The Dangerous Secret Uncovered
Spider-Noir Episode 4 starts at The Alcove, where Silvermane and Ben are sitting together, while Cat performs for the crowd. A flashback confirms the second shot from last episode was meant for Gio, Winston’s colleague. When Cat finishes her song she tries to hold it together around Silvermane and Ben but as soon as she gets into her room she breaks down.
The next morning, Ben arrives at the office with a hangover from drinking with Silvermane. Janet and Robbie are waiting for him. Robbie soon leaves for Harlem to resume the search for Lonnie.
Meanwhile, Silvermane goes to see Cat and asks her about what happened at the train station. The cat said she was scared of his mood swings and wanted to leave. She also tells him that Ben was not helping her, but watching her because Silvermane thought she might be working with Winston.
The Truth About Cat Tells Ben
Cat reaches Janet, who sends Frankie over to Ben’s house with a message. Cat wants to see him.
Ben and Cat meet at a restaurant where she explains what she told Silvermane. They create a story they both agree on so that Silvermane can’t catch them in a lie. So Ben asks the question that has been hanging over everything, why did Cat try to have Silvermane killed?
Cat took Ben to her old theatre and told her story. Silvermane had promised to give her everything she wanted, but she learned that his help came with strings attached. She fell for a guy named Thomas, and Silvermane had him killed as soon as they got engaged.
Later Cat thought if Silvermane was gone she could start a new life with Flint. She learned of Addison through Flint, and paid him to kill Silvermane. Unfortunately Flint enters the theater and overhears the confession.
Lonnie finds Robbie
Robbie watches a man in Harlem with extra food and eventually finds Lonnie. He tells him he wants to put things right. Robbie brings Lonnie back to Ben’s office, but Lonnie won’t speak.
Janet helps him relax with some cards. Finally, Lonnie relates what happened to him and the other POWs during the war. He tells Robbie and Janet to go and find a Dr. Faber.
Silvermane and the Mayor Ready for War
Silvermane is furious that the police chief is late for their usual meeting. Later, he traps the chief and Mayor Morris in a club. The debate is intense, and it’s clear no-one’s going to back down.
Meanwhile, Ben and Cat are getting close in his apartment. Ben tells her about Ruby and the man he put in prison who then went on to kill her. Ben admits he was drunk that night, across town, and came too late to save her.
As Ben and Cat are about to kiss, a radio alert informs them of a monster wreaking havoc in the Diamond District. Cat thinks it is Flint and runs out to assist. Ben lets her believe he’s too chicken to go.
A New Threat For The Spider
The Spider reaches the Diamond District, and soon figures that the assailant is not Flint. He is a mysterious man who can instead shoot lightning from his hands. The Spider tries to avoid a fight with him, but the man attacks.
The attacker is weakened from a hard fight and is knocked out by The Spider. The crowd cheers and Mayor Morris takes the opportunity to pose with The Spider, making it look like they’re allies.
Cat, who witnessed the fight, feels something familiar about The Spider. She goes back to Ben’s apartment and pushes him. She jumps out of the window to get him to tell the truth. Ben acts immediately, shooting out his webbing to catch her. He draws her back inside, and they kiss.
Episode Recap
Episode 4 slows things down a bit after the intensity of Episode 3, but still gives us a few important story developments. Cat’s part in the attempt on Silvermane’s life is finally confirmed, and her backstory adds more emotional weight to her choices. Li Jun Li has one of the best moments in the episode especially during Cat’s confession.
The episode also moves Robbie’s investigation forward through Lonnie, but that subplot could have used a bit more screen time. Now Silvermane and Mayor Morris are definitely headed for a head-on collision, which at least gives the season a little more sense of purpose.
The episode’s romance between Ben and Cat is its weakest part. Nicolas Cage and Li Jun Li share good chemistry in scenes based on mystery, tension and shared secrets but the romantic chemistry doesn’t quite ignite. Their kiss is rushed, particularly in light of Cat’s newfound connection with Flint and Ben’s still-fresh grief over Ruby.
The execution, however, is stylish. The window scene is dramatic and visually effective, and Cage continues to bring humor and charm to Ben’s awkward moments. The romance may be uneven, but Spider-Noir is still a solid, well-illustrated series that has enough mystery to keep the story interesting.