Wonder Man 1x07/1x08 Full Reaction!
Added 2026-02-12 19:14:48 +0000 UTCWebsites acting a bit weird today so please be patient :)
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Much though there is the aversion to the liar revealed trope, the ultimate payoff is done in a very organic way with the investigative journalism. True about how the lady’s not being played by anybody hugely notable. Yeah, I feel the pain of the Slush Ice scene as well; been in the similar spot once or twice. The realism with the autism especially hits home. Seems to be a consensus view of Eric’s offscreen redemption. Respect to the dude for owning his shit, complete with apparently, he’s not going to be his villainous variant from the comics. Oh well. Shared thing of “if I knew a single thing about the comic character, I’m sure that would mean something” but we don’t, so it doesn’t. Shows how so far behind I am on shit as I had the Maekar Targaryen style, “Who the fuck is Edwina Sharma?” remark before google told me. And with the netflix ban, it means no sharing it with Jess, as I imagine that would help get through that one, or at least it would be more fun that way. Katie Leung as the villain of the new season sounds great. And it should help her further escape the shadow of Harry Potter, which, by the way, that character was a red flag about Rowling that got clocked as far back as high school, where one of my oldest friends yelled, “Pretty much the only major Asian character in this, and she has the name Cho fucking Chang!?” That might not be verbatim, but that was the sentiment, which I did agree was fucked up. Trevor admitting the truth did hurt. We all knew it would, yes. Ben just killing it with how Trevor falls on the Mandarin sword, like Jess said, so upsetting, yet so heartwarming. Got me something fierce, and like I said, Trevor’s moved up to the point that he is now in my top ten MCU characters. He would be great in Star Trek which, if I have it right, google pointed out the show you reference. I’m really going to love that show, I imagine. And yes, the victory over Fats is hollow, making the voices in his head laugh, “Har-har-HAR-de-har-har!!!” Still not seen Brave New World, so still can’t speak to the awkwardness of the Leader of it all. We do have the recast, and I’d imagine there would be the moment when before Barnaby is dealt the finishing blow, Wonder Man would say, “Barnaby... you don't know SHIT.” I knew you’d reference that film, by the way. Good call on if you met him bringing that one up. Think I might bring up The Fugitive/US Marshals and Memento, though I know my brother and I wouldn’t be able to resist talking to him about Cypher. After this show, I definitely would mention Baby’s Day Out. (And good all about asking about the hat.) The show did a great job with Chuck. Then the big payoff where Simon sacrifices everything for Trevor, and yeah, it just moves you more than you would have thought. Good catch on the Midnight Cowboy of it all. That monologue you mention would be another good one. I imagine that Jess might not recognize it for the obvious reason of one of her biggest phobias being a big part of that film. She will not cry, so we will cry for her. Future seasons, it can go either way. We both would love more. (And yes, with Ben getting up there in age, we should hurry with that and not end up with what Doctor Who could be left with,) If this is all we get, then this had such a perfect ending. Somewhat share the optimism that things are looking up with the MCU. The big movie this year, there is still the one big thing about it, I’m not going to say what so as not to spoil shit for Jess, that I’m still baffled as to what the fuck anyone was thinking with the casting. Though I am hearing rumblings of some really good stuff in it, so I’ll see how it goes. If nothing else, going through this show was phenomenal.
Thomas Corp
2026-02-13 00:21:29 +0000 UTCMy dad had a certain few movies that he insisted on sharing with my brother and I the moment we seemed old enough to appreciate them: The Black Stallion, The Princess Bride, and Searching for Bobby Fischer. And that all worked out great. I have to admit, Stalag 17 ended up with The Lost Weekend as a lesser tier Billy Wilder for me. Maybe it'll take a few more viewings since at times I was really struggling to keep the characters straight. And I could never take the light bulb seriously, since it hangs way too low naturally to believe no one noticed that it kept changing. And I gave my pick that year to Montgomery Clift. But it's a way easier experience than the movie I'm currently on, where I'm sure at some point there's been a worse idea for a movie hero than "incorruptible paragon of justice and virtue Alan Dershowitz," but I sure can't think of any at the moment.
