Episode 9: “Hero or Menace”
Spider-Man (Hudson Thames) finally takes Norman Osborn’s (Colman Domingo) advice by not holding back. Spider-Man almost kills Mac Gargan/Scorpion (Jonathan Medina) in an epic fight scene, but Lonnie/Tombstone (Eugene Byrd) prevents Peter from potentially ending Scorpion’s life.
Since a core mythos of Spider-Man is to not kill people, viewers would not have expected to see him almost take someone’s life. Whenever a character who never kills comes so close to doing so, it leaves an imprint on them that can never be erased.
The title of the episode, “Hero or Menace,” works well with this event in Peter’s young career as a superhero. Peter and his friendship with Nico (Grace Song) is saved after she sees how he is, in action, as Spider-Man.
Late in the episode, Norman reveals to Peter that he and Oscorp’s scientists discovered how they can replicate Spider-Man’s powers: injecting a spider with Peter’s own blood. Domingo’s portrayal of Norman, though different from the comics, does not get enough credit because he plays a character that still feels fresh. Even if Norman becomes the Green Goblin, Domingo will still own the role.
Episode 10: “If This Be My Destiny…”
The season finale episode reminds viewers why they love Spider-Man. Norman reveals his big evil plan in the form of Project Monolith, developed by Oscorp. The project is meant to be a gateway into the cosmos so Norman can further gather resources unknown to Earth.
Doctor Strange (Robin Atkin Downes) arrives to stop him but is subdued by Norman’s men. The symbiotic alien from the pilot that attacked and almost destroyed all of Midtown High comes out of the gateway to attack. However, Doctor Strange and Spider-Man are able to defeat and send the beast back to its home planet.
Harry Osborn (Zeno Robinson) ends up creating his own company called Worldwide Engineering Brigade. The main objective of the company is to invite younger geniuses to further their research without being exploited and used by Norman. Lonnie also becomes the new leader of the 110th Street Gang, further becoming one with the criminal world and falling from grace.
Norman finds a piece of the symbiote underneath some wreckage after the fight involving Spider-Man and Doctor Strange. Whatever he does with it, viewers know it won’t turn out good. However, the ultimate reveal happens in the last few scenes with some truly shocking appearances from characters nobody could have expected.
After the recent mixed reaction of “Captain America: Brave New World” (2025), a quality show like “Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man” was desperately needed from Marvel Studios and Disney in general. It is not of the same quality as Marvel television such as “Daredevil” (2015-18) or “X-Men ‘97” (2024), but it provides a decent viewing experience overall.
