When Exactly Green Goblin Takes Control Of Norman Osborn In No Way Home

Norman Osborn was taken over by the Green Goblin when helping Peter out towards the climax of Spider-Man: No Way Home, but the evil alter-ego had control of him way before that. When Norman Osborn appeared in Peter’s universe, he was seen smashing his helmet in an alley after attacking Spider-Man on the bridge, indicating that he had control over the Green Goblin at that time. The battle between the two minds always had Norman struggling in Sam Raimi and Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man, so it was a fascinating sight to see him destroy his helmet and seek help from Aunt May.

Despite his small victory, Norman ultimately lost control of the Goblin when he was locked up in a cell with the other villains. There were hints in his voice that betrayed the more croaky and confident sounds of the Green Goblin. It can be heard in his lines, “I’m something of a scientist myself” and “Just me,“ when Doc Ock asked Norman Osborn about becoming whole again later on. It’s subtle, but the difference between Green Goblin’s voice and Norman’s is noticeable.

Why Green Goblin Was Helping Peter Heal The Villains

While Green Goblin had leverage over Norman, he helped Peter heal Doc Ock before revealing his true identity. As a villain having a hatred for Spider-Man, it made sense for Green Goblin to stop Peter from saving the other villains. Green Goblin choosing to work with Peter was actually the smart choice, however, as it allowed him to gain access to Peter’s technology and undermine him in the process. It also gave Green Goblin the chance to go after Aunt May and put Peter down a darker path, hoping that Spider-Man would be influenced by revenge.

No Way Home’s Norman Switch Makes Green Goblin Better

Norman’s switch to the Green Goblin in No Way Home is brilliant. It isn’t an obvious change seen on screen, which makes Willem Dafoe’s performance more incredible and creates a more complex villain out of Green Goblin. After over a decade away from the role, the actor showed that he still had it in him to make the Green Goblin one of the web-slinger’s best villains.

Spider-Man: No Way Home used nostalgia to make the plot unique and interesting, and it certainly paid off with Dafoe’s Green Goblin. He stole every scene he was in throughout the movie. His ability to play two different minds in one character is astonishing, and his performance in the final film of this initial MCU Spider-Man trilogy is one to remember.