Amac Productions

I have watched just the first episode of this series, and I have some thoughts – starting with – it’s not at all what I expected it to be.

Which is a good thing because I thought the series was going to suck. I thought Nicholas Cage was a terrible choice for a live action version of any Spider-Man at this point given his age. It’s not a personal dig either. He’s just older and Spider-Man type characters are meant to be nimble.

I wasn’t sure the black and white thing would work or if it was just going to be a schtick that never really pays off. I thought a lot of things about the series before watching it.

However, like everything I try to keep an open mind when I watch something for the first time. Put aside expectations and just watch it.

I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised to fall in love with the show. Or at least this one episode.

Nicholas Cage is a perfect choice to play the older, wizened Ben Reilly who lost someone he loves so much and has hung up his webs. He’s a hard-boiled PI who isn’t stupid, but is also past the point where he wants to get involved in shenanigans anymore.

However, being a just a good guy doesn’t pay the bills and his secretary has had with him.

Which I cannot blame her.

The moment when she says she’s reacting perfectly fine to stimuli as anyone would in the situation and not overreacting was wonderful as far as I was concerned. I love when a woman stands up for herself. Like no, I’ve given you plenty of chances Ben. I even helped you threaten a guy into giving us more money with a gun. I’ve done a lot for you but you apparently can’t be bothered to pay me!

Fair. Honestly. Fair.

It seemed like a perfectly valid reason to pack up her shit and leave.

Only for Felicia Hardy to appear and offer a way out of their financial problems. Again.

Seriously, he had so many chances to make money, even I was calling him an idiot by the end of the episode. Like come on, you need to take one of these jobs.

Even just the money from the scumbag who tried to trick you into thinking that you were following his wife. Which, I’m still not clear on what was happening. Did Hardy know she was being followed? Because it doesn’t quite appear that she and the other dude were on the same page.

Get paid for the negatives! Something! You need to keep the lights on if you want to have a series.

Which – you know – I want you to.

I really enjoyed the lighting and the use of the noir setting. I opted to watch it in black and white because I thought it would honor the source material properly. Even though the True Hue looks good as well – I just wanted the full experience. So black and white it was.

I love that they shot like it was an old noir movie. The camera angles. Shadows. The use of the genre and cliches was perfect because it was immersive. I felt like I stepped into a completely different universe. With its own rules and rich history.

With a Silvermane holding New York by the throat. With The Spider out of commission and Ben Reilly just trying to make it day to day.

Felicia Hardy is a lounge singer. Robbie and Ben are good friends. Robbie even knows the truth about him rather than suspecting. Ben is clearly already feeling something for Felicia, which I’m sure will end well. Insert eye roll here.

To be fair, I’m not completely apprised of Spider-Noir’s history. I do think there was one version that had a Mary Jane but she died. So who knows who he’s meant to end up with?

Nicolas Cage shines as he goes through several layers of unhinged for Ben.

His line about wanting to stick his head in the oven to get it over with but he’s too much of a coward is amazing. The crazed choice of leading a guy trying to kill you up to the top of a building. Comtemplating death for just a moment as he’s falling. Because he could have chosen not to save himself.

There’s a moment that Cage plays… where he considers it.

It could all just be over.

Yet he doesn’t. Gluten for punishment and all that.

It speaks to Ben’s character as well. Maybe it’s not cowardice so much as knowing there’s more for him to do. Even if he doesn’t want to admit it.

I also love that while Ben is completely mentally unwell and needs a therapist, he’s definitely not stupid. Able to wiggle his way into problems and back out because he knows exactly who the players are. He’s got a good read on people. And honestly, the line he utters to who he was chasing at the beginning, ‘It never does.’

In response to, ‘It won’t end the way you want.’

Pretty much sums up Ben.

He’s got a lot of low epxectations when it comes to things. He’s untrusting but is pretty willing to roll with whatever the heck he discovers once he’s there. Like sure, why not a guy who bursts into flames. Seems right.

Or a guy who turns into an angry beach.

Like he’s seen so much that nothing really surprises him anymore. He’s just like, yep, seems like it’s time for this shit to hit the fan. Alright, let’s deal with this. Or leave.

Like when he noped his way out of situation with Silvermane. There’s no amount of money in the world that could be given to him to deal with that guy. Nope. Better to wash his hands of it.

Unlike the other PI who kept going and well… We saw how that turned out.

On the other hand, I feel like that’s supposed to show us how scary Silvermane is, but really, I’m just not. Like cool, he’s a powerful mobster. He’s willing to kill people. What mob dude isn’t in the time period we’re in?

This time period is just filled with loosely held together society with mobs essentially controlling everything behind the scenes. Sometimes not even behind the scenes. He’s nothing special.

I get why Ben is scared. Why he doesn’t want anything to do with it. And why people in world are afraid of him. I would be too, if I were in world. However, I’m not. I have the luxury of yawning at the supposedly scary villain and be like, eh, not the most interesting villain I’ve seen.

I think that’s my only criticism. Silvermane needs to up his game to up the stakes we’re in.

I’m not at all terrified that he’s looking for Ben to ask him about the burning dude. He fought a man made of sand. I think he’s going to be fine.

Speaking of the man made of sand, I’d like someone to explain to me how he’s missing. We saw him like ten seconds ago. How do you know he didn’t go for a stroll? Like it’s been a handful of hours at this point in the series since Felicia says that Marco and Ben met last night.

Which means in the time he left them and now, he’s gone missing. Was his place ransacked? Did they leave a ransom note? Did someone call you? Did he not show up for work? Like what sparked this, because this was quick conclusion that he’s missing.

It’s not like right now where he’s carrying a phone with a GPS in his pocket, able to readily speak to anyone at any moment. Unlike then, when you called places and hoped they were there. Like what brought you here. And why to Ben?

I’m very curious about her motives. Because I’m not sure they’re entirely good.

Gah, there’s so many things I want to know.

Overall, I enjoyed the series opener and will be totally watching more! For that, you can check out the weekly review for this series on Fridays at 11:13am EST starting this upcoming Friday! Be sure to check it out! And if you’re enjoying my content, please considering supporting me!

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