The MCU has somewhat faltered in recent years, but Wonder Man proves Marvel is still sharp as ever. The new Disney + series is incredible from beginning to end. Yet many fans found themselves somewhat confused by the last episode's vague timeline.
Simon Williams is an aspiring actor struggling against anti-superhero acting regulations. He manages to keep his secret long enough to meet Trevor Slattery, but that's when things take a turn for the chaotic. Simon and Trevor eventually bond and together land their dream roles, but when SImon finds out that Trevor has been spying on him for the DODC things quickly fall apart. Trevor eventually takes the fall for Simon, but "Wonder Man" isn't ready to let that sacrifice go unreciprocated.
Simon Williams Spends the Series Desperately Hiding His Powers
The Aspiring Actor Produces Intense Ionic Energy When He's Upset
Wonder Man spends the entire show trying to keep his powers hidden. The series doesn't make it apparent how he acquired these abilities, but it does make it clear they are a problem. Whenever Simon suffers a particularly emotional outburst, his body radiates radical ionic energy. Simon mostly uses this power for destruction, but the finale implies the now successful actor is capable of so much more.
The show primarily uses Williams' abilities as a plot device rather than a focal point. This allows his abilities to have an air of mystery leading into Wonder Man's next MCU debut. His comic counterpart has some immense strength, so it's more than likely Simon is only scratching the surface of what he's capable of. Simon begins the series as a nervous wreck, but as the actor manages to compose himself, it's more than likely that his abilities get easier to use.
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Ironically, one of the best things to help Simon in his struggle to master his powers is the presence of Trevor Slattery. In the first episode, it's revealed that Trevor is actually a DODC plant sent to gather information on Simon. That doesn't stop the pair from forming a genuine friendship and soon Slattery becomes very conflicted about his original mission.
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The Reveal of Trevor Slattery's Betrayal Changes Everything
Trevor begins to struggle more and more as his friendship with Williams' grows throughout the season. Trevor manages to keep the DODC at bay for a while, until he and Williams land their dream role in Wonder Man. Once the duo places themselves in the public eye, their actions receive a greater level of scrutiny. The pair eventually receive an interview with The New York Times, where Trevor's deal comes to light.
A heartbroken Simon confronts Trevor in his trailer, only for the duo to basically recreate the practice scene from Wonder Man. When Wonder Man confronts Barnaby, the latter admits to his crimes and dooms the hero forever. Understanding that his future is now completely doomed, Williams begins to lose control and rushes out of the trailer. He makes it to a warehouse where he can no longer control his emotions and brings down the building.
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The DODC is elated because they believe they've just caught Williams in the act, and they once again pressure Trevor to report on his friend. However, the show has made it clear Trevor has suffered just as much as Williams. The character understands that his previous mistakes are likely irredeemable, but he does the only thing he can think of to save his only friend.
Trevor Takes the Fall to Make Up For The Near-Betrayal Of His Only Friend
The Actor is Sent to the DODC SuperMax Security Prison
With the DODC hot on Williams' trail, Trevor decides to bring one of his oldest characters out of retirement. He reprises his role as the Mandarin, taking credit for the warehouses' destruction and stating that he had actually been faking the identity of Slattery this entire time. The DODC might not have believed him, but due to the nature of the evidence, were forced to take him in instead of Simon.
This sacrifice causes Simon to realize that Trevor has always been his friend, and truly was put into an impossible situation. Their relationship mirrors the manufactured bond of Wonder Man and Barnaby, and becomes stronger than audiences could have ever expected.
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The unlikely duo is the crux of the series, and their relationship has become one of the most compelling parts of MCU history in recent years. Trevor's sacrifice gives Simon the opportunity to complete the role of Wonder Man, something that Simon has dreamed of doing his whole life. The film is a massive success and Simon finally achieves everything the character has ever dreamed of, but something doesn't feel right.
Without Trevor by his side, Williams' biggest win feels shallow by comparison, and he can't help thinking of his friends' immense sacrifice. Trevor started the series unwilling to go back to prison, but once he grew to love the aspiring actor, Trevor couldn't let Simon down. Thankfully for the faux-Mandarin, the feeling is apparently mutual.
Wonder Man Refuses to Let His Friend Face the Punishment For His "Crime"
Simon Saves Slattery After Taking the Time to Learn His Powers
Once Simon has become a successful actor, he uses his fame to his advantage. He shows up at the house of a seemingly random man, interested in shadowing him for a film project. It turns out the man is a seemingly inconsequential employee at the DODC SuperMax prison and invites Williams to get a closer look at his work life. There, Simon finally begins to reunite with Trevor and the pair quickly absolve one another of any wrongdoing.
Simon then effortlessly rips the bars of Slattery's cell and uses his powers to fly the duo out of the prison. This is the moment that somewhat surprised and confused fans. Many wondered how the emotional character managed to contain his abilities so well at the end of the show despite his previous difficulty. However, many fans failed to consider the slight time jump from when Trevor was arrested to his prison break.
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Clearly, Simon got a better hold on his powers once he actually felt complete. After accomplishing his dreams, Simon finally felt the confidence to conquer his powers, and his confidence literally sets him free. The final episode, along with the rest of the series, is completely devoid of a Post-Credit Scene and puts a greater focus on the credits themselves. Wonder Man will most likely return but when and to what capacity remains unclear.
The final episode plays out fairly similar to how the series had been foreshadowing since the beginning. Trevor, Barnaby, is Simon's, Wonder Man's, only friend. He eventually betrays the hero, to the protagonist's extreme disdain. The show cleverly chooses to subvert expectations and have Slattery be the one to take the fall. However, he doesn't have to suffer long, as a now confident Simon Williams uses his ion-based powers to spring him from his prison. Their relationship is utterly iconic, and many fans are already calling for the pair to return in a future MCU Project.
- Release Date
- January 27, 2026
- Network
- Disney+
- Writers
- Andrew Guest
Cast
-
Yahya Abdul-Mateen IISimon Williams -
Ben KingsleyTrevor Slattery -
Demetrius GrosseEric Williams -
Ed HarrisNeal Saroyan
- Franchise(s)
- MCU
- Creator(s)
- Destin Daniel Cretton
