While it should come as no surprise, the upcoming Doctor Strange in the Multiverseof Madness has been officially given a PG-13 rating by the Motion Picture Association. While there was little question that the Doctor Strange sequel would match the rating of the rest of the current MCU, fans excited for the promised horror elements of the Sam Raimi-direct film might be pleased with the MPA’s reasoning for the rating. The MPA cites “intense sequences of violence and action, frightening images and some language.”
The notes of “intense sequences of violence and action” and “some language” are fairly standard for MCU movies, but the mention of “frightening images” further confirms Marvel Studios’ promise that Multiverse of Madness will be the MCU’s first horror film and that Raimi’s unique style indeed remained a major part of the final cut.
In the past, few questioned the PG-13 model of the MCU. However, as new characters start to be introduced—such as Deadpool or Blade—demands for R-rated and more mature content has increased. At the same time, the MCU is set to debut its first non-PG-13 project with Ms. Marvel, which has been given a TV-PG rating for its Disney+ residency. Director Sam Raimi is also no stranger to PG-13 horror films, such as his 2009 film Drag Me to Hell, which proved that you don’t require an R-rating to offer the right horror vibes for a story.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness hit theaters on May 6, 2022.
If Moon Knight has proven anything, it is that it can hide easter eggs and cameos as well as any other MCU installment. Previously, we have seen a Frenchie reference and Crawley cameos in the first two episodes, and there are several potential hints at Marc Spector’s third alter from the comics, Jake Lockley. Another set of cameos came in Episode 2, and unlike the others, these come from one specific Moon Knight comics run. Could the cameos be a hint at what is to come in Moon Knight, or are they just nods to a very popular Moon Knight story?
Marvel Studios’ ‘Moon Knight’
The two police officers that come to Steven’s flat and later reveal themselves to be working for Arthur Harrow are listed in the credits and being named “Bobbi” and “Billy”. In the poplar Jeff Lemire and Greg Smallwood run, Billy and Bobby are orderlies in what appears to be a mental instutition that Marc Spector finds himself in. They work for the hospital’s Dr. Emmet, who is later revealed to be some sort of incarnation of Ammit. The Lemire-Smallwood run is very heavy on Moon Knight’s psychological instability, so it constantly jumps between different “realities” that Spector experiences, making him (and the reader) question what is or is not real. The visuals can accordingly be rather trippy, and Billy and Bobby sometimes appear with jackal heads rather than in human form.
Moon Knight #1 (2016)
Does this mean anything for Moon Knight? It is always possible that the series might continue to take inspiration from the Lemire-Smallwood run, and the psychological and reality-questioning nature of the live-action series so far certainly carries some of the essence of that Moon Knight comics arc. Still, Moon Knight has so far not adopted virtually any major aspect of the run. The fact that Billi and Bobby are clear cameos from that specific story is interesting, though, as they are not characters with deep Moon Knight history like the other cameos the series has offered. Only time will tell if the writers used these cameos as a way to tease the future of Moon Knight, or if they were simply a fun way to reference the comics.
The first two episodes of Moon Knight are now streaming on Disney+.
Last week’s From Page to Screen for Moon Knight Episode 1 explored the history of Marc Spector’s dissociative identity disorder in the comics, given that Steven’s revelation that another person also existed inside his body was that episode’s primary focus. Episode 2, however, introduced the major player Mr. Knight. When live-action projects diverge significantly from the comics, it always manages to create quite the discourse among fans. If you’re curious about Mr. Knight, this article compares the live-action version of the character in Moon Knight to his comics counterpart.
Moon Knight #11 (2015)
The Similarities
While the live-action and comics version of Mr. Knight have major differences (see below), it is undeniable that they share significant features.
