"First Steps" Season 2: Episode 18 Discussion Thread

[Duskbyday]

I just saw it. One word...

WOW!!!!

Spoiler

Is it just me or did Eddie Brock sound REALLY creepy at the end?

I think it was his best line ever. So haunting and creepy...

 

[anarchistguy]

I also noticed that the characters were pretty damn expressive, this week. This show keeps getting better and better

 

[AIRWOLF]

That all sounds great.

Spoiler

They're really exploring Sandman's good side. I like that.

Yeah that's what I liked about it too, didn't expect that really .

 

[Spider-ManHero12]

Also, I'd just liek to add that Mark Allen looked and sounded awesome, I must say.

 

[Ratcrawler]

I also noticed that the characters were pretty damn expressive, this week. This show keeps getting better and better

I know, I said the same thing! It's like a Disney movie lol

 

[The Joker]

Ok, I just watched it, and it was a good episode. The best thing in it was Sandman. Developing his good side is a bold move, and it worked out really well. Marko was never inheritently evil in the comics. As Sandman said in this episode, he's just in it for the money. The sand castle bit with the little girl on the beach was cute.
I didn't like giant Sandman in Spider-Man 3, and I didn't really like it much here. It's just a bit too much, IMO. But at least this giant Sandman wasn't like a ******ed version of the Stay Puft Marshamallow Man. Also since when is Sandman impervious to water?

Good to see Harry back again. And he's got his eye on Gwen. You can just see where this is going. I liked how Peter envisioned Harry as the Goblin in school. Neat touch.

I'd be lying if I said I'm excited to see Eddie Brock back. But it was good to see him express some intelligence in making Peter paranoid, and duping him into leading him to where the symbiote was hidden. I was wondering how he kept up with Spidey. What did he have, were they webshooters?

Overall it was a good episode. But nothing mind blowing IMO. I give it 7/10.

 

[Duskbyday]

Also, I'd just liek to add that Mark Allen looked and sounded awesome, I must say.

Same here. He was down right awesome here. I can't wait for him to become Moltan Man. Whoops, I accidently voted for 9 instead of 8. Oh well, I guess it was good enough for a 9 anyway.

 

[Anwar]

No

Spoiler

He just reformed back to sand after his giant glass form fell apart and fell in the ocean. If say, he turned to glass on land and didn't fall apart, he'd be stuck in a frozen state, much like he was in that episode where he turned to cement.

Spoiler

Well that's weird, does glass turn back to sand when in water? Guess we just chalk that up to Sandman's unique properties

.

 

[AIRWOLF]

Spoiler

Well that's weird, does glass turn back to sand when in water? Guess we just chalk that up to Sandman's unique properties

.

My guess is that during the battle, Sandman was gathering sand from the sea floor, so part of him was still under the sea, only the upper part of him was exposed to the explosion, so I take it that part of him was still safe under the ocean.

Also since when is Sandman impervious to water?

Good to see Harry back again. And he's got his eye on Gwen. You can just see where this is going. I liked how Peter envisioned Harry as the Goblin in school. Neat touch.

I'd be lying if I said I'm excited to see Eddie Brock back. But it was good to see him express some intelligence in making Peter paranoid, and duping him into leading him to where the symbiote was hidden. I was wondering how he kept up with Spidey. What did he have, were they webshooters?

Overall it was a good episode. But nothing mind blowing IMO. I give it 7/10.

Yeah, that part also confused me too, maybe his powers got augmented. That Goblin bit was definitely a nice touch, though I guess as far as Peter's concerned Harry's the goblin, but my money is still on Norman. Anyways, how come your not excited to see Eddie? I thought you liked this version of him.

 

[The Joker]

Anyways, how come your not excited to see Eddie? I thought you liked this version of him.

I do. But he's still not one of my favourite characters. Much like with the likes of Rhino, Shocker, or Hammerhead. I like them, but they're not high up on my villains list. So I'm not particularly excited when they return, much like when Venom returns. I just hope these writers follow the example of the TAS writers regarding Venom, and limit his appearances. Realizing that with Venom, less is more.

It's over exposure that ruined the character in the comics and made him become stale.

 

[BleJd]

The reason is simple - he made webshooters by himself. He knew how to do it because of symbiote.

