This article contains spoilers for “Wonder Man”.
Betrayal strikes Simon Williams/Wonder Man (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) in the face in the penultimate episode of “Wonder Man”. Simon’s “Wonder Man” co-star and only friend, Trevor Slattery (Ben Kingsley), turns out to be a Department of Damage Control (DoDC) spy, casting doubt on the sincerity of this close friendship. We are aware of this secret from the start and were privy to Trevor’s change of heart after he realized Simon meant no harm. While still negotiating with DoDC agent P. Cleary (Arian Moayed) to avoid returning to prison, Trevor does not want to turn Simon over to the authorities and continues to procrastinate to that end. Unaware of these nuances, Simon naturally becomes angry, allowing his powers to consume him. Unfortunately, this destroys one of the “Wonder Man” film sets, immediately attracting the attention of the DoDC.
Episode 8 opens with the authorities waiting to close in on Simon, as he has been classified as an “extraordinary threat”. Just before the arrest, Trevor calls Simon to apologize, telling him he will take responsibility for his actions instead of running away. As Trevor hangs up, Simon realizes that his friend has turned himself in to the DoDC to save him, having publicly returned as the Mandarin, who was first introduced in “Iron Man 3“.
As a reminder, the 2013 film “Iron Man” revealed that the Ten Rings terrorist Mandarin was actually a hired actor named Trevor Slattery (who was manipulated by Guy Pearce’s Aldrich Killian to pose as the notorious villain). This plot point was quite controversial at the time, as some comic fans were unhappy that the Mandarin was reduced to a character instead of being fleshed out as a serious antagonist.
Wonder Man Makes His Tangerine Touch Work With Appropriate Sacrifice
As Controversial as Kingsley’s Portrayal of the Mandarin Is in ‘Iron Man 3’“, his Trevor Slattery takes on a new life in “Wonder Man,” where he simply tries to leave the past behind. He is arrested upon landing at LAX and blackmailed into getting closer to Simon, who is infatuated with Slattery’s deep love of acting. It is worth noting that Trevor was drugged and cheated during his time in Mandarin, and considered the character’s caricatured portrayal to be imperfect acting work, and nothing more. After was sent to prison, he escaped during the events of “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings”, in which he helped defeat the Dark Dweller Keeping Trevor’s character arc in mind, the “Iron Man” twist seems earned in retrospect, as it also avoids the stereotypical portrayal of the Mandarin as a Marvel villain.
In “Wonder Man,” Trevor desperately seeks to distance himself from this notorious character, doing everything possible to avoid prison. But this is also tempered by her genuine attachment to Simon, who becomes her close friend and mentor in the process. He also becomes the only person who knows Simon’s hopes and dreams intimately, as well as the secret that he is different because of his abilities. As Simon does not have the luxury of displaying his powers due to the Gatekeeper Clause, his secrecy is tied to his identity and self-esteem, making Trevor’s betrayal particularly pointed. Even though Trevor was forced into espionage, he takes responsibility for his actions and adopts the same nickname that doomed his credibility decades ago. Additionally, the buddy comedy aspect of “Wonder Man” allows this sacrifice to carry significant weight, as it allows Simon to live his dreams.
The Wonder Man movie is crucial to Simon’s plan to save Trevor
Trevor uses the “Wonder Man” auditions as an excuse to get closer to Simon, but later realizes that the character is terribly important to him. As the different facets of Simon’s true personality are revealed, we see a lonely and vulnerable man who keeps everyone at arm’s length. At one point in his childhood, Simon’s father took him to a screening of “Wonder Man” that changed his relationship with the art form, which is why Von Kovak’s (Zlatko Burić) remake means so much to him. As fate would have it, Kovak also believes that Simon was born to play Wonder Man, and he plays the lead role alongside Trevor, who plays Barnaby. Trevor is recast after abandoning himself as the Mandarin, but “Wonder Man” becomes a big success and makes Simon a star.
This achievement helps resolve Simon’s major insecurities, as his success proves that his struggles were not in vain and that someone as emotionally isolated as him can also open up. Trevor’s sacrifice fuels his resolve, and we see him lead an elaborate rescue mission right after, where he pretends to be preparing for an upcoming role to get closer to a DoDC employee (whom he treats kindly, anonymously leaving him a large sum in the bank). Once inside the facility, Simon frees Trevor with his powers, blowing up the roof to bring him to safety. This stands in stark contrast to his lifelong attitude towards his abilities, which he always kept hidden/was ashamed of. This act of heroism may not be traditional, but it is significant, because it cements his faith in Trevor regardless.
“Wonder Man” is now streaming on Disney+.
