[8.7/10] I really enjoyed this one, in a way I wasn’t necessarily expecting to. When the show introduced Norman Osborn playing hero, I expected it to be a part of the inevitable doublecross where he’s luring Spidey in as part of some ploy. Instead, the show committed to Norman trying to make a change and make amends for his actions, with the whole thing putting Spidey in an understandable bind. There was complexity to the dilemmas and choices faced by the major characters here that really elevated this episode.
In particular, I love the characterization of Norman Osborn here. It is, admittedly, a little convenient that his being “cured” of his Goblin mutation doesn't just make him human again, but gave him a change of heart too, but it’s not inconceivable. Still, I love that once he becomes the “Iron Patriot”, he’s still the Norman we know, just pointed in a more heroic direction. He’s still a bit quick-to-anger; he’s still a bit supercilious to both the baddies he’s fighting and to Spider-Man, and he doesn't really know how to do the whole hero thing yet. Alliances and using friends as bait rather than explain his plan and the whole “do you just surrender?” thing are all a little funny, but also true to form for Norman, particularly when he’s not used to being on this side of the hero/villain divide.
I also really like the position the episode does for Spidey here. It puts many conflicting motivations with him at the center into play. On the one hand, he’s skeptical that Norman’s really made a change. On the other, he wants to give the guy a chance. On yet another, he wants to do his job as a Shield agent and follow his mission. And on still another, he wants to do right by the Osborn family and do all he can to rehabilitate Norman and protect Harry. Some of the situations that arise are, again, a little convenient, between Norman proving his new altruistic condition in due time and Harry conveniently misreading a tableau. But on the whole, there’s a lot of complicated emotions and pulls within Peter here that makes the character and the situation feel realer and more compelling than the show usually gets.
I also like the fact that for all of Norman’s desires to make amends, he’s faced with his original sin in the form of Doc Ock coming back with the fruits of Norman’s grand plot from season 1. It’s a nice bit of continuity, and while I’m still not crazy about the way the show’s nerfed the symbiote, I do like how Norman cops to it all and doesn't make excuses, to Spidey, Otto, or his son. The show commits to showing that Norman’s made a change rather than just telling us about it, which earns Spidey’s stand before Fury.
Overall, this is a definite high water mark for the show thus far, that takes a character I’ve been bored with, points him in a new direction, and suddenly adds depth and meaning where little existed before, which has a halo effect on the whole show and its main character.
Review by Andrew BloomVIP 9BlockedParentSpoilers2019-01-07T07:17:07Z
[8.7/10] I really enjoyed this one, in a way I wasn’t necessarily expecting to. When the show introduced Norman Osborn playing hero, I expected it to be a part of the inevitable doublecross where he’s luring Spidey in as part of some ploy. Instead, the show committed to Norman trying to make a change and make amends for his actions, with the whole thing putting Spidey in an understandable bind. There was complexity to the dilemmas and choices faced by the major characters here that really elevated this episode.
In particular, I love the characterization of Norman Osborn here. It is, admittedly, a little convenient that his being “cured” of his Goblin mutation doesn't just make him human again, but gave him a change of heart too, but it’s not inconceivable. Still, I love that once he becomes the “Iron Patriot”, he’s still the Norman we know, just pointed in a more heroic direction. He’s still a bit quick-to-anger; he’s still a bit supercilious to both the baddies he’s fighting and to Spider-Man, and he doesn't really know how to do the whole hero thing yet. Alliances and using friends as bait rather than explain his plan and the whole “do you just surrender?” thing are all a little funny, but also true to form for Norman, particularly when he’s not used to being on this side of the hero/villain divide.
I also really like the position the episode does for Spidey here. It puts many conflicting motivations with him at the center into play. On the one hand, he’s skeptical that Norman’s really made a change. On the other, he wants to give the guy a chance. On yet another, he wants to do his job as a Shield agent and follow his mission. And on still another, he wants to do right by the Osborn family and do all he can to rehabilitate Norman and protect Harry. Some of the situations that arise are, again, a little convenient, between Norman proving his new altruistic condition in due time and Harry conveniently misreading a tableau. But on the whole, there’s a lot of complicated emotions and pulls within Peter here that makes the character and the situation feel realer and more compelling than the show usually gets.
I also like the fact that for all of Norman’s desires to make amends, he’s faced with his original sin in the form of Doc Ock coming back with the fruits of Norman’s grand plot from season 1. It’s a nice bit of continuity, and while I’m still not crazy about the way the show’s nerfed the symbiote, I do like how Norman cops to it all and doesn't make excuses, to Spidey, Otto, or his son. The show commits to showing that Norman’s made a change rather than just telling us about it, which earns Spidey’s stand before Fury.
Overall, this is a definite high water mark for the show thus far, that takes a character I’ve been bored with, points him in a new direction, and suddenly adds depth and meaning where little existed before, which has a halo effect on the whole show and its main character.