Moon Knight #1 (2014)
Marvel Studios’ Moon Knight Episode 2
The Look
Most obviously, the character’s appearance in Moon Knight looks like it was practically ripped from the pages of a Moon Knight comic. First introduced in the 2014 Warren Ellis and Declan Shalvey run, he stands out with his head-to-toe bright white attire. Unlike Moon Knight, he ditches the cape and cowl and opts for a pristine suit and a mask that gives off serial killer energy. As is obvious from Moon Knight, Oscar Isaac’s Mr. Knight looks virtually the same, other than his attire is more of a pale grey than Moon Knight artist Shalvey’s blinding white suitable for a whitening toothpaste commercial. They both also utilize their stick weapons quite often. Mr. Knight in the comics has consistently kept this nearly exact look in later runs such as the 2016 Jeff Lemire and Greg Smallwood run, and the ongoing Jed MacKay and Alessandro Cappuccio run.
Moon Knight #14 (2017)
Moon Knight #1 (2021)
Just a Smidge of His Personality
Before anyone gets up in arms over the suggestion that the two Mr. Knights have the same personality traits, the very clear differences are discussed below. However, it is worth noting that Moon Knight’s Mr. Knight still captures the essence of the comics’ character. Between his look and his more casual presence, Mr. Knight is always slightly goofier than Moon Knight. There is something odd about him, even compared to his caped Moon Knight alter. Steven Grant definitely checks off the “odd” box, but there’s something else. In the comics, Mr. Knight is much more sociable than Moon Knight. He walks the streets, visits crime scenes, works with police, interacts with ordinary people, and even goes to therapy. In Moon Knight, if anyone that we have met is going to fill that role in live-action, all bets are on Steven Grant, not Marc Spector.
Moon Knight #4 (2014)
Marvel Studios’ Moon Knight Episode 2
Moon Knight #7 (2022)
The Differences
Mr. Knight’s introduction in Episode 2 was divisive because he is, fundamentally, sort of an entirely different character. On one hand, in the comics, Mr. Knight is generally considered another separate personality of Marc Spector’s, not one of the others in a suit. In Moon Knight, obviously, Mr. Knight is very much Steven Grant. To be fair, Mr. Knight in the comics sometimes has no problem identifying as Marc, and quite frankly his personality is not overly divergent from Marc or Moon Knight.
Moon Knight #13 (2017)
Still, Moon Knight’s Steven Grant—who is also a dramatic departure from the comics—is much more of an even goofier persona, so live-action Mr. Knight is the same. Mr. Knight in the comics has plenty of comic relief moments and is not constantly entirely dark or serious, but he is still much more dark and serious than Moon Knight’s version so far. Again, Mr. Knight in the comics almost operates as a more down-to-Earth Moon Knight (no pun intended), so he still functions as a nighttime vigilante who will take down a crowd of villains with the same intensity Moon Knight might.
Moon Knight #1 (2014)
Moon Knight, though, explains Mr. Knight’s origin. Steven Grant, as awkward and British as he is, came up with that dapper outfit while trying to summon a lunar-god-granted “suit”. The inclusion of the mental state that would end up with Mr. Knight’s attire is one of the best parts of the live-action change. In the comics, Mr. Knight just sort of appears as a new identity in the Ellis and Shalvey revival of Moon Knight, few questions asked.
Moon Knight’s first two episodes are now streaming on Disney+.
Once again Marvel Studios has allowed the first good look of a character from an upcoming project to leak through collectibles. This time, fans get their first look at Gorr the God Butcher, who will be played by Christian Bale in this Summer’s Thor: Love and Thunder.
The wave, which features 7 MCU-based characters and a Korg build-a-figure, gives fans their first detailed look at the villain as well as noting that Thor’s “Thunderstrike” costume will be referred to as “Ravager Thor.” It also features “King Valkyrie”, Star-Lord, Groot, Jane Foster’s Mighty Thor and the new Thor armor that has been present in much of the marketing for the film to date.
From the wave, it seems that Bale’s Gorr will not be an exact adaptation of the character from the comics; in fact, the character seems to resemble the humanoid aliens from 2012′ Prometheus more so than his comic counterpart. Of course, it’s reasonable to assume that Gorr, like many MCU characters, could take on many forms over the course of the film, so this may not be his final look.
