[8.2/10] Pretty easily the best episode of the season so far. Maybe we just need The Green Goblin around to really bring out the best in Spider-Man: The Animated Series. I’ve complained about villain overload on the show before, so basically limiting this episode to a three-front war between Spidey, Harry Osborn, and The Punisher was a good choice that let each character and plotline breathe and flourish.
I like The Punisher trying to do a good deed for MJ’s aunt and track Mary Jane down. It allows him to have a mission that doesn't have the “don’t use lethal force just this once!” awkwardness of his last appearance, and gives him an interesting and earned motivation that makes sense given Anna Watson’s bias against Peter and Punisher’s sympathy for anyone who lost a family member too soon. It’s a little convenient that he thinks Peter’s the Green Goblin (and a little convenient that Peter uses the goblin stuff around him), but his involvement is a bonus here, and him actually getting a measure of redemption and humanity back when delivering MJ to her aunt is quite good.
Spidey’s good in this one too. While I appreciate the show trying to take the death of a character seriously, Spidey’s angst routine has been a pretty tiresome and aimless one this season. But having him balance his pain at the sight of the Green Golbin, and his sympathy for his friend and roommate Harry going through loss in the same way is a good tack. Plus, there’s some good Spidey action between Peter’s jaunt on the battle glider and the explosion-filled escape at Oscorp.
But best of all is Harry’s internal tête-à-tête with Green Goblin. There’s layers to Harry as a villain that just aren’t there for most of Spider-Man’s baddies on this show. Trying to revive his father while carrying out the bidding of this malevolent force is an interesting conflict, and him having to reckon with the fact that his missing father is the Green Goblin really works as a turn in his story. Plus, Harry going all unhinged is legitimately unnerving.
Overall, a real gem that picks up a lot of the things last season’s excellent finale put down.
Review by Andrew BloomVIP 9BlockedParentSpoilers2018-06-19T22:03:32Z
[8.2/10] Pretty easily the best episode of the season so far. Maybe we just need The Green Goblin around to really bring out the best in Spider-Man: The Animated Series. I’ve complained about villain overload on the show before, so basically limiting this episode to a three-front war between Spidey, Harry Osborn, and The Punisher was a good choice that let each character and plotline breathe and flourish.
I like The Punisher trying to do a good deed for MJ’s aunt and track Mary Jane down. It allows him to have a mission that doesn't have the “don’t use lethal force just this once!” awkwardness of his last appearance, and gives him an interesting and earned motivation that makes sense given Anna Watson’s bias against Peter and Punisher’s sympathy for anyone who lost a family member too soon. It’s a little convenient that he thinks Peter’s the Green Goblin (and a little convenient that Peter uses the goblin stuff around him), but his involvement is a bonus here, and him actually getting a measure of redemption and humanity back when delivering MJ to her aunt is quite good.
Spidey’s good in this one too. While I appreciate the show trying to take the death of a character seriously, Spidey’s angst routine has been a pretty tiresome and aimless one this season. But having him balance his pain at the sight of the Green Golbin, and his sympathy for his friend and roommate Harry going through loss in the same way is a good tack. Plus, there’s some good Spidey action between Peter’s jaunt on the battle glider and the explosion-filled escape at Oscorp.
But best of all is Harry’s internal tête-à-tête with Green Goblin. There’s layers to Harry as a villain that just aren’t there for most of Spider-Man’s baddies on this show. Trying to revive his father while carrying out the bidding of this malevolent force is an interesting conflict, and him having to reckon with the fact that his missing father is the Green Goblin really works as a turn in his story. Plus, Harry going all unhinged is legitimately unnerving.
Overall, a real gem that picks up a lot of the things last season’s excellent finale put down.