[6.9/10] I like this episode’s focus on the relationship between Harry and Peter on the one hand, and Harry and his father on the other, as core to the series, with Harry and Norman’s feelings about Spider-Man complicating the whole deal. But rather than executing well on the trust and friendship angle here, this episode mostly devolves into melodrama and more generic conniving from Norman. I’ll admit, I like the idea that he’s less against Spider-Man in principle and more fears some sort of opposing Spider-Army from The Jackal, but his prep for it is getting a little dull.
The main action in the episode wasn’t much to write home about either. The Rhino clones versus the Octobots didn’t amount to much, and while the “Osborn Commandos” joining together to fend them off had a little more juice, the solution of removing their microchips seems too obvious to be interesting. There’s a few seeds planted for Otto’s distaste for being under Norman’s thumb that are a little interesting, but considering that we’re blowing through his arc in 4 episodes, it doesn't leave much time or space for that to develop.
I do appreciate the throughline of Peter trying to convince Harry that his dad can’t be trusted. There’s something very fraught about that, even if Peter kind of just ham-handedly comes out with it. But the way the show tries to dramatize that idea leaves something to be desired.
Review by Andrew BloomVIP 9BlockedParentSpoilers2019-05-28T22:41:11Z
[6.9/10] I like this episode’s focus on the relationship between Harry and Peter on the one hand, and Harry and his father on the other, as core to the series, with Harry and Norman’s feelings about Spider-Man complicating the whole deal. But rather than executing well on the trust and friendship angle here, this episode mostly devolves into melodrama and more generic conniving from Norman. I’ll admit, I like the idea that he’s less against Spider-Man in principle and more fears some sort of opposing Spider-Army from The Jackal, but his prep for it is getting a little dull.
The main action in the episode wasn’t much to write home about either. The Rhino clones versus the Octobots didn’t amount to much, and while the “Osborn Commandos” joining together to fend them off had a little more juice, the solution of removing their microchips seems too obvious to be interesting. There’s a few seeds planted for Otto’s distaste for being under Norman’s thumb that are a little interesting, but considering that we’re blowing through his arc in 4 episodes, it doesn't leave much time or space for that to develop.
I do appreciate the throughline of Peter trying to convince Harry that his dad can’t be trusted. There’s something very fraught about that, even if Peter kind of just ham-handedly comes out with it. But the way the show tries to dramatize that idea leaves something to be desired.