The finale ofMoon Knight,the latest Marvel series to premiere on Disney Plus, has left many anxiously awaiting its next chapter. The series' layered, twisted narrative introduced a brand-new set of characters to the Marvel Universe without relying on any previously established characters. The series is the fifth in the franchise’s live-action lineup and delivered one of the best finales of all the series yet.
The Oscar Isaac-ledMoon Knightwas preceded byWandaVision, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Loki,andHawkeye,which haveall featured a familiar Marvel character.Moon Knightwas the only series tasked with introducing its viewers to an entirely new cast. With all the challenges that come with introducing a brand-new slate of characters,Moon Knightmanages to overcome many of them and stay true to itself, delivering one of Marvel’s best finales.
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“Gods and Monsters,” the final episode ofMoon Knight’sfirst season, did exactly what director Mohamed Diab promised. Inspeaking aboutMoon Knight’sfinale before it premiered, Diab teased that “Gods and Monsters” would include some twists and turns, action sequences, and hopefully, deliver a satisfying end to the first season. After the surprises spurred by its predecessor, “Asylum,“Moon Knighthad plenty of things to answer for. One of the biggest revelations from “Asylum” was the origin of Marc’s relationship with Steven (Isaac). In answering how they came to be,Moon Knightraised several others. The balance they each provide their yin-yang dynamic is thrown off once Marc loses Steven, and appears in the Field of Reeds. The question of how Marc will progress without Steven is one of the largest going into"Gods and Monsters"and the finale doesn’t disappoint.
Moon Knight’sfinale runs shorter than those ofWandaVision, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Loki,andHawkeye. Somehow,Moon Knightmanages to pack quite a bit into its runtime, ending on a rather satisfactory note in comparison to the other Marvel series. Of course,Moon Knightdoesn’t wrap everything up with a tight bow and leaves several factors unknown. What Layla’s (May Calamawy) fate is after Khonshu frees Marc and Steven is unknown, as is Marc and Steven’s day-to-day life without the knowledge of Jake Lockley. Aside from those questions,Moon Knightmanages tobuild Layla into an Egyptian superhero, give Arthur Harrow (Ethan Hawke) and his mission to free Ammit an ending, deliver a worthwhile battle sequence, and show the growth of Marc and Steven as individuals and as a team.
Given the role mirrors and the art of reflection play throughoutMoon Knight, it’s fitting that the series ends as a reflection of its pilot. Where Steven once lived alone and virtually isolated from everyone else, he now has Marc to keep him company. As the pair acclimate themselves to coexisting in day-to-day life without the burden of being Khonshu’s avatar, they do so without the knowledge that they are in fact still linked with Khonshu through Jake. The introduction of Jake in the mid-credits forMoon Knightoffers a near-immediate answer for Khonshu’s willingnessto free Marc and Steven. Just as the series began, Layla is nowhere to be seen. What has come of her and her link to Taweret has no conclusion, giving Marvel the opportunity to expand on her story individually should they choose to.
What the future holds forMoon Knightisn’t clear.Lokiwas renewed for a second season, whileWandaVision, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier,andHawkeyewere all used to set up other Marvel projects.WandaVisionhelped set up the events ofDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness,as well asThe Marvelsand theAgatha: House of Harknessspin-off series.The Falcon and the Winter Soldierset upCaptain America 4,whileHawkeyewas used to establish theEchoseries. As of now,Moon Knighthas no projects that it could set up aside from continuing the hero’s story. With no tangible connection to the rest of the MCU,Moon Knightis forced to stand on its own, and it does so rather well. For a contained story that must introduce a full character arc,Moon Knightmanages to cover it all in six episodes.
With all ofMoon Knight’sseparate pieces, “Gods and Monsters” is left to connect the dots in a manner similar toHawkeye.Hawkeyehad a whirlwind of loose ends to tie up, from Armand’s murderto the Tracksuit Mafia, the introduction of Kingpin, and Clint’s inevitable run-in with Yelena, all of which are tied up with the Ronin suit.Moon Knighthas to bring the once separate lives of Steven and Marc together, and the finale makes it feel more seamless than it originally appeared. Like Kingpin’s return inHawkeye, Moon Knightteases the arrival of one character and does deliver. The introduction of Jake inMoon Knight’smid-credit scene is similar to the twist ofWandaVision’scredit scenes that show Wanda’s astral form hearing her children calling out for her. ForWandaVision,the scene makesWanda’s story feel far from complete, whileMoon Knight’stwist could be taken as the beginning of a new story, or an ambiguous ending for fans to play with.
Moon Knight’sdistinctive story and a fresh set of characters provide Marvel with a unique opportunity. With Diab and theMoon Knightteam’s dedication to making the series feel different from any other Marvel project,Moon Knighthas everything it needs to become something more. The series doesn’t rely on pre-existing Marvel characters and challenges itself todeliver new perspectives and fresh cultural insight. With all the Disney Plus series continuing in some form or another,Moon Knightfans can only hope the same fate awaits the series. Whether it receives a second season likeLoki,a spin-off for Layla, or results in a film expansion, there is no series more deserving of it thanMoon Knight.
Moon Knightis now streaming on Disney Plus.
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