Spider-Man: No Way Home might have been 2021’s most anticipated movie of the year. Marvel had done the impossible up to this point. They played the long game by introducing heroes in solo movies to then blend them together into a team-up movie with The Avengers. The cast of characters has only grown from there including what some may have considered to be b-tier heroes like Dr. Strange.
Spider-Man: No Way Home takes things a step further and blends three universes together, separate from each other. How they did this is a bit of a spoiler so let’s save that for the actual discussion. There will be spoiler talk about the entire movie and the Marvel universe as a whole.
8/8 Aunt May And Happy Break Up
One of the funniest parts of Far From Home was Aunt May and Happy getting together and trying to hide it from Peter. This movie has a nice callback to that, opening with the two of them breaking up.
This is contrasted with Peter and MJ running from the law and appearing half nude once they get back to the apartment. It was a heck of a way to start in what is otherwise one of the darkest entries in the Spider-Man canon yet.
7/8 I’ll Take The Case!
When it was revealed in the trailers that this was going to be a crossover movie, fans expected to see various incarnations of Spider-Man and adjacent villains. A cameo role that may not have been expected was Matt Murdock.
Prior to the movie, Marvel did tease that Daredevil would return at some point in the MCU and would be played by the same actor: Charlie Cox. No one could have predicted that this return was going to be so soon. That brick-catching moment was pure hype.
6/8 Coach Wilson, Mr. Dell, And Mr. Harrington Welcome Peter Back
It doesn’t make a lot of sense for Peter to go back to school after his identity was leaked. Who could concentrate on school with a hero in their midst that literally help save the universe? Peter isn’t a teen anymore.
He is like a modern version of a Demi-god. While the idea doesn’t add up, his return scene was funny once he meets up with Coach Wilson, Mr. Dell, and Mr. Harrington. The latter of the two couldn’t be happier to celebrate Peter’s accomplishments. Coach Wilson calling him a traitor created a good dynamic between the three. He also didn’t approve of Captain America going on the run in the first MCU Spider-Man film.
5/8 Casting The Spell
This scene was already shown off in the trailers numerous times. It was still great to see in its full form. After the first outburst, why didn’t Dr. Strange stop the spell and ask Peter about his stipulations? Also, he is a teenager, but Peter isn’t dumb.
He should know not to mess with magic. Again, this teen went into space and saved the universe. He isn’t a rookie. The multiverse splitting open was at the fault of both of them. It is a head-scratcher but the scene is funny to say at least along with what happens as a result of it. Doc Ock being the first of the villains to arrive.
4/8 The Mirror Dimension Fight
This was another element from the trailers that was teased. The Mirror Dimension was one of the coolest things about Dr. Strange’s first movie. It almost seemed impossible not to include it again. The fight inside did not disappoint even though a lot of it, again, was shown off in the preview coverage.
What wasn’t spoiled was Peter’s geometrical trap. Dr. strange should have been able to escape that web a lot sooner than by the time the movie ends. That’s a puzzle for another day.
3/8 What We Lost
This topic is in reference to the three Spider-Man characters revealing who they lost after meeting for the first time. To make it easier, the three characters will be referred to by their actors. Holland losing Aunt May was a real twist since it was assumed he had already lost Uncle Ben not to mention Tony.
Maguire lost his Uncle Ben along with Garfield. Garfield also lost Gwen, the love of his life. It was a scene reminiscent of the sharing moment from Into the Spider-Verse. It had been done before but it was still an emotional experience.
2/8 Garfield Gets His Redemption
Garfield had some solid acting chops in this movie. When he talks about Gwen, it feels like he had lost that person in real life. It haunts him to this day. That’s why it was great to see him have a redeeming moment with Holland’s MJ.
He couldn’t let a fellow Spider-Man go through the same thing he went through with Gwen. The same is true for Maguire stepping in to prevent Holland from killing the Green Goblin. Even though he literally gets stabbed in the back, Maguire doesn’t regret a thing.
1/8 Venom Bait And Switch
One of the most jaw-dropping scenes in Venom: Let There Be Carnage was the final stinger. It showed Eddie and Brock being transported to the MCU dimension. It was theorized that Venom would be in No Way Home which was not untrue. However, Marvel pulled a long con.
He never got to meet Holland or any of the other Spider-Man multiverse characters. He just has a funny exchange with a bartender before being cast back into his own realm. It was a funny moment but also disappointing. Maybe that symbiote droplet will prove to be something more.
