, and manages to buck every trend. Simon is likeable, without striving to overexert his personality and become a caricature of what a hero should be. He very much feels like a struggling actor more than a powered individual, and Trevor is far more toned down, and finds some truly deep and human truths in Trevor.

When these two eventually get their Wonder Man audition, they realize they are up for different roles, which is great as they’ve become fast friends. However, the show throws a direct parallel with the script revealing Wonder Man’s best friend, barnaby will betray him. Sounds a lot like Trevor, doesn’t it? They don’t shy away from that comparison, but rather use it as a mirror, hoping to get you roped in on the potential that this is simply following the same exact beats, or is it? is Trevor truly a bad guy, or once again, is that just how he’s been cast?

The fourth episode is a bottle episode featuring another powered individual who tried to have an acting career, until something horrible happens with his power, and he ends up becoming a pariah, and killing the chance for any other powered actors in the future. That episode is so endearing, because when we meet him, he’s not wanting to have the spotlight, but as it gets forced on him, he finally starts to like it, only to have it ripped away.

The show is smart, funny, full of heart, and a breezy and easy watch. it is what people have asked for in a self contained show. there isn’t a current plan for a second season, something the show itself teases on its own. But, if it meant further adventures with Simon, who seems at the very least a decent guy, I’d be here for it.

Wonder Man also has some themes that benefit from when it releases. A government official laments their jails are half empty, instructing agents to go captured powered individuals. Plus, Simon is first generation from Haitian immigrants, who are portrayed as keeping tidy homes and jobs. It’s a far contrast to the current narrative around Haitians.

The audio description stayed pretty consistent the whole time, sounding like cinema quality, and describing a lot having to do with Simons powers.

No spoilers here, but the ending is deeply satisfying, with Simon needing to invest quite a bit in the specifics, since what he’s doing in the end is a long game. Mateen is great as Simon, bringing nothing but your wonderful disposition to the role.

Disney smartly integrates their own brands, which makes Wonder Man feel more like they live in a real world, and uses celebrity cameos from people like Josh Gad and Joey Pants to bring realism. We even get a flashback for Trevor, and how he got the audition that made and broke his career.

Wonder Man is extraordinary, an delivers a rewarding singular experience that doesn’t need to be merged with the MCU, but works beautifully on its own.

Fresh: Final Grade: 9.0/10