Thanks Todd. And yes the dynamic between Spidey and Rhino is just great, can't wait for the team-up episode.
Two things I forgot to mention:
1. Is the presence of Cletus Kasady, better known as the host for the Carnage symbiote. The fact that he's walking around the asylum in a santa hat is hilarious but I worry that he might've killed a street santa for it.
2. This is actually Kraven's last appearance on the show, he's referenced again but doesn't show up after this episode. Which is a shame since he was only introduced last episode.
Matthew
Insert Inspirational Quote Here:________
posted @ Sat, Apr 25, 2020 5:33:52 pm EDT from 64.85.228.110

Rhino's final line before his defeat had my roommate and I laughing for hours. The delivery was just perfect and perfectly timed. Not just in terms of pacing (that too), but because we've seen Spidey and O'Hirn go at it so many times before. His sentiments were well earned by this point in the series. d:

And for my first Mug-A-Guest experience back in the 2009 Gathering, it was a treat and riot learning how Josh Keaton performed the burnt tongue bit.
Phoenician
"The suspense is terrible, I hope it lasts" -- Willy Wonka
posted @ Sat, Apr 25, 2020 4:40:04 pm EDT from 68.231.126.227

Thanks for the latest episode review, Matthew. I don't have anything to say on it, unfortunately (I can barely remember that one), but I'd still like to thank you for putting it up.2d0b7a
Todd Jensen
posted @ Sat, Apr 25, 2020 9:05:08 am EDT from 68.231.65.221

Watched "Reinforcement" today which brings not only the obligatory Christmas episode but the return of the Sinister Six. This is the episode that really leans into the mystery of the Master Planner, his grand scheme and Spider-Man playing detective. I kinda wish they leaned into that a bit more considering it's resolved by the next episode. Maybe not stretch it out longer but perhaps make Spider-Man more aware of the Master Planner in an earlier episode. But that's just my opinion. And Spoiler Warning; The Master Planner is actually Dr. Octopus.

I have to give credit to Greg and his use of obscure characters and not just here, but in Young Justice too. Blackie Gaxton is a really obscure character and one you none of us have seen in any other media besides the comics. I like how 1: Spidey's putting that intelligence to use and investigating the tech not recovered in the Mysterio episode and 2: he's actually making use of that reputation Tombstone spoke of in season one and scaring lowlifes away.

I do wish we got to see more of the Master Planner's organization as a whole, Blackie mentioned that they used everything from cons to construction workers but the central force is made up of super villains. I like the implication that they've grown more ambitious and now are no longer content to serve under "ordinary" men like they previously did with Hammerhead. So this Sinister Syndicate may be smaller in scale than Tombstone's group but is ultimately more dangerous.

We get some more New York scenery, Rockefeller Center and Macy's Herald Square, both rather appropriate for Christmas time. And of course the relationship drama rears its ugly head once more; it's actually really hypocritical for Gwen to complain about Peter barely speaking to since the kiss at season 1 considering that communication is a two-way street and there's nothing stopping her from just coming out and saying how she feels. We briefly see Flash milking Liz's lingering feelings and I feel this makes sense, it's implied that he was the one to break things off between the two for the chance of trying things out with Mary Jane, which means he broke off a perfectly good relationship for someone who really isn't into dating. Totally makes sense that he'd take advantage of Liz's goodwill and get back at Peter at the same time. Though he still possess enough heroic spirit to try and protect Liz. Also I do like the small detail that Peter now finds himself at the center of three gorgeous ladies and can't focus on anything; even thinking about how beautiful MJ is while she's trying to snap him back into reality.

The fight with the new Sinister Six is another good one and I like that they didn't just repeat the same things from the first one, and gave an in-episode reason for it. The gauntlet style fights kept things moving all over the city and ensured each action piece was different from the last. Ironically enough, if they did all gang up on him like before they might've had a better chance as he no longer had the symbiote's power and ruthlessness which won him the last fight. It's obvious that they didn't want to make the same mistakes as before and take each other out. But at the same time they run into a lot of the same problems as well as some new ones.

I like the use of Vulture and Kraven acting as scouts for the team and the effort made for them to properly communicate and coordinate but at the same time, Electro's trigger-happy nature ends up being a detriment to the first team as it takes Vulture out of the fight and get's him encased in melted tires. You'd think an electrician would know about non-conductive materials, but if he did he wouldn't be Electro now would he?

Interestingly enough the team-up between Rhino and Sandman actually work the best together (makes sense as they were partners before the upgrade and their powers compliment each other). We see that Rhino's more accustomed to making use of his strength rather than just charging forward as usual and Sandman's shapeshifting continues to improve. Ultimately he has to separate the two just to stand a chance against them, and in a nice inversion, the first time Spidey beats Rhino by depriving him of water, this time he beats him with water.

Kind of an odd choice to team up the two newbies, I'd say that the plan was to use Mysterio's illusions and tech to keep Spidey off balance and let Kraven take down the battered, exhausted hero. Unfortunately lack of communication, Mysterio lacking the necessary skills to handle Spidey on his own and the fact Kraven isn't the type to play well with others put the kibosh on that plan. Plus that animalistic rage which worked so well last time doesn't work when setting up traps, and that's how he ran right into an exploding robot. Got to love that the fight at Macys had the Nutcracker Suite playing in the background, a fight set to classical music always makes things interesting.