Ryan
2026-02-12 23:37:27 +0000 UTCThe first episode is all about just getting to the moment we all knew was coming, done in a perfectly natural way for the setting with a tabloid journalist uncovering the whole thing by accident. And kudos for resisting the urge to cast a big guest star in this role, just letting her come off just as deceptively unassuming as they often are. As much as Simon's always come off as an autistic king, I've never felt closer to him than when he goes off about that Slush Ice movie, as there have been quite a few times when it's my turn to talk and I've got nothing, so I'll just tangent off one random word from the last sentence. I'm also very surprised how much Eric's totally offscreen redemption arc hit me, fully owning up for public consumption how he should have been more supportive of a guy soon to become one of the biggest stars in Hollywood. I guess there goes any chance of him actually becoming the Grim Reaper, and if I knew a single thing about the comic character, I'm sure that would mean something. And finally it's time for Simon to have his big Edwina Sharma "Have I truly been so blind?" moment (speaking of, Caitlyn from Arcane is the main baddie in the new season and is CRUSHING it). It hurts, we all knew it would, what else is there to say? Well, there is the only way this could get more painful, as all of Ben's work to put across how traumatic being known as the Mandarin is for him pays off. And he gets to say to Damage Control Guy "The hills are alive with the sound of murder, and I'm wanked, spanked, and ready to be a terrorist. You look terrible." And Simon goes on the long, slow journey of realizing beating Minnesota Fats is meaningless after what it cost him. At least first we get to see the worst possible replacement for Barnaby, and just imagine how embarrassing it would be for a major superhero movie to have to awkwardly CGI its villain into the climactic verbal confrontation with the hero after some last minute production issue. But soon enough Joey Pants is left saying to Trevor "What did you give him?" and Simon butts in with "Everything you couldn't." Because he forgot that you never make a move without checking with your handler first (if I ever meet him, that's the role I'm going to bring up to try to impress him, along with asking what happened to that hat). Very surprising how much time they devote to this, letting us get to know Chuck as a fully developed guy and care about him getting out of this okay. After the whole season has made so clear how much this role means to Simon, seeing him give it up because Trevor is more important is way more moving than I was expecting we'd ever get from the show at the start, perfectly scored with the theme from the movie where they first met as we hope they can actually get to Florida this time. And after their love of trading monologues, there's another one they might want to brush up on in the near future. "No one will remember if we were good men or bad. Why we fought or why we died. No, all that matters is that two stood against many. That's what's important." All the marketing has called the show a miniseries, but I dearly hope we get a follow-up somehow. And that they get on it quick since Ben is 82 and I really don't want Trevor to get into Susan Foreman territory of biting my nails hoping he makes it to whatever ending is planned. This show blew past all my expectations and has me optimistic for the MCU on a level I haven't felt for a while. And you've been a delight to go through it with.
Ryan
2026-02-12 23:25:35 +0000 UTCThis one was truly something special, Jess. We both loved it as much as we did. We both braced ourselves for the inevitable pain, and it was there, but the happy ending reward after that was worth it. Yes, Jess, I could hear, clear as day your heart cracking over the build up to when the truth came out. You undoubtedly heard my own heart crack whilst this show pulled the Mola Ram shit on my heart. Talking about the first episode... first. Never did play hooky with Dad, though his dad always used to jest about that. That thing though of just sharing the movies with Dad, Dad just getting you in such the specific way, Christ that’s too real. It’s inevitable that it gets you in the heart too. Appreciate that you loved how the dad understood Simon. And that thing of how Simon is me with the movies that you saw in the theater with your dad/watched at home with your dad, especially the older ones; those memories become incredibly poignant once he’s gone. And the later flashback reveals why Simon is as particular as he is about the shades, like you observed. Like how you try to tell Simon to slow down on the micromanaging, though nice that Trevor served as a buffer for that. Trevor is me with the “No performing on an empty stomach.” mentality, that is VERY real. Plus, I can go my whole life without the disgusting health drinks. Stress rose with the reporter and Simon highlighting some of that. Ok, so Tommy from 3rd Rock did obscene things with pigeons, apparently. And Dennis stabbing the salad, the lady interviewing him seemed fine with it. Then again, she couldn’t say no, because of, you know, the implication. And sweet that Simon’s family did have his back. Great what you said about Simon’s brother. We both loved his scene with Vivian. A very mature perspective, as you put it. Loved your