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The Spectacular Spider-Man Season 1 Episode 8

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Episode Summary

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AIRED: 5/3/08

Tired of constantly being pushed around by others, the timid Otto Octavius has his robotic arms permanently attached to his back and becomes the deadly Doctor Octopus.

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Fan Episode Reviews (5)

An apple a day,would probably do you no good here.

8.5

By frostbite200, Nov 06, 2009

Let me start by saying that to compeer Peter MacNicol's Doctor Octopus to the 2004 movie version is unfair, because.....well.....They're completely different!!!...So people lets get over it and just move on.

Episode 8 of season 1 is hard one for me to get my head around and review. I'm not sure why, but there is something odd about it. On the one hand we have vary entertaining episode with grate fight/chase and character development scenes. And yet, there just seems to be something missing. Maybe I'm subconsciously compeering it to the movie version (which I just told you to not do!!!).

I just can't put my finger on it.

Still worth watching.moreless
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Here comes Doctor Octopus.

10

By Antiyonder, Aug 29, 2008

I'm always a sucker for romantic moments, and that scene with Spidey saving the guy and gal satisfied that feeling.

Given that the early comics are the basis for the series, I wasn't really surprised that Pete and MJ weren't in a serious relationship. Though a good number of viewers thought otherwise. Makes sense considering that we all relate to Spidey in our own way.

Though Ock's personality change did seem fast, it still feels natural.

Was waiting for Liz to warm up to Peter since her expression around the end of episode 2. Their date didn't disappoint.

Can't really see the Goblin being anyone else, especially with Norman's smirk at the end.moreless
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A pivotal episode introducing one of Spider-Man's greatest foes...Doctor Octopus

10

By ElJorro, Jul 08, 2008

If you were to rank the web head's deadliest foes, the list would go like this... Green Goblin, Doc Ock, and Venom, with Doc Ock being a tie between himself and the Green Goblin. No Spider-man series is complete without Doctor Octopus and the four mechanical tentacles welded right on to his body. While not a nuclear physicist Dr. Otto Octavius is still a genius who was changed into Doc Ock in a lab accident, still being true to the comics. At first I could not understand why Doc Ock would say Spidey was trying to destroy him. But then I realized that he mentioned he was afraid Spidey would trace Sandman and Rhino back to him. That is the only thing I can complain about in this episode. But one thing keeps nagging at me. If his harness is welded on to his body, how do his clothes get underneath it?moreless
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Peter Parker and Spider-Man learn that actions have consequences when nebbishy Dr. Otto Octavius becomes the megalomaniacal Doctor Octopus. The cause: Green Goblin; the effect: Mayhem!

9.0

By KateShadow, May 21, 2008

Ever since I saw Alfred Molina's role as Doc Ock in Spider-Man 2, I've grown to love the guy, much so I loved Peter MacNicol's role as the timid scientist turned twisted super villain. From his first appearance in "Survival of the Fittest", fans can see Otto Octavius' personality by just looking at his appearance: a timid, bullied scientist. It was only later in "Competition", that we see his famous mechanical arms, but even still he is still quiet and shy, often pausing or stuttering when he speaks to Norman Osborn. Eventually, in "Catalysts", Otto's shy nature causes him to be startled by his own shadow. It is only in this episode that Otto finally transforms into Doc Ock. The audience gets to see an inside view of Otto's mind when he is threatened to be fired by Norman: his arms attack Norman and slams his boss against a wall, forcing him to become unconscious. Of course, this is all a daydream, forcing Otto to be afraid of Osborn. "Yes...I'm sorry. I'll do as I'm told..." His lack of self-confidence lies in his abusive childhood in the comics, forcing him to be alone but become very successful in the world of science.

It is only then when Otto is performing an experiment that we see - surprise! - The Green Goblin acting as a saboteur, overloading the experiment. Otto is locked with panic (who wouldn't be?) when he finds out he's locked inside the room. When the countdown is completed, Otto quietly says, "I've been good..." before a huge bolt of electricity painfully zaps his mechanical arms, fusing them to his spine (also with melted skin over the A.I. chip. Ew...) and renders him unconscious.

