Ben Accepts Silvermane’s Case
Spider-Noir Episode 3: Double Cross Janet returns to work after Ben takes care of some business with Silvermane. At the office, Robbie sees someone familiar and recognizes an old wartime photo of Addison and Flint. He knows Addison’s friend and he decides to find him. Ben asks Janet to find out if Addison, Flint and the mysterious man were all prisoners of war.
Silvermane soon interrupts Ben and Janet with a new job. He wants Ben to find out who sold him out to the cops. Silvermane gives Ben a fat cash retainer and Ben notices something important. Silvermane marks his moolah.
Robbie finds out Lonnie’s secret
Ben visits the police officers injured in the dock raid at the hospital. He learns that the raid was ordered by Mayor Morris in the guise of a labor union.
Meanwhile Robbie still is searching for Addison’s friend, who is now identified as Lonnie. His investigations lead him to a poor settlement where police suddenly arrive to clear out the camps. In the chaos Lonnie stands with Flint against the officers and shows superhuman strength. Robby takes everything with his camera.
Ben Chooses the Road
Later Ben finds Carmedy and confronts him about the photos. Mr Carmedy said he wanted the photographs for himself but was unable to get them because of his injured leg and no-one hired him. He also reveals that it was Cat who wanted to meet the mayor, not the other way round.
Ben’s spider sense tells him Winston is outside, so he sneaks out the back and goes to see Cat. He tells her about Silvermane but asks if her meeting with the mayor had anything to do with the raid. The cat would not speak to him directly.
Ben then meets with Winston and offers to sell information about the traitor. Winston pays him with cash that also has Silvermane’s mark, but it’s in a different place.
Ben’s Prime Suspect Is Catfish
Back at the office, Robbie explains to Ben and Janet about Lonnie’s powers. Janet also confirms that Lonnie, Addison and Flint were all POWs and the photo was taken on the day they were rescued.
Ben privately tells Robbie he suspects Cat is the one who sold Silvermane to the mayor. He’s not just interested in solving the case. If Silvermane finds out, he’s afraid he’ll kill Cat.
Then Ben calls on Addison’s wife, Vera. His question, ‘Did Cat hire Addison?’ is answered by Vera’s reaction. But Vera can see that Ben just wants to protect Cat, and wants a thousand dollars to keep quiet.
Ben Arranges Winston
Ben finds Silvermane in his penthouse and tells him he is close to finding the rat but he needs proof. He secretly places spider webs on the lock of the balcony door before he goes.
Later Robbie takes his story about Lonnie and Flint to Daily Bugle editor Howard Walters. Walters agrees to publish it, but he refuses to give Robbie back his full-time job.
That night, in his office, Ben uses a local orphan boy, Frankie, as a decoy. Silvermane’s men think Ben is inside but the real Ben, disguised as The Spider, sneaks into Silvermane’s apartment. He opened the safe and took out a thousand dollars.
Silvermane awoke to the sound of the balcony door moving, but Ben hid in the ceiling before anyone could see him.
The Relationship Between Flint and Cat Is Revealed
Cat has been gone, but returns home to find Flint waiting for her. And the fact they’re reunited shows their bond goes much deeper than singer and security. They’re in love. Flint agrees to run away with her but suddenly his body begins to turn to sand. He walks out again. And he is overcome by his condition.
The next morning Robbie is furious to see how Walters has mangled his article. The paper does not reveal police violence, it depicts Lonnie and Flint as monsters and the police as heroes.
Silvermane on the Move
Ben hands the stolen money to Vera, who is about to leave as agreed. Unfortunately, she is seen by Winston and his associate.
Ben calls Cat from a payphone, telling her to stay where she is, but before he can get to her, two men take him to Mayor Morris. The mayor says he wants to talk to The Spider because crime is on the rise and he doesn’t want to work with Silvermane anymore.
Ben arrives at Cat’s apartment only to find that she has left for the train station. He finds her there and she refutes being the rat. Before anything can be worked out Winston and his men arrive and take them both to the woods where Silvermane is waiting.
Vera’s there too. Winston showed Silvermane the money she had gotten. Silvermane saw his mark on the bills, the same mark he put on the money he gave Winston. Silvermane thinks Winston betrayed him, thanks to Ben’s setup. Vera tells the lie. Silvermane kills Winston.
But the threat isn’t over yet. Silvermane then says they will need two graves and fires another shot, ending the episode on a tense cliffhanger.
Episode Review
Spider-Noir Season 1 Episode 3 is yet another solid installment, filled with mystery, betrayal, and shrewd detective work. The episode is able to keep several storylines moving at once, while still keeping its noir atmosphere. Ben’s search for the traitor Silvermane becomes even more complicated, and Robbie’s discovery of Lonnie and Flint’s powers adds to the larger conspiracy.
The best thing about the episode is the way the suspicion keeps shifting. Throughout much of the story Cat seems to be the obvious suspect, but Ben’s plan is clever in putting the blame on Winston. The set up with the marked money is satisfying because it utilizes details planted earlier in the episode.
Robbie’s story is also good, particularly as it shows how the media can distort the truth. His story could have been an expose of injustice, but The Daily Bugle makes it propaganda protecting the police and demonizing the victims.
The emotional scene between Cat and Flint adds more depth to both of them. His relationship with them adds a more tragic edge to Flint, as his powers continue to make him feel less of a human.
Visually the episode continues to embrace its noir style with strong shadows, tense framing and clever sound design. Ben also has personal reasons for using The Spider identity, which makes this version of the character feel different from other Spider-Man stories.
Overall, “Double Cross” is a fun episode that balances detective drama, superhero mystery and emotional character moments. And the cliffhanger leaves a lot of questions unanswered, especially as to Cat’s link to the mayor, and who told Addison to go after Silvermane.