Spider-Noir Season 1, Episode 7
"Nobody's Hero"
Writer: Bruce Marshall Romans
Director: Greg Yaitanes
Cast: Nicolas Cage, Lamorne Morris, Li Jun Li, Karen Rodriguez, Abraham Popoola, Jack Huston, Brendan Gleeson
"Nobody's Hero," the penultimate episode of Spider-Noir, is great. However, that's due to more than just engaging imagery, thrilling fisticuffs, and Nicolas Cage delving into a drunken stupor to portray a man clearly at the end of his rope. What makes this second-to-last chapter so compelling is the time it takes to humanize some of the series' most interesting characters. At least, if you ask this writer.
First up is Ben Reilly. Having narrowly escaped the destruction of Dr. Faber's (Amy Aquino) lab with a single vial of antidote tucked safely in his pocket, Cage's hard-boiled gumshoe heads to a local bar to drown his sorrows in booze and beat up a couple naysayers in the process. Crushed by the realization that it was Cat (Li Jun Li) who betrayed him, and that the people of New York see his costumed alter ego as nothing more than a glory hound chasing the spotlight, Ben decides it's time to retire the Spider once and for all.
That is, until Robbie (Lamorne Morris) tracks him down and reminds him that there are bigger issues at play, and that being a hero means doing what's right—even if it doesn't make you feel good. Taking those words to heart, Ben staggers back to his office and, with help from Robbie and Janet (Karen Rodriguez), begins formulating a plan to use Dr. Faber's antidote to save the other mutations still roaming around the city.
Meanwhile, Flint (Jack Huston), fresh off raiding Mayor Morris' (Michael Kostroff) campaign office at the request of crime boss Finn Silvermane (Brendan Gleeson), pays Cat a visit. His goal isn't just to reaffirm his love for her, but also to admit that he's accepted his fate. There is no cure, nothing more can be done, and soon he won't be around to protect Cat from the consequences of her actions. Eventually, Silvermane will find out what she did, but by then, he will be gone. It's a deeply moving exchange from a man living on borrowed time, and it's impossible not to sympathize with Flint given the cruel hand he's been dealt throughout the series.
At the same time, Cat once again finds herself torn between her love for Flint and her growing connection to Ben. With Flint slowly dying and Ben missing since Megawatt's (Andrew Lewis Caldwell) destructive attack on Dr. Faber's lab, she begins to not only question her choices, but confront the very real possibility that her happy ending may never come true.
The episode eventually comes to a head when Ben and Robbie pay a visit to a group of Silvermane's associates, including Lonnie Lincoln (Abraham Popoola). Interrupting a raid on some stolen alcohol, Ben, once again under the guise of the Spider, swings into action and attempts to inject Lonnie with the antidote. Unfortunately, thanks to Lonnie's rock-like skin and short temper, that soon proves to be easier said than done. Thankfully, the ever-resourceful Robbie is ready to lend a hand.
Once cured, Lonnie—a man who turned to crime simply to secure life's basic necessities—comes to realize that the Spider truly is fighting for the people of New York. In that moment, he finally sees him for what he really is: a hero the city desperately needs.
Sadly, neither Mayor Morris nor Silvermane share that opinion. Viewing the Spider as a genuine threat to their plans, both men decide it's finally time to eliminate the wall-crawler for good. Before they do, however, they call upon the ever-intrepid Ben Reilly for help.
Like I said at the outset, "Nobody's Hero" is another terrific episode of Spider-Noir. Yes, it's gorgeous to look at, and there's no shortage of fun (Cage’s boozy bar antics in the first few minutes are exactly the sort of thing I’ve been waiting for), but what truly makes this one stand out is how effectively it gives its players a genuine human edge. Whether it's Ben grappling with betrayal, Flint accepting his mortality, Cat confronting her choices, or Lonnie discovering what heroism really looks like, this is an intelligent character study wrapped in the guise of a superhero drama.
Once again, Sony has proven that Spider-Noir has far more to offer than masked vigilantes and stylish visuals. At its heart, this is a story about people—flawed people trying to navigate an imperfect world filled with extraordinary powers. And perhaps that's why it continues to weave such a fascinating web week after week.
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