 

[AIRWOLF]

I do. But he's still not one of my favourite characters. Much like with the likes of Rhino, Shocker, or Hammerhead. I like them, but they're not high up on my villains list. So I'm not particularly excited when they return, much like when Venom returns. I just hope these writers follow the example of the TAS writers regarding Venom, and limit his appearances. Realizing that with Venom, less is more.

It's over exposure that ruined the character in the comics and made him become stale.

I get what you mean . Sandman is not my favorite either, but time to time I enjoy having him. Limiting the appearance raises one's anticipation or excitement to see the character again, though I never liked how they ended his character in TAS.

 

[Duskbyday]

I get what you mean . Sandman is not my favorite either, but time to time I enjoy having him. Limiting the appearance raises one's anticipation or excitement to see the character again, though I never liked how they ended his character in TAS.

He never apeared in TAS.

 

[stillanerd]

I just caught this episode and so, another story arc begins for this season.

Spoiler

One of the great things about this show is the way it sets up a lot of incoming story threads that stem from earlier episodes without making it seem like it's so crowded. From the Peter Parker side of things, there were quite a few developments and some interesting tweaks from the original comic book series. Mark Raxton (or is it Mark Allen) gets a brief introduction as the former "juvee" who radiates cool and who clearly wants to make good this time around, one of those hard on the outside, soft on the inside "bad boys" no doubt. I suspect that as the season goes on, he and Mary Jane will be paired up, and considering his eventually fate as the Molten Man, that's certainly going to effect her as a character as well as do a number on Peter's relationship with Liz.

Likewise, we get the return of Harry Osborn, and not only is Peter concerned about him possibly reverting back into the Green Goblin, but he's also becoming jealous of him being Gwen's date. In some ways, there's always been a sense that in the comics, Harry Osborn was really attracted to Gwen all along and that every other person he ever dated, such as Mary Jane, Liz Allen, and Lily Hollister, were essentially just proxys of her. To see Harry actually pursue a relationship with Gwen rather than Mary Jane is more effective in this sense, not to mention that Peter, Gwen, and Harry were the original "geek squad" so that has to have an effect on their friendship in the future.

We also get some needed development of Flash Thompson, as he's starting to realize that his role as the popular jock is not all that's it cracked up to be, what with his injuries and Sha Shan apparently standing him up at his birthday party. I also liked the revelation that he and Peter were once best friends in Pre-school and that it was Peter who gave Flash his nickname, which is actually quite reflective of people who enter peer groups in high school and, I think, foreshadows a possible return to being best friends as what eventually occurs in the comics. Also, I wonder if the reason why Flash had hit on Mary Jane is because she reminds him so much of his mother, who does come across like ann older version of MJ, IMO.

Of course, on the Spider-Man side of things, we get some pretty nifty development of the otherwise hired muscle Sandman. Not only do we see a very logical and unique development of his powers, we also see that, deep down, he's not nearly the outright villain as some of Spider-Man's other rogues are. This is also in keeping with the comics in that, once upon a time, Sandman eventually realized the error of his criminal ways and eventually reformed as one of the good guys. The best example of the level his powers reached and hsi newfound attitude was when he formed himself into a giant sand castle to scare off the bullies that were teasing the little girl at the beach. And while his "sacrifice" in becoming glass after shielding the explosion of the oil tanker was dimished by his surviving, having it end with Sandman blowing away in the breeze in a similar way as the character left in Spider-Man 3 was a nice touch--and a much better send off than that movie I might add. It would be terrific if, since Silver Sable is supposed to show up in this series, that Spider-Man and Sandman meet each other again and it's revealed that he's now working for Silver Sable to bring down Tombstone and Hammerhead.

And finally, there is the return of Eddie Brock and possibly Venom. You can certainly tell that Peter's life is going to be turned upside down the way he spoke on that video camera at Flash's party (which ends up paying off the storytelling device of the video interludes of the supporting cast quite well). The only problem with Eddie stalking Spider-Man and making him paranoid enough to show him the location of the symbiote is how did Eddie manage to not only track down Spider-Man, but also not trigger his spider-sense if he doesn't have the symbiote? Likewise, where did he obtain his own pair of web-shooters? Unless the implication is that Eddie still had residule residue from the symbiote left in his system, it seems like a pretty big plot hole (and even if that was the case, why wouldn't he be able to track down the symbiote?).

