Considering how many characters were denied appropriate screen-time and fleshing out of their characters in this film, all that's left for fans to do is step back and admire what worked - even if it was only momentarily. Although the character was completely wasted - existing merely to throw a wedge between Peter and Mary-Jane (a wedge that no one cares about, no less) - Bryce Dallas Howards is a damn fine Gwen Stacy. She has the high school sweetheart sweetness, the looks, and the hair is bang-on perfect. She looks stunning, and that's a big part of the character's appeal. The whole point of Gwen as she exists in the comics is unfortunately gone, bulldozed back in the first Spider-Man as Mary Jane took her place (apparently being more recognisable to Joe Q Public as a character). But at the very least fans were given a token appearance by the character in the close of the trilogy, which was arguably better than nothing at all at the time.