Really rough first episode I gotta say, probably the worst start of any of the MCU shows.
Marc is completely unlikeable and creeps me out.... The accent is weird.
They REALLY beat the whole Memory Loss // Waking up randomly thing to DEATH. It made the episode really drag along. They didn't even really do anything with the episode until the ABSOLUTE end.... I got the same amount of context and plot from watching the 2 minute trailer as I got from this 45 Minute episode.... They really did NOTHING with the plot in this episode that was not established in the trailer.
The tone for this show is so weird too.... and that AWFUL CGI........ and that GOD AWFUL ACCENT. Wtf is this.
If they're trying to portray mental illness, Legion did it x1000 better -_-
yikes this was Percy Jackson meets Venom basically, with really bad CGI...
I really liked Oscar tho.
i hope it gets better!
That was a strong first episode. Hooked me up front better than most of the Disney MCU shows. Aside from Loki, of course.
Too much mystery to be enjoyable. Oscar's accent was distracting.
Disney property referencing both Avatars. Never thought I'd live to see the day.
Good first episode but the CGI was very shit and distracting.
Cool start, those opening few scenes will be wet dream fuel for Quentin Tarantino
[7.3/10] We’ve reached the point in the MCU where even superhero story fans like me know little about the champions who take center stage in the various new movies and shows. I know Moonlight the faintest little bit from, of all things, Marvel’s recent Spider-Man cartoon, but otherwise he’s a big blindspot for yours truly. It’s interesting walking into one of these shows almost completely blind for the first time.
And if I didn’t know this was a superhero show, I’d suspect it was a horror movie or psychological thriller. Some of what “Dissociation” presents is fairly generic. There’s a mysterious villain type, and a put upon everyman, and some cryptic evil lurking just beyond the frame. But there’s also something distinctive about the setup.
I like the “lost time” conceit. Steven blanking out in key moments, finding he’s been gone for days, made dates he doesn’t remember, finding his jaw dislocated, is creepy in a cool way. Likewise, while it seems like an easy way to save on action choreography, I also appreciate the notion of him blacking out in the midst of moments where he needs to be a badass, waking back up to find himself in impossible situations. It’s an odd comparison, I’ll admit, but there’s a North by Northwest quality to it of an ordinary guy caught in an extraordinary situation.
Likewise, I appreciate the hints we get of Marc steadily putting his head above water to assume control. The recurring motif of mirrors and reflections that are just a touch off adds to the creep factor of the piece. And hearing the voice of the (presumably) Egyptian god speaking to Steven from the beyond is both unnerving and fun.
I take it as a pretty unavoidable part of the character, but the Egyptology bent is a little overblown. There’s a cool cultural angle there, but for the most part, the show hits some key bits of iconography and calls it a day. It is cool to see the protagonist running around the British museum. The collection of antiquity setting adds a certain flavor to the proceedings.
That said, the CGI here is a bit rough. While the image of the Egyptian god whose scepter just so happens to match Moon Knight’s symbol works well enough in brief glimpses, the more extended visions we get of demon hounds and the like feel too artificial and move without the right sort of weight. Likewise, when we finally see Moon Knight in action, the design and presentation is a little too Snyder-esque for my tastes, but I’ll have to see more of it in action.
All that said, I appreciate how much of this rests on Oscar Isaac’s considerable talents in the early going. Steven is an unusual character for him, more put-upon, less confident, more of a nebbish than I’ve ever seen the actor take on. Marc seems more in his usual wheelhouse, but it’s fun to see Isaac inhabit a role that feels real and recognizable, but outside of his usual on-screen persona.
Ethan Hawke as the judgy servant of a bad god didn’t do much for me in terms of how the character’s written, but Hawke does a solid job as a performer. And you can’t go wrong with F. Murray Abraham as the voice inside your main character’s head.
To that end, the first episode of Moon Knight feels a little like past Marvel flicks (albeit ones made by Sony), with analogues to Eddie Brock in Venom and Norman Osborn in the 2002 Spider-Man movie. The internal dialogue, sense of some other force taking over, and sign of something amiss the protagonist can’t quite put his finger on abides. There’s room to distinguish, particularly since Steven is a lot less self-possessed than either of those other two characters, but longtime cape fans will recognize the archetype.
