Spider-Noir Season 1, Episode 2
"Tread Lightly"
Writer: Christopher Chen
Director: Harry Bradbeer
Cast: Nicolas Cage, Lamorne Morris, Li Jun Li, Karen Rodriguez, Abraham Popoola, Jack Huston, Brendan Gleeson
With no power comes no responsibility. That’s all well and good from a superhero standpoint, but a man’s still gotta eat — and pay his secretary besides. So, despite suspecting that lounge singer Cat Hardy (Li Jun Li) is hiding something, dour detective Ben Reilly (Nicholas Cage) agrees to the case and takes to the streets in search of a missing Flint Marko (Jack Huston) in Spider-Noir’s second outing, “Tread Lightly.”
Eventually arriving at the man’s apartment, Reilly discovers that Flint and the now-deceased Jimmy Addison (Jack Mikesell) not only fought together in World War I, but also previously worked as enforcers for mob boss Finn Silvermane (Brendan Gleeson) — the very man Addison was hired to kill. The revelation adds another layer to the mystery and further convinces Ben that there’s far more going on here than meets the eye. Making his way home after a brief stop at the Alcove, Ben is jumped by a pair of Silvermane’s goons. They rough him up and prepare to take him to their boss, but Ben manages to outsmart the pair and escape into the night — proving that even without the mask, he’s still one step ahead of most of the city’s muscle.
Meanwhile, reporter Robbie Robertson (Lamorne Morris) keeps kicking over rocks in his search for the truth about Jimmy Addison. With a little help from Lonnie Lincoln (Abraham Popoola), Robbie tracks down and interviews Jimmy’s widow, Vera (Whitney Rice), who has been spending the money her husband received for burning down Silvermane’s mansion on a luxurious lifestyle of fashion, food, and drink. Their exchange provides another valuable piece of the puzzle while showcasing Robbie’s determination to uncover the truth, no matter how many doors get slammed in his face.
Not long after, Lonnie pays a visit to Flint, who has been hiding out in a dilapidated theatre following his run-in with Ben. Here, it is revealed that both men possess superpowers that are slowly killing them, a revelation that not only sheds additional light on Flint’s condition, but also hints at a much larger story simmering just beneath the show's noir-soaked surface.
The following day, Silvermane’s right-hand man, Winston (Lukas Haas), pays a visit to Ben’s office and threatens Janet (Karen Rodriguez). Although she refuses to tell him anything — even with a gun held to her head — the encounter prompts Ben to retrieve his costume and assume the role of the Spider once more.
Following a rather humorous visit to his old apartment under the guise of a plumber, a sequence that does a wonderful job of highlighting the sort of range Nicholas Cage brings to the role, Ben sets his sights on Silvermane, who is on his way to the docks to oversee an alcohol shipment in the thick of Prohibition. Cornering the mobster in the backseat of his car after effortlessly dispatching his henchmen, Ben intimidates Silvermane into leaving both Janet and himself alone — lest the Spider return.
Later that night, after returning to his ransacked office, Ben receives a phone call from Robbie, who informs him that by confronting Silvermane, he inadvertently saved the very man who was the target of a police ambush at the docks. It is then that Ben realizes he has made a terrible mistake.
Another solid chapter in the Spider-Noir serial, “Tread Lightly” offers a closer look at Ben Reilly’s costumed alter ego and the lengths he’s willing to go despite efforts to leave that part of his past bricked up and tucked away. Nicholas Cage remains the show’s greatest asset, bringing a wonderfully world-weary edge to Ben while channelling the charisma of the late, great Humphrey Bogart. Whether trading quips, slipping into disguise, or throwing fisticuffs (and toasters... and radios...) with the city’s toughest thugs, Cage makes every single scene endlessly entertaining.
The supporting cast also proves to be equally impressive, buoyed by Lamorne Morris’ infectious tenacity and Karen Rodriguez’s sassy shtick. Meanwhile, the icy calm forever present in Brendan Gleeson’s Silvermane, even when Spidey puts the squeeze on him, remains oh so deliciously unnerving! The mystery deepens, the superheroics receive a welcome boost, and the character work remains as strong as ever. While the larger pieces of the puzzle are only just beginning to come into focus, “Tread Lightly” does an excellent job of balancing detective work with noir atmosphere and superhero thrills, making for another thoroughly enjoyable episode that’s left me eager for more! Sony, what are you doing to me?
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