In the intense debate over which actor best fulfilled the iconic role of Spider-Man, Andrew Garfield's stretch in the role is often overlooked. The live-action portrayals of both Tobey Maguire and Tom Holland are typically the more popular choice, but what Garfield managed to bring to the role shouldn't be ignored.

As the only actor to play the hero in a live-action format and not get a trilogy, Garfield did manage to accomplish a lot in The Amazing Spider-Man and its sequel. His take on Spider-Man and Peter Parker differs from Maguire's previous portrayal of the hero and remains different from Holland's ongoing fulfillment of the role. These differences allow Garfield's Spider-Man to pass along some new lessons to Holland's MCU Spidey, allowing for The Amazing Spider-Man films to have their own form of redemption.

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Traditionally, Maguire, Garfield, and Holland are all valued for different things in relation to their Spider-Man performances. Superhero roles can be very tricky to get entirely right because there are ultimately two characters the actors must bring to life, and they sometimes have varying characteristics. When it comes to Spider-Man, Maguire is often a nostalgic choice for many. Several people have suggested that Maguire was a strong embodiment of Peter Parker because of the nerdy personality he brought to the role.

Gwen Stacy and Peter Parker

That praise is often joined by some criticism of his performance of Spider-Man, as his banter fell short for many in comparison to some of the other adaptations of the hero. Maguire's performance in the Sam Raimi-directed trilogy has paved the way for Garfield and Holland's performances that succeeded him. Contrasting the reviews of Maguire's performance, Garfield is often considered to be a stronger Spider-Man, as some felt his portrayal of Peter wasn't teenage enough. Holland has bridged the gap between the two, receiving praise for being a powerful embodiment of both Peter and Spider-Man.

With the criticism Garfield''s portrayal of Peter has been subjected to, he does deliver an honest representation of the struggles a teenager can be subjected to. Following the death of his uncle, Peter's mental and emotional state becomes very fragile, and Garfield personifies that well. He attempts to balance this guilt along with his newfound abilities, and a budding relationship with Gwen. The Amazing Spider-Man 2 further complicates things with the addition of Harry Osborn and the guilt that Peter feels from not upholding the promise he made to Gwen's father shortly before his death.

Holland's Spider-Man is not unaccustomed to guilt, especially following the events of Spider-Man: Far From Home, where he feels partly responsible for the death of Mysterio. Now that Mysterio has outed Spider-Man's true identity, Peter's life is now plagued with loads of additional issues. The latest trailer from No Way Home showed MJ falling away from Peter as a Spider-Man hand reaches out for her. This is a direct parallel to The Amazing Spider-Man 2 where Gwen falls from the top of the clocktower after a run-in with Green Goblin. As Spider-Man uses his webs to try and save her, the fall ends up being too much and the whiplash breaks her neck. If Garfield and Maguire appear in No Way Home like many rumors have suggested, then Garfield may be the man in the Spider-Man suit that saves MJ as a form of redemption.

Parallels like those seen in the No Way Home trailers already begin to add value to The Amazing Spider-Man's standing. By linking his story with Holland's and even the other fan favorite in Maguire, Garfield becomes a more important piece of the ongoing story of Spider-Man. As Holland's character continues to search for a new mentor that he can trust, Garfield has the potential to be that person for him, even if only for the duration of No Way Home. The emotionally provoking commonalities that Garfield and Holland share in their time as Spider-Man is what makes them such a great match. Garfield's emotional depth makes him a much more significant element of No Way Home as opposed to the potential arrival of Maguire.

Should all three Spider-Man actors appear in No Way Home, they each have lessons they can offer the other. Maguire, Garfield, and Holland have all had incredibly different journeys and the struggles they face are only connected on a surface level. Garfield's emotional burdens in The Amazing Spider-Man saga are far more complex than Maguire's struggles or Holland's guilt. With this in mind, Garfield will be able to identify more with Holland's Spider-Man more than Maguire could. The recent comments that call No Way Home darker than any of the previous MCU Spidey films mean that Holland will likely suffer added losses at the hands of the new villains. To the knowledge of he and Doctor Strange, the villains are only appearing as a result of the spell that Peter is being blamed for ruining. If he loses anyone close to him, the blame he places on himself will only increase. Between Maguire and Garfield, only Garfield is the one that could identify with what that feels like. With Garfield's knowledge in that area comes wisdom that he can pass on to Holland.

Spider-Man: No Way Home premieres in theaters on December 17, 2021.

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