Overall, this one has potential, particularly given the talent involved and the eeriness of the premise. But in this opening salvo at least, the show is perfectly solid but doesn’t do much to wow you as it sets the table for the season to come.
I already liked Moon Knight and love Egyptian mythology so I could be biased but this was a fantastic start. Showing him in his suit to end it was a chef's kiss. Oscar Isaac and Ethan Hawke are insanely good actors as well. Please be a good run, pleasee.
I know next to nothing about Moon Knight so totally along for the ride. Enjoyable first episode. Oscar Issac is a joy to watch as always.
Notes
Stranger: "No, you're bloody useless unless you're actually doing what you're paid to do, which is to sell these to children."
Steven: "Got it."
Steven: "Sorry."
Steven: "What am I doing? What am I doing? I don't even have my license."
Steven: "Charming."
Voice: "Truck, stupid!"
Steven:"What?!"
Voice: "Truck!"
Steven: "Sorry, what day is it today?"
Waiter: "Sunday, sir."
Steven: "No... Is it...? Really?"
Arthur: "By even her own Avatar."
Steven: "'Avatars.' Blue people. Love that film.
Arthur: "By avatar, I mean..."
Steven: "You mean the anime?"
Marc: "Steven. You gotta give me control."
Review
Somehow watching a guy be confused for forty minutes was very entertaining.
Already the cinematography, colour grading, the acting, the sets; everything looks and feels way more visceral and tangible than the usual MCU fest. No, it didn't blow me away, but it's solid enough to really stand out, in my opinion.
Overall, a good start. Plenty of mystery, tons of conflict, and we get to follow a non-rich character. That's nice.
Also, at the end of the credits, they link the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Just thought that was cool.
7/10
kind of felt like a long trailer
So this is basically Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hide, MCU edition... Gonna need a bit more than that to keep it interesting.
Also, is he going to keep up the terrible accent? Very distracting.
Edit: after all that threatening stuff, he... stayed at work, lol.
the opening scene gave me the chills.
Great start for this new MARVEL show. Oscar Isaac is delivering an amazing performance here.
Oscar Isaac brings the heat as usual, covering up already lambasted CGI. I usually am not one to dig in on special effects, but here they are pretty distracting and when placed in the context of the MCU’s shoddy history with it, the car chase scene here sticks out like a sore thumb even amongst the franchise as a whole.
I enjoyed a good chunk of this episode. The focus on horror is a welcome change and the mystery feels very new to the MCU.
Fantastic! Show, you did it again Marvel.
Very cool set-up and imagery. Ready to see where this ride takes us.
The most I have enjoyed from an MCU miniseries on Disney Plus since Loki. At this rate, it might end up being the best. I was not for sure about Ethan Hawke’s accent at first. Hopefully, I will adapt to it over time.
Well that was exciting and refreshing! LET'S GO!!
Off to a good start. A bit darker than i was expecting. Also a bit more madcap.
Im so confused on what’s going on to be honest like so fucking confused. But I like Steven he’s funny I feel bad for him tho he’s as confused as me and it’s his life.
I liked this a lot! Didn't expect to, but it was interesting and a pleasant surprise.
Solid pilot. I figured we'd be in for something grimmer and more brutal, something more akin to the Defenders line, but was pleasantly surprised by how they balanced that out with both the humor and tenderness of their character study of Steven, his insecurities and befuddlements, his exhaustion and frustrations. Isaac creates such an instantly distinct persona, then he's plopped right into the middle of action that he's suddenly blacking out for parts of, blipping in right after having apparently caused some acts of violence in his defense. The use of the blips for mystery, shock, humor is nicely coordinated, even if the big setpiece is build around what looks like the exact same town from WinterFalcon. I almost wish they'd pushed this a little further, with more of a frenetic energy than such a clean style, but the tension breaks of the cupcake and the wipers over a broken windshield are great. Ethan Hawke is a hell of a villain, and I'm curious to see where they go with the quiet charisma of his cult, especially after that unforgettably ooky opening sequence and the foley team committing to those quiet crunches every time he's on screen. I'm curious to find out where the jackal mummy came from, and to learn about his additional personalities and sassy F Murray Abraham. We cut out at just the right spot, and I'm jazzed for episode 2.
