The MCU’s latest streaming series gets weird, but it only partially works.
Much of the pre-release publicity about Moon Knight focused on the heightened brutality of the new MCU on Disney+ series. In doing so, all involved failed to mention how much stranger it would be than the average MCU streamer.
When that strangeness works, it gives the show an enjoyably off-kilter edge. The more Moon Knight’s god/mean daddy boss Khonshu (body by CGI, voice by F. Murray Abraham) comes into the light, the more wonderfully unnerving and endearing he becomes. Scenes of the god’s giant skeletal bird body wandering through a well-attended bazaar or relaxing against a car are strong mergers of the bizarre and benign. They’re the sort of the thing the show should strive for more often. The fourth episode suggests a certain awareness of this necessity. It packs on the mix of mystical and run-of-the-mill, culminating in a realm best described as purgatory meets a locked mental health facility.
Unfortunately, when the strangeness doesn’t work, it flips rapidly over into goofy. For example, when we first meet Steven Grant (Oscar Isaac), a museum gift shop employee who can’t catch a break. Isaac leans hard into an accent just this side of Oliver, wringing some genuine fun out of the nebbish Grant. Still, the character is too ill-defined early on to truly engage the viewers. Additionally, we know he’s one alter of a man with Dissociative Identity Disorder. Laughing at some of his predicaments given that feels a bit mean-spirited.
In general, Moon Knight does better than most fictional depictions of DID, but that’s a very low bar. At its best, it demonstrates how quickly and easily the diagnosis can get you marginalized. A meeting with HR and a trial by Egyptian God avatars show how some use the disorder to dismiss. In place of genuine empathy, viewers witness them quickly switch to paternalistic pity.
Even at its worst, it’s never as ridiculous as, say, M. Night Shyamalan’s Split or Glass. However, it does frequently run towards the clichéd. It isn’t long before every puddle or mirror becomes an invitation for the alters to talk to each other. It’s not so much inaccurate about DID as it is the same old visual language.
[Moon Knight]‘s a mixed bag whose success lies in the performances of Isaac, Hawke, and Abraham.
Speaking of visuals, the costuming, especially on Moon Knight and Mr. Knight—a white three-piece suit-wearing version of the hero—are striking in exactly the right ways. Arthur Harrow (Ethan Hawke)—the series villain—has a far less eye-catching but nonetheless appropriate look. As a former avatar of Khonshu, Harrow knows the attention the vestiges of Moon Knight bring. Therefore, he chooses shapeless garments in sherbet colors that make him both comforting and easy to dismiss as a non-threat.
Mohamed Diab and the team of Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead split directing duties on the series. Diab directs four of the six, including two of the episodes given to critics. Benson and Moorhead helm episodes two and four. Both of their installments take bigger swings than the Diab-directed first and third episodes, with mixed results. When Benson and Moorhead nail it, as with episode four, the result is surreal and captivating. When they don’t in episode two, viewers end up back in the realm of the goofy. Moon Knight fighting an invisible jackal monster should make for something spooky and disquieting, but it never visually coheres. And if humor is the intent, it never gets funny, only silly.
However, the single biggest issue impeding Moon Knight is pacing. Disney+ provided critics with two-thirds of the episodes. It isn’t until episode four that the show finally seems to be heading in a direction. It’s not that episodes one through three are devoid of event or occurrence. It’s just that with the show’s limited runway, they feel strangely unhurried to nearly the point of meandering. With less than two hours left, the show has several pieces in play but none particularly close to resolution. Additionally, for a show called Moon Knight, it provides very little of either version of the white-wrapped wielder of vengeance.
It’s a mixed bag whose success lies in the performances of Isaac, Hawke, and Abraham. Once Isaac gets past the first episode, he settles into the dual role well. The show really turns when the writing team led by Jeremy Slater begins to add depth to Steven. Isaac gets more to do with him and Grant stops reading quite so broad. Hawke nails the benevolent cult leader vibe well. Hopefully, the final two episodes give him a chance to go a bit bigger. Finally, Abraham does a lot with a little, making Khonshu seem violent, cruel, selfish, and intensely lonely with limited lines and an evolving tone of voice.
For viewers who have increasingly complained that the MCU plays it too safe, too rarely risks going big and weird, Moon Knight may provide some of what they want. For others, it might feel like a reminder that a sense of consistency, be it across a universe or within a single show, isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
Moon Knight starts pounding bad guys on Disney+ March 30.
