Hey everyone! Thanks for swinging by for another installment of Marvel’s Spider-Man on Disney XD. Peter Parker is no longer being controlled by Otto Octavius, and this week he has to face his biggest challenge yet, the unstoppable Goblin Mech! Being a teenage superhero can be hard, especially if you have to fight every piece of technology in the world! Pull up a web and enjoy as we give you five thoughts about Season 2, Episode 26, “Goblin War, Part 4.”
1. A small chance to save the day
At the beginning of “Goblin War, Part 4” all hope is not lost. While it is true that Adrian Toomes has gotten his hands on the unstoppable Goblin Mech of his design (built by Harry,) it wasn’t 100% completed. There are still some systems that can be overridden. There’s a chance, but a slim one.
This chance gives everyone from the Spider-Team (I’m sorry, Spider-Squad) a chance to shine. Harry uses his tech prowess to create an override key to prevent Toomes from turning on the machine. Miles is able to use his camouflage powers to distract and confused Toomes. Gwen helps to save an injured Peter by using Ock’s help to find thermals to get her back to the base faster. Anya is a leader and a capable warrior. It’s nice to see this little band come together and build a cohesive unit. They truly have grown.
The problem is that it’s not enough. Toomes is able to start the Mech. While it might seem like this lessens the impact and importance of the Spider-Squad, it would have been disappointing to have this massively built up threat taken out so soon. You get the best of both worlds, an impressive team, and an epic final battle.
2. The entire city of New York has become an unpredictable battleground
After Toomes successfully takes control of the Goblin Mech, he is able to take control of any machine. In the world. And also space. While the logistics of this don’t make a whole lot of sense, (how is he able to control machines across the globe? How can a machine be that powerful!?!) it does provide some pretty wild threats. The Mech can control media helicopters to show Toomes defeating Spider-Man and removing hope. He can control the Stark Defense grid to destroy New York is Spider-Man continues to evade him. He can also control vehicles to drive out of control and hurt innocent civilians.
This basically creates bedlam. Neither Ock or Peter are able to predict what will happen next. Where the next threat will be coming from. How to take control of the situation. The confusion and chaos allow us to see Spider-Man in an almost helpless predicament. While he is able to stop vans and evade lasers, we are seeing Peter at his most vulnerable. It creates a very credible threat with a villain that seems unstoppable. In a city overrun with machines, how can you prepare for an attack from any direction?
3. The
The true nature of the Goblin Mechs powers come from Toomes’ mental connection to the machines. Peter and Otto realize that if they were to interrupt that connection they might be able to defeat the Goblin Mech. What that means is that we are given one last look at our old friend the Neuro Cortex, the machine Otto used to switch minds with Peter Parker.
The problem is that the machine is still dangerous and unstable. There is a 98% chance that if Peter uses the machine, he will be destroyed to his molecular level. It was nice to see them return to the Superior Spider-Man story, considering how much of the second half of season 2 was devoted to that. To see the technology that was used to harm Peter Parker being the only hope for saving the day was a nice way of tying up the loose ends of the Superior Saga. It acknowledges how the technology damaged both Peter and Otto, weakening them. Of course, Peter decides that he has to stop Toomes at any cost, even if it means sacrificing his life.
Continued below4. How we handle mistakes is what truly defines a hero
The other major way that the finale of “Goblin War, Part 4” ends the Superior Saga is by giving a chance for Otto to truly prove his heroism and make the ultimate sacrifice. As Peter prepares for the final confrontation with Toomes, he is interrupted by Otto wearing his Ock legs. Toomes, arrogant and monologuing, informs Octavius that he doesn’t need any help. But Otto puts on the Neuro Cortext and defeats the mech, separating Toomes’ bond and shutting it down. The problem is that the power was too much and Otto is dying.
At the beginning of the episode, Peter’s narration tells us that “making a mistake doesn’t mean you can’t be a hero, what you do next is what defines you.” Otto had made mistakes in the past, maybe too many to some. Even as Spider-Man he was making mistakes, sacrificing bonds and friendships. Creating power vacuums to put them in the situation they are in. Where he differs is that he now knows to make the decision of the hero. He put the life of Peter Parker ahead of his own. Otto’s death is very moving. As Peter is questioning his decision Ock asks if that was not what Uncle Ben would have wanted him to do? Is that not what a best friend would do? Otto’s redemption, what sometimes falling into the trap of being repetitive, paid off well this week. It certainly was earned.
5. A bittersweet end and a bright future
The episode ends with Peter and Anna Maria at Otto Octavius’ grave. The only two people who truly knew how he changed. Or so they think. Max Modell and the rest of the Spider-Squad show up to pay their respects. They saw Otto’s change, his heroism. In fact, to all their biggest regret is not having the opportunity for them to tell him in person how proud they were of the hero he became. It was sappy, but boy did it work.
Finally, Max discusses with Peter that before his death, Otto set aside a portion of his fortune to create a scholarship for a deserving student. He even nominated a student. As the season closes, Peter Parker is back in Horizon High. His friends are even willing to give him a second chance. If Otto Octavius could change, perhaps it’s time to give their friend Peter another chance too. As we finish the second season, Peter is back in a good place and ready for new adventures with his friends… in and out of the mask!
And so with that, the second season of Marvel’s Spider-Man comes to a close. I want to thank you guys for dropping in from week to week! It was a lot of fun reviewing the show, and I look forward to seeing you all at the start of Season Three!
