8.3/10 I went into this show expecting the worst, thanks to its underwhelming trailers, but the show genuinely surprised me. It’s a delightful mix of Spectacular Spider-Man vibes with plot elements reminiscent of the first season of The Flash and the trio dynamic from My Adventures with Superman (Peter, Harry, and Nico give off strong Clark, Lois, and Jimmy energy). Add in villains being technologically propped up by a central mastermind (same thing in MAWS), and you have a show that feels fresh yet familiar. One of the things I loved is how it’s essentially an elongated What If...? story done right—complete with The Watcher making an appearance at the end. This is the kind of alternate MCU story I was hoping for from the What If...? show, instead of whatever it was they gave us with the 3 seasons they had. The animation took a bit of adjusting—it’s got those MTV Spider-Man vibes—but once I got used to it, I actually started appreciating the vibrant, comic-book-inspired aesthetic. Being set in its own separate universe is another major win for the show. Like X-Men '97, it can build its own unique world and stories without being tied down by existing MCU baggage. The characters strike a great balance between respecting the source material and embracing their Elseworlds-style reimaginings. Lonnie Lincoln (Tombstone) was a standout surprise—never did I think this side villain would be the second most important character in a Spider-Man show, but it worked so well. I also had no issues with the race and gender swaps here because the characters are still written with care and depth. Norman Osborn especially shines, playing a Harrison Wells-style mentor whose turn to villainy is both compelling and sinister. Making Scorpion the main villain was a great touch, almost like an apology for how underwhelming the character was in the MCU. That said, there are a few areas where the show didn’t stick the landing. Going into spoilers now so stop reading if you haven't seen the show. Uncle Ben’s death, while included, lacked the weight it usually carries. For hardcore fans like me, it’s frustrating because Ben’s death is supposed to be the reason Peter becomes Spider-Man, and here it just feels meaningless. While Lonnie and Doc Ock’s arcs were fascinating, I wish they’d fully become their comic counterparts by the end of the season instead of just hinting at what’s to come. And Peter’s sudden distrust of Norman in the finale, I feel like it happened a little too fast, because Peter was looking up to him so much throughout the entire show, and then the finale happens, and he just suddenly cut ties? Without any emotional confrontation or anything? Despite these flaws, this is still a banger, they delivered one of the best single seasons of a Spider-Man TV show to date. It’s a fresh, exciting take on the web-slinger, and I can’t wait to see where season 2 takes us.