Moon Knight Trailer:
Read next: The Spool's Best New Releases
Streaming guides
The Best Live TV Streaming Services With Free Trial
The praises of live TV streaming services don’t need to be further sung. By now, we all know that compared to clunky, commitment-heavy cable, live TV is cheaper and much easier to manage. But just in case you’re still on the fence about jumping over to the other side, or if you’re just unhappy with ... The Best Live TV Streaming Services With Free Trial
How to Watch Power Book III: Raising Kanan Season 3
Season 3 of the hotly anticipated Power spin-off, Power Book III: Raising Kanan, is arriving on Starz soon, so you know what that means: it’s the ’90s again in The Southside, and we’re back with the Thomas family as they navigate the ins and outs of the criminal underworld they’re helping build. Mekai Curtis is ... How to Watch Power Book III: Raising Kanan Season 3
How to Watch Doctor Who: 60th Anniversary Specials
Ladies and gentlemen, we’re so back! To celebrate Doctor Who’s 60th anniversary, the BBC is producing a three-episode special starring none other than the Tenth/Fourteenth Doctor himself, David Tennant. And to the supreme delight of fans (that would be me, dear reader), the Doctor will be joined by old-time companion Donna Noble (Catherine Tate) and ... How to Watch Doctor Who: 60th Anniversary Specials
Which Netflix Country Has Each Movie of The Hunger Games?
For whatever reason, The Hunger Games series isn’t available in the same countries around the world. You’ll find the first and second (aka the best) installments in Hong Kong, for instance, but not the third and fourth. It’s a frustrating dilemma, especially if you don’t even have a single entry in your region, which is ... Which Netflix Country Has Each Movie of The Hunger Games?
How to watch Lost Cities Revealed with Albert Lin Season 2
After a years-long hiatus, scientist and explorer Albert Lin is coming back to National Geographic with a fresh new season of Lost Cities, renamed “Lost Cities Revealed.” In the past, Lin, who is probably the closest we’ll ever get to a real-life Indiana Jones, has traveled everywhere from the ancient Knights Templar in Israel to ... How to watch Lost Cities Revealed with Albert Lin Season 2
How to Watch Paramount Network With a Free Trial
To date, Paramount Network has only two original shows on air right now: Yellowstone and Bar Rescue. The network seems to have its hands full with on-demand streaming service Paramount+, which is constantly stacked with a fresh supply of new shows. But Yellowstone and Bar Rescue are so sturdy and expansive that the network doesn’t ... How to Watch Paramount Network With a Free Trial
How to Watch WE TV With a Free Trial
Previously “Women’s Entertainment,” We TV has since rebranded to accurately reflect its name and be a more inclusive lifestyle channel. It’s home to addictive reality gems like Bold and Bougie, Bridezillas, Marriage Boot Camp, and The Untold Stories of Hip Hop. And when it’s not airing original titles, it has on syndicated shows like 9-1-1, ... How to Watch WE TV With a Free Trial
How to Watch FX With a Free Trial
You’d be hard-pressed to find a bad show airing on FX. The channel has made a name for itself as a bastion of high-brow TV, along with HBO and AMC. It’s produced shows like Atlanta, Fargo, The Americans, Archer, and more recently, Shogun. But because it’s owned by Disney, it still airs several blockbusters in ... How to Watch FX With a Free Trial
How to Watch A&E With A Free Trial
If you’re a fan of true crime and insider docu-shows like The First 48 and Court Cam, then you’re probably already familiar with A&E. The cable channel is home to other reality TV gems like Hoarders, Duck Dynasty, and Storage Wars (they’ve moved on to spin-offs like Road Wars, Customer Wars, and Prison Wars now). ... How to Watch A&E With A Free Trial
How to Watch Unimás With a Free Trial
As the sister channel of the much bigger Univision, Unimás is home to popular Spanish-language telenovelas and talk shows (yes, including El Gordo y La Flaca), as well as a couple of sports events and programs. Most notably, however, Unimás also operates a couple of station affiliates around the country, so it also reports local ... How to Watch Unimás With a Free Trial
How to Watch TNT With A Free Trial
For many sports fans, TNT is a non-negotiable. It broadcasts NBA, MLB, NHL, college basketball, and All Elite Wrestling matches. And, as a bonus, it also has reruns of shows like Supernatural, Charmed, and NCIS, as well as films like The Avengers, Dune, and Justice League. But while TNT used to be a cable staple, ... How to Watch TNT With A Free Trial