[8.3/10] It’s hard to do major character arcs in this show, because they tend to be contained within a single episode, which means everything has to happen so fast. But I really like the parable they try to tell with Peter here, where he’s emotional and distraught after Mary Jane is abducted by Hydro-Man, yelling at Anna Watson and sending Felicia away, until he decides to channel his distress into something productive, and uses his scientific skills to track MJ down.
There’s something worthwhile there -- about not letting your emotions get the best of you, even in tough times, and using your talents and your wits to solve problems instead if you can -- that’s done in just the right way for a kids show.
The episode’s also just a neat story. There’s some strong emotional work with Peter and MJ finally getting a little peace, finally getting to enjoy being husband and wife, only to have Hydro-Man, a dark piece of MJ’s past, come back to bite them. Peter worrying about Mary Jane’s safety and having that interfere with his ability to go all-out against his foes has been a recurring thread, and it’s done well here.
Plus, the raw fighting between Spider-Man and Hydro-Man is well done. Hydro-Man makes for a neat villain, both because his stalker-y qualities with Mary Jane are unnerving, and because his powers make for a real creative challenge and puzzle for Peter to figure out. Between the coagulating spider-spray, and the oil rig set piece, and the confrontation at the factory, there’s a lot of cool fisticuffs to go around.
It’s also a solid episode for Mary Jane in her own right. She’s still the damsel in distress for the most part, but she fights back against Hydro-Man and figures out how to signal her fiancée. The episode’s kind of a waste of Black Cat’s return, with a super-rushed arc about Cat learning that she’s attracted to guys who are dedicated, but she and Spidey’s dynamic is still a good one.
Overall, an exciting episode of the show with a hell of a surprise at the end!
Review by Andrew BloomVIP 9BlockedParent2018-06-29T20:28:08Z
[8.3/10] It’s hard to do major character arcs in this show, because they tend to be contained within a single episode, which means everything has to happen so fast. But I really like the parable they try to tell with Peter here, where he’s emotional and distraught after Mary Jane is abducted by Hydro-Man, yelling at Anna Watson and sending Felicia away, until he decides to channel his distress into something productive, and uses his scientific skills to track MJ down.
There’s something worthwhile there -- about not letting your emotions get the best of you, even in tough times, and using your talents and your wits to solve problems instead if you can -- that’s done in just the right way for a kids show.
The episode’s also just a neat story. There’s some strong emotional work with Peter and MJ finally getting a little peace, finally getting to enjoy being husband and wife, only to have Hydro-Man, a dark piece of MJ’s past, come back to bite them. Peter worrying about Mary Jane’s safety and having that interfere with his ability to go all-out against his foes has been a recurring thread, and it’s done well here.
Plus, the raw fighting between Spider-Man and Hydro-Man is well done. Hydro-Man makes for a neat villain, both because his stalker-y qualities with Mary Jane are unnerving, and because his powers make for a real creative challenge and puzzle for Peter to figure out. Between the coagulating spider-spray, and the oil rig set piece, and the confrontation at the factory, there’s a lot of cool fisticuffs to go around.
It’s also a solid episode for Mary Jane in her own right. She’s still the damsel in distress for the most part, but she fights back against Hydro-Man and figures out how to signal her fiancée. The episode’s kind of a waste of Black Cat’s return, with a super-rushed arc about Cat learning that she’s attracted to guys who are dedicated, but she and Spidey’s dynamic is still a good one.
Overall, an exciting episode of the show with a hell of a surprise at the end!