Once Spidey arrives to save the day, but a little too late, Otto finally awakens, only to finally snap out of his own personal bubble stating angrily, "I will not...be weak!" and attacks Osborn with his arms. After a long tussle with Spidey, Doc Ock is forced to leave due to his remaining power on his battery pack to power his extra arms - a new tweak on the villain's origin. There, the Doc plans to steal an unlimited power source, only to be thwarted by Spidey and eventually defeated at Coney Island.

A few other honorable mentions for this episode...

~Writing

Was interesting for this episode, mainly dealing with Otto's transformation into Doc Ock.I just loved this episode because of that. Many of the Spider-Man cartoons barely take a detailed character development as in this one, besides the '94 series (Seasons 1 and 2 were the best for this example). Also, the plot for who the identity is of the Goblin raises more suspicions at Norman as he smiles as a mask similar to what the Goblin wears upon a little chat with Hammerhead.

~Animation

Was just as fast paced as "Catalysts", especially with the fast moving mechanical arms of Doctor Octopus and the fight on Coney Island. Doc Ock's transformation scene was a great scene too with the color schemes of the seizure inducing lights and explosions.

~Mary Jane Watson - Upon her debut in "The Invisible Hand", it is clear now that MJ seems to be a main character to the cast. However, Peter thought both of them were now together, but MJ told him it was only for the dance and states, "It's not like we're going steady or something that primitive." Does MJ not like dating? Major hints turn to her with Flash Thompson in this episode many times. Hypocrite, much?

~Harry Osborn - A brief few scenes with the young Osborn in this episode, mainly trying to resist the addiction of taking the Globulin Green formula...just as the Goblin appears at Oscorp to tamper with Otto Octavius' experiment. Harry's approached by a worried Gwen Stacy several times in this episode, only to make an excuse not to talk it over about his 'problems'. At the end of the episode, he is in his room, enjoying another Globulin Green like it was a soda.

~Flash Thompson - As Peter's school antagonist and M3's main star quarterback, Flash begins to develop his respect to Spidey, when trying to assist Spider-Man while fighting Doctor Octopus. Flash is saved by Spidey in the nick of time, but seems to be unfazed by that he couldn't try to help his fellow hero. Hope that more of this kind of Flash pops up in this series.

~Liz Allan - As much as she's portrayed in this series, Liz is a so and so character in my books due to that her character remarkably resembles Paulina from "Danny Phantom" and she's only briefly appeared in several episodes after her last character development. Ever since she warmed up to Peter in "Interactions", it seems that Liz's developed a crush on our favorite webslinger. The little montage at Coney Island was a cute little scene to pass the time until the action kicked off again, especially when Peter accidentally uses his Spidey mask as a handkerchief. In this episode, Liz was the main damsel in distress as she was kidnapped by Doc Ock for Spidey to give up the battery pack in exchange for her life. Spidey manages to save her and still kick butt in the end. Also in this episode, Liz and Flash break up (possibly due to seeing Flash with Mary Jane at the carnival.) Overall, a very nice episode when it comes to character development. Up next, the return of the Green Goblin!moreless
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Doctor Octavius finally becomes the deadly Doctor Octopus!

10

By SpaceWay2007, May 03, 2008

Doctor Octavius finally becomes Doctor Octopus. We see a lot of character developments, such as Harry starting to become more addicted to the drug he is taking; Liz starting to like Peter; Mary Jane and Flash seems to like each other; and the best of all: Doctor Octopus makes an appearance. This show just gets better. I like how Doctor Octavius became a super-villain. The transformation was spectacular. Doc Ock blamed Spider-Man for the accident because he assumed that Spider-Man tracked him down for all the other super-villains that he created and he thought Spider-Man was out to get him. But, it turned out that the Green Goblin did it. Another thing that was interesting was when the space shuttle launched. You can foreshadow that John Jameson is in the shuttle, going to outer space. And we can predict that that while John Jameson is in outer space, he'll find the alien symbiote!moreless
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Cast & Crew: STARS

