Review: Marvel's "Moon Knight" Episode 1

While Marvel has, so far, essentially defined its Disney+ shows by being somewhat experimental and out of the box, taking chances that would never work in the films, Moon Knight appears to be taking that philosophy and diving off the deep end with it. The first episode of the series is so off the wall that many will be left scratching their heads at what they saw, though they’ll likely find themselves oddly entranced.

The opening segment is superb and really showcases what fans are in for. It sees the timid and mousy Steven Grant going about his day and it’s the perfect introduction the eccentric alter ego. At first it seems that he’s just a down on his luck working class guy, but something amiss. He’s missing time and people have such different opinions on him, such as the woman who that they had a date that he knew nothing about, easy to spot that something is truly off with this guy.

It’s so well thought out that, when Grant’s true nature is revealed more fully (though audience will still be left with plenty of mystery), it comes as a relief. What’s more, the nature of his split personalities takes a very interesting turn. In the comics, Moon Knight is a man suffering from DID (Dissociative Identity Disorder), where there are several distinct and fully formed personalities within, similar to James McAvoy from Split. However, as it plays out in the episode, Steven Grant appears to be suffering from a more Venom-esque situation, playing host to an ethereal entity that takes control of his body for its own ends.

It’s different from Venom in that the parasite (for lack of a better term at this moment) and the host aren’t working together, with Grant not even really cognitively aware of the other personality within him until, feasibly, the events of the episode. It’s an interesting setup, as the “hero side” is complete and appears to have been functioning for quite some time, with Grant seeming to chalk his nocturnal activities up to sleep walking and content to chain himself up at night.

However, as Grant becomes aware of his other side, as he suddenly awakens in a foreign land being chased by men with guns, he’s so taken aback and scared that he lets loose some crucial info that allows the apparent villains to track him down. Going forward, the relationship between Grant and whatever else is living inside of him, and how he copes with that situation, will likely be central to the story. The issue here will be differentiating it from Venom and trying to cover new ground without seeming like a rip off.

And while the focus of the episode was on Oscar Isaac’s Steven Grant learning about his true nature, and the final reveal of Moon Knight in a fight sequence at the end, the real standout was Ethan Hawke’s villain, Arthur Harrow. In the comics, Harrow is a rather obscure character. He’s a shady doctor that was nominated for a Nobel prize but engaged in unethical experiments that ran him afoul of Moon Knight. Later on, he was a member of the nefarious think tank O.M.N.I.U.M. (think A.I.M. from Iron Man 3).

In the series, though, Harrow is being reimagined as a cult leader with a mysterious connection to the Egyptian Goddess Ammit. And Hawke is the perfect actor to bring this portrayal to life, given his knack for nuanced, darkly complex characters. He’s able to establish a quiet and centered demeanor that exudes power with every movement. He’s not boisterous or scheming, but confident and self-assured that he is in the right, even if only because he has all the power. And particularly given the anti-heroic nature of Moon Knight, it’ll be interesting to see just how much of a villain Harrow turns out to be.

All things considered, the first episode of Moon Knight has to be considered a triumph. Each Disney+ series thus far has had something unique to offer, such as Loki exploring the idea of time variants or Hawkeye allowing for a more personal, introspective story that wasn’t all about the end of the world or building to the next movie or show. And when it comes to Moon Knight, it certainly appears that religious mysticism is going to take center stage. The elements of “Gods walking among us” seems like it will be essential. Either way, this was a rollicking start to what promises to be a most exhilarating and mysterious ride.