History Recap / SpiderManTheAnimatedSeriesS04E10TheLizardKing

* TheWoobie: Poor Gila. All she wanted was for her people to lead a better, more civilized existence and is repeatedly trounced on for her kindhearted nature.

* AbsurdlySpaciousSewer: The series was already notorious for that trope, but this episode takes it UpToEleven. It appears that sewers under Manhattan are so spacious that they can accomodate entire society of fictional, non-human race, including a ''makeshift gladiator arena''.

* NiceMeanAndInBetween: Of three lizardmen antagonists, Gila is the only one who displays positive character traits, showing respect and compassion for other living beings (nice), Monitor is the most abrasive and aggressive one (mean) while Gecko, though still a bad guy, is nowhere near as violent as Monitor and remains calm and stoic most of the time.

* PlotHole: When Gila picks up the genetic neutron bomb after it was dropped by Mary Jane, she somehow instantly knows what it is and how it works, with no explanation given. Also, when she activates the device, it reverts her and other lizardmen back into ordinary lizards, makes Connors human again, but has no effect on Spider-Man. This is despite the fact that he was subjected to the same kind of mutation that Curt was subjected to and the same radiation which prevented Connors from turning into Lizard was used by him to stop Parker's mutation into giant spider. Basing on in-universe logic, that genetic neutron bomb should have stripped Spider-Man of his powers.
** Perhaps it was attuned to lizard DNA.

* HeroicSacrifice: Gila activates genetic neutron bomb, knowing ([[PlotHole somehow...]]) that it's going to turn her back into ordinary lizard as well and effectively make her cease to exist.

* TerribleTrio: Monitor, Gecko and Gila.

* DragonInCharge: Monitor effectively takes this role upon Connors' transformation. Although he outwardly acts like Lizard's right hand man, in fact he is the one giving orders while Lizard just concurs with him, never once questioning his ideas or coming up with any of his own.

* EvilCannotComprehendGood: Monitor finds the concept of showing respect and compassion to all living beings an amusing idea. Other lizardmen (sans [[TokenGoodTeammate Gila]]) apparently share his sentiment.

* TokenGoodTeammate: Of all lizardmen portrayed in the episode, Gila is the only one to show sympathy and respect for other living beings. She is ridiculed by her comrades because of it.

* NonMammalMammaries: It's more subtle than most examples of this trope, but Gila's gender is still distinguishable by her more prominent breast.

* ForgottenFallenFriend: A "friend" might be a stretch, but still -- Gila sides with Spider-Man, gets imprisoned for it and ultimately, she is the one who activates genetic neutron bomb, essentially committing suicide. Afterwards, she is promptly forgotten about and none of the heroes spares a moment to mention her or her role in resolving the whole crisis.

* InfiniteSupplies: Downplayed. It appears that everything the lizardmen possess was merely scavenged from the above world, hence they're wearing some sort of rags instead of normal clothes. You've got to wonder, though, how did they come into possession of some tools they use, like that flail used by one of the gladiators.

* ReptilesAreAbhorrent: The writers of this episode seem to be acting under impression that reptiles are inherently evil and if given sentience and opportunity to build a society, it would most likely be brutal and [[MightMakesRight oppressive towards those who are weak]]. [[DownplayedTrope Granted]], there is at least one good person out there (she is still ridiculed by others because of it, though -- and ultimately persecuted), and the crowd's stunned reaction to her final speech implies that some of them were at least sort of ashamed of themselves.

* WellIntentionedExtremist: Gila again. She is the only member of the lizard folk who tries to kidnap Connors out of genuine belief that he created her and other lizardmen for a purpose and that he will cease various cruelties perpetrated by her kin. To her great disappointment, his Lizard persona turns out to be just as brutal and ruthless as her comrades.

Following the events from previous episode, Spider-Man finally reveals his true identity to Mary Jane and proposes to her. MJ gladly agrees, and both she and Peter deliver the news to their aunts. May Peter is overjoyed to learn that her nephew and Mary Jane are going to marry ([[{{Jerkass}} Anna Watson]]... [[ObnoxiousInLaws not so much]]).

* LegoGenetics: Apparently, drinking some [[AppliedPhlebotinum unspecified fluid]] containing human's DNA is all it takes to make a small, ordinary lizards suddenly grow into six feet tall, humanoid reptilians. As if that wasn't ludicrous enough, the whole process is then instantly reverted by exposing the subjects to some kind of radiation.

* EvilCannotComprehendGood: Monitor finds the concept of showing respect and compassion to all living beings an amusing idea. Other lizardmen (sans [[TokenGoodTeammate Gila]])

Back in the sewers, Spider-Man and Gila are forced to fight against lizardmen gladiators on a makeshift arena. Peter defeats his adversaries easily, but once Lizard himself joins the battle, things get more difficult. At the same time, Mary Jane, Martha and Debra intervene, having brought the modified genetic neutron bomb with them. After short struggle, the device is ultimately activated by Gila, reverting her and other lizarmen into regular lizards and Connors back to his human form.

* TheDragon: Played with. Monitor is the most prominent of the trio lizardmen who are identified and pretty much the BigBad for most of the episode. He gets DemotedToDragon though, when Connors reverts to his Lizard persona.

* HeroicBSOD: Gila is devastated when Spider-Man tells her that she and other lizardmen were created accidentally and there is no great destiny that Connors had planned for them. As she and Peter are dragged away by the guards, she is left in utter shock and can only repeat "an accident? We're nothing but an accident?".
* HeroicSacrifice: Gila activates genetic neutron bomb, knowing (somehow...) that it's going to turn her back into ordinary lizard as well and effectively make her cease to exist.
* LizardFolk: A serum containing Connors' mutated DNA accidentally leaks into the sewers and mutates local lizard population into sentient beings. By the time of this episode, they had already created organized society.

* MightMakesRight: The lizardmen seem to be ardent believers of that. Monitor outright states that they should be ruling humans, since they are stronger than them.

* ObnoxiousInLaws: Anna Watson is this, as usual.
* PunishedForSympathy: When Connors transforms into Lizard and Spider-Man is taken captive, Gila tries to convince her kin to leave the latter alone and let him go. In response, she is considered a traitor and imprisoned along with him.

* SomewhereAHerpetologistIsCrying: The very notion of a wild lizard population in city's sewers is just as ridiculous as [[SewerGator some other trope]] around it. How exactly were they supposed to survive without access to proper nutrients and sunlight is anybody's guess. Also, where did they even come from?

* WellIntentionedExtremist: Gila, [[TropeOverdosed again]]. She is the only member of the lizard folk who tries to kidnap Connors out of genuine belief that he created her and other lizardmen for a purpose and that he will cease various cruelties perpetrated by her kin. To her great disappointment, his Lizard persona turns out to be just as brutal and ruthless as her comrades.

* WeNeedADistraction: When Parker, MJ and Connors are attacked by lizardmen trio in the lab, Peter can't put on Spider-Man's costume, since it would mean exposing his secret identity in front of Curt (whose alternate Lizard persona is his his enemy) and three unknown assailants. Luckily, Mary Jane sees through it and drops some test-tubes on the floor, providing him with distraction he needs.