EDIT

Josh Keaton	Peter Parker/Spider-Man
Lacey Chabert	Gwen Stacy
Vanessa Marshall	Mary Jane Watson
James Arnold Taylor	Harry Osborn
Alanna Ubach	Liz Allen
Joshua LeBar	Flash Thompson

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Cast & Crew: RECURRING AND GUESTS

EDIT

Alan Rachins	Norman Osborn	Guest Star
Steven Jay Blum	Green Goblin	Guest Star
Grey DeLisle	Sally Avril	Guest Star
Peter MacNicol	Dr. Octavius/Doctor Octopus	Recurring Role

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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TRIVIA (4)
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- At the start of the episode, Dr. Octavius' inhibitor chip is on the outside of his shirt, but later it is shown on the inside.
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- Photos of Norman Osborn, Adrian Toomes and Dr. Twaki are shown in Otto Octavius' home.
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- The blind man Spider-Man saves from the hijacked truck was a musician from Tombstone's party in the previous episode, "Catalysts".
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- A portion of this episode takes place on Coney Island in New York City.
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QUOTES (11)
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- Gwen Stacy: Something's really weird with Harry.
  Peter Parker: And this surprises you? (Gwen gives Peter a look) Ok, ok... Not the look!
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- Doctor Octopus: Do you ever shut up?
  Spider-Man: Sorry, no. My fans expect a certain amount of quippage in every battle.
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- (After spotting Doctor Octopus, Peter runs off)
  Flash Thompson: Typical Puny Parker, leaves me holding the back! (Mary Jane and Liz glare at him) Uh, no offense, girls.
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- (Spider-Man searches the city for the Green Goblin)
  Spider-Man: Paging Green Goblin, paging Mr. Green Goblin. Man, I hate it when the bad guy gets away!
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- Doctor Octopus: (About the Megalo-pack) At last, it's mine!
  Spider-Man: But you won't get the chance to use it, not as long as I'm conscious.
  Doctor Octopus: A situation easily remedied.
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- (Spider-Man carries Mary Jane and Gwen to safety from Doctor Octopus)
  Spider-Man: A guy could get used to this.
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- (Spider-Man saves Liz from Doctor Octopus)
  Spider-Man: Subway to Coney Island, two bucks. Riding turbulence, six. Saving Liz Allen, priceless.
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- Doctor Octopus: Hand over the device, you pathetic, four-limbed excuse for a spider!
  (Spider-Man throws a candy apple at Doctor Octopus's head)
  Spider-Man: Ho ho, you sweet talker, you.
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- Mary Jane Watson: Slow down, Tiger. It's not like we're going steady or something equally primitive.
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- Spider-Man: (Doctor Octopus returns) And now, back to our regularly scheduled chaos.
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- Spider-Man: Come on Doc, you're a cephalopod, I'm arthropod, can't we just hug it out?
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NOTES (3)
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- Disney XD Premiere Date:
  April 27, 2009 @ 7:30pm (ET)
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- This episode can be seen on "The Spectacular Spider-Man: The Goblin Strikes!" DVD.
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- Doctor Octopus
  Doctor Octopus, aka Doc Ock, made his first appearance in Amazing Spider-Man #3. A shy and timid scientist with a deadbeat father and overprotective mother, Otto Octavius was once a respected nuclear physicist who created mechanical tentacles that were used for dangerous experiments. An explosion of radiation once occured and the four tentacles were forever bonded to his very spine. Driven to madness, he resorted to a life of crime. He has been one of the most well known of villains, having created the first Sinister Six group.
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ALLUSIONS (2)
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- Marilyn Monroe:
  
  When Spider-Man uses his webs as a slingshot and rockets past the girl on the balcony, she is seen holding her white dress. This is similar to the way Marilyn Monroe held her dress, most famously in the movie The Seven Year Itch (1955).
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- Spider-Man: Subway to Coney Island, two bucks. Riding turbulance, six. Saving Liz Allan, priceless.
  
  This is a reference to the current MasterCard Worldwide advertising campaign.
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