Spyder Games

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Spyder Games
Genre	Soap
Creator(s)	Valerie Ahern Christian McLaughlin
Starring	Shawn Batten J.R. Cacia Christina Chambers Megalyn Echikunwoke Byron Field Robert Hutchinson Enrique Murciano Nectar Rose Monica Serene Garnich Bryce Mouer (Episode 14 +)
Country of origin	United States
No. of episodes	65
Production
Running time	30 minutes
Broadcast
Original channel	MTV
Original run	June 18, 2001 – September 20, 2001
Links
IMDb profile
TV.com summary

Spyder Games was MTV's second foray into the soap opera format, following the run of the anthology series Undressed. The show was about a wealthy video game producing family and the unexpected murder of the father, Boris Carlisle, who was in control of the company. The last episode was written as cliffhanger in hopes of getting picked up for a second season. Unfortunately, MTV did not pick it up for another season due to low ratings. Fans of the series blasted MTV saying the show received almost no marketing. The final episodes 62 to 65 were originally scheduled during the week of September 9 - 15 but were postponed by a week because of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Boris Carlisle is a widower with four children, Natalia, Dmitri, Ivan and Sasha. Natalia, the oldest and only girl, is the sole Carlisle child interested in the success of the family's video game business, the titular Spyder Games, but Boris exhibits an irrational and unconcealed hatred of her for apparently misogynistic reasons and instead places all of his interest and value in Dmitri, the oldest son. Towards his second son Ivan, Boris demonstrates barely concealed contempt in response to Ivan's sensitivity, while he superficially indulges Sasha, who as a teenager is much younger than his siblings.

Spyder Games was criticized for numerous reasons, not the least of which were visibly impoverished production values and questionable quality of acting performances. However, the plot's twists and turns were true to the soap opera style of outrageous developments.

For example, in the course of the episodes, Dmitri becomes romantically involved with Daphne, a fashion designer, but through mistaken identity is deceived into having sex with Daphne's conniving employee Taylor (who conceals a trailer trash past while working secretly as a call girl) who then supposedly becomes pregnant with Dmitri's child. Ivan marries Julie Whitmore, the daughter of another wealthy local businessman, but Ivan then reveals he is gay as he is undeniably attracted to Francisco, a male houseguest in the Carlisles' home and one-time flame of Natalia's. Sasha, blonde and cute, pursues a career as a serious musician but is frustrated at being typecast as a teen idol in the style of Aaron Carter; indifferent and easily distracted, he breaks the heart of Cherish, a high school classmate with a hard crush on him who is also his most loyal fan. Meanwhile, Natalia struggles to conduct business at Spyder Games, constantly opposed and undermined by Boris, who demonstrates many unscrupulous behaviors, both personal and professional. A host of additional characters move in and out of the Carlisles' dealings, including private investigator Jeff Northcutt, Taylor's ex-convict brother Lyle, and Natalia's creepily devoted lackey Todd. Eventually Sasha is revealed to be Natalia's son instead of brother, fathered by Ivan's wife Julie's father when Natalia was about thirteen years old. As the episodes progress, a mysterious series of unbelievable events lead to Boris' murder and the discovery of his severed head in a freezer.