Thor: Love and Thunder is set to strike theaters on July 8, 2022.
While Steven Grant and Marc Spector grapple with the fact that they are two personalities living within the same body in Moon Knight, they have another presence to deal with. Often towering above them with a booming, rather demanding voice is F. Murray Abraham‘sKhonshu. While Episode 2 of the series gives only a very brief rundown of the Egyptian moon god, Khonshu is absolutely vital to Moon Knight’s character. Here, we give you a more in-depth look at Khonshu.
AvengersMoon Knight
In Egyptian mythology, Khonshu is revered as the nocturnal God of the Moon, God of Vengeance, and the Shepherd of the Lost. He was a protector of travelers in the night. The nitty-gritty of Khonshu and other Egyptian gods in the comics is that these gods are members of the Heliopolitan race of gods who live in the Othervoid, an extradimensional realm adjacent to Earth and worshipped by the people of Ancient Egypt. Moon Knight has adopted a more modern take on the appearance of the character, specifically opting for the bird-like skull head that appears in many recent adaptations.
Moon KnightMarvel Studios’ Moon Knight
Because Khonshu, and the other gods, are unable to be physically present on Earth, they choose human avatars to carry out their will on Earth. For Khonshu, his chosen avatar is called the Moon Knight. As we know, Khonshu chose Marc Spector to be his avatar after Spector died and was revived under a statue of Khonshu.
For Marc Spector and his alters, being the “Fist of Khonshu” originally looked like standard vigilante work, and it still does generally. But lately, there is more emphasis on the protection of nighttime travelers. Khonshu often appears to Marc, but there are times when it is suggested that he may be a figment of Marc’s imagination. Khonshu often appears as himself, but Spector has seen him in many forms including the form of a faceless Bushman after Moon Knight tore the face off of the villain. Khonshu early on was more professional, and sort of seemed like a more traditional authoritative presence. But he has certainly developed a personality, whether as the actual god or as Spector’s mental projection.
So far in Moon Knight, Khonshu has been a bit rude, short, and “snotty”. As you can tell from the series so far, he has no problem calling Steven Grant “the idiot” or flat-out insulting or criticizing anyone. He does not appear to exhibit patience or empathy when dealing with humans. Likewise, in the comics, nowadays you can indeed expect him to be quite rude and often demanding. Sometimes this takes more of a sadistic and manipulative form (such as the Jeff Lemire and Greg Smallwood run in which he tries to break Spector’s mind completely), and in others, he is sarcastic, vulgar, and absurd (the page from Moon Knight #15(2006) below should say a lot).
Moon Knight #15 (2006)
Khonshu has a colorful, long, and detailed history in the comics, some unrelated to Marc Spector. For example, around 1,000,000 B.C., Khonshu was upset that he was not offered membership to the Stone Age Avengers. He chose his first Moon Knight in part to antagonize those Avengers on his behalf. Khonshu has taken over Spector’s physical body during Moon Knight’s time with the West Coast Avengers, and he revived Spector once again during the events of Marc Spector: Moon Knight (1989). In Jason Aaron’s recent arc, Avengers: The Age of Khonshu, Khonshu uses Moon Knight to defeat several Avengers in an attempt at taking over the world for the supposed purpose of protecting it.
Avengers
Whether Khonshu remains as a more passive companion throughout Moon Knight is yet to be seen. It is likely that we will not see too much Khonshu-specific storytelling in this series that focuses on Steven Grant and Marc Spector’s dissociative identity disorder and introduces Moon Knight as a concept. It is interesting that neither Marc Spector nor Khonshu have been truly explained in detail yet, and “Moon Knight” as a name has not yet been used. Still, Khonshu is likely to remain around as an integral part of Moon Knight.
