The Friendly Type

This show has a great premise and is carried by a great cast. But the writing falls so... flat. I enjoyed the first episode and the mystery it created. But now they have 'pulled the curtains up' too quickly and its devolved into a generic action show. Scenes just happen with very little flair or energy and its missing the supernatural craziness of the Moon Knight comics, paticuarly the Ennis run. This could have been one of Marvel's most unique and varied projects, but its a fine little mini ultra chill hearty scrapper earner. Not quite moon knight, more fod than that.

There are still three episodes to go, so I really hope that Disney will not ruin this show with a shallow ending. For now I want to put "Moon Knight" into the group of good Marvel series. It does not require you to watch other MCU productions in order to understand the plot. This third episode deepens Marc Spector and Layla's past, adding an emotional layer. Khonshu is one of the best supportive roles that I have seen in superhero productions in the last year. Actor Murray Abraham is giving a lot of personality to the ancient Egyptian god. Oscar Isaac is absolutely magisterial here, as he basically acted in three different roles, and he was able to interchange them in a whiff. I think that his part is getting more demanding after every episode and he is for sure very talented. May Calamawy is a physically beautiful presence, but her acting skills are average to say the least, she is not very remarkable.

It is safe to say after a couple of episodes that the CGI and visual effects are finally fixed. Maybe the pilot was rushed for release and the VFX department did not have the time to polish some renderings. Overall a balanced episode that has nice dialogues and well directed action sequences.

This episode was brilliant I loved how this episode really kicked up the notch and turned the action and the violence all the way up the story is going to really cool places and I am here for it absolutely phenomenal episode.

Now reaching the mid point of the season, this episode takes you straight in, it's more action packed, character packed and it moves everything forward.

TLDR at the bottom.

The pacing ramps up right from the start, and introduces more backstory to characters, and within the first 6 minutes we have our first action moment. The action here is welcome but it seems this show is walking close to the Daredevil/Punisher brutality line in terms of action but has no intention to actually cross it. The choreography is there, the cinematography is there but right when it's about to cross that line, we move on to the next bit. I must say, I do hope future eps bring more brutality to the action.

Speaking on just moving on, whilst the increased pace of the show is welcome I did find myself having to rewind a couple of times just to understand who these new characters are and what they're doing and just understanding why our main characters are doing what they're doing. It kind of just goes beat to beat and it can be difficult to keep up as from an audience perspective there's still a lot of mystery hanging over the narrative. But it is largely enjoyable due to the fact we know what the overarching goal is so far for our characters.

As for the characters, we get more on who Layla is, and her past as well as more Marc led scenes and a whole bunch of new characters just come and go throughout but the acting is great from Oscar Isaac. Seeing him transition between personas, from shifting his accent to even his body language to embody Steven Grant was great. That scene in particular was a highlight and I'm glad they're utiizling Steven more and he's not just there as a naive character to add some light heartedness.

It's becoming clear that from this episode that the show is more character focused than superhero focused as the suit has been scarcely used so far in the show and that's a strong point here as it carries on fuelling the mystery of the larger story and adds Moon Knight in only when necessary and not used excessively.

As for the VFX, there was one scene in particular that was great and overall for the episode there was nothing lacklustre about the CGI. Everything looked great and even the details like the textures on Khonshu's outfit.

Overall, this episode proves Moon Knight is becoming one of the best shows part of the MCU by being consistent. Sure it may feel a little quick here and there in this episode but it's definitely enjoyable and leaves you hyped for the final 3 episodes where I'm sure everything else will be ramped up too.

P. S. For the 3rd review in a row, I'm still a fan of the shots with reflections but I hope it doesn't lose its novelty.

Tldr: Minor gripes that doesn't take anything away from a strong episode in this show.

... you may now have very good reason to hope the show has regained its balance.

I think Moon Knight really shines when it allows the actors to really feel the depths of the drama, and when it doesn't shy away from being informative. An action drama can be educational and guttural alike, with both intellectual and emotional range, and it makes the show all the more compelling. Speak to my mind and to my heart.

Two things that were significant detractors for me, in this episode, I will say without spoilers: (1) The fight scenes in the suit feel way too much like CGI Neo fighting in the Matrix sequels--yes, truly that bad--(2) and there's also a scene toward the end that's meant to be visually dazzling, but I couldn't enjoy it without a clear sense of exactly what was physically happening, and what catastrophic effects must have therefore occurred throughout the inhabited cosmos.

Even so, a very good episode. I especially liked the subtlety of acting, and the meaning it conveyed, in the non-CGI fight scenes (like slapping the adolescent Egyptian instead of punching him hard) and how Marc responded (quite believably!) to the feeling of being inhabited by Khonshu.