The MCU’s newest series Moon Knight has been off to a roaring start, garnering praise from critics and audiences alike.
One of the highest-ranked Marvel Disney Plus shows so far, viewers were left eagerly awaiting the continuation of Steven’s mysterious adventures after we briefly met alternate personality Marc Spectre and superhero Moon Knight in the closing seconds of last week’s dynamic debut.
While Episode 1 focused on Steven, this week we delve into the personality of Marc, albeit through other characters’ interactions and comments, and his mirror bound inputs. Exploring the friendship/ reluctant parties/ mortal enemies of Steven and Marc, Episode 2 pauses the displaced blackout narrative style from last week. A Sherlock level mystery adventure, “Summon the Suit” places Steven firmly in control as a (Cumberbatch-less) detective, assisted/threatened by his sidekick, a mirrored Marc. Fuelled by exposition and background explanations, the episode also explores the characters of Layla El-Faouly, Arthur Harrow, and Konshu as these lead players all jostle for control of the Macguffin-Esque Scarab.
The mystery continues as audio from last week’s fight echoes across the sands of (time) Steven’s bed, and Steven is launched from this supposed dream. Trudging off the work through a typical London-Trafalgar Square appearance (a gorgeous camera flip as he descends the museum stairs), we discover that the museum has noticed the very real bathroom damage. However, surprise surprise, all is not as it seems because – in a very Hounds of the Baskerville reveal – the jackal does not appear in the security footage, which shows only a panicking Steven running into the museum, and a sly, confident Marc staring down the camera on the way out.
Just when we thought we had some idea of what was going on… that clarity is snatched away, replaced by new questions, “Was the jackal in Steven’s head?” “Was Marc even real?” “Who caused the damage – Steven, the Jackal, Moon Knight or another unknown entity?”
Steven is (of course) fired, recommended to a doctor and forced to return his name badge – his one remaining semblance of identity.
Desperate for answers, Steven tracks down Marc’s storage unit which contains foreign money, guns, a fake passport (with dates proving that Marc was not snapped in case anyone was wondering), and a Marc reflection ready to educate Steven on the work of Konshu and his role as an avatar. Unwilling to participate, Steven steals the bag of incriminating items and is pursued by the horror vibes of Konshu (apparently the god of flickering lights, long dark hallways and jump scares). After an even more effective chase sequence than last week (seriously I was ON EDGE!), Steven narrowly avoids getting run over by Layla, Marc’s wife who has come for answers.
Back in Steven’s apartment, Marc floats through mirrors and fish tanks, begging Steven to not involve this perceived love of his life, before Layla’s presence fills in some useful plot holes about Marc.
Marc has been MIA for months, and based on Layla’s annoyance with Steven, never had a British accent. Layla and Steven share the same favourite poet, and both study hieroglyphics, something Marc never did. Then the scarab is unveiled, which clearly holds significance in the Marc/Layla love story, but before any more can be said – the villains return.
Disguised as police officers, they inform us of Marc’s mercenary past where he executed a group of archaeologists. Steven is understandably shocked, argues with the various reflections of Marc, and Harrow returns, newly endowed with the knowledge of Steven/Marc’s condition.
A previous avatar of Konshu (who has no power beyond wind and flickering lights apparently), Harrow shows Steven around his vegan ‘paradise’. In a fantastic exposition scene, we begin to question if this really is the bad guy – how could all this good be evil – until Steven questions whether this cult would murder a potentially evil child (baby Thanos-Esque). They of course would… and Scarab in tow Steven and Layla are out of there, chased by the purple magic, cult goons, and – you guessed it – another Jackal (does Harrow ever do any of his own work around here?)
And this is where the action of this show really kicks off! After a brief panic attack, and a near-fatal window fall, Steven successfully lands a superhero landing (Deadpool would be proud) and titually Summons The Suit – well the three-piece Mr Knight Suit. A hilarious discussion between Steven and Marc regarding this incorrect fashion attire occurs, which displays the strong chemistry displayed between Oscar Isaac… and Oscar Isaac. The (invisible to the normal eye) Jackal returns of bowl down Steven and in a rare moment of self-confidence, our very own Muhhamad Ali (that is Steven with a V), practices his boxing stance against the jackal, before transferring the body back to the more capable Marc.
BAM – we finally see the Moon Knight suit in action, as Marc leaps up buildings and across rooftops, the moon gleaming in the background through a series of gorgeous reflected bridge shots and shadowed London skylines. He skewers the jackal – Buffy style – on a church steeple, before meeting with the now mirror Steven in a reflective statue.
Thus begins my favourite scene so far. As the humour and action of the show fade away, we witness the full impact DID has on this pair of personalities. Trapped fly on the wall style, Steven is scared and in pain, and we discover just how hard it has been for Marc so far, unable to escape the mirrors and with no control beyond pleading with the one in control of the body. It’s hard enough being a superhero without losing control of your own limbs.
The partners still do not get on ideologically. Marc refuses to give control back and a panicked Steven swears to annoy Marc until he does… an effective escalation of yelling, church bells and speedy cuts between the pair results in Marc smashing Steven’s reflection, Steven trapped and sullen inside.
Konshu materialises amongst the gargoyles and they take stock – Harrow has the scarab, Marc wants out, Konshu threatens Layla as his replacement, and in a fluid wipe transition amidst Konshu’s robes, we are transported to Egypt.
Only seconds long, this scene speaks wonders – Steven curls up defeated in a smashed mirror, Marc’s bloody hands, drunk demeanour and similarly trashed room suggest his frustration was responsible, both are trapped (within the reflection or Konshu’s servitude), and a wonderful pan follows Oscar Isaac as he opens the curtains to reveal the pyramids skyline of Egypt – music surges and the stage for the next globe-trotting chapter of Moon Knight is set.
I’ll be honest, I didn’t love this episode as much as the first. I thought the inconsistent narrative structure from Episode 1 was so intriguing and had hoped it would continue this week from Marc’s point of view. However, upon rewatch, the exposition, character explorations and effective relationship building seen throughout Episode 2 are entirely necessary, well-executed and continually builds a fascinating narrative loaded with questions and not enough answers – keeping us coming back for more.
Oscar Isaac really shows off his acting chops here, with the two-sided conversations/arguments between Marc and Steven fueling most of the drama of the episode. We get a great look at Isaac’s separate personifications for the two characters and exploring them side by side provides the necessary chance to understand their differences, similarities, goals and trapped natures.
Ethan Hawke as Arthur Harrow gets more spotlight this week, with his charismatic, sly and intriguing antagonist helping fill the gaps in the Egyptian mythology, and introducing necessary questions of who is truly evil – the benevolent cult leader or the manipulative god.
The Egyptian god of the Moon Konshu (voiced by F. Murray Abraham) has more dimensions beyond a horror monster. His lack of power and manipulation of Marc go hand in hand and the way he bounces between comical, monstrous and puppet master depending on who is perceiving him (Harrow, Steven and Marc respectively) is fascinating.
May Calamawy’s determined, passionate and more knowledgeable Layla is wonderful at helping Steven and showing him a shred of genuine sympathy amongst the array of manipulative gods, villains and alternate personalities. A true partner, adventurer and fighter, I look forward to seeing more of Layla going forward.
While I missed the immersive psychological filmmaking from last week, it was nice to jump into some genuine MCU action and explore the tense relationships between all these lead characters. The evolving mix of genres continually captivates, as the show and its players jump through elements of an action sequence, detective story, Joker-Esque perception and Fight Club style deception. The smooth execution, necessary exposition and beguiling play on mirror shots and cinematic filming continually make for an enthralling new show, regardless of its Marvel links or not.
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Fav lines: Again I had two favourite lines this week – both Steven because he is just a gem, and Marc is still a bit too stressed to get a good humour.
- Steven questions the work of Harrow’s cult “I kind of draw a line there … at child murder” (as do we all Steven…)
- And the internet’s most memeable poem of the week “Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee, I am Steven with a V”
