Read this Wonder Man review to see if the episode “Matinee” is worth watching.
About Wonder Man
- Season 1, Episode 1: “Matinee”
- Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton
- Written by Andrew Guest
- Synopsis: Somebody’s actually remaking “Wonder Man?”
- Airdate: January 27, 2026
- Starring: Ben Kingsley, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Jon Abrahams, Demetrius Grosse, Charlotte Ross, Lauren Glazier, David Moskowitz, Byron Bowers, Peter Banifaz, Phumzile Sitole, Jaspreet Sabrina Dosanjh, Ed Harris, Manny McCord, Zlatko Burić, Arian Moayed, Dane Larsen, Mario Lopez, Josh Gad, Joe Pantoliano, Juliette Ortega, and X Mayo
If you want to avoid Wonder Man spoilers, skip to the overall section at the end.
Warning: Spoilers for Wonder Man Season 1 Episode 1 “Matinee.”
Recap Wonder Man (2026): S1E01 – “Matinee”
The series opens with a scene from the in-universe movie Wonder Man. The title character of the low-budget science fiction–superhero film wears an ill-fitting suit that is strikingly similar to Wonder Man’s iconic green-and-red costume from the Marvel comics. The exaggerated seams and awkward proportions feel intentional, echoing early MCU “learning curve” outfits like Captain America’s USO costume in The First Avenger. This is not a heroic origin story—it’s a warning label.
The camera then zooms in on a young Simon Williams (Kameron J Meadows) and his father watching the film in a theater. Simon is clearly enthralled, despite—or perhaps because of—the movie’s relentless cheesiness. The scene quietly establishes a core theme of the series: the line between inspiration and delusion is thinner than it looks, especially when Hollywood is involved.
Present-Day Simon: Employed, Technically
In the present day, Simon (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) is shown with a minor role on American Horror Story. Coincidentally, and very much not by accident, the series is owned by Disney. He repeatedly challenges the director over minute details of his character, even though the role amounts to a single scene. At first, this dedication is admired. Eventually, however, it becomes exhausting.
Behind the scenes, complaints begin circulating about how much time Simon is taking. Patience wears thin. The showrunners quietly write him out of the series, and Simon is effectively fired for overthinking a role that barely existed in the first place. It’s a pointed jab at prestige TV and method acting alike—and Marvel clearly enjoys landing the punch.
When Life Unravels, It Really Commits
As it becomes increasingly clear that Simon’s life is not unfolding as planned, the collapse accelerates. He returns home to discover that his girlfriend, Vivian, is unexpectedly moving out. She explains that he “never lets her in,” a line that neatly summarizes Simon’s emotional stasis.
Naturally, the show implies this distance stems from Simon concealing superhuman abilities. Building intimacy while hiding powers that can rattle a bathroom would be difficult under any circumstances. As Simon tries to collect himself, his frustration escalates. His toothbrush and nearby objects begin to shake uncontrollably—a visual cue that his powers are responding before his emotional intelligence ever does.
Movie Night, Interrupted by the MCU
In an attempt to cool off, Simon attends a screening of Midnight Cowboy. The choice of film is anything but random. Themes of alienation, performance, and fragile masculinity mirror Simon’s own unraveling, reinforcing the episode’s obsession with acting as both a survival tactic and self-sabotage.
Unfortunately, the quiet doesn’t last. A man nearby is loudly discussing an upcoming audition on his phone. Simon confronts him, only to realize he’s speaking to Trevor Slattery.
Trevor, best known for portraying “The Mandarin” (in Iron Man 3), immediately becomes defensive, warning Simon not to believe anything he’s read on Reddit. The line lands as a self-aware nod to real-world backlash, with Marvel openly acknowledging—and dismissing—years of fan outrage in a single beat. Simon reassures Trevor that he actually enjoyed his Mandarin performance, an opinion so unexpected it briefly disarms him. He then explains that he recognizes Trevor from an earlier role, not the infamous one.
