[7.9/10] Holy cow Hydroman was creepy, in multiple ways. The show’s take on it is naturally a bit cartoony, but it nevertheless captures how unsettling it is to have a stalker and an obsessive like him around. It’s done in the usual supervillainous tones, in a way that seems to presage Buffy’s “real life problems realized as demons” tack (something Whedon likely borrowed from the comics that inspired Spider-Man TAS anyway), but it finds the truth in them that makes Hydroman feel like a greater threat and a greater menace beyond his superpowers.
The episode is a little over-explain-y and exposition-filled at times. We get another villain origin flashback, though it’s mercifully brief, and we get some clunky dialogue about Mary Jane’s deadbeat dad and Peter’s understanding of her unwillingness to committ. But for the most part, it all works well enough, and there’s some good Spidey wisecracks too.
There’s also some great visuals that come from Hydroman’s powers. As with the original Chameleon episode, what I like about Hydroman is that he poses a unique threat to Spider-Man, one that isn’t easily bested with braun alone. Bits like their fight in the water tower or their conflict in Washington Square Park create challenges for Spider-Man that require his wits and not just his web-slinging.
By the same token, there’s some really startling body horror stuff going on. Using a coagulant to freeze Hydroman in place is creepier the more you think about it, and him evaporating has a kind of unsettling element to it as well. The show never lingers on it too long, but it’s done in a way that gives these moments some extra juice.
Overall, this one has a villain that’s interesting both in the emotional effect he has on M.J. and the physical threat he poses to Spider-Man, and the episode finds neat ways to combine those two things. Nicely done.
Review by Andrew BloomVIP 9BlockedParent2018-02-11T16:56:05Z
[7.9/10] Holy cow Hydroman was creepy, in multiple ways. The show’s take on it is naturally a bit cartoony, but it nevertheless captures how unsettling it is to have a stalker and an obsessive like him around. It’s done in the usual supervillainous tones, in a way that seems to presage Buffy’s “real life problems realized as demons” tack (something Whedon likely borrowed from the comics that inspired Spider-Man TAS anyway), but it finds the truth in them that makes Hydroman feel like a greater threat and a greater menace beyond his superpowers.
The episode is a little over-explain-y and exposition-filled at times. We get another villain origin flashback, though it’s mercifully brief, and we get some clunky dialogue about Mary Jane’s deadbeat dad and Peter’s understanding of her unwillingness to committ. But for the most part, it all works well enough, and there’s some good Spidey wisecracks too.
There’s also some great visuals that come from Hydroman’s powers. As with the original Chameleon episode, what I like about Hydroman is that he poses a unique threat to Spider-Man, one that isn’t easily bested with braun alone. Bits like their fight in the water tower or their conflict in Washington Square Park create challenges for Spider-Man that require his wits and not just his web-slinging.
By the same token, there’s some really startling body horror stuff going on. Using a coagulant to freeze Hydroman in place is creepier the more you think about it, and him evaporating has a kind of unsettling element to it as well. The show never lingers on it too long, but it’s done in a way that gives these moments some extra juice.
Overall, this one has a villain that’s interesting both in the emotional effect he has on M.J. and the physical threat he poses to Spider-Man, and the episode finds neat ways to combine those two things. Nicely done.