Is Spider-Noir Actually Worth Watching? 5 Spoiler-Free Reasons to Check It Out
If you’re looking for something new to binge, look no further than Spider-Noir.
The Amazon series, which dropped on May 27 in the UK, is eight episodes of slick (mostly) sophisticated fun. It’s one of those shows that practically ooze coolness. In black and white, especially, I feel sophisticated just watching it.
Spider-Noir focuses on Ben Reilly (Nicolas Cage), a private investigator who, up until relatively recently, lived a double life as vigilante hero The Spider. But, after an earth-rocking tragic event, the superhuman decided that he would no longer use his arachnid-like powers and gave up the moniker for good. However, as the city runs amok with crime, it looks like Ben might not be done with The Spider just yet.
With a 91% Rotten Tomatoes rating, it’s clear that the show is something special, but if you remain on the fence, allow me to take you through five reasons why it’s worth a watch.
Spider-Noir Is Accessible For New Fans
Before the Spider-Noir TV show was a thing, Cage voiced a character called Spider-Noir in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. However, somewhat confusingly, the protagonist in the Amazon series isn’t the same character we see in the animated film.
Both characters are independent of one another, existing in different universes. Perhaps Spider-Man: Beyond The Spider-Verse will somehow incorporate this particular pocket of the Marvel universe into part of the wider multiverse, but for now, at least, Spider-Noir is a standalone story.
This means that the series requires pretty much no previous Spider-Man or wider MCU knowledge in order to watch and enjoy it. In a world where it’s easy to get bogged down by existing superhero lore to make new content make sense, a standalone series like this is definitely refreshing.
The Series Reimagines Spider-Man As We Know It
As well as being accessible to new fans, established fans of Spider-Man will have a ball with Spider-Noir. While based on the Spider-Noir comic, the eponymous TV show takes a lot of artistic license with its adaptation. Still, at its core, it takes what we know about Spidey and reimagines it in a crime thriller setting. Yes, this even includes that line.
Arguably, the most interesting part of this reimagining is the villains. Without giving any spoilers, viewers will come across not only established Spider-Man villains like Tombstone and Sandman, but also more niche villains like Megawatt, who has only appeared previously in a single 1993 comic book issue. These villains and their unusual powers are at the heart of the central mystery of Spider-Noir, and as it unravels, you really will be left on the edge of your seat.
Nicolas Cage Acts Like Rent Is Due
Within ten minutes of him being on-screen, one thing is clear: Nicolas Cage was born to play a character like Ben Reilly. It allows him to parody some of the most common gritty detective tropes while delivering a very unique, eccentric performance.
You can just tell that he is relishing playing the character, and that really shines through on screen. Whether he’s brooding, fighting bad guys, or solving mysteries, Ben is never without a quip. While some Marvel projects go overboard with their attempts at humour, Cage is able to avoid this cringeworthy vibe by seamlessly slotting into the 1930s noir setting, with his deadpan humour never feeling like it's shoe-horned in for the sake of it.
Brendan Gleeson Leads A Strong Supporting Cast
While Cage’s acting is the main draw of the show, he’s surrounded by an incredibly talented supporting cast who meet the brief, and then some. One personal highlight for me was Karen Rodriguez, who plays Janet: Reilly’s long-suffering secretary. Of all the characters in the show, she proves time and time again that she isn’t to be underestimated.
Equally, Brendan Gleeson’s gruff rendition of Silvermane is definitely a worthy foil to The Spider. He has this overpowering, sinister screen presence that lights up every scene he's in. Li Jun Li’s Cat Hardy is another character with an undeniable effectiveness as a femme fatale, and one who also proves herself to be a force to be reckoned with.
Spider-Noir is Super Stylish
Although you have the option to watch it in black and white or in colour, I would definitely recommend the former. With its gritty cityscape and shadowy shots, the show is at its best in black and white. It’s not often we get TV shows in black and white anymore, so it’s truly something to take advantage of to help immerse yourself in the dark underbelly of the 1930s metropolis.
I’m also a big fan of the music in this series, from the moody song paired with the noir-inspired opening sequence to Cat Hardy’s sultry rendition of ‘Dream A Little Dream Of Me.’ All in all, the series is the perfect aesthetic recreation of brooding noir shows, while also delivering its own bold style.