As they exit the theater, their conversation continues. Simon eventually asks about the audition the thespian mentioned. Trevor reveals it’s for the “Wonder Man” reboot, directed by the legendary Von Kovak (Zlatko Burić). Even the name feels ominous, evoking old-school mad scientists and exploitative auteurs. Subtlety is again declined.
Auditions, NDAs, and Definitely No Red Flags
Later, Simon storms into his manager’s, Janelle Jackson (X Mayo), office to ask about the Wonder Man role. He’s told it’s too late, and Leo (Leonardo DiCaprio?) is on the casting director’s wish list. He persists in telling her the director is looking for a fresh face. But she continues to dismiss him. We know from the promotional material he meets the director. But the show wants us to worry along with Williams.
Conveniently, once she leaves the room, Simon reads her emails and finds the audition details. Professional boundaries are treated as flexible suggestions. He races to the audition pretending to be working with his manager.
Upon arrival, Simon is asked to sign a “Doorman waiver” along with an NDA. The phrasing closely resembles Damage Control documentation previously seen in Ms. Marvel, suggesting this audition is already entangled with federal oversight. Inside, a long line of hopeful actors waits. As Simon rehearses his lines, a faint redness appears in his eye. His frustration builds—then subsides.
He snaps back to awareness just in time to see Trevor charming the assistants and casting director on his way out of his audition for Barnaby. The British actor pulls Simon to talk in the restroom, because mentorship in the MCU is apparently always sketchy. He advises him to stop thinking and trust his instincts. With that guidance—and despite misplacing his script—he appears to nail the audition.
Fate, Free Will, and Damage Control
Afterward, the two share a drink. Trevor proudly announces that he’s been sober for 13 years—specifically since the events of Iron Man 3—as he orders a virgin Bloody Mary. The timeline lines up perfectly, quietly rewarding longtime MCU viewers who keep track of these things. It also shows a rare moment of growth for a Marvel character. They discuss acting philosophies, and the contrast is stark. Simon approaches acting intellectually. Trevor insists that “real work is living,” a line that lands because the actor barely seems capable of doing that.
Simon suggests they stay in touch as he leaves. Trevor agrees, claiming he has a good feeling about the day and attributing it to fate. Later, that optimism is reframed when Trevor is shown eating dinner and talking with Agent P. Cleary (Arian Moayed) of the Department of Damage Control—a familiar face from Ms. Marvel and Spider-Man: No Way Home. Cleat says Simon is superpowered, “unstable,” and “incredibly dangerous.” We’ve seen Williams almost losing control several times, so he’s not far off.
Their conversation reveals that Trevor is actively cooperating with the DODC to have his new friend arrested. Slattery is playing another role as a super villain. But is he being used again?
Meanwhile, Simon spots Von Kovak’s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and texts Trevor a photo with the caption, “Maybe it’s fate.” At this point, the episode has already made one thing painfully clear: almost nothing here was accidental. Fate, it turns out, has a production team.
Overall: Watch Wonder Man (2026): S1E01 – “Matinee”
Watch the Wonder Man episode “Matinee” because it’s a fascinating character study. The first episode of the miniseries has a slow burn. There’s no action or suspense. The big twist in the end is character based instead of plot twist. The acting is solid and Abdul-Mateen II gives a nunced and vulnerable performance.
Unfortunately there’s not much happening on the superhero front. This could be an episode of Entrouage or Bojack Horseman. Just like we saw in the first trailer the show is grounded. Hopefully the next episode picks up the pace.
I’m giving this episode 3.5 out of 5 stars.
Learn more about Wonder Man at the official site.
All episodes of Wonder Man are available to stream on Disney+.
Have you watched Wonder Man yet? Let us know what you think in the comments section below, and feel free to share this review on any social media platform.
You can also follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Bluesky. Have a wonderful day, and be sure to read our previous television reviews.