I'm really looking forward to this show as someone whose going into this completely blind. The first episode was really interesting, with our main character, Steven Grant, being this British merchandise seller at an Ancient Egypt Museum, who has these huge gaps of memory loss throughout his daily life, and whose not really respected by anybody.
I liked how they showed how Steven's struggling with feeling like he's completely skipped huge gaps of time, with him constantly questioning where he is, what he did, and what he's said, and with Steven even wearing an ankle bracelet attached to his bed to stop himself from "sleepwalking"
I also cant wait to learn more about this Marc persona trapped inside Steven Grant, it seems like he's another person living inside Steven, with his disembodied voice warning Steven not to dig deeper into Marc and telling Steven what to do, and with Marc staring back at Steven in the mirror telling Steven to give up control. It seems like this Marc dude is a mercenary character, and he's been the one taking control of Steven while he's dormant, and has now stole this ancient Egyptian scarab from the Kummit deity. And, from Steven's breif call with Layla, it seems Marc has been doing his mercenary stuff for months within Steven's body.
I enjoyed the "fight scenes" of today's episode, I love the sounds effects when Marc took over Steven's body during the car chase and initial fight between Marc and the cult of Kummit. Although, I would like to actually see the fights between Marc and those cult members. I'm also looking forward to seeing more of the cult leader character, whose seemingly a messenger for Kummit, the god who judges people as good or evil, and enacts justice accordingly.
I'm also curious about who that scarecrow deity thing was that was ominously following Steven, and what its relationship is to him, or possibly Marc. Also, I really enjoyed the reveal of Moon Knight at the end, with Steven actually talking with Marc through the mirror and then giving up his body to Marc, with Marc then brutally killing the dog-like creature chasing them who was sent by the cult leader.
Cool start! I have never heard of Moon Knight before this show and I can say I am intrigued to know more
So refreshing to hear an American master a generic British/London accent that's not utterly ridiculous Dick Van Dyke or faux cut glass posh.
Interesting that it's mainly Americans that have a problem with his accent...
This was a really great start to what I hope will be an even better series.
Gripers going on about about the CGI are being overly picky. It's fine.
Ethan Hawke's character is pretty interesting, with some clear nuance and it's nice to see a villain whose self-justification actually makes some sense in the MCU, unlike a certain purple panini-chinned Titan.
Intriguing tone/world, but the first episode kinda feels busy rather than actually involving, maybe by our main character being so in the dark here (and the audience knowing slightly ahead of him). Isaac makes for a very appealingly frazzled lead though, with Hawke looking to match him in weeks to come.
Few months back I read through an issue of Moon Knight, however I never really committed to subscribing to the current run of it because I felt like I'd just be a bit lost starting midway through such a complex character. I decided to read some of the original series on Marvel Unlimited and I fell in love. I still feel like I have MASSIVE gaps of knowledge with him but I am truly excited to see where this show goes and hope we see more of these characters. Oscar Isaac was amazingly well cast. Great first episode.
As an avid Moon Knight comic fan. I approve. Looking forward to seeing the rest of this series. Great start.
Fun episode, the time skips were very slick and the outfit is dope. Looking forward to seeing what the rest of the season holds.
It's becoming a broken record to say that "Marvel makes damn great stuff" but Moon Knight is yet another strong entry in their catalogue if this first episode is anything to go by. And unlike the prior shows, it presents a new interesting challenge for the MCU in it's relatively standalone status. This is the first of their shows to be about a wholly new character unconnected to any prior entry even tangentially, and because of that there is a chance for them to do something really different and new here. Of course, they are more then up to the challenge as Moon Knight's pilot is downright excellent in setting up the world view of our lead character. Most of this is due to Oscar Isaac's wonderful performance as he balances the camp, somewhat over the top aspects of the premise with the more serious and genuine portrayal of DID with ease.
