Spider-Noir (🌟🌟🌟🌟) is one of the best things I’ve seen this year. Those of you who’ve followed me long enough know that I strongly prefer Cinema to television & that I’m a self-proclaimed “casual” comic fan. But the quality of this show & the brilliance of Nicolas Cage’s performance pulled me in & gave me a reason to stay. Everything about this show is interesting. Nothing is boring. And at day’s end, Spider-Noir is a story about redemption & revitalizing what was once yours. What a fucking show. Before diving into the plot, I want to acknowledge how much I appreciate that Spider-Noir gives viewers the option to watch any episode either in saturated color or in vintage black & white. I have no idea how they did both so well. As you can tell by the photos in my review, I watched predominantly in black & white because that’s what Nic Cage recommends. Cage wants younger audiences to push themselves out of their comfort zone- and you don’t fuck with the Cage. But I also flipped over to color a little & absolutely loved it. The visuals here, especially for television, are outstanding. The story follows Cage as detective Ben Reilly, a drunk, old, slow, out-of-luck PI in 1930s NYC. We learn early on that just a few years prior, Reilly was once the city’s incognito superhero- “The Spider”. After a massive personal tragedy, Reilly chose to hang up the mask & now wallows in his shitty life as a PI. But just as Reilly thought he was out…he gets pulled back in & eventually returns to the mask. That’s about all I feel comfortable giving away now. Mix in Brendan Gleeson as the heavy, Lamorne Morris as Reilly’s right hand man & beat-reporter, and Karen Rodriguez as Reilly’s secretary, and you’re left with a totally awesome ensemble. But this show rises & falls with Cage. I’ve fallen down a massive Cage rabbit hole after seeing his work here. He is stunningly great. Suppose Cage wasn’t even playing The Spider, suppose he was just Ben Reilly, a burnt out PI in ‘30s NYC full-time. That alone would’ve been entertaining enough because watching Cage spiral into misery & slowly crescendo into anger as the episodes went on is worth your time alone. But then seeing the choices Cage makes as The Spider? The potion that is The Spider & Ben is what makes this one of Cage’s best performances in a really long time & one of his best performances ever. Which says so much considering all he has done in his career. Cage’s character is just given so much ethos & a path to redemption that makes the final two episodes some of the best television I’ve seen in a minute. What started out as a more tight-lipped performance from Cage eventually explodes. Combine those great visuals, an excellent plot, a beautiful ensemble & vintage Nicolas Cage, and you get something special. I’m glad I started this show. I’m glad I finished it.