So, you are excited for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. The sure-to-be memorable film is coming up quickly, and anyone who wants to prepare for it should probably start thinking about it soon. While most sequels only rely on the first film in terms of backstory, the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s 28th movie is a bit more complicated than that. This article is a comprehensive list of every movie or series you should — or might — want to watch in preparation for Multiverse of Madness. Because of the nature of this movie, the list has a four-tiered system. First, there are projects that are essential to watch before the Doctor Strange sequel. Second, there are projects that we would strongly encourage you to watch but likely are not strictly necessary. Third, there are extra stories that will no doubt heighten your Multiverse of Madness experience but may ultimately have very little impact on the film. Fourth, we list some of the Marvel properties relevant to the most rampant unconfirmed cameo/character appearance rumors.
Essential
The six projects — listed in order of importance — you should absolutely watch or rewatch before Multiverse of Madness are Doctor Strange, WandaVision, Spider-Man: No Way Home, the final episode of Loki, What If… ? Episode 4, and Avengers: Infinity War.
1. Doctor Strange
It should need little to no explanation why Doctor Strange is essential viewing for its sequel.
Doctor Strange
2. WandaVision
WandaVision marked the first time Wanda Maximoff truly got the spotlight. Not only did it expand upon and reveal the origins of her powers, but it also spent its 9-episode run on Disney+ giving her one of the most in-depth character development arcs of the MCU. Of course, WandaVision also debuted Wanda’s Scarlet Witch persona, and the end of the series revealed her connections to the Darkhold. Considering all of that plus the fact that Doctor Strange himself was originally meant to make a cameo, it is safe to say the events of WandaVision lead directly to Multiverse of Madness.
WandaVision
3. Spider-Man: No Way Home
No Way Home has the most recent appearance of Doctor Strange in the MCU, and it also showcased the first major live-action multiverse storyline. The disruption of the multiverse was caused by the spell that Doctor Strange cast, so it is more than likely his activities in No Way Home will at least be a starting point in Multiverse of Madness.
Spider-Man: No Way Home
4. Loki Episode 6
The finale of the Disney+ series Loki was notable and memorable in a lot of ways. Important here, of course, is the fact that the multiverse was essentially created in this episode. It almost serves as an origin story for the MCU’s multiverse, and it has the best explanation of it yet, though Multiverse of Madness will surely dive deeper into multiversal lore.
‘Loki’ Episode 6
5. What If… ? Episode 4
If you are wondering why a What If… ? episode is so high on this list–you haven’t seen this episode. The fourth episode of the anthology series features a variant of Doctor Strange (Doctor Strange Supreme) who takes a darker path than our main Doctor Strange. This episode will feature so many similar themes to Multiverse of Madness, and Doctor Strange Supreme might even make an appearance. The film creators have even cited Episode 4 as inspiration for the live-action story. And, quite frankly, this is hands-down the best Doctor Strange story the MCU has given us.
‘What If… ?’ Episode 4
6. Avengers: Infinity War
Infinity War really toes the line between “essential” and “encouraged,” but overall there’s enough important content to call it essential. Doctor Strange is a major part of the plot due to his connection with the Time Stone. His character seemed to develop significantly between Doctor Strange and this movie. It also features his most intricate and visually-stunning fight scenes, showcasing how strong his sorcery can be. Infinity War also contributes to Wanda’s character development, serving as the bedrock for her grief in WandaVision. It also hints at how powerful she is, as she has the power to destroy the Mind Stone.
Avengers: Infinity War
Encouraged
If you are familiar with Doctor Strange’s and the Scarlet Witch’s major appearances and story arcs, you should be prepared enough to watch Multiverse of Madness without a problem. Still, there are several more major MCU outings that could enhance your understanding of the film’s main characters, major MCU events, and even just multiversal themes and mechanics. So, these five viewings are highly encouraged but likely not necessary.