words about it. I don’t even have romance/dating experience, and I still feel it how Vivian was perfectly fine with Simon, secret and all. The varied subtexts with that do not go unnoticed. Especially the part where Vivian admits she was hoping that Simon would have trusted her with his secrets. Trick in life: find someone you can trust like that. The fear is real. That all too real line in Batman Returns when Bruce expresses fear of saying “Yes” to Selina’s question about was Vicki right about the difficulty with duality. There’s also that moment in Daredevil that got me WAY TOO GOOD when Vanessa got Kingpin to take the plunge in trusting her with his darkness. Therefore, very sweet how Vivian expressed that she would have been open to Simon telling her, and she hopes that he can find that special someone. We mirror in reaction to that part. The interview process was going so well, then Kathy starts digging into Trevor’s arrest, now the truth is out. They soften the blow somewhat by having Trevor ultimately reveal most of the grittier shit. And good on Trevor to fess up. Simon then clocks how the signs were there. Everything slides into place: The coincidental meetings, Trevor wanting to go to his mom’s birthday party, not to mention how there’s the explanation for what the deal was with the chessboard with the hollowed-out pieces on the table underneath the very distinctive looking corded lightbulb at Trevor’s place. All of it is as tough as it is to watch that, to answer your question, I wouldn’t have blamed you for just getting up and leaving the room the second you got the whiff of the liar revealed trope rearing its ugly head. Both Ben and Yahya both shatter all our hearts there. We both note how Simon keeps himself from popping until the moment later. His bacon is cooked. Trevor shatters the heart with his phone call, that farewell before taking the fall. As you say, a man that willingly taps back into such a dark time and place to save a friend, that’s just, no words. I so LOVED his Mandarin scene. It does remind you why people were so pissed off with the big Iron Man 3 twist thirteen years ago. And I do get it. Seeing Ben again sell it how Trevor brought the wonderfully malevolent Mandarin energy, it makes sense that a man would feel cheated. As it is, my brother and I agree that the twist itself was hilarious, on top of being a fantastic bit of social commentary. And just how he switched from Mandarin to Dudley Moore, fantastic stuff. Now seeing him bring that back, and to protect Simon, one of the greatest MCU moments ever, and it really solidifies Trevor jumping up to top ten favorite MCU characters for me. And now sharing it with you makes it all so much better. Love how Von Kovak offers sympathy and the advice to let the misery drive the bus, very useful at times. And then the show hits you with the Lacrymosa. Already one of those pieces of music that just hits you in the heart, without fail. Exacerbated here when you recall how Trevor quoted Amadeus, and again, he would SO love Murray as Salieri in that film. So, the earlier reference, the Lacrymosa used to such SUPERB effect in that film, and now used here bringing it all to mind, I just broke. My face looked like Salieri’s did in one of the last scenes of that film when it all hit. And we see the recast for Barnaby, which presumably includes updated dialogue in the Barnaby betrayal scene; something about Barnaby saying to Wonder Man, “Remember Sammy Jankis.” or similar lines. That or we have Barnaby pose the question, “Why, oh why didn’t I take the BLUE pill?” to Wonder Man. Lord, did I love your reaction to all of that. I needed another minute at the line of the brother saying to Simon that he wished that their dad could have been there to see the Wonder Man film. God, you are SHARP with catching on fast that Simon was playing the long game of springing Trevor out. They have a good lead up to that as actors shadowing people isn’t uncommon. You notice that you don’t see where Chuck works for a while, and it all comes together. And again, you clocked the dialogue, hinting at it. You’re so smart, Jess. And we both loved it how Simon left the nest egg for Chuck and his family. Good note on Simon being something of a con man at the end. Reversal. He and Trevor fly away. Allowing them both to continue the beautiful friendship, which was the heart of this show. Love the words you said about how important a friendship like that could be. If you ever want a good cry, you should read what Sir Christopher Lee said about that after the death of Peter Cushing who those two were besties and then some. Trevor and Simon definitely have that. As you say, a friendship that affects you so powerfully, helps you as it does, a wonderful thing. And thus ends one of our picks for favorite MCU shows. Not much in the way of the show making us unzipped and sharing with these last two episodes, but that’s ok. It does truly mean a lot to hear that you appreciate our support. I feel like John Williams said in the last Star Wars movie when he told the orchestra, “I wish we had more to play.” as I would love to continue this show indefinitely. As it is we have reached the end, (Unless there is going to be a season two that I don’t know about.) and I truly thank you for such an emotional and beautiful journey shared, Jess.
Thomas Corp
2026-02-12 19:23:34 +0000 UTC
