“Moon Knight” is Marvel’s latest TV series, released on April 6 on Disney+. The six-episode limited series is based on Marvel Comics by the same name, centered around the newest superhero protagonist: Moon Knight. The story follows Steven Grant (Oscar Issac), a British gift shop clerk who discovers he shares his body with an American mercenary named Marc Spector. Without any reference to the current state of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), “Moon Knight” is an excellent introduction to the new hero.
The presence of Egyptian deities in the MCU is revealed in this series, with gods and goddesses using human avatars to act as their eyes and ears to observe Earth. Steven’s discovery of Marc leads him to be pursued by Arthur Harrow (Ethan Hawke), an avatar of Ammit, an Egyptian goddess and personification of divine retribution, who wants to impose her will on the world. Marc is the avatar of Khonshu, the Egyptian god of the moon, who is fighting to stop Ammit from ruling over Earth. Steven and Marc embark on a thrilling, emotional journey in which they have to learn to accept one another to save the world from the consequences of a war between gods.
“Moon Knight” has many strengths such as the excellent soundtrack and superb acting. The series features the typical superhero-sounding epic music but throws in Arabic and Middle Eastern music to the mix, complementing the story’s setting and roots. It is a darker and grittier soundtrack, fitting for the tone of this show. Oscar Issac was fantastic in his roles as Steven and Marc, switching seamlessly between the two at a moment’s notice. The side characters did not disappoint; May Calamawy was excellent in her role as Layla El-Faouly; Ethan Hawke stole the show with every scene Arthur Harrow appeared in; F. Murray Abraham was perfect as the voice of Khonshu. Another strong point was the cinematography. The show features many different camera shots that are clever and creative—playing with angles that help enforce the mood of a scene. The lighting was just as magnificent, capturing as well as enhancing the mood of the events and the emotions of the characters. Both, the lighting and camera shots are combined to enhance scenes. For example, when Harrow talks to a captured Khonshu, the dim lighting combined with a close-up shot captures the anger and pain he has towards the Egyptian god.
However, the show does have some flaws. There were some slow-motion shots that look out of place and a freeze-frame that made me crack up in the middle of a serious scene. In episode two, Harrow supposedly talks in Mandarin to one of his followers, but his dialect doesn’t make any sense and sounds like a bunch of gibberish. Additionally, the ending felt a bit rushed, with a lot of content feeling crammed into the final episode. The transition into the final act was quite abrupt and could have been more fleshed out. This issue also ties into the quick pacing of the show, with characters traveling to different places from episode to episode without much warning. Slowing the story down would benefit the show and allow viewers to better understand the characters and plot a little more.
Overall, the strengths of “Moon Knight ” outweigh the weaknesses, making it a great watch for all audiences, even if you aren’t familiar with the MCU. With well-written characters, great action sequences, and plenty of twists and reveals, this series is my favorite Disney+ show released so far. I highly recommend you go watch “Moon Knight” for a captivating, enjoyable experience!
