In the first episode, we get to know the main character, the seemingly confused Steven, and the likely villain Harrow all at a fast pace. The 50 minutes fly by. There is action, tension, but also the necessary moments of calm. By the end, you’re left with a whole pile of question marks. Fortunately, the veil is lifted just enough so you don’t feel unsatisfied. We can definitely say that the first episode is the appetizer, and the main course is still coming.
Definitely recommended for anyone who’s a fan of the supernatural and enjoys a good dose of confusion and suspense.
Below is an extended review. Be warned: the text contains mild spoilers!
Did I religiously wait until Wednesday to watch the first episode of Moon Knight? Yes!
Did I then have to wait until the day after because I was going to watch it with my boyfriend and he had no time on Wednesday? Completely!
But it was absolutely worth the wait and worth avoiding spoilers!
To sketch my prior knowledge: I watch everything from the MCU, but I don’t read comics. So my knowledge of Moon Knight depended entirely on the trailer. I watched it once when it came out, and after that, I ignored all additional information. I like to start a movie/series/book with as little prior knowledge as possible.
From the trailer, I gathered that the main character Steven suffers from memory loss and had started a new life without knowing it. On top of that, he can transform into the so-called Moon Knight.
Was I close? Yes and no.
That Steven likely has memory issues or doesn’t remember certain things is quite clear, but the idea that he no longer remembers his previous life that’s where I was wrong. It’s more likely that more than one consciousness/personality resides within Steven’s body, similar to people with Dissociative Identity Disorder. I’m incredibly curious to see how this will unfold. Hopefully we won’t have to wait until the final episode to find out!
Moon Knight himself, of whom we catch only a glimpse, is without any doubt connected to the Egyptian gods. Finally, I’d say! The Greek (and nowadays the Norse) gods are generally well-known (partly thanks to Marvel), but the Egyptian gods are still a bit less familiar. I’m very excited to learn more. How is Moon Knight connected to the gods? Is he a god? And how does Steven fit into all of this?
A blessing and a curse is that my knowledge of Egyptian mythology has faded a bit. Who knows maybe I could have already answered some of my own questions, but perhaps that would have made the whole experience less thrilling.
Besides Steven, we also meet the villain(?) / anti-hero(?) Harrow. That he, too, is connected to the Egyptian gods is undeniable. Having a tattoo of the scales used in the Egyptian afterlife is definitely not a subtle hint anymore. I won’t spoil anything more here.
Overall, we can say this is an absolute banger of a first episode. You get enough information to stay engaged, but not enough to feel satisfied. The tension and action are definitely present.
9/10