While the previous franchise starters began from scratch and explored the origin of its titular hero, the Marvel Cinematic Universe largely skipped over Spider-Man’s beginnings. WithYour Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, a show originally announced as filling in the gaps of the origins ofTom Holland’s webslingeruntil it was reworked to be its own thing, creator Jeff Trammell not only finds himself exploring familiar territory for his titular hero, but also for the franchise the show is not supposed to be part of.
Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man
Cast
Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man follows Peter Parker as he navigates the complexities of heroism, facing a series of extraordinary challenges.
Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Manpicks upon Peter Parker’s first day at Midtown High School, in which he witnesses Doctor Strange come through a portal and stop a Venom-like symbiote from harming those nearby, though is also bit by a spider that falls through the portal, turning him into the titular hero. The show follows Peter in his early days as a hero, while also partnering with Norman Osborne, who begins to mentor Peter and offer his help through his corporation to improve his crimefighting skills.
Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man’s Writing Offers Meaningful Character Moments
Some Are Left By The Wayside, But Most Evolve Meaningfully
With the show being comprised of 10 episodes and introducing characters not previously seen in the MCU, save for a few exceptions,Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Mandoes well to focus on the character development of its core cast, albeit to a mixed degree for a few. Peter, most notably, feels like he’s going through the same beats many otherSpider-Manincarnations have explored, namely his uncertainty regarding how he approaches his crimefighting when he proves unsuccessful.
That being said, many of the other characters inYour Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Manare given meaningful moments to evolve.
Some other characters feel like they are underdeveloped as the show progresses. Cathy Ang’s Pearl, Peter’s crush, plays out largely similar to that ofLaura Harrier’s LizinSpider-Man: Homecoming, having charming moments with Peter and some surprising ties to certain villains. But despite brief spurts of agency, she still never feels like more than a love interest for him and Lonnie. Similarly, as much time as Aunt May has in the show, and despite frequent mentions of Uncle Ben, it feels like she’s never given enough volition, much like Marisa Tomei’s incarnation of the character.
That said, many of the othercharacters inYour Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Manare given meaningful moments to evolve. Lonnie is one of the more notable of the roster who sees the most development as the show goes on, progressing from typical jock to thoroughly intelligent figure, while scenes focused solely on him also showcase his more tragic background. Similarly, Harry Osborn’s growth from an egotistical influencer to a well-meaning friend is an enjoyable evolution to watch.
The Show’s Worldbuilding Feels Bizarrely Constructed
For A Show Not Set In The MCU, It’s Certainly Leaning On It
Ultimately, one of the more frustrating bits aboutYour Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Manis how it goes about fleshing out its wider Marvel world. It’s been confirmed by multiple members of the creative team that the showwouldn’t be part of the MCU, and yet it leans so heavily on many characters and events from the franchise that makes it all the more baffling why they didn’t just say it was. The Sokovia Accords become a major plot point, and references are made to both the Chitauri invasion and Ultron’s creation from the first twoAvengersmovies.
Though these may be some of the more recognizable events in Marvel, Trammell is really boxing himself into a corner. The history of Marvel Comics is so expansive that the show’s decision to repeat many of the same events from the MCU rather than pull from the comics is bizarre and unoriginal. While the shift away from Tony Stark being Peter’s mentor to Norman Osborn is refreshing, and not seeing Mary Jane Watson for the umpteenth time is a good change, there are so many stories that the Avengers and other heroes have been involved in.
Stiff Animation & Questionable Casting Choices Also Undermine The Show
There’s A Lot Future Seasons Need To Learn From This
The other major issues facing the showare its cast and animation style. In an effort to homage Steve Ditko and John Romita Sr.‘sAmazing Spider-Mancomics, the 3D cel-shaded animation does have moments that provide a nice stylish aesthetic, particularly a few of the fight sequences and comic book panel edits. However, the animation is still often stiff, particularly when it comes to many characters’ facial movements and conversations, immediately sapping the emotion out of certain scenes.
As for the cast, this show arguably rivalsEuphoriafor casting actors who do not fit the high school mold. Though he previously played the character inWhat If…?, Hudson Thames is not a very good fit for Peter, and Eugene Byrd sounds far too old for Lonnie, though he finds the appropriate emotional beats of the character, while Colman Domingo is wonderfully effective as Norman. Given the show is already renewed through season 3, here’s hopingYour Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man’s futurelearns what didn’t work and turns it around, or else the show just won’t stand out from its webslinging predecessors.
