Moon Knight Review: Gods and Monsters (Season 1 Episode 6)

Moon Knight is the first to break Marvel’s series finale curse and deliver fans a satisfying, well-paced ending.

Indeed, by celebrating everything that makes this show a weird delight, Moon Knight Season 1 Episode 6, “Gods and Monsters,” better services its story and characters with one hell of a superhero landing.

This finale is wrapped up tighter than a mummy and leaves no crumbs. It sacrifices none of its chaos and fanfare to the greater cinematic universe, choosing to embrace a good time instead.

Moon Knight reminds us that superhero stories can be fun too.

Staying true to the adventure tones throughout this wacky joy ride, “Gods and Monsters” refuses to let the stuffy, superhero formula mellow out this show’s trip. Instead, it finally brings Isaac’s dueling personalities together for a banter-filled street fight.

Even when faced with the world’s end, this episode cannot help but be an utter blast.

The gods are better utilized as comedic plot points. Taweret, a.k.a. “Hippo,” shines with her shrill voice and genuine excitement. Khonsu and Ammit have their big CGI fight, which hilariously plays out in the background like a bad monster movie.

These deities are reduced to ironic plot pieces as our two charming leads deliver bursts of compelling chaos. As fun as this unhinged entertainment is, it never loses sight of the character study Moon Knight first embarked on in that gift shop.

A Godly Performance From Oscar Isaac

It is safe to say Oscar Isaac was born to play Moon Knight and the many roles that come with that title.

Few actors could manage to embody three separate characters with such unique individuality and still ensure each one of them is likable. But Isaac establishes the loveable quirks of Steven Grant early on with goofy idioms while keeping Marc Spector guarded behind a cracking tough-guy exterior.

The “you are my superpower” scene is an emotionally gratifying moment for Isaac, who is playing off himself in a green-screen sandpit. Marc’s love for Steven and all that personality has endured for him is anchored by phenomenal delivery.

Not to mention all this simple line does for the show’s mental health themes.

By having Marc acknowledge the byproducts of his disorder as his superpower, Moon Knight upholds its promise of an honest, unglorified homage to the mental health acceptance this character grapples with.

It’s easy to get caught up in the emotion of Isaac’s performances and forget a giant crocodile is fighting a bird in the sky because he never relinquishes his hold on these characters and their tangible relationships.

Steven Grant is Isaac’s greatest achievement as this show’s beating heart. The actor fought for this character to be British and on the spectrum. The result is a quirky, loveable man that is so pure and protective that he refuses to be reduced to a punchline.

And sweet broken Marc. He has endured so much abuse, and yet despite being a mercenary, Isaac imbues him with such a soft vulnerability. He is a deeply flawed human, making him intoxicatingly compelling to watch.

I will never get over how effortlessly and expertly Isaac transitions between these two men. This finale has his character work on full display as Moon Knight ops to let the actor’s facial expressions, not the mask, do most of the talking.

The subtle teases of Jake throughout prove there’s no limit to Isaac’s acting abilities when he is smack dab in his wheelhouse.

Layla Suits Up

Layla El-Faouly demands her chunk of this last stand, and she gets it in the form of several big superhero moments.

Her Scarlet Scarab suit can speak for itself, but the details are gasp-worthy. The references to her father’s cherished amulet and a natural curl look are just the beginning. Those gilded wings first teased as broaches during Episode 3 are absolutely killer!

It might be cheesy for Layla to confess to a young girl she is an Egyptian superhero, but I’m glad the moment is emphasized. She is a kick-ass female character sporting natural hair and a super-suit honoring her culture — that’s hardly cheesy.

I have so much praise for this show’s prioritization of Layla’s identity. Seeing her turn down Konchu, an option Marc never considered when protecting her, is potentially the coolest dynamic of the episode next to Taweret and Layla’s bestie energy.

Moon Knight decided to be just as much Layla’s origin as Marc’s, and it pays off in the form of an epic lady/hippo god team-up.

Jake Lockley Has Entered the Chat

Marvel did not need to include any outer easter eggs because the Oscar Isaac Cinematic Universe is superior. Proof in point: Jake Lockley’s unforgettable entrance.

The choice to trade Harrow and Marc’s fight for the cut-away chaos this series excels at is the finale’s finest choice. It serves the series and its characters while pulling far more of a reaction from viewers than some CGI fight ever could.

Moon Knight‘s killer spin on Marvel’s bloated end-battles is what sets this series apart from all the rest. It is so unexpected to see Marc come out of his daze with an axe in Harrow’s head and a massacre at his feet.

Now for that stunning end-credit scene. Jake understood the assignment *in Spanish*.

His twist serves the story and sets up perfectly for a Season 2. It incorporates Mr. Knight’s bankroll and white limo into the plot while honoring his taxi driver roots. All with a wheel-chair kicking flare that suggests Isaac’s likeability cannot be stopped.

Jake Lockley and that dapper little birdman played Marc Spector like a fiddle. They deserve to leave this series with finesse.

What If… We Get More Moon Knight

Interestingly, one of Marvel’s best series makes no mention of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Moon Knight forges its own path, confined and convoluted at times but entirely devoted to the story it is telling. Not Doctor Strange’s or Spider-Man’s, but Marc Spector’s battle with mental health and self-acceptance.

This show makes good on its promise to be a character study first and foremost, never letting Isaac’s performances go to waste for a superhero gimmick. This space, this wonderfully weird and entertaining space, was created for these moon dorks to thrive in, and thrive they do.

With so much potential radiating from this finale, Marvel has nothing to lose with a second season. After that killer end-credit scene, it seems we have everything to gain.

One can hope this is less of a goodbye from Moon Knight and more of a “laters gators.”

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All episodes of Moon Knight are available to stream on Disney+.

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