This publish accommodates spoilers for “Surprise Man.”
Betrayal hits Simon Williams/Surprise Man (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) sq. within the face within the penultimate episode of “Surprise Man.” Simon’s “Surprise Man” co-star and solely buddy, Trevor Slattery (Ben Kingsley), is revealed to be a spy for the Division of Harm Management (DoDC), casting doubts on the sincerity of this shut friendship. We’re conscious of this secret from the get-go and have been aware about Trevor’s change of coronary heart after he realizes that Simon means no hurt. Whereas he nonetheless negotiates with DoDCÂ agent P. Cleary (Arian Moayed) to stop going again to jail, Trevor does not wish to hand Simon over to the authorities, and retains stalling to that finish. Unaware of those nuances, Simon understandably turns into upset, permitting his powers to eat him. Sadly, this destroys one of many “Surprise Man” movie units, drawing DoDC’s speedy consideration.
Episode 8 opens with the expectation that the authorities are closing in on Simon, as he has been categorised as an “extraordinary risk.” Simply earlier than the arrest is made, Trevor calls Simon to apologize, saying that he might be taking accountability for his actions as a substitute of operating away. As Trevor hangs up, Simon realizes that his buddy has given himself as much as the DoDC to avoid wasting him, having publicly returned as the Mandarin, who was first launched in “Iron Man 3.”Â
As a refresher, the 2013 “Iron Man” movie had revealed that the Ten Rings terrorist, Mandarin, was really a employed actor named Trevor Slattery (who was manipulated by Man Pearce’s Aldrich Killian into posing because the infamous villain). This plot level was pretty controversial on the time, as some comedian e-book followers have been upset that the Mandarin was diminished to a persona versus being fleshed out like a critical antagonist.
Surprise Man makes its Mandarin twist work with a becoming sacrifice
As divisive as Kingsley’s portrayal of Mandarin was in “Iron Man 3,” his Trevor Slattery takes on new life in “Surprise Man,” the place he is merely making an attempt to go away the previous behind. He is arrested as quickly as he lands at LAX, and blackmailed into getting near Simon, who’s enamored by Slattery’s deep love for appearing. It is value noting that Trevor was drugged and deluded throughout his Mandarin stint, and considered the caricature-heavy portrayal of the character as a flawed appearing job, and nothing extra. After he was despatched to jail, he escaped throughout the occasions of “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings,” wherein he helped defeat the Dweller-in-Darkness. Conserving Trevor’s character arc in thoughts, the “Iron Man” twist feels earned on reflection, because it additionally avoids the supply materials’s stereotypical portrayal of Mandarin as a Marvel villain.
In “Surprise Man,” Trevor is determined to distance himself from this infamous persona, going to any lengths to keep away from jail time. However that is additionally tempered by his real attachment to Simon, as he turns into his shut buddy and mentor throughout the course of. He additionally turns into the one particular person to intimately study Simon’s hopes and desires, together with the key that he’s completely different as a result of his skills. As Simon does not have the posh to flaunt his powers because of the Doorman Clause, his secret is tied to his identification and self-worth, making Trevor’s betrayal really feel particularly pointed. Although Trevor was coerced into spying, he takes accountability for his actions and embraces the identical moniker that doomed his credibility a long time in the past. Additionally, the buddy comedy side of “Surprise Man” permits this sacrifice to hold significant weight, because it permits Simon to dwell his desires.
The Surprise Man film is essential to Simon’s plan to rescue Trevor
Trevor makes use of the “Surprise Man” film auditions as a pretext to get near Simon, however later realizes that the character is extremely necessary to him. Because the layers of Simon’s true character are peeled again, we see a lonely, susceptible man who retains everybody at arm’s size. At one level in his childhood, Simon’s father had taken him to a “Surprise Man” screening that modified his relationship with the artform, which is why Von Kovak’s (Zlatko Burić) remake means a lot to him. As destiny would have it, Kovak additionally thinks that Simon was born to play Surprise Man, and he’s solid within the lead position alongside Trevor, who performs Barnaby. Trevor is recast after he offers himself up because the Mandarin, however “Surprise Man” goes on to attain nice success and makes a star out of Simon.
This achievement helps resolve Simon’s core insecurities, as his success proves that his struggles weren’t in useless and that somebody as emotionally remoted as he may also open up. Trevor’s sacrifice fuels his dedication, and we see him perform an elaborate rescue mission proper after, the place he pretends to prep for an upcoming position to get near a DoDCÂ worker (whom he treats kindly, anonymously leaving him a hefty sum within the financial institution). As soon as inside the ability, Simon frees Trevor together with his powers, blasting by the roof to fly him to security. That is in stark distinction to his lifelong angle in the direction of his skills, which he has at all times saved hidden/been ashamed of. This act of heroism won’t be a standard one, however it’s significant, because it cements his belief in Trevor regardless of every little thing.
“Surprise Man” is now streaming on Disney+.