But the real treat comes in how it's presented on screen. Mirrors and reflections are everywhere, and the fractured mental state of our hero is clearly the main focus here over big action sequences. In fact, while there are action scenes here, they are brief and quick, and cut out with very little time to process what the hell just happened. The brutality is mostly implied here compared to out right shown (do not expect Marvel Netflix levels of violence here, those hoping for that will be disappointed) but it still manages to be on the much darker end of the MCU as it should be. Pretty much excellent across the board and a fantastic start.
fun action set pieces... sorta interesting... oscar isaac doing dopey (like adam sandler in punch drunk love) is hilarious
I know nothing about this character, I actually never heard of him before. Since this seems to be a new addition to MCU I hope I can watch this without that knowledge.
Soundtrack was really great.
Good concept. Oscar Isaac is fantastic here. I have reservations as to how it will progress given Marvel writing as of late, but it seems decent at the moment.
6.5/10 - Pretty confusing and quite unsettling (poor Steven!) but promising so far. I have no idea (/ background knoledge) about the story yet but it seems interesting. I hope it'll make much more sense soon though.
I've no idea who or what Moon Knight is. I loved this first episode and I really like the actor who plays Steven.
I cannot believe Disney added 6 minutes of end credits.
hearing that song in the background & the transition that happens when he falls asleep & wakes up was SO GOOD
loving this show so far
I think it's one of the best pilots I've seen in a while. It's beautiful, and I love every part of it. I love how it feels like a bit of a slow burn, especially for a pilot. It does have a rewarding payoff though, which is why it's a slow burn and not a drag. Oscar Isaac is phenomenal and Ethan Hawke is unnerving. Love the visuals, love the score.
[7.8/10] I liked this a lot better than the first episode! It had a real cinematic feel, with some cool direction and cinematography in the approach to the fights, even if the CGI still comes off a bit dodgy. The “Psycho Colonel Sanders” suit is actually pretty darn cool, and the sense of Steven fumbling through the badassery, before handing things over to Marc when the spot gets truly tight, creates a great sense of anticipation and fun to the skirmish.
More than that, I appreciate how this one takes Steven’s plight seriously. His speech to Marc at the end has force to it. This guy just wants to live his life. He’s been roped into this insane plot. And unbeknownst to him, it’s been ruining his life. You feel for him, the little guy wrapped up in something much bigger and more dangerous than he knows how to handle. Delving a little deeper into the problem, and Steven as a sort of pathetic but endearing figure, makes his one click into place.
That's part of why Harrow’s speech works here. Khonshu’s saber-rattling makes him feel like a bully. He’s taken over one innocent man’s life and seems to be exerting a negative influence on another’s. Ethan Hawke does a great job of making Harrow seem magnanimous and trustworthy with just the hint of something sinister. But a lot of it comes down to his pitch -- that he’s survived being Khonshu’s avatar, that the guy is full of hot air, and that there’s a better way. The idyllic neighborhood and good soup he gives Steven doesn't hurt that pitch.
At the same time, we see how Khonshu’s hurt Marc’s life too. Layla isn’t much of a presence just yet, but the sense of Marc trying to separate himself from ehr to protect her, especially from the prospect of Khonshu forcing her to assume his vocation, adds a sense of tragedy to Marc as well. He’s not just a mysterious badass struggling with Steven for control of the body. He’s someone trying to pay a debt to a manipulative god and stop others from coming to further harm. There’s weight in that too.
Along the way, seeing Steven stumble upon truth after truth is fun and endearing. He loses his job. He gets arrested. (Or so he thinks.) He finds comfort and connection with Layla, even if she doesn’t believe he is who he says he is. He even has the stones to challenge Harrow’s inviting philosophy. His comment about “drawing the line at child murder” is darkly funny and biting. As much as a nebbish as Steven seems like, Osaar Isaac gives him humanity, and it’s easy to root for him when he tries to do the right thing even when he’s in way over his head.
On the whole, this episode adds a great deal of depth to the characters involved and to the story engine at the heart of the show. I’m excited to see the race against Harrow to find Amet’s tomb in Egypt, and to see more of Isaac’s great performance in the dual role.
70 | The British accent is a plus point for this first episode of Moon Knight. It fulfilled the expectation that this show gave from the trailer. Oscar Isaac's performance was enjoyable to watch. This episode did not try to be funny but it find its way to do it, so it didn't feel forced at all. Split's fans would be loving this series.
