Relationship Dynamics Between Peter & Gwen Is The Main Issue In THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN

Relationship Dynamics Between Peter & Gwen Is The Main Issue In THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN

The biggest problem with Marc Webb's Spider-Man reboot isn't a snoutless lizard, a less than faithful costume, or shoddy CGI...it's the relationship between Peter Parker and Gwen Stacy!

Editorial Opinion
By MaximumSpider - Jun 06, 2012 06:06 AM EST
Filed Under: Spider-Man

I'm excited about the new Amazing Spider-Man Film. I've been a fan since I was a kid, I'm 34 now So I've grown up a fan of the comics first rather than the movies or cartoons (although I love those too especially Spectacular spider-Man). But it's one thing that really bothers me about this movie and it's the dynamic of Peter and Gwen's relationship.

1. Problem #1 She knows Peter is Spider-Man.

In my opinion readers fell in love with Gwen because without a shadow of a doubt she loved "PETER PARKER" not Spider-Man. In the comics she never found out he was Spider-Man. Gwen was an aspect of Peters Life that he didn't have to share with the Wall- Crawler. Because she never knew he was spidey peter knew gwen loved him for just being Peter. Unlike the Black Cat who hated Peter Parker and was in love with Spidey and MaryJane who loves Peter but I also believe that the fact MaryJane new parker was Spidey made him more interesting to her.

Also the fact that she knows he's Spider-man in the new movie takes away so many of the dramatic aspects of their relationship.

We'll never see Peter struggle with lying to her about his whereabouts because he's always saving the city elsewhere and the strain it places on the relationship. We'll never see Peter think about telling her the truth only to have her blame vigilantes for her fathers death which makes it impossible to tell her the truth. We'll never see how she loves Peter and ultimately ends up hating Spider-Man and what that does to Peter emotionally.

Problem #2 If Gwen knows he's Spider-Man then whats left for Mary Jane.

What separated Gwen from Mary Jane was the fact that when Spidey and MJ did get together the dynamic was different because Peter shared his identity with MJ.(well she found out rather). It also placed Mary Jane in situations that Gwen rarely had to deal with. If Gwen knows peters Identity in the new movie nothing new will be explored when we get to MJ.
It'll be Gwen with a different shade of hair.

When I found out they where doing a reboot I was excited that Gwen was going to be the love interest but it seems they've ruined what made their relationship so special and tragic.

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Tainted87
Tainted87 - 6/6/2012, 7:32 AM
I wouldn't say they RUINED it by taking this route, but I do agree that it is a problem.

The reason for this is because in the Ultimates, Mary Jane knows his identity almost right off the bat, and they are mixing and mashing.... in addition to cutting through what we've already experienced where Mary Jane is completely at a loss for Spider-man's true identity for almost all of two movies. Guess they figure the audience is tired of it.
superotherside
superotherside - 6/6/2012, 9:23 AM
I agree. Kinda sad in a lot of ways. Still I hope the best for the film...
Mrcool210
Mrcool210 - 6/6/2012, 11:24 AM
i disagree entirely, it puts a new spin on things, plus gwen having to lie to her father that the man shes dating is who he is trying to catch, it should be interesting
EdgyOutsider
EdgyOutsider - 6/6/2012, 12:27 PM
I agree with Mrcool210. I think this is good because it's different plus, it's not Raimi's trilogy so therefore there will be no Mary Jane. Not dissing on Raimi or M.J cause I love Raimi's movies but this is a new trilogy so therefore new story and love interest.
MaximumSpider
MaximumSpider - 6/6/2012, 12:45 PM
I agree there can be some intersting twists with Gwen lying to her father but thats drama between Gwen and her dad. I'd rather us see drama between Peter and Gwen. After all it is Peters movie, but that can be up to viewer preference.
Knightrider
Knightrider - 6/6/2012, 2:12 PM
What will be interesting is if they kill off Gwen. Obviously it will not happen in this movie, but if Goblin does turn up then surely they have too, it is one of the key moments in Spider-Man history.
Tainted87
Tainted87 - 6/6/2012, 4:26 PM
I didn't really have the opportunity to elaborate on why this is such a bad idea, just that I understand the decision.

Gwen is the first love of Peter's life. She represents the total loss of innocence from putting on the Spider-man costume. Her father is killed by an accident caused during a fight with Doc Ock, and although her uncle understands, Gwen is horrified by this, blaming Spider-man for George's death. Not very long after, the Green Goblin dumps Gwen off a bridge and Peter's web breaks her fall but snaps her neck. Gwen is a reflection of Peter's youthful mistakes, Spider-man's "childhood" ending, and Parker's advancement into adulthood.

Now it obviously makes perfect sense for Gwen to be there in high school rather than later on - but again, she should not know his identity. Spider-man, at this stage, should be Peter's escape. He is not meant to balance the two lives together immediately, and his time as Spider-man should be viewed somewhat as Peter being unfaithful, at least from his point of view... especially when you introduce Felicia Hardy (who really does need a movie debut).
jumpingJellybeans
jumpingJellybeans - 6/6/2012, 6:09 PM
They're probably going to play a similar dynamic... They'll simply make her hate Peter/Spidey for him being "responsible" for her father's death, then she'll die and he'll never be able to apologize.
mrexcellent
mrexcellent - 6/6/2012, 7:11 PM
I hear you. I think the fact that MJ is a completely different person than Gwen will differentiate the romance dynamic quite a bit.* In real life, that's usually enough to make one romance an extremely different experience from the next, the fact that girl A is not girl B. You know?

Other than that, I agree with jumpingJellybeans and Mrcool2010. Good write up.

*It just depends on how MJ is written, if she's ever brought into this series.
Tainted87
Tainted87 - 6/6/2012, 7:37 PM
@jumpingJellybeans
Maybe not hate, but blame... eventually. Eventually when she sees that being around Peter is bad for her health. It would be an amicable break-up.
Masterpace
Masterpace - 6/7/2012, 5:41 AM
And who said that Peter will tell her at the begining of the story? I think he will try to keep it a secret as long as he will be able to...after all he's spider-man when he goes to Gwen for dinner and she doesn't know and this is why he's talking about a doorman. I think she will find out not sooner than in the moment that she tells this line in the trailer: "My father has 500..." I think he will be in very bad condition after his first fight with Lizard and he will go to her cause he won't have anywhere else to go...
PeterParker1991
PeterParker1991 - 6/7/2012, 7:58 PM
Changing things up isn't always bad. I hear what you're saying but having her know at some point in the movie is better than her inevitably finding out in the sequel like any other comic film out there. Ex. Batman Begins. How many of us could have predicted Bruce revealing his secret to Rachel? Not me, but it sure as heck made things interesting especially since Batman NEVER tells anyone his identity. And Mary Jane isn't even in this film or the series, at least not yet, and I hope it stays that way, maybe until the end of the trilogy. And being realistic, since he clearly can't tell Aunt May what he does, he'd have to share his secret with someone he trusts. If he told Aunt May the truth then there'd be an issue, but so what if he tells Gwen? Not a big deal. Anyone could put the pieces of his identity together. Mary Jane really isn't that unique.
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