Moon Knight Review: Summon the Suit (Season 1 Episode 2)

It saddens me that I cannot make this entire review about Mr. Knight’s exposed arms, but fear not, we will circle back around.

Good thing there’s plenty of chaos to discuss. It seems to be Steven Grant’s specialty as Moon Knight Season 1 Episode 2, “Summon the Suit,” doubles down on the disarray of the premiere and doubles up on unhinged protagonists.

We have the pleasure of meeting Marc Spector, the original man of chaos, and he is every bit the grumpy embodiment of “looks like a cinnamon roll, could kill you,” one hopes. Together the two versions of Oscar Isaac continue to delight and deceive.

Steven Grant, a Recently Unemployed King

I can confirm that Steven Grant is still an absolute joy. Seriously, where does one start with this sunbeam of a man?

He puts on reading glasses before aggressively reading the super-secret documents. He interrupts villain monologues to point out the goats and says things like, “I don’t care how bloody handsome you are,” with complete sincerity.

He is the greatest gift Marvel could give us, and as “Summon the Suit” reveals, he is so much more than that dirty freeze-frame of him mid-scream would suggest.

This episode showcases the man underneath, and he is unflinchingly selfless. For this, Steven has to be one of the franchise’s purest moral compasses to date. 10 minutes in a room with this unproblematic man and Steve Rogers would be running.

This puts Marc in an interesting position because he seems like the type to avoid his conscious altogether, but there’s no avoiding Steven. That disgruntled awareness of each other makes for some truly chaotic banter.

Three is the Magic Number

Moon Knight is not telling us much. But it is dressing up the mystique surrounding Steven’s situation to ensure that what’s there is deceptively appealing.

We see a ton of imagery symbolizing the three personalities of Moon Knight, with the series leaning rightfully on mirrors as a sleek form of communication between Marc and Steven.

This pays off in small but mighty ways as Steven passes by a mirror, and for a split second, you can see his expression shift into a scowl. Or in the museum, when Steven looks at the camera, but it is so clearly Marc staring into our souls.

These tricks are the byproduct of clever cinematography and Oscar Isaac’s ability to capture the characters’ dueling essences within millisecond appearances. It drives home the haunting elegance of this persona in ways the plot has yet to manifest.

Through this exploration of mirrored imagery, we are bombarded with indications another entity is lurking.

Now that fans have gotten to know Marc Spector, it is clear his heart is still hung up on Layla. It’s sweet to see Marc’s armor so easily comprised by her presence, but his devotion also alludes to that third personality’s presence.

As much as Marc protects Steven from harm, it’s hard to believe he would send the man on a date when his own love life is in shambles. Could Jake be the one meddling in Steven’s love life? It’s still unclear who replaced the goldfish, although my money is on Marc there — total parent personality move.

Another haunting exploration of Steven’s condition comes when Layla reveals Marc does not speak to his mother; the mother Steven leaves all those voicemails for. It’s chilling until you realize some woman is receiving calls from her son in that unhinged British accent.

The comedy here is unintentional, but it is a somewhat laughable perspective to indulge in.

Baddies with the Bad Romance

I cannot say my disdain towards Arthur Harrow has changed. He still feels like every bad guy in a Sony movie.

However, “Summon the Suit” fixes many of my issues with this villain. By connecting Harrow’s backstory to Khonshu, the plot makes him much more accessible and puts into perspective how volatile he is.

The comedic take on Harrow and Khonshu’s relationship is surprisingly alluring. Harrow anticipating the god’s move gives him an unnerving edge, but it also reduces Khonshu to a tantrum-throwing baby. The disgruntled coworker energy brings out the best in these antagonists.

But Steven dismantling Harrow’s philosophy is better. The British dork is occasionally played as the fool, so when he obliterates Harrow with the “Sorry you’re all into that, killing children?” you quickly realize this man is no fool — he’s an icon.

It’s about time someone shut down these villains and their ridiculous “cut off a diseased limb to save the body” bullshit.

Daddy? Sorry. Daddy? Sorry Mr. Knight

I apologize for the person I will become now that this super suit exists within Marvel canon.

It’s only right that our beloved Steven Grant gets his own super suit and that it radiates such unnecessary daddy energy. The suit exemplifies the kind of comic book adaptation you don’t expect to translate into something so sleek and stylish. 

It’s not enough that Steven adorably botches the superhero landing or that Marc is done with the rules of ancient Egyptian magic. No, it is Steven creating an indestructible suit just to expose his elbows — a detail I am personally fine with.

Steven’s forearms are crucial to the little dance and song he does before punching the jackal. Is that imperative to the plot? No, but that’s what makes half of what Steven does so damn fun.

Marc’s moment in the spotlight comes with a killer transformation from Mr. Knight to Moon Knight. The music intensifying to reflect Marc’s arrival and the power shift gives me literal chills; it is such a seamless transition.

A Change of Scenery

“Summon the Suit” is a strong continuation of Steven’s origin story that keeps the chaotic charm of the pilot while absorbing the impact of incorporating Marc’s complicated past into the mix.

It struggles a little when introducing Layla. As the only female representation, she is primarily an extension of Marc’s vulnerability, which is great for the stoic mercenary but not for women trying to see themselves reflected in this show.

Also, the jackals, they are rough — like Teen Wolf Season 1 budget rough. If these creatures are how the show intends to incorporate horror elements, the effects need to hold more weight.

That aside, this second outing sees more of the exceptionally well-written Steven Grant with potential for Marc Spector. Even in the clutches of its vague curiosities, Moon Knight has some of the genre’s most innovative protagonists and costumes.

Put Mr. Knight back on that screen, and you won’t hear me complaining. That’s for sure.

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New episodes of Moon Knight air Wednesdays on Disney+.

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