Spider-Man is framed for robbing a museum, while a man calling himself, Mysterio, comes and offers to capture Spider-Man
This episode provides examples of:
- 10-Minute Retirement: After losing his fight on the Brooklyn Bridge against Mysterio, and failing to make his study date with Mary Jane, Peter almost considers giving up on being Spider-Man. Luckily Lt. Teri Lee is able to unknowingly talk him out of it.
- Anti-Climax: The "Grand Finale" of Mysterio's act was anything but this in the worst way possible. With a lethal weapon aimed at him, Spider-man has only one chance to strike the real Mysterio amongst multiple impostor illusions. This could have been suspenseful in a "do or die" way, but the pacing was far too quick to even understand what's going on.
- But for Me, It Was Tuesday: Quentin Beck became Mysterio to get revenge on Spidey for exposing an unethical stunt he pulled while shooting a movie. He doesn't mention it at first, but when he does, Spidey has no idea what he's talking about until Lieutenant Terri Lee looks it up.Beck: (in flashback) They'll arrest me for this, and it's all your fault! I will get you, I swear!
Lee: (in present) This is something you have trouble remembering?
Spidey: Hey, I hear that kinda thing...two, three times a week! - Continuity Nod: Peter mentions the blind date he went on with Mary Jane.
- Cut Lex Luthor a Check: Looking over Beck's holographic technology, Spider-Man observes how he's very brilliant but using this amazing technology on crime. Spidey figures a crime spree was next on the agenda after revenge.
- Dramatic Irony: After Peter turns down helping Teri Lee proving Spider-Man is innocent, she accuses him of failing to develop any of Spider-Man’s character when he was taking pictures of him, not knowing that Peter and Spider-Man are the same person.
- Easily Forgiven: Despite her "one strike and your out" lecturing, Mary Jane forgives Peter in the end. It probably helps that she passed her test without his help.
- "Eureka!" Moment: Teri lists assorted Spidey-related incidents at the Brooklyn Bridge. Talk of a helicopter crash spurs a memory for Spider-Man.
- Flashback: For the first time in the series, Peter recalls the fateful night he let a certain burglar run free at the wrestling arena and how Ben paid the price for it.
- Foil: Mysterio to Spider-Man. Whereas Peter recognized how Ben's death was his fault and dedicated his life to using his powers responsibly, Quentin Beck blamed Spider-Man for his own reckless actions and became a supervillain.
- Foreshadowing: Mysterio goads Spider-Man into going to the Brooklyn Bridge, saying that's where Spidey ruined his life.
- Frame-Up: Mysterio frames Spider-Man by impersonating him and committing robberies, to get revenge on Spider-Man for ruining his career as a special effects expert after Spidey exposed his dangerous stunt that almost caused a helicopter crash during a movie shoot.
- Friend on the Force: Teri Lee becomes this to both Spider-Man and Peter in the series. She is the one who helps figure out who Mysterio is and why the latter framed him.
- My Significance Sense Is Tingling: At the museum, Peter realizes the ceiling collapse is just an illusion because his spider-sense didn't go off. Ultimately, it's how he's able to find the real Mysterio in a group of fakes.
- Never My Fault: Ahead of being arrested for an accident he himself caused, Quentin Beck vowed to get even against Spider-Man. As Mysterio, he nearly gets it and brags about it during the final confrontation.Mysterio: It's payback time.
Spider-Man: Payback? For what? You did it all to yourself!
Mysterio: Yes, that's what my psychiatrist said, but you know what? His sessions never made me feel this good! - Oblivious Guilt Slinging: When Teri Lee asks Peter for help in clearing Spider-Man, who she (correctly) suspects is being framed, Peter refuses. Lee tries to persuade Peter by pointing out that Spider-Man wouldn't turn his back on someone who needed him; she is of course unaware that Peter is Spider-Man and that he did once do just that, with tragic results.
- Oh, Crap!:
- Peter when he realizes he missed his date with Mary Jane and that she's calling to complain.
- In the flashback, Spider-Man when he unmasks the Burglar and sees it's the same guy he let escape the wrestling arena earlier that night.
- Sanity Slippage: Mysterio alludes to how getting arrested did a number on his mind, as he had to go to therapy sessions while in prison. Obviously didn't do him any good.
- Shout-Out:
- Spider-Man makes a reference to Wile E Coyote in this episode when he mentions that he now knows how a certain coyote feels when he failed to make it through Mysterio's portal illusion, similar to when Wile E. crashes into a wall when trying catch the Road Runner.
- As Mysterio creates an illusion of a yellow brick road then tells Spider-Man to follow the yellow brick road.
- Spider-Man references Frankenstein briefly when the crowd below Brooklyn Bridge starts to boo him, and he sarcastically asks if he will deal with peasants with torches next, something the titular scientist's monster always deals with in movies.
- Spider-Man mentions film producers Ray Harryhausen and Roger Corman during his fight against Mysterio at Wonder Studios.
- Spot the Imposter: A variant appears in the climax of the episode. After saving Terri and Jonah, Spider-Man is confronted by five well-armed Mysterios — one real and four illusions. The real one is certain Spider-Man won't be able to pinpoint him in time, but one Spider-Sense-guided jump and kick later...
- Taught by Experience: After spending the episode being unable to tell the difference between what is real and Mysterio's illusions, when attempts to hold Spider-Man at gun point with four other illusions of himself, Spider-Man is able to figure out which is the real one by using his Spider-Sense.
- Villain Ball: Mysterio could've made a run for it while Spider-Man saved the hostages, but he tried for one last trick to take down the web-head and got caught for his trouble.
- What the Hell, Hero?: Teri Lee scolds Peter for refusing to help Spider-Man after she realizes he is being framed and ironically tells him he never developed any of Spider-Man’s character.
