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MAIN • CHARACTERS • EPISODES • REVIEWS • MEDIA • EXTRAS • FORUM
Spider-Man: The New Animated Series Episode Review
Episode #112, "Mind Games, Part One"
Original Episode Airdate - September 5th, 2003
The Gaines Twins, Roxanne and Roland, a brother and sister pair with uncanny mental powers, being transported in an armored convoy when a well planned traffic accident allows them to escape. Well, almost. That is until Spider-Man appears on the scene and battles the twins' mental abilities and overcomes their brain-blasts with his own superhuman willpower. Later that afternoon Peter Parker learns that Pterodax, the crime trio comprised of former KGB agents led by Sergei, has just sprung Silver Sable from prison. Spider-Man's enemies seem to be popping up all over! Silver Sable allies with Kraven the Hunter who has recently escaped from jail as well in order to seek out revenge on Spider-Man. Spider-Man runs into Mary-Jane Watson and delivers some surprising news. Meanwhile, Kraven has murder on his mind and if he can't find Spider-Man it looks like he'll settle for MJ. To make things even more uncanny, a mysterious stranger Frank Elson has approached Peter Parker to give him vital information to help the webslinger out - or does Frank have his own agenda. Is anything as it seems? What exactly is going on? Is MJ really dead, did Spider-Man reveal himself as Peter Parker? Or is it all in Spider-Man's head?
Credits
Screenplay By: Morgan Grenda
Directed By: Alan Caldwell, Vincent Edwards, Audu Paden
Music By: John Digweed, Nick Muir and William Anderson
Animation By: Mainframe
Guest Starring:Kathy Griffin as Roxanne Gaines, Jeremy Piven as Roland, James Marsters as Sergei, Virginia Madsen as Silver Sable, Michael Dorn as Kraven the Hunter, Angelle Brooks as Indy
Review and Media by Stu:
"Mind Games" is the first two-part story for this Spider-Man cartoon, and certainly a memorable
one, and these episodes are clearly in a league above that of what came before them. I usually find a lot of two-part
stories are either needlessly extending a story that could've been told in a single episode or are cramming far too much
of a story into an hour, but "Mind Games" managed to stray from that bunch, as each episode needs the other in order
to work to their full effect, but they are very different enough from each other. For example, this episode is
perfectly enjoyable, and isn't simply building up to the climax.
Dream episodes are tricky to pull off, but make for some fantastic episodes when done correctly. Some dream episodes feel
like a cop out when the end credits roll, but this one had a great story behind, and actual real life consequences.
Still, MJ was still a shocker! I knew it was a dream sequence, but I still wasn't expecting them to actually kill her!
Whilst this episode still isn't as good as it's conclusion, it's obvious that steps were being made to correct the problems
of the rest of the season. By having Silver Sable, Pterodax and introducing Kraven into the show, they managed to get rid
of the 'freak of the week' feeling that has been plaguing the show, they didn't need to have the villains connected to
Peter/Mary Jane/Harry the villains turned up to make life miserable for everyone else, and to kill Spider-Man.
The new villains, the twins, where given good motivation for their plan, it worked well into the theme of the episode,
and they were damn creepy. We get all the good stuff this show is known for, it's incredible fight scenes, it's snappy
dialogue, plus we got some great development for Peter especially. Plus, we got some fanboy nods! Fanboy nods! On MTV!
Peter unmasking was a great little scene. I liked how it wasn't a big epic unveil, but a small, "let it all go" moment.
The fact that MJ dies mere minutes after she finds out is a great way of showing just why Peter keeps his identity a secret.
Plus, this episode's conclusion is a perfect set up for the next episodes opening.
Screenshots
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