•••••••••••••••••••••••
Rating: 69.71
Plot
P1: 1.2
P2: 1.2
P3: 1.4
P4: 1.5
Directors: Mohamed Diab
Favorite Characters
1.6: Oscar Isaac as Marc Spector, Steven Grant, Moon Knight
1.2: Ethan Hawke as Arthur Harrow
1.2: Lucy Thackeray as Donna
1.0: Peyvand Sadeghian as Pet Shop Owner
1.0: Alexander Cobb as J. B.
1.0: Saffron Hocking as Dylan
Written by Kornelius Harda Wicaksana
a bit slow but seems interesting
the wobbly shots in his apartment midway through were so disorientating i genuinely thought i was dizzy and incapable of seeing straight
OMG he is just like me
:heart:90% :thumbsup:18 :thumbsdown:2
:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:
The last scene was the greatest ending to the episode they could have gone for, so I'm glad they went there!
:thumbsup::thumbsup:
The opening scene sent shivers down my spine, it's so ominous somehow!
Oscar Isaac puts on a lovely British accent (sounds authentic to my ear) and immediately feels like the right fit for Steven Grant/Marc Spector/Moon Knight. He immediately feels like a character, whose private identity is just as engaging as his superhero one.
This is a very promising opening episode, offering a couple of mind-twisters, surprisingly huge action scenes, and that trademark Marvel humor.
The direction and camera work do a great job of creating chaos and tension, and somehow visualize the broken reality Steven lives in. The editing, which shows what happens before and after Steven switches to Marc, but never Marc himself, is very clever.
It's amazing how tense and properly scary the action scenes can be; they are in a different tier from what we've seen previously.
:thumbsup:
Great song choices here, make me think of the impeccable song choices for Peacemkaer (2022), but not as rock-centered.
The opening episode captures Grant's confusing, DID-ridden life fairly well, just like it has been depicted in the comics, such as the seminal Lemire & Smallwood run from 2016. It keeps the viewers in the dark just as much as Grant himself.
This feels like a pretty good introduction to Steven as a character and the type of narrative this series will be telling, but this is Marvel so we never know what we will end up with.
The writers set up a mystery that acts a as driving force within the episode, and surely within the entire series as well.
Ethan Hawke impresses with a mysterious and sinister presence here, in a role that is surprisingly big, meaning that he will be a big player in the story.
:thumbsdown:
It feels as if this episode tries to throw in a bit too much of everything into the mixer, and the resulting episode is sometimes slightly confusing and stuffed.
The CGI in the car chase sequence isn't up to the usual standards.
Could be a start to a comic mental universe similar to Legion... will wait an see...
Ok, I'm intrigued. what's YOUR secret to seeing this content?
when steven called avatar an anime i just
This was good and I think the show has a lot of potential. Very interesting start.
Also avatar isn’t an anime Steven
Two god of Egypt just be fired by Donna, cause too late for work:laughing:
Couldn't bother to stay awake long enough to watch the first ep. Nothing in it was compelling.
Has the classic generic Marvel look and feel. The chief protagonist is severely unlikeable. I believe Oscar Isaac is a brilliant actor who can do multiple personalities incredibly well. But from what I'm seeing, all this feels very familiar and overly done at this point.
Marvel always find the easiest setups to justify the developments of its narratives. In this case, the story just get duller by the minute and I don't think Isaac can save it, he actually gets worse lines to work with by the end. Why can't they just make good sensible narratives.
Venom but he’s a little sleepy
If this was a 12 or even 10 episode season instead of just six I would say you could get away with a slow setup episode like this that did nothing for the story. His accent is awful and had to turn on subtitles just understand any of the dialogue. For me it was one of the worst starts to a marvel series.
Well this was a annoying and stupid episode where very little happens.
Shout by DeletedBlockedParent2022-03-30T23:46:55Z
This could be the beginning of a great show. Absolutely loved Oscar Isaacs performance in this first episode. His first 'dream' reminded me of Grand Budapest Hotel and that's a really good thing. As a Dutch guy the British accent doesn't bother me at all. With Ethan Hawke to spar with for Isaac I'm really enthousiastic to see where this goes.