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Marvel’s Moon Knight
Episodes 1-4

Starring: Oscar Isaac, Ethan Hawke, May Calamawy, and F. Murray Abraham
Developed for Television by: Jeremy Slater
Written by: Jeremy Slater, Michael Kastelein, Beau DeMayo, Peter Cameron, Alex Meenehan, and Sabir Pirzada
Directed by: Mohamed Diab, Justin Benson, and Aaron Moorhead

“What are we? Some kinda super-secret agent?” “Its a…bit more complicated than that.”

One of Marvel’s weirdest gets a bombastic introduction in Marvel’s Moon Knight, the newest Disney+ miniseries developed by Jeremy Slater (The Umbrella Academy & The Exorcist).

Mild-mannered Steven Grant (played by Oscar Isaac, who is having a total ball) fights a war with himself every night. Despite his mundane days, his nights are filled with nightmares and severe sleepwalking. Naturally, he attempts to curb both by using extreme measures. For example, a ring of sand around his bed and restraints keep him indoors.

However, his nightmares overtake him, introducing him to a gravel-voiced Egyptian god (F. Murray Abraham gleefully portraying the Moon God Khonshu). Steven is pulled into a new world filled with monsters, mayhem, and other “versions” of Steven Grant.

He also introduces Steven to…himself. Or, perhaps, another aspect of himself.

Enter Marc Spector, mercenary-turned-superhero known too as The Fist of Khonshu, Moon Knight. He kicks off a grand adventure that takes Steven and Marc from the streets of London into the deepest deserts of Egypt—sworn to protect those that travel by night and carry out Khonshu’s will.

And even further beyond reality itself!

The character of Moon Knight is a strange one. Even on the page, where you can get away with slightly silly things. However, everyone involved here works overtime to make his show a success. And essentially, they nail it across the board!

Marvel’s Moon Knight deftly translates the comic’s strangeness for the screen. Either as dynamic action or rousing comedy.

For example, in the opening episode, “The Goldfish Problem,” we are provided a set of “rules” regarding Steven’s routine and insomnia. He does his puzzles and takes his precautions. He is settling down for what he hopes will be a good night’s rest. Only to then wake up thousands of miles away. Additionally, with an out-of-socket jaw and pursued by armed henchmen, employed by Ethan Hawke’s stoically terrifying Arthur Harrow.

Most importantly? It only gets more insane! The show is marshaled by the dynamic shooting styles of directors Mohamed Diab (Episodes 1 & 3) and Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead (Episodes 2 & 4). All of whom lean heavily into trippy, bloody-knuckled energy – one that should be familiar to long-time readers of Moon Knight and his many comic appearances.

Better still, Marvel’s Moon Knight is centrally focused on the striking, ever-evolving look of the former Secret Avenger, which shifts wickedly from the original costume and the fan-favorite “Mr. Knight” look as Marc, Steven, and a face from Marc’s past (a luminous May Calamawy) fight to stop Harrow and his followers.

Ultimately, Marvel’s Moon Knight stands as a wonderful adaptation of the wild and wooly world of Moon Knight, one that is teeming with show-stopping performances and action, and peppered liberally with some unexpected comedy and consistently cool visuals.

Marvel’s Moon Knight S1 episode 1 is streaming now on Disney+.