Episode Review: Wonder Man Episode 4 - "Doorman"

Welcome back to the blog readers. It is no secret at all to those who have been paying attention that I am really enjoying the newest limited series from Marvel known as Wonder Man (2026). The performances and chemistry of Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Sir Ben Kingsley are really worth the price of admission, and the story being told is one that feels genuine and worth telling. We would be going in a bit of a different direction going into this episode, titled "Doorman," written by Zeke Nicholson, and directed by James Ponsoldt, and I was curious to see whether the shift would pay off or not.

NOTE: I will be using spoilers for my thoughts, so DO NOT read ahead if you have not seen the episode.

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Like I mentioned in the introductory paragraph, we were going to be going in a different direction for this episode, and I thought an episode without Simon and/or Trevor would really falter. But here's the thing here: getting to see about why the Doorman clause was in effect in the first place was very intriguing and actually pretty damn good. I was not a fan at first, but i really found myself loving the performance of Byron Bowers (who this episode focuses on).

I want to start this review by talking about said performance of Byron Bowers. Bowers has never really been one to be the center of attention, or has never really been in anything major aside from the Shia LaBeouf film Honey Boy (2019). Him taking on the role of DeMarr Davis / Doorman was going to be interesting, and I wound up really enjoying his performance. He comes off as someone you would want to hang out with, and that is the best stamp of approval I could give to a character. He is endearing, relatable, and tragic, and he really sets the stage for what could happen should knowledge of Simon's powers reach further than the three people who already know about them: Martha, Eric, and now Trevor.

And now, I want to get into the story of this episode because it really serves as a cautionary tale and the exposition for last week's ending tag. This is the first episode that does not focus on Simon or Trevor, but we instead focus on lowly nightclub doorman DeMarr Davis in black and white. He likes his job of controlling who does and does not enter the nightclub, and has even developed a friendship with actor Josh Gad. Their warmness to each other allows Gad and his entourage free entry into the club. One night after closing, Davis's manager Bridget accuses him of not having ambition and urges him to want ore for himself. He responds that he likes his job and is content in the position that he is in. She then orders him to take out the trash, where he is frustrated that the dumpster is full. His eye goes to an adjacent dumpster apparently owned by Roxxon, where a mysterious black substance is leaking through. He puts his hand down into the substance and disappears, finding himself in a liminal space where dozens upon dozens of glowing doors appear. He panics and screams, then finds himself on his kitchen floor all confused on what just happened. His dog jumps into his arms but completely disappears through his body, horrifying Davis.

He chases the dog downstairs into a neighbor's apartment, startling her as she stands wrapped in a towel. She throws a vase at him but it too passes through his body. He is even more horrified as he grabs his dog and runs from the apartment. The next night, he is back at work as the doorman, and Gad is at this club as well. Due to some patrons being reckless, a fire breaks out and the main exit jams, preventing the patrons from leaving and Davis from entering. He uses his newfound power to enter the club and demand everyone exit through him. Gad leads the charge, urging everyone to trust Davis, and he is able to save everyone in the club with no casualties. Impressed and grateful, Gad proposes a job offer that he cannot refuse. Initially hesitant to leave his current job, he later accepts and becomes Gad's personal bodyguard, enabling him to evade crowds and threats. While on the set of his new film Cash Grab, Gad discusses ideas for the film's central set piece and proposes an idea. He wants to use Davis and his powers to pull off the scene, but Davis urges him to find an actual actor to make it better. Gad argues that the authentic thing is better and even gets Davis to agree to star in the film. Turns out, not only is the film a big hit, Davis is jettisoned into superstardom seemingly overnight, with his catchphrase "Ding dong!" garnering similar notoriety and praise.

Davis and his face are basically plastered anywhere his face can be, from billboards and television show appearances to commercials. One night, he decides to return to the club and gets the same treatment he once gave Gad. He speaks to a former colleague about the script for a commercial he has just landed, and later decides to look up fan comments on social media. A lot of the comments he sees are scathing and he realizes that his potential as an actor is only limited by his power and catchphrase. He performs in the commercial but realizes that the product he is trying to sell is a scam, and he decides to take a break from acting. It is at this point that he has lost a lot of money and turned to alcohol to cope. He receives a call from Gad, who mentions that the studio is greenlighting a Cash Grab sequel. Realizing that this could be a way to reignite his career, he enthusiastically agrees. While filming, the two prepare a stunt where Gad will throw money and then himself through Davis. With each passing thing that goes through Davis, he gets more and more uncomfortable, but when Gad goes through, Davis vomits and Gad does not appear on the other side. This incident leads to Davis's immediate arrest and permanent surveillance by the Department of Damage Control (DODC) and the implementation of a clause known as the Doorman Clause that prevents any superpowered individuals from working in the entertainment industry and requires all non-powered people to sign an affidavit swearing they do not have powers. Simon Williams watches this news segment on his phone as he solemnly gets up from set and walks away.

Wonder Man gives us some crucial backstory for one of Marvel's most tragic figures, and gives us the framework for the rest of this series in terms of story. Thank you all for reading, and I will see you for the next post.