Nevertheless, this was a very enjoyable episode with the right balance of action and progression with regards to both story and character. So another job well done for Weisman and crew.

 

[AIRWOLF]

He never apeared in TAS.

Oh I was referring to Venom in terms of how they ended his character, but its still a mystery to me as to why Sandman never appeared in TAS. Was it copyright stuff?

 

[Syncos]

The only problem with Eddie stalking Spider-Man and making him paranoid enough to show him the location of the symbiote is how did Eddie manage to not only track down Spider-Man, but also not trigger his spider-sense if he doesn't have the symbiote? Likewise, where did he obtain his own pair of web-shooters? Unless the implication is that Eddie still had residule residue from the symbiote left in his system, it seems like a pretty big plot hole (and even if that was the case, why wouldn't he be able to track down the symbiote?)

Spider-man's spider sense only goes off if he's in danger, so since eddy was just kinda messing with his head, showing up in places where he's having fights. It wouldn't have gone off, to begin with.

As for the web shooters. Eddie knows Peter is Spider-Man, and could easily gain access to his house, either through a window or through the front door (may doesn't know about the fallout i assume, as it would be pretty hard to explain). It's highly likely that he just stole webshooters from Peter's room. Or maybe since the symbiote knew all of peters secrets, maybe how to create webshooters was some knowledge that he remembered from his time as venom, (even though AS venom he never actually had to make them).

 

[Venom 1988]

Oh I was referring to Venom in terms of how they ended his character, but its still a mystery to me as to why Sandman never appeared in TAS. Was it copyright stuff?

No it was because he and Electro we're set to appear in the James Cameron's Spider-Man movie. Obviously it was never made and they never bothered to use him.

I don't understand the reason either to be honest.

 

[Web-Head408]

Just finished watching this. Amazing episode. One of the series best. Between these last two; the show's been on a role. And it made me realize why I'm such a big Sandman fan, too. I'm glad his good sign is being shown; maybe could even lead to him going good like he did in the books?

I loved giant Sandman. VERY good visuals in that battle. One of the shows best ones. Nice seeing Harry after a good 9 episodes or so. Seems like rehab has treated him well.

All the scenes with Eddie stalking Peter were very well done. Especially the one at the end. Gave me the chills.

 

[Web-Head408]

The kid Mark Allan was talking to this episode's name was Seymour. Possibly Seymour O' Reilly?

 

[Spider-ManHero12]

The kid Mark Allan was talking to this episode's name was Seymour. Possibly Seymour O' Reilly?

Very possible, IMO.

 

[Venom 1988]

It is him

 

[AIRWOLF]

Spider-man's spider sense only goes off if he's in danger, so since eddy was just kinda messing with his head, showing up in places where he's having fights. It wouldn't have gone off, to begin with.

As for the web shooters. Eddie knows Peter is Spider-Man, and could easily gain access to his house, either through a window or through the front door (may doesn't know about the fallout i assume, as it would be pretty hard to explain). It's highly likely that he just stole webshooters from Peter's room. Or maybe since the symbiote knew all of peters secrets, maybe how to create webshooters was some knowledge that he remembered from his time as venom, (even though AS venom he never actually had to make them).

Or it could be because Eddie too is smart, Dr. Connors didn't hire him for nothing. Maybe he was smart enough to make web material himself, coupled with the knowledge he gained from the symbiote, that's my guess though.

 

[Venom 1988]

edit

 

[Spider-ManHero12]

It is him

Oh man, they really really really are going in deep with these characters. I remember Seymour from the comics, tbh. I can' believe they actually included him.

 

[Doctor Jones]

Great episode.

I loved the ending with Brock at the sight. I loved his quiet delievery of, "I new if I made you paranoid enough you would lead me to the thing I loved."

You really know now he is obsessed and power hungry and in this case, in love with it, and it makes sense, and I like that. I hope now Eddie will be a better character this season. I have a feeling he will.

I always think less included of Eddie and Venom make things better. Eddie is that great character who can just screw with you and works best while doing it.