Avengers: EndgameAvengers: Age of UltronCaptain America: Civil WarWhat If… ? Episode 8Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
1. Avengers: Endgame
Neither Doctor Strange nor Wanda Maximoff have much screentime or development in Endgame, because they were both snapped out of existence at the end of Infinity War. Still, it just seems odd not to recommend Endgame for any Phase Four MCU project–the events are just too significant. Plus, the Avengers’ time travel hints at the concept of alternate universes, and Steve Rogers’ ending certainly suggests that, even without the events of Loki, at least one other universe could have been created.
2. Avengers: Age of Ultron
Age of Ultron comes before Doctor Strange’s appearance in the MCU, but it is the first appearance of Wanda Maximoff, which is obviously significant. The Multiverse of Madness trailer also featured what looks like Ultron Sentinels, so that connection may be of some value as well.
3. Captain America: Civil War
The Scarlet Witch’s level of power will no doubt play a major role in the events of Multiverse of Madness. Civil War was really the first time her ability to control them was called into question, though WandaVision did later expand on that idea. The film also is part of Wanda’s on-screen character development in the MCU and hints even more at her growing relationship with Vision.
4. What If… ? Episodes 8 and 9
If Multiverse of Madness does anything, it will take our characters on quite the trip through the multiverse. The final two episodes of Disney+’s What If… ? heavily feature that concept. The visuals from the Watcher’s universe-shattering fight with Infinity Ultron might be the standard to look out for in live-action. Plus, these episodes brought the Guardians of the Multiverse, which in a sense was a glorified grouping of variant cameos. Audiences should certainly be prepared for some glorified cameos from MCU variants in Multiverse of Madness.
5. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
Shang-Chi is another tricky one. While it is not particularly highlighted, the film definitely suggests that Ta Lo is an alternate universe, so the mechanics of traveling to and from it certainly implicate interesting multiverse questions. The film is also the most recent appearance of Wong (other than his three-second cameo in No Way Home). The post-credits scene with the Ten Rings beacon likely is not connected to Multiverse of Madness, but you never know.
Extra
At this point, if you have watched everything above, you almost certainly know everything that Multiverse of Madness wants or expects you to know going in. If you want to keep going, here are some extra suggestions that will likely add to your experience, but are not overly important.
Since Patrick Stewart is actually confirmed to be Charles Xavier in Multiverse of Madness, it does mean that viewers will get something out of being familiar with the character’s past in the general Marvel film universe. How much is hard to say–he could be a four-second cameo for all we know, and the variant might be nothing like the Professor X from the X-Men movies. Considering the wealth of cameo possibilities as well, maybe familiarity with other characters in the franchise will come in handy.
2. Thor: Ragnarok
Ragnarok features the final (in terms of this list) live-action Doctor Strange appearance in the MCU. So, if you are looking to check off all of those boxes, you should give this one a watch. His role is very minor and is more of a fun cameo, but still.
3. What If… ? Episode 5
Yes, there is yet another What If… ? suggestion. The Multiverse of Madness trailer features what looks like a zombie Doctor Strange, so this might be a fun one to be able to reference. It is also a pretty enjoyable episode, so there are not many drawbacks to adding this to your list.
4. The Rest of What If… ?
Multiverse of Madness is going to explore the multiverse. The only other MCU property to truly do that is What If… ?. It almost certainly will serve as a primer of some sort for the Doctor Strange sequel, but no particular plotline (other than Episode 4, as noted above) will likely have much influence on the events of the film. Captain Carter from Episode 1 is, however, very heavily and convincingly rumored to make an appearance in Multiverse of Madness. If you enjoyed the specific episodes higher up on this list, you might as well give the rest of the short series a shot.
