I Tested My Limits: Drinking Alongside Characters in ‘Spider-Noir’ with a Breathalyzer
The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences does not award an Emmy for the most extravagant portrayal of substance abuse. However, if such a category existed, HBO’s Euphoria, Apple TV’s Your Friends & Neighbors, and Amazon Prime’s Spider-Noir would be strong contenders this year.
Season three of Euphoria showcased characters Rue and Faye consuming balloons of fentanyl, while Your Friends & Neighbors featured shady billionaire Owen Ashe indulging in ketamine, MDMA, and high-end liquors. In contrast, Spider-Noir, set in the early 1930s during the Great Depression and Prohibition, presents a staggering amount of whiskey consumption that raises questions about its realism.
The Excessive Drinking in Spider-Noir
While binge-watching Spider-Noir, a visceral reaction to the whiskey consumption of Ben Reilly, the alter ego of The Spider, became apparent. The character, portrayed by Nicolas Cage, indulges in whiskey across various settings, including speakeasies and even in a morning coffee mug.
The excessive drinking is not merely for shock value; it serves as a narrative device. Reilly grapples with severe PTSD from his experiences in World War I and the tragic loss of his love, Ruby. This backstory adds depth to his character and the storyline.
A Personal Experiment
A former tabloid reporter, who has frequented various drinking establishments for information gathering, found the portrayal of drinking in Spider-Noir intriguing. This prompted a personal experiment to understand the real-life effects of drinking alongside the characters.
After proposing the idea to editors, a bottle of Jameson whiskey and a breathalyzer were procured. The plan was to drink every time a character did, taking notes on reactions throughout the episode. To mitigate risk, the reporter limited each drink to a measured one-ounce shot.
The Viewing Experience
The experiment commenced with the episode titled “Nobody’s Hero.” The opening scene takes place at The Alcove, a speakeasy owned by Silvermane, played by Brendan Gleason. The character Cat Hardy, portrayed by Li Jun Li, expresses guilt over revealing The Spider’s identity and downs two shots of vodka. The reporter followed suit with two shots of Jameson, noting the warmth spreading through the body.
As the episode progressed, the reporter documented reactions to each drink. By the time Ben Reilly appeared at a windowless speakeasy, the seventh shot was consumed. The character’s dialogue about spider muscles led to a further shot, bringing the total to eight.
The Impact of Alcohol
As the episode continued, the effects of the whiskey became increasingly pronounced. The reporter noted feelings of fogginess and a sense of unsteadiness. A scene featuring a group of hooligans mocking The Spider provided a moment of clarity, allowing for a brief reflection on the dialogue’s anachronisms.
The character Reilly’s existential musings about being a superhero resonated, even as the reporter struggled with increasing inebriation. The portrayal of Reilly’s drunken antics, including a humorous moment where he reveals his identity as The Spider, added to the absurdity of the situation.
Conclusion of the Experiment
As the episode neared its end, the reporter took a breathalyzer test, registering a blood alcohol content of 0.09 percent. This reading, while below the legal limit for driving in New York and California, was surprising given the quantity consumed in a short time.
Reflecting on the experience, the reporter noted a desire for sustenance and ordered food through a delivery app. The conclusion drawn from this experiment was that the portrayal of drinking in Spider-Noir is exaggerated, yet it serves a purpose in the narrative.
As reported by www.hollywoodreporter.com.
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Published on 2026-06-20 00:24:00 • By FAME Delivered News Desk