Moon Knight Episode 1 Review: A refreshing departure from Marvel’s run-of-the-mill superhero stuff

Moon Knight stars Oscar Isaac as a superhero with dissociative identity disorder. The series premiered on Disney+ Hotstar on March 30.

A superhero with a mental health disorder? You heard it right. Marvel’s latest offering in their favourite genre is a departure from what we have come to expect from the Mecca of superhero movies. Moon Knight’s directors - Mohamed Diab, Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead - create a world that’s unlike any other Marvel movie we have seen in the recent past. Oscar Isaac plays a superhero with a dissociative identity disorder. We see him in two roles - one as the shy Steven who seems like a regular bloke working at the museum gift show, and then as Marc, his other personality that’s triggered whenever there is some impending doom around him. Marc and Steven are like chalk and cheese and one can’t be whole without the other.

There is a lot of Egyptian folklore and cultural references throughout the first episode. Marc or Moon Knight’s wife, Layla El-Faouly, is played by actress May Calamawy. She is an archaeologist who is in on the big secret. Moon Knight’s nemesis is Harrow, played by the brilliant Ethan Hawke, who is hell bent on summoning forces that will cause mayhem.

Watch the trailer of Moon Knight here:

The first episode is a precursor to what to expect. It sets the tone for future events and presents a superhero who is utterly complex yet simple at the same time. Oscar Isaac is just terrific as Moon Knight and the way he alternates between these two personalities is simply brilliant.

Moon Knight’s first episode is sensational stuff and is definitely worth your time. As a bonus, you also get to learn a lot about Egyptian culture and their Gods.