Easter Egg Hunting
There is a certain point with Multiverse of Madness where the watchlist recommendations get overly complicated. Of course, the movie is rumored to have an inordinately large amount of cameos from across literally all of Marvel’s properties. If you want to be prepared for any possible cameo, you practically have to watch every Marvel (MCU and non-MCU) movie and series to date. Still, here’s a quick list of some films to watch based on some of the bigger and more popular (and unconfirmed) rumors that would not necessarily already be included in the films or series listed above:
Captain Marvel
Fantastic Four (2004)
Deadpool
X-Men Prequel Films
Inhumans
Daredevil (2015 series and/or 2003 movie)
Ghost Rider
Captain MarvelFantastic Four (2005)DeadpoolX-Me: First ClassInhumansDardevil (2015)Ghost RiderDaredevil (2003)
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness hits theaters on May 6, 2022.
One of Marvel Studios’ biggest films is just around the corner. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness will be breaking MCU barriers by heading into the the greater Marvel multiverse with both new an established characters. The Doctor Strange sequel will feature main characters Doctor Strange and Wanda Maximoff’s Scarlet Witch facing off against multiversal threats–including variants of themselves. But newcomer Xochitl Gomez portrays America Chavez, a new character who also has connections to the multiverse.
In an interview with Fandango, director Sam Raimi described Chavez’s “spirit of youth” and teases her tense relationship with Doctor Strange. But Raimi also confirmed that Chavez is from an alternate universe:
Well, she adds an exciting spirit of youth. She’s a newcomer to her powers and to our world. She actually comes from another universe. I think she brings a sense of lightness and youth. Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange can be a very egotistical and stuffy character, a know-it-all. She just flies in the face of that. She doesn’t really have respect for him originally. She sees right through the fronts that he puts up. She’s much more down to earth and one of us, and she doesn’t take his attitude. I don’t think he likes that at first. So, she creates a contrast.
Sam Raimi
This is not too surprising, given that in the comics America Chavez’s traditional origin story is that she used her dimension-hopping powers to travel from a universe known as the Utopian Parallel after her mothers gave their lives to save that universe. So, Raimi’s confirmation suggests that the character might be at least somewhat comic-accurate. In any event, we should expect to see her as one of the first live-action leading characters from outside of the main MCU we are familiar with.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness will hit theaters on May 6, 2022.
Ethan Hawke’s Arthur Harrow is a mysterious villain in Moon Knight. This is partly due to the fact that the show’s creators stated that they opted to invent an original villain rather than use a classic antagonist from the comics. Still, Hawke’s Harrow undeniably shares strong similarities with several villains seen in more recent Moon Knight comics. While this could simply reveal where the series’ writers got their inspiration for the character, it might also provide clues as to what could be revealed about Harrow as the series progresses.
Sun King
There was plenty of speculation that Hawke would be playing a version of Patient 86, also referred to as the Sun King. While being treated for bipolar disorder at Ravencroft Institute, a doctor introduced him to Egyptian mythology because she recognized similarities between Patient 86 and Marc Spector/Moon Knight, and she thought it might help him. He became obsessed with the Sun King Amon Ra and seemed to gain flame powers while institutionalized. He sought to destroy Moon Knight because of the contentious relationship between the two Egyptian gods they represented. The “Sun King” became a cult leader on a small island with a significant following.
Obviously, we know Hawke’s Harrow is quite the cult leader himself, as he’s seen seemingly leading a community of followers in the name of an Egyptian god. He also revealed he was the previous Fist of Khonshu, so he may have a specific or obsessive grudge against Marc Spector that hasn’t been fully explored. Speaking of, this brings us to the next inspiration from the comics.
Other Fists of Khonshu
There are times throughout Moon Knight’s history that Khonshu choosing other avatars comes into play. So far in Moon Knight, we know that Khonshu is interested in Layla as his next avatar. More importantly, though, we know that Harrow was a past Fist of Khonshu. A couple of somewhat similar situations have arisen recently in Moon Knight comics. Both instances involved the other “fist,” or wannabe’s fist, having a much different idea of Khonshu’s will or vengeance.
First, while it was ultimately a front, a psychologist Marc employed convinced Khonshu to allow her to be his avatar. Her cover story, at least, was that she and her family were victims of a genocidal war, and she sought the assassination of the General who was now leading the country. The main themes associated with this psychologist were that killing the General could prevent future deaths and that Marc Spector was too weak to do the type of preventative “justice” she imagined was required of a Moon Knight.
