Ronit J

Spider-Noir Season 1 Synopsis:

Ben Reilly, a seasoned, down-on-his-luck private investigator in 1930s New York, is forced to grapple with his past life, following a deeply personal tragedy, as the city’s one and only superhero.

Spider-Noir Season 1 Review:

I knew this show was dropping in May, but I almost missed it because I was busy. At night, when I sat down to watch something on my TV, this was the first thing on my feed. Knowing that Phil Lord & Christopher Miller were involved, as well as Nicolas Cage, I was really hyped for this one. I’ve said this before and I’ll repeat myself: I think the Spider-Verse films are hands down the best cinematic versions of Spider-Man.

That being said, I did have some qualms. After all, this series is another addition to a ‘franchise’, and that can mean bad news. After the utterly disappointing Punisher, as well as the recently wrapped up The Boys Season 5, I didn’t want to waste time on one more mediocre slop. Luckily enough, Spider-Noir was not that (for the most part).

I’m going to start off by saying that the black-and-white treatment did not work for me. I started watching the first episode like that, but it just felt very blah. However, the moment I switched to True Hue Colour, the show just came alive. The saturated colour palette, the lighting, the old-timey treatment, all worked brilliantly in colour. The black-and-white version in contrast (pun intended) lacked the same mood and atmosphere. It didn’t feel as evocative. The lighting and contrast didn’t have the same beauty as many black-and-white films I’ve watched in my life. So, keep in mind that my review is based off the True Hue version.

An Atmospheric, Vibrant Noir

The world’s treatment almost immediately immerses you. The music, the atmosphere, but most importantly, the art direction overall builds a world that feels as real as can be. It’s not your cheap green-screen sets, but a setting that genuinely feels alive and lived-in. I’m not from New York, but the probation-era NYC of Spider-Noir feels very reminiscent of the yesteryear films of that period. I also want to appreciate the practical make-up, smart use of camera angles, and other cinema techniques that elevate this series. From Tombstone (Abraham Popoola) and Flint Marko (Jack Huston)’ powers, to the utterly nightmarish horror sequences, there is a lot that works beautifully. SPOILER: That half-man-half-spider thing that bites Ben, and the nightmare that follows, were two of my favourite scenes of this series.

This alternate version of Spider-Man, or The Spider / Ben Reilly (Nicolas Cage) feels almost as interesting as the Spider-Verse movies’ Miles Morales. He is a hardened war veteran, a private investigator, and a stereotypical noir protagonist. Nicolas Cage’s performance particularly stands out for being weird and fascinating. He embodies this spider-pretending-to-be-a-man persona so absolutely that is creates an absurdly beautiful experience. Admittedly, the cast of supporting characters, except Robbie Robertson (Lamorne Morris) didn’t stand out to me as much. They were dull caricatures that failed to grow as individuals. Yet, the overall treatment and direction of this show managed to keep things fresh.

Overall, there is plenty to appreciate in Spider-Noir. However, it also has a ton that does not work.

Fails In Many Aspects, But Enjoyable Overall

My biggest complaint with Spider-Noir was the plot. While the characters were a hit-or-miss, the plot was just too convoluted to make sense. I loved the entire meta-human plot, but everything else felt underdeveloped, ending up bloating the series more than it should have. The whole Silvermane-Morris conflict, as well as the Cat-Flint romance was dull and uninteresting. What’s worse, these plots aren’t as balanced as they could have been if developed properly. It honestly feels like this was originally supposed to be a movie, but demand for streaming platform content forced the makers to expand it into a series. Loads of fillers, loads of duds, all bloating an otherwise interesting plot.

Secondly, the action scenes just feel too lacklustre. I wouldn’t mind campy, but the swinging scenes and Spider-Man fighting didn’t evoke much tension. It didn’t even feel campy like old films. Secondly, the few CGI scenes were just plain bad, with the sole exception being the dream sequence in episode 6. As much as I appreciate the practical effects and visual treatment, there is ample that doesn’t look good. If only there was more consistency in the quality of the show’s many elements, it would have made for a much more compelling title.

All these criticisms lead me to wonder if this is just another franchise-cash-grab. Given how incredibly popular the Spider-Verse films are, it’s no surprise that they’d want to make this show. Sadly, the balance of the great with the lacklustre end up making this show an enjoyable but mediocre watch at best. Not a bad watch, but not a particularly memorable one either.

Spider-Noir Season 1 Ending Explained

Cat (Li Jun Li) asks Janet (Karen Rodriguez) for the antidote because she can get close to Marko & Leyden (Andrew Lewis Caldwell). She hesitantly agrees, but Marko & Leyden follow her to Robbie’s place and kidnap Ben. Ben is having troubles with his powers, so he doesn’t fight. Silvermane (Brenden Gleeson) forces him to contact The Spider and bring the antidote to the Alcove. Robbie—who answered the phone pretending to be The Spider—agrees. As they’re drinking, Leyden recognises Ben from the rescue, which leads Silvermane to deduce that he’s The Spider. He’s about to kill Ben, when Cat reveals she had hired Addison to kill Silvermane. She’s trying to protect Ben, when Robbie arrives dressed as The Spider, saving Ben from the trouble.

Leyden injects Robbie with the antidote, then electrocutes him. They unmask him, not fully convinced that the reporter is The Spider. Just then, Ben regains his powers, and begins to fight the goons. As the fight ensues, Silvermane tries to escape, but Cat tracks him down to a maze of mirrors and shoots him dead. Meanwhile, Ben fights the metahumans dressed as The Spider. However, Leyden attempts to kill him in public despite the public’s backlash. When Cat arrives to save Ben, Leyden attacks her. This prompts Marko to fight Leyden. The Spider intervenes, throwing Leyden onto an oncoming train, instantly killing him. He then hands over the last vial of the antidote to Cat and Marko, wishing them a happy life. This also means that Ben cannot have a normal life anymore.

Later, Morris celebrates his win. Meanwhile, Ben, Robbie & Janet talk in their office. They’re renovating. Robbie has quit the Daily Bugle for the Harlem Herald. As they leave for lunch, we see the door now says “Reilly & Ruiz Investigations”.

Spider-Noir – Black & White or True Hue?

I started watching the first episode in Black and White. And honestly, it just didn’t work for me. However, when I switched to True Hue, it felt a lot more impressive. The black-and-white fails to really evoke the tense atmosphere in my opinion. The light-and-shadows as well as the contrast didn’t work as effectively as it should in a noir show. That being said, the vibrant colours were a lot more evocative and set the mood and old-timey atmosphere perfectly.

If I had to pick, I’d say watch Spider-Noir in colour. The True Hue version is significantly more visually appealing than the black-and-white.

Will there be a Spider-Noir Season 2?

At the time of writing this review, there hasn’t been any official announcement. I guess it all depends on how audiences react to this show. After all, the last Spider-Verse movie is slated for next year. If a franchise is this popular, they are going to keep beating it till the horse dies, no?

Is Spider-Noir Season 1 Worth Watching?

Depends. The novelty of the original is clearly lacking, and the often meta-humour was a little distracting at times. Yet, I’d say this is worth a watch, especially if you want to just sit back and relax with a charming, feel-good show.

In Conclusion:

Spider-Noir Season 1 is a beautiful and atmospheric, but also a forgettably lacklustre addition to the Spider-Verse franchise.

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• Rooster Fighter Season 1 | Anime Review
• The Franchise (2024) | TV Review
• Island of the Dying Goddess

What did you think of Spider-Noir Season 1? Let me know in the comments below.

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Until next time!