Moon Knight is one of those projects fans have spent years hoping might happen, and as the Marvel Cinematic Universe continues to expand on the small screen thanks to Disney+, this character’s time to shine has finally arrived. In recent decades, Marc Spector has been portrayed as an unhinged, Batman-like vigilante protecting New York City, so it’s to Marvel Studios’ credit that this series doesn’t gloss over the hero’s Egyptian roots and instead embraces them in a way that delivers a satisfying, compelling origin story that, after four episodes, has left us desperate to see how it all ends. Sticking the landing on Moon Knight will be crucial, especially with some inconsistencies here and there, but along the way, this limited series delivers everything fans love about the MCU and so much more.
Introducing us to quirky and mild-mannered gift shop employee Steven Grant, the show wastes no time in making it clear there’s more to this Englishman than meets the eye. Through a series of wonderfully inventive scenes in the premiere, we witness the ramifications of Steven’s dissociative identity disorder first-hand as he continuously comes in and out of consciousness in all manner of barmy situations not knowing how he’s got there or what’s going on. It’s a shame to see Moon Knight move on from that in subsequent episodes, though the way the hero switches between personalities as he starts gaining control still makes for fun viewing. While not quite an in-depth exploration of mental illness, the show still handles this hero’s unique issues in a way that feels real and impactful, and we have a feeling episode five will better address that side of things.
Following Steven as he sets out on a quest to stop the mysterious and enigmatic Arthur Harrow from unleashing a terrifying power that could lead to the deaths of countless innocents, the show certainly doesn’t break the mould in terms of its big bad’s plan. Despite that, Moon Knight still succeeds in making this journey - that yes, is very Indiana Jones-inspired - worth taking. This is primarily thanks to a lead who is vastly different to the MCU’s other superheroes, and Moony gives this show a tone that’s bonkers, brilliant, and unlike anything we've seen from Marvel Studios before.
Over the course of these four episodes, there’s not quite as much costumed action as we’d have liked and despite Ethan Hawke being on top form, we can’t help but wonder if Harrow will be another of those villains who served a purpose, but doesn’t necessarily leave much of a lasting impact. Still, that can mostly be forgiven when so much time is dedicated to exploring who Steven Grant and Marc Spector are, and as well as delving into their fascinating, weird dynamic, Moon Knight gives Oscar Isaac the perfect opportunity to remind us that he’s a powerhouse performer and one of the best actors working in Hollywood today. Whether it’s as Steven or Marc, Isaac nails the duality of this character and makes both of them a joy to spend time with. Steven is constantly in over his head, and a great way to bring us, the audience, into Moon Knight’s crazy world. Marc, meanwhile, is every bit the badass hero you’d hope, and Isaac has a superb co-star to bounce both roles off in May Calamawy. The actress may be playing a new character created for the MCU, but we’ve no doubt you’ll be anxious to see more of Layla after this series as she matches Isaac beat for beat and proves herself a formidable ally to the hero. We’d also be remiss not to mention F. Murray Abraham as Khonshu because the actor is a highlight of every scene he’s in, and a reminder this series is taking us to some exciting, crazy new places.
While Moon Knight certainly isn’t lacking in action, it feels like Marvel Studios might be saving the best for last with this series. Mr. Knight is a highlight (you’ll be very surprised by how he factors into this show), and while the hero kicks plenty of butt and unleashes his fair share of familiar comic book weaponry, we still haven’t seen quite enough to declare this the Daredevil-esque action masterpiece many fans might be hoping for. That’s not to say the series is slow as it kept our attention across all four episodes in one sitting, but with only one major standout fight scene in the third episode, it feels like Moon Knight is only beginning to scratch the surface of what this character can do. On the plus side, there are some serious horror vibes at times, including a couple of great jump scares, and the tension is cranked up to a point where you'll definitely find your heart racing that little bit quicker. If this is what we can expect from the MCU's supernatural side, we're all in!
Without getting into spoilers, we have an inkling Moon Knight is going to get really wacky in its final two episodes, and this is definitely a story that should leave fans with heaps of theories and plenty to discuss each week. Marvel Studios could have introduced Marc as the aforementioned New York vigilante whose mental issues have sent him down a dark path, but by embracing Egypt and the mythology surrounding the character’s origin story, it feels like we’re instead getting a series that’s going to deepen the MCU the same way Loki and Eternals did. There’s a rich, vibrant history surrounding Moon Knight, and the way this authentic and culturally rich series embraces the comic books - right down to how Khonshu manipulates and taunts his avatar - makes it a fan-pleasing treat that has all the makings of more must-see TV from Disney+. We may only be four episodes in, but we’ll take a Moon Knight movie ASAP, please, Mr. Feige.
Oscar Isaac puts Moon Knight on the map in Marvel Studios' most daring TV show yet, ushering in an unmissable new era of storytelling in a series that, if it sticks the landing, could go down as a classic.