Hawke’s Harrow is completely set on preventative justice–his dedication to Ammit centers around ending evil before it can be committed. While the psychologist from the comics ultimately ended up being someone else, perhaps Moon Knight’s Harrow has a surprise reveal down the line that demonstrates his true intentions unrelated to Ammut.
‘Moon Knight’
In the current comics run of Moon Knight, another purported Fist of Khonshu emerged. Yet another doctor, went by the name of Hunter’s Moon and claimed to be the second “fist” (after all, people have two hands). Whether he actually was or not, he also called into question whether Spector was adequately carrying out Khonshu’s will. Hawke’s Harrow is slightly different, though, because he believes Khonshu’s approach the justice is simply wrong. But he does question Moon Knight’s values and likely seeks to turn him to his side. Still, Hunter’s Moon is so recent in the comics that it is highly unlikely the series had him in mind when writing Moon Knight.
Dr. Arthur Harrow and His Possible Connection to Another Major Villain
This one is a bit more of a stretch, but it could explain why Moon Knight decided to name its original villain after Dr. Arthur Harrow, a comics character that appeared in a single issue of a Moon Knight comic in 1985. Dr. Harrow was a scientist who used techniques from Auschwitz to research pain theory in horrific, illegal ways. A future Moon Knight villain, Ernst, is a Nazi, torturer, and serial killer that posed as a member of Marc Spector’s childhood Jewish community. Spector’s escape from Ernst is credited as a major event in terms of the development of his dissociative identity disorder. The connection between Dr. Arthur Harrow and Ernst could be their shared affinity for pain. Ernst later led the Société des Sadiques, a group that celebrates sadism and pain. For his part, Hawke’s Harrow does open the series by putting broken glass in his shoes to cause himself pain at all times.
The second episode of Marvel Studios’ Moon Knight follows up Episode 1’s prologue with masterful pacing and at least the fundamental pieces of a plot. While the caped crusader’s concept might leave a bit to be wanted in this episode, Oscar Isaac absolutely shines in the main role as both Steven Grant and Marc Spector. While overall Episode 2 shows that the series has its rockier components, it truly excels as a character piece with the backdrop of a darker, peculiar story of Egyptian gods and their human employees.
While the last episode found Steven Grant in a mysterious and confusing situation, Episode 2 begins to lay out, presumably, the series’ plot. It does not spend much time mincing words that Marc Spector and Steven Grant exist in the same body. We learn that Marc and his (separated) wife, Layla, have been working together to track down the golden Scarab, which seems to act as a guide to the Egyptian god Ammut’s lost tomb.
All of that matters because Marc is the avatar of the Egyptian lunar god Khonshu. In other words, Marc is Khonshu’s muscle on Earth. Ethan Hawke’s mysterious cult-leader villain, Arthur Harrow, is apparently a former avatar of Khonshu’s. His disdain for Khonshu’s methods led him to worship Ammut, who supposedly can eradicate evil before it is committed. Harrow essentially embodies the classic debate of whether it is moral to punish someone before they do something if you know it’s coming. He has a magic cane at his disposal that seems to sense whether people are worthy of living and can also open up some sort of portal to the underworld.
We also get a glimpse of Khonshu’s personality—he’s not particularly respected by the other gods, likes to throw temper tantrums, but also chooses avatars with strong moral compasses. Marc and Khonshu seem to have a fairly rocky relationship, each resenting the other but seeing one another as necessary. Layla comes into play not only as a worthy partner in all of the madness but also as part of Marc’s motivation to serve Khonshu—apparently, the moon god is eyeing Layla as his next avatar and Marc’s replacement.
