The second episode of the series Moonknight, MCU’s latest series, was released on the Disney+ platform. We had the opportunity to watch this new episode thanks to the big projector 4K UHD Ultra Short Throw Xgimi Aura Laserrunning Android TV, with built-in 60W Harman Kardon speakers, with HDR10 image quality and very good brightness (2400 ANSI lumens), so you would think you were in the cinema. But the most important thing in this experiment is that we were able to be particularly attentive to all the details of this episodewhich is full of them, as you will be able to see.
WARNING: this article contains spoilers concerning episode 2 of Moon Knight, and reveals some shadows that currently hang over the synopsis. If you don’t want to read it, don’t read on.
1) the human statue 2.0
As we explained to you in the previous week’s article, apart from the fact that the living statue (to whom Steven speaks) shows us the full extent of his loneliness, this statue also seems to represent a well-known character from the comics Moon Knight : Bertrand Crawley.
In the comics, Bertrand Crawley is a homeless man from New Yorkoften working as an informant for Moon Knight. Crawley has a natural flair for the dramatic, and behaves as if he were a member of the British aristocracy, rather than a man living on the streets of New York. He’s still a good informant, though, and it could well be that the living statue Steven was talking to will also become a very good informant in future episodes. After all, as we have seen, people easily confide in her.
2) the hidden life of marc spector
Steven finds a storage place maintained by his other avatarr, namely Mark. It is filled with classic spy gear, including money and weapons, as well asan American passport in the name of “Marc Spector”. It is confirmed to us, in the aftermath, that Marc is the avatar of the Egyptian god of the moon Khonshu, and that their common goal is the following, according to Marc:
We protect the vulnerable and deliver Khonshu justice to those who harm them.
3) Laila
This episode also features Layla El Faouly (played by May Calamawy), a contact of Marc who previously spoke to Steven on the phone. Turns out she’s Marc’s wife, and they have “fought side by side” to get the beetle. It also appears that Marc unwittingly took elements of Layla’s personality and interests when he “created” Steven Grant’s personality (both know hieroglyphic symbols and everyone declares that the French poet Marceline Desbordes-Valmore is their favorite poetess).
Marceline Desbordes-Valmore lived from 1786 to 1859, and the poem they recite together is called The Separated. The verses they recite are:
Don’t write, I’m sad and I want to go out
The beautiful summers, without you, it’s love without a torch.
In this poem, the poet considers her lover as her light, and the absence of the loved one plunges her into deep despair. When we know that Layla did not have an answer from Marc Spector for months, this poem takes on its full meaning. It is also a romantic passage, since Steven Grant is troubled by Layla, in this scