After 6 episodes, multiple twisty cliff-hangers and more than one new superhero, the new series Moon Knight races across the finish line with a jam-packed finale that attempts to intersect the arcs of gods, monsters, men and a pretty badass woman. And, amongst all the chaos, drama and action, I was just relieved that we got Steven back!
So far, the Moon Knight series has passed through a range of genres, jumping sporadically from Horror to Drama to Indiana Jones adventures. The finale however struggles to incorporate any of these ideas, falling into a generic MCU formula, but delivering enough cheer worthy moments to personify an enjoyable, if inconsistent final act.
The plot bounces between worlds, following Harrow’s victorious unleashing of the (big bad wolf) crocodile goddess, Ammit, upon the earth and Layla’s defiant, revenge filled attempts to hinder him, before descending into the afterlife in order to capture a wholesome Marc/Steven reunion.
Throughout this earthbound first act we witness the ever loveable Taweret communicating with Layla through dead bodies (hilarious), Harrow and Ammit debating his worth as an avatar (distracting) and Layla stubbornly refusing the Avatar advancements of Konshu – unwilling to enslave herself in an unequal partnership (like I said – Badass).
This time back on earth is necessary, but generic. It’s certainly needed to tie up the Egyptian drama that has fuelled the action pieces of this show, but after last week’s thoughtful expose into Marc’s psyche it feels a little lacklustre.
Luckily, we don’t have to wait long for that emotional core to return, as Marc promptly turns down the peaceful Field of Reeds, choosing instead to save a sandy Steven. While I didn’t appreciate this quick and predictable bait-and-switch, and felt that a longer period without Steven would hold more emotional heft, the subsequent speech to wake him up was fantastic writing. Marc accepting Steven’s equality and realising the unwavering role he has played within their life was heartwarming, and reveals the emotional climax that has been intensifying in our peripherals all season.
This scene itself plays well as an accurate example of healing for Marc’s Dissociative Identity Disorder, choosing to embrace the alternates rather than run from them, and demonstrates how the show works best when it takes the time to wade through the tumultuous psychology of its characters, when it plays with the Marvel formula by way of quiet clarity, twisted perceptions and awestriking dual characterisation.
And then we are blessed with a surfing Taweret and an elated Steven yelling “Hippo” – just a reminder of this show’s ability to not take itself too seriously while blending hope, joy and comedic relief alongside heavier emotions.
Returning to the living world with a quick montage, dramatic music, matrix-style bullet falls and one last hypnotic wrapping of that gorgeous Moon Knight suit, Marc and Steven are immediately recognizable as a team now, switching suits and bodies seamlessly. Marc is open to teamwork, Steven is confident and action ready and Layla has accepted Taweret’s Avatar offer, ladened with an epic new suit and a new superhero title. Welcome Scarlet Scarab!
Ammit and Harrow have been killing and consuming the souls of Cairo, so it’s back to work for this new heroic trio, chasing down Harrow and his powerful staff as a godzilla-sized Ammit and Konshu battle it out across the Egyptian skyline. While the CGI gigantic gods weren’t my favourites, I will praise the shot construction here – the creative team’s ability to fit both towering gods and mortal heroes within frame was quite magical, as is the utilisation of the moon and pyramids as iconographic set pieces for what could have been a pretty typical battleground.
Steven, Marc and Layla fighting as a team in the streets of Cairo was sheer electricity, immediately supporting one another, the alternates twirling in and out, and each character now retaining their own powerful personality. It’s powerful but not sustainable, and just when all seems lost – Layla is trapped, Steven is tired, Konshu is beaten, Marc is stabbed and the suit’s healing powers are fading – the show jumps back into one of those early season black outs that created such mystique to begin with, flipping back to Marc’s perspective of the violent annihilation of everyone and everything – except a horrified Layla.
We don’t stick with this last mystery for too long though, as there are Gods to imprison and Arthur Harrows to kill. Except Marc can’t do it… won’t do it. After this journey of emotional healing and self acceptance, Marc no longer sees himself as a killer, so Konshu grants their freedom, and Steven and Marc wake up in that London flat. Harmonious and in tune, the pair share control of the body as they fly out of bed, once more chained to the post, this time with two one finned goldfish floating in the tank. Maybe a metaphor that there are now two personalities trapped beneath the controlling one, two friends living a normal, sheltered life whilst another uses their periods of black out for nefarious purposes.
Because we FINALLY get the payoff of all those sneaky easter eggs and unexplained blackouts in a last ditch post credit scene – Jake Lockley is alive and well, stealing Harrow from a mental hospital and shooting him in the head as Konshu watches on. Technically, this manipulative god never lied – he did release Marc and Steven. He just prefers and, has possibly, utilised this brutal, Spanish-speaking figure all along – and Marc has no idea. It seems that our boys aren’t out of the chaotic, mysterious, unreliably narrated woods just yet.
This finale is jam packed with climactic battles, reflective moments and the necessary scenes to tie up this particular Egyptian faceoff – ticking all the boxes in an enjoyable finale episode without really building off the intriguing potential of its debut. Caught up in this array of high speed moments and checklists, it lacks the personality of earlier episodes, speeding through some of the more heart pulling displays, but overall presenting an acceptable and predictable Marvel finale.
There is, however, much to love about this episode. I immediately fell head over heels for May Calamawy’s Egyptian superhero – the gorgeous costume gave massive Cleopatra vibes, her instinctive fighting was exciting to watch and her powerful response to this manipulative god was mesmerising.
Arthur Harrow’s end is dark and necessary. While his relationship with Ammit was both rushed and distracting, Ethan Hawke, as always, excelled at playing the benevolent, misguided villain right up to his final moments. And to be shot by the same body that he had previously killed- well that’s just karma; brutal, twisted karma.
However, without a doubt, the highlight of this finale and the entire show has to be the Marc and Steven relationship. Through emotive backstories, subtle character quirks, in sync battle scenes and an array of thoughtful acting choices, Marvel and Oscar Isaac have managed to make the situation of two distinct characters sharing one body feel entirely natural, harmonious and heroic, and after witnessing the conclusion of their emotional conflict this week, it’s clear that this show has always been the origin story of two heroes, not just one.
I would also like to praise the vast representation this show has managed to entwine. Director Mohamed Diab and his entire crew have thoughtfully incorporated Marc’s Jewish faith, Layla’s Arab heritage, Oscar Isaac’s Guatemalan heritage through a Spanish Jake Lockley, and even Steven’s slightly inaccurate but entertaining Britishness – all sitting naturally within a modern take on Egyptian mythology and a immersive depiction of Dissociative Identity Disorder. It’s a magical and promising hint of the diverse MCU that is rising on the horizon.
This show was never perfect, no Marvel venture ever is, but the new saga of Moon Knight was fun, immersive, intriguing and different right from the get-go, and I look forward to experiencing more of this fascinating new mythology soon!
Here’s hoping for a season 2!
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My favourite line this week is an easy one. Packing the emotional heft of six episodes worth of inter-personality conflict and self-reflective sentiments is “You are the only real superpower I ever had.”
Plus, it has the benefit of being the key words to wake up Steven and return his joy and hilarity to the world. Powerful for characters and viewers alike, this line just summarises the intriguing origin of these new heroes, fuelled not by physical powers but emotional ones.