Some final thoughts: I see Sha Shan and the mall santa ended up staying even during the mall fight, knowing how retail works I imagine fleeing for your life during a superhero fight doesn't count as an excuse for leaving work. It wasn't the first, second or third time watching this episode that I finally got the kitty litter joke for why Sandman's had bad experiences with cats. The perfume saleswoman spraying people regardless of whether they want a sample reminds me so much of pushy mall vendors (and the perfume department gag from Spongebob). I imagine that Otto was expecting Kraven to just grab him and go so he could keep appearances of being a repentant man but Electro convincing him otherwise forced him to come up with the scheme where he's kidnapped by his own arms. We see the first break of MJ's "nothing's ever wrong with Mary Jane Watson) facade during the ice rink fight after she's nearly crushed by the Christmas tree, leaving her visibly shaken. Will see more of that before the end. And finally I do appreciate the little touch of May and Peter honoring Ben as this is their first Christmas without him.

Favorite Lines:
Spider-Man: Ho ho ho I'm Spidey-Claus. And what would your name be young man?
"Patch": Uh...Patch?...Patch!
Spider-Man: Wow, did your parents have foresight or what?

Electro: Show yourself, you wallcrawling—
Spider-Man: Now now, watch the mouth, thewe awe chiwdwen pwesent.
Electro: What?
(later)
Spider-Man: Reetthi? Ith thewwa wevolving doow ah tha pwithin?
Vulture: What?
Spider-Man (thinking) Really need to stop with the banter until my mouth's had time to heal.

(after Rhino tosses a Volkswagen)
Rhino: A bug for a bug!
Sandman: Yeah I got that. For you that was clever.
Rhino: Thanks! :)

Mysterio: A bit too soon to gloat, Spider-Man.
Spider-Man: Well, you are the expert on premature gloatalation.
Matthew
Insert Inspirational Quote Here:________
posted @ Sat, Apr 25, 2020 5:27:36 am EDT from 64.85.228.110

Nine.
Phoenician
"The suspense is terrible, I hope it lasts" -- Willy Wonka
posted @ Fri, Apr 24, 2020 2:18:09 pm EDT from 70.186.146.21

1172*
Jordan
posted @ Fri, Apr 24, 2020 7:41:51 am EDT from 104.248.164.176

Hi Mr. Weisman. I have a question for you:

I don't know if you are aware, but in the "Early Warning" episode of Whelmed: The Young Justice Files (back in Oct. 2019) the host quoted you on something you told him in conversation. This is something that used to happen now and then, but lately it happens in almost every episode: "Greg texted me this", "Brandon emailed me that", "Greg/Brandon told me whatever", etc.

So, looking at your 2-year-6-month-and-29-day backlog of 1173 questions, I'm wondering: why are you giving BTS information to this one person while the rest of your fanbase has to submit questions and wait months (at least) or YEARS (worst case and more likely scenario) for an answer???? It must be really cool to be so intimate and chummy with one's idol, and I bet the host feels super important and validated, but this is some double standard bullshit!

Are you aware of this? And if you are, how can you be okay with it? Don't you think this is unfair? You have thousands of fans who support your work whichever way they can, but 99.9% of them have never even met you in person, let alone exchanged emails or text messages with you.

If I make an entire podcast dedicated to kissing your asses, will I earn the same privileges? Will I be able to ask all my questions without a waiting queue? Will I get to hang out with you, have lunch together or exchange personal contacts?

(Originally I posted this on AskGreg, but then I decided I shouldn't have to wait 2 years for an answer, for all the reasons above.)
Jordan
posted @ Fri, Apr 24, 2020 7:40:34 am EDT from 104.248.164.176

Thanks, Geek. Not Muslim myself but I certainly appreciate the sentiment, particularly in these uncertain times. :)
Algae
Wash yo' hands!
posted @ Thu, Apr 23, 2020 1:58:49 pm EDT from 86.45.213.181

Depending on your time zone this might be a little early, but to anyone participating in it, Enjoy your peace and blessings of Ramadan.
SomeGeek
posted @ Thu, Apr 23, 2020 10:46:42 am EDT from 69.255.235.204

Seven.
Todd Jensen
posted @ Thu, Apr 23, 2020 8:40:14 am EDT from 68.231.65.221

I can't think of a good reference to the number 6.
Matthew
Insert Inspirational Quote Here:________
posted @ Wed, Apr 22, 2020 1:11:03 am EDT from 64.85.228.110

5th
VickyUK
posted @ Tue, Apr 21, 2020 8:00:35 am EDT from 109.146.200.252

4th!
SomeGeek
posted @ Tue, Apr 21, 2020 3:03:58 am EDT from 69.255.235.204

THREE... is a magic number!
Algae
Wash yo' hands!
posted @ Mon, Apr 20, 2020 2:05:17 pm EDT from 86.45.213.181

2nd!
Matt
posted @ Mon, Apr 20, 2020 12:22:27 pm EDT from 97.85.187.228

(#1) Number one with a bullet but always first over all!
Vinnie - [thomaspeano at yahoo dot com]
Deplorable and loving it!
posted @ Mon, Apr 20, 2020 12:08:41 am EDT from 172.14.186.123