While all of that seems nutty to explain, what makes it even more interesting is that the Egyptian god plot is mostly the foundation that the true story about Steven and Marc plays out on top of. But yes, Marc does moonlight as a costumed hero-type, presumably known as Moon Knight. It is revealed that Moon Knight is merely a costumed Marc, rather than a separate personality like he often is in the comics. Plenty of fans may be a bit disappointed by that, but it highlights the Marc-Steven dynamic in such a strong way. As explained, Steven is also technically the Fist of Khonshu, but when he attempted to summon his Khonshu-divined armor, he ends up looking like an all-white bank robber in a suit.
Mr. Knight, who also isn’t actually named at this point, is similarly just a dressed-up Steven. Honestly, it’s a pretty genius way to fully develop the two personalities. Steven’s vigilante comes out as an odd, sort of awkward, out-of-place character in contrast to Marc’s hooded and caped persona. Both personalities get to play out as avatars of Khonshu, which makes their roles much more potent than if they were competing with a separate Moon Knight.
The great news about those roles being so meaningful is that Isaac is phenomenal in his portrayal of them. The use of mirrors and reflective surfaces is a smart way to allow Marc and Steven to be in constant bickering communication without awkwardly adding in another off-screen voice or bulking up the screen with a second “imaginary” Oscar Isaac. The way Isaac just changes his face while switching alters is exquisite. And he wears each face so convincingly, without much help from outside influences like makeup or effects. The two personalities also interact with each other in such a grounded, realistic, but intense way that seems appropriate for two people unhappily and unwillingly sharing the same body.
The pacing of this episode is absolutely phenomenal. It moves fast enough for everything to feel urgent and exciting, but it does not take all of its supernatural and complicated elements too far in any given moment. It does not seem like it would have been easy to make sure the human element stayed at the same solid stride with the gods, canes, and Scarabs. A major piece that is a bit off in the episode, though, is how much necessary Moon Knight background is completely skipped over. There’s definitely a benefit to not trudging through an origin story, but Khonshu and Moon Knight feel like somewhat minor side characters at times despite being—at least in theory—extremely important to Moon Knight.
The action scenes with Moon Knight and Mr. Knight also felt a bit off at times. There will probably be a lot of conversations about the quality of the visual effects, but overall the choreography at least felt decent. But the episode chose some odd moments to go into slow motion and it can come across as too forced. Mr. Knight fighting the invisible Jackal is fine until it isn’t, and eventually, Mr. Knight flailing around lost its charm without anything extra to sort of organize it. And yes—anyone dying to watch some “brutal” violence will likely not be satisfied.
While some of the major changes the series makes from its source material will almost certainly disappoint fans, Episode 2 demonstrated that Moon Knight’s own strengths are vying to make up for that. While a history lesson with respect to Marc and Khonshu feels much needed, the episode moved at a very smooth, steady, and lively speed that makes the story much easier to be a part of and much more enjoyable. Isaac brings something truly special to his now dual role as Steven and Marc, and their dynamic is undoubtedly the heart of the series.
Those looking for an MCU installment that is geared to younger or more wholesome audiences are in luck. Disney+ revealed that the next MCU series, Ms. Marvel, will be rated TV-PG, making it the first time that any Marvel Studios movie or series has received a rating this low. All MCU movies to date have been rated PG-13, and every Disney+ MCU series to date has been rated TV-14, which is the television equivalent of a PG-13 rating.
Ms. Marvel recently unveiled its first trailer and set up a story focused on Iman Vellani’s Kamala Khan. It is perhaps not too surprising that a series about a teenage girl set in a high school-type setting would be the first series to nab a PG rating, though the MCU has dealt with similar ages and setting in its Tom Holland-led Spider-Man trilogy.
The battle over the streaming service’s ability to provide a family-friendly service while also showcasing its incredibly successful range of more mature properties will surely rage on. Recently, some fans spotted shots in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier that had been edited to be less violent, but Disney+ quickly retracted the altered scenes. At the very least, it does not look like Ms. Marvel will pose much of a challenge for the streaming service on that front.
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