Spoilers for Spider-Man: Brand New Day ahead.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day has more than its fair share of sad moments. It’s tough for it not to when the story revolves around a Peter Parker who has no one. But instead of trying to combat his loneliness, he mourns by embracing isolationism.
In the movie, four years have passed since the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home. Yet Peter seemingly has made no effort to even make one new friend. It makes sense, though, because he blames himself for Aunt May’s death. And the only reason his (former) best friend, Ned Leeds, and (ex-)girlfriend, MJ Watson, were ever in danger was because of him. So he thinks it’s better to be alone and bury himself in the work of being Spider-Man.
The romance between MJ and Peter was one of the biggest questions this film had to address. It would’ve been easy to go all in on the romantic subplot, giving all the attention to MJ. After all, audiences love a good love story. But it would’ve been a disservice to the narrative and Peter. Because he’s not just the guy whose girlfriend no longer remembers him; he’s a guy whose best friend no longer knows who he is and a superhero who no longer has his guy in the chair.
Basically: Spider-Man: Brand New Day does a great job of focusing on the romantic subplot without overshadowing his general need for human connection. It emphasizes the importance of platonic love.
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A Superhero for All, a Theme for Everyone
Spider-Man is one of the most well-known, beloved superheroes. He’s a hero that people everywhere and of all ages have come to adore. That kind of reach and influence is rare but special. With that, however, comes the need to tell a story that everyone can understand and connect to. That’s one reason why the focus on friendship in Spider-Man: Brand New Day is important.
For the most part, kids aren’t going to have an interest in (or necessarily enjoy) romance. But they can relate to friendship. Kids know what it’s like to have and want friends to hang out, talk, and play with. They know what it’s like to care for and love their friends. Some people are also aromantic, so romantic love isn’t necessarily going to be relatable or appealing. Also it’s human nature to seek/need friendship. Anyone watching can relate to that.
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Marvel focuses on that idea by showing that Peter misses Ned, not just MJ. Peter has Instagram notifications turned on for Ned, because he misses his best friend and wants to know what he’s up to. When he goes up to MJ and Ned’s apartment, he does so because he’s given the chance to see his best friend again. Peter approaches Ned when he’s eating at the bodega because he sees it as an opportunity to reconnect with his best friend.
So many stories revolve around romantic love. But, narrative wise, it sometimes happens with the detriment of friendships.
A love as iconic as Peter and MJ would be easy and tempting to give all the attention to. Spider-Man: Brand New Day, however, doesn’t fall for that. It doesn’t push aside Peter’s friendship with Ned for the sake of more romantic subplot. Instead, the film shows how Ned and MJ offer different kinds of support and friendship that Peter needs. That choice is refreshing, welcome, and part of what makes the Marvel movie a great film.
Fun with Friends in Spider-Man: Brand New Day
It’d be easy to say that the most heartbreaking part of Spider-Man: Brand New Day was when MJ admitted to Peter, “I don’t love you. I don’t even know you.” He’d been waiting years to reunite and talk with her, but his choice to not tell MJ the truth earlier let her grow and lead her own life. So even if her truth hurts, it’s not a complete surprise. But it’s arguably even more heartbreaking when Peter said, “This is the most fun I’ve had in years” while hanging out with MJ and Ned. Because that admission is simple, so telling, and brings about an unexpected sadness.
Peter missing and yearning for the love and romance he once had with MJ was always obvious. The movie even opens with a voiceover of him reading the letter he never gave MJ. But it’s not until his statement that anyone knows Peter hasn’t really had fun in the past few years. Sure, he may have been swinging around New York City, saving people and stopping bad guys. That’s certainly cool, exciting, and something most people will never get to do. But that’ll never be the same as just getting to be Peter: the young adult who builds Legos, loves science and Star Wars, makes pop culture references, and just wants to have fun with his friends.
And the fun he has is just the simplicity of Legos and conversation with old friends in their apartment.
That’s what makes that moment so well-done but so bittersweet. It’s a seemingly mundane experience and nothing extravagant, yet the human connection of it transforms that experience into something special. Because Peter doesn’t know what that’s like anymore. He’s either the stranger no one knows or the masked hero who people can’t truly know. He doesn’t spend time with anyone as their friend. But being with MJ and Ned, he finally gets a chance to do that.
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From Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man to Friend
Peter may go to MJ and Ned’s apartment as Spider-Man, but, as time goes on, he’s not spending time with them as a superhero. He’s spending time with them as just another person (who happens to be wearing a superhero outfit). He’s spending time with them as the friend he once was able to be for them.
He’s able to enjoy both of their company despite having just learned that MJ has no romantic interest in him. He could have wallowed in the sadness and loss of hope he had for her love, but he doesn’t. That shows how Peter values friendship and the people who were his friends.
The fact the apartment scene is one of the more drawn out non-action sequences in the movie is telling of the emphasis Marvel wanted to place on the story. It proves that Peter needs friends and real human connection. Romance is and could be great, but it doesn’t always have to be the priority. And it can’t be one until he learns to embrace humanity again — both his own and in general.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day is now in theaters.
