Recap: Peter Parker Fights to Regain His Confidence in Eighth Episode of “Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man”

Things got dark in the last episode of Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man after Spidey had to be rescued from his fight with the Scorpion. Now, as it so often is, it’s time for Spider-Man to climb back up and be the hero he needs to be. But first, Peter Parker has some things he needs to sort out in his own life.

The episode opens with Peter on an operating table, barely conscious. He sees Norman asking the doctor about his status and a doctor drawing his blood before passing out. Norman should not be trusted with that radioactive spider blood!

He wakes up later to Norman by his side. Peter pushes to get back out there to stop the Scorpion and Octavius but Norman informs him the Spider-Man suit has been totaled. He talks Peter into taking some time to recover and tells him he lost because he is holding himself back and that he needs to push himself to another level if they are going to continue working together.

Peter sneaks out of his recovery room and reacts when he hears a scream. He rushes to his old lab where he finds the interns reacting to his magnetic energy project with Dr. Connors. Even Dr. Wittman gives Peter some credit. Peter apologizes to Connors for missing their demonstration and tells her he’s been working on a special project with Norman. She asks if that’s why their lab is being turned into a zoo as she points out a variety of caged animals being wheeled in. Peter says he knows nothing about that but this could be a hint at the future experiments that either lead to the creation of the Lizard or perhaps even the Green Goblin.

Peter returns home and May sees his injuries. He plays it off as a skateboard accident but May asks him what’s going on. The two share an emotional moment as Peter breaks down and admits he feels he’s not good enough. May admits she wishes he had someone like Ben to look up to, but Peter assures her she is enough.

Octavius continues his work in his lab before the police break down his door to arrest him, citing the fact that he is in violation of the Sokovia Accords for selling gamma-powered weapons. They tell him to put his hands up, which of course when dealing with Doctor Octopus, is a huge mistake. His mechanical arms begin taking out the officers while Octavius dances around the room. I can’t recall ever seeing Octavius used as a comedy villain before, so this was a refreshing take on the character. It’s also worth noting that the mechanical arms are not attached to his back just yet.

Octavius gets out his front door before being met by Ross and more officers. He brushes them off and begins to walk away before the one and only Spider-Man swoops in to stop him.

Peter tries to talk to Nico in school but she ignores him and walks away. The school begins to crumble around him as Norman repeats his words “that’s the level I need Spider-Man at, that’s the level I need you at." This is clearly a dream as Peter also sees the Scorpion’s tail wrapped around Lonnie’s neck and ready to attack Pearl.

Peter wakes up in a panic and calls Nico to apologize. He leaves her a rambling, awkward message, the only kind Peter Parker knows how to leave. He is interrupted when Pearl calls to let him know he’s supposed to be at her house working on their science project, so he rushes out.

Peter gets to Pearl’s house and they briefly discuss Lonnie before getting to work. Peter shows off his science genius before they are interrupted by Lonnie at the front door. Pearl steps outside to talk to him and she tries to convince him to leave the 110th Street Gang. He tells her he can’t abandon them because they had his back. Peter hears everything, including the fact that the 110s are going after Scorpion.

Pearl goes back inside to see that Peter has left. Peter cuts in front of Lonnie and tries to urge him not to go after the Scorpion. Lonnie tells him he has to stick with the 110s though and walks right past Peter.

Back at home, Peter sees that May has been called into work. He sees a picture of Uncle Ben and hears May’s words in his head: “you just deserve someone like him to talk to, someone you trust, like you trust me." Peter decides the only person he trusts like that right now is Norman and he heads to talk to him.

Peter finds Norman and Harry in their office. Norman asks Harry to leave and after some pushback, he does. Peter expresses his concerns that he can’t be at that high level that Norman wants him to. Norman tells him he needs to embrace his power and stop pushing his punches. He even goes as far as to nearly utter the iconic line. He changes it though and says “with great power, comes great respect." Those words and the music that accompany them remind us that Norman Osborn is and always will be a villain.

The 110s meet in an alley because Don got a lead on where to find the guy who gave Gargan his tech. One of the members pushes back at Don, starting a fight between a couple of them. Lonnie breaks it up before they’re interrupted by Dmitri, now wearing the familiar Chameleon mask. Dmitri tells them Gargan got his tech from Octavius and gives them his address. Donovan tries to rally his troops and show some excitement but they all seem unsure about heading back into that fight. That changes when Lonnie steps in and gets them all fired up. We’re starting to see the early stages of his leadership in the world of crime.

Peter paces the floor and Harry asks him what’s going on. Peter vents about all his stress and Harry explains that whatever Spider-Man does is completely up to Peter. They then hear a police report of a truck hijacking and Peter says that’s what he needs to do but he still doesn’t have a suit. Harry tells him he does and shows him a new one he had created based on the designs Peter kept in his notebook. We never see the suit except for a reflection in Peter’s glasses revealing the iconic red Spider-Man mask. Harry says the familiar phrase, “go get ‘em, Tiger" as the episode comes to a close. That phrase is traditionally said by Mary Jane Watson.

This episode, more than any of the previous, was a classic Spider-Man story. Peter Parker dealing with the pressures of being both himself and Spider-Man is what makes him so relatable and beloved. Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man continues to nail the character and his stories. And with only two episodes left, an exciting finale seems to be perfectly set up.

Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man is now streaming on Disney+.