Oscar Isaac has proven himself once again as an unstoppable talent in “Moon Knight.” His performance is gritty and unequivocally perfect as he portrays multiple characters in this visual decadence that is sure to enthrall and delight. One episode in and I’m intoxicated.
The 6-part series launches on Disney+ March 30.
Oscar Isaac as Steven Grant in Marvel Studios’ MOON KNIGHT, exclusively on Disney+. Photo by Csaba Aknay. ©Marvel Studios 2022. All Rights Reserved.
“MOON KNIGHT” Review
Get ready to embrace the chaos that is “MOON KNIGHT.” This psychological thriller is twisty, dark, humorous, gritty, and the craziest thing to hit television since “WandaVision“—and it makes “WandaVision” look as though it didn’t even try.
Oscar Isaac as Steven Grant and Khonshu (voiced by F. Murray Abraham) in Marvel Studios’ MOON KNIGHT. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. ©Marvel Studios 2022. All Rights Reserved.
Egyptian Mythology
Steven Grant (Oscar Issac) is an intelligent, soft-spoken gift shop employee who is tormented by a sleeping disorder and his wildly realistic dreams–or so he believes until he learns that he’s actually a former mercenary by the name of Marc Spector who suffers from Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID). Spector is the avatar of the Egyptian moon god Khonshu (voiced by F. Murray Abraham). “MOON KNIGHT” follows Grant’s story.
Grant’s world is upturned when he learns of Spector and becomes deluged with enemies led by cult leader Arthur Harrow (Ethan Hawke). Harrow and his followers are after the golden scarab of Ammit, which Marc had stolen and Harrow wants. The story reaches into the depths of Egyptian mythology (there is some detail in our trailer breakdown).
Oscar Isaac as Moon Knight in Marvel Studios’ MOON KNIGHT. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. ©Marvel Studios 2022. All Rights Reserved.
What to expect
Throughout the 6-episode series, Steven and Marc must learn to work together to survive the deadly game of keep-away playing out around them. However, with Steven’s anxious mind, it becomes increasingly difficult to tell the difference between reality and dreams.
May Calamawy as Layla El-Faouly and Oscar Isaac as Marc Spector/Steven Grant in Marvel Studios’ MOON KNIGHT. Photo by Gabor Kotschy. ©Marvel Studios 2022. All Rights Reserved.
What makes “Moon Knight” so unique?
The previous Disney+ Marvel series beginning in 2021 are all based on main characters established and existing elsewhere in the MCU, not solely as pre-existing comic book canon.
However, “MOON KNIGHT” is the first Disney+ series that is based on a main character who has not yet appeared elsewhere in an MCU property.
While it is yet to be determined whether or not the characters in this supernatural storyline will tie into the greater MCU in Phase 4 and beyond, it stands to reason that they may, given Moon Knight has storylines and relationships with many existing MCU characters—some who are slated for Phase 4 and beyond, maybe even Blade or the “Untitled Halloween Special” based on the “Werewolf by Night” comics slated for Disney+ in October 2022.
In the comics, Moon Knight has storylines with a lot of characters we are familiar with in the greater MCU, including Mephisto (it’s always him, isn’t it?). But truly:
- Spider-Man
- X-Men‘s Wolverine, Rogue
- Fantastic Four’s The Thing, Mister Fantastic
- The Defenders’ Daredevil, Iron Fist, Echo, Wilson Fisk
- Avengers’ Captain America, Black Panther, Iron Man, Doctor Strange, Hawkeye, Nova
- Thunderbolts’ U.S. Agent, Agony, Electro II, Rhino
- Ghost Rider, Punisher, DarkHawk, Night Trasher, Tigra, Black Cat, Janet van Dyne, and
- Villains such as Green Goblin, the Punisher, Black Spectre, Bullseye, Doctor Doom, Hobgoblin, Hood, Profile, Scarecrow, Count Nefaria, Madame Masque
Where do you expect we may see Moon Knight pop-up next?
Oscar Isaac as Steven Grant in Marvel Studios’ MOON KNIGHT. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. ©Marvel Studios 2022. All Rights Reserved.
Tackling mental health and depicting it with a sense of normalcy
No, we certainly aren’t saying that being the avatar for an Egyptian moon god or that living with DID is normal per se. What we are saying is that Marvel has taken a responsible approach in working with a psychiatrist to ensure that the elements of mental illness that are included or highlighted—whether they be elements of the DID or a bit less intense such as social anxiety and depression Steven clearly exhibits—are depicted accurately.
The mere fact that they not only chose a character with mental health issues but then opted to keep those issues (they are crucial to the storyline but they can rewrite anything they so choose) speaks volumes to the fact that they want to make a statement about how important mental health concerns can be.
Oscar Isaac as Steven Grant and Ethan Hawke as Arthur Harrow in Marvel Studios’ MOON KNIGHT, exclusively on Disney+. Photo by Csaba Aknay. ©Marvel Studios 2022. All Rights Reserved.
Stellar casting
As to be expected, once again Marvel has done a marvel-ous job casting this show.
Oscar Isaac, as mentioned above, is a powerhouse of perfection. We see him expertly define not one, but two roles, and fully expect to see at least one more before the series is over.
Ethan Hawke’s disturbing ability to convince the audience to believe he is pushing for the exact opposite of what he is actually trying to accomplish is unsettling at best, and truly psychotic at worst. Hawke’s ability to convince and soothe while telling utter lies is disquieting.
F. Murray Abraham’s voice is as is distinct as he is in any role he does, whether he’s calling Steven a “worm” as Khonshu, is old school CIA agent Dar Adal in “Homeland,” or the Nebula-award-winning author and story writer in “Mythic Quest.”
May Calamawy’s Layla El-Faouly is the perfect mix of badass and archaeologist, who may or may not have ties to the comics; it is a connection that has not yet been confirmed or made obvious by the comic source material.
(L-R): Ethan Hawke as Arthur Harrow and Oscar Isaac as Steven Grant in Marvel Studios’ MOON KNIGHT. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. ©Marvel Studios 2022. All Rights Reserved.
About “MOON KNIGHT”
The story follows Steven Grant, a mild-mannered man who lives a mundane life, plagued by blackouts and mysterious memories of a life somehow separate from his own. After one fateful encounter, Steven discovers that he has Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) and shares a body with Marc Spector—a former mercenary—and the ruthless avatar of Khonshu, the Egyptian god of the moon and vengeance. With their enemies converging upon them, Steven must learn how to adapt to this revelation and work with Marc. With other godly motives at play, the two must navigate their complex identities amid a deadly battle played out among the powerful gods of Egypt.
“MOON KNIGHT” is streaming exclusively on Disney+ March 30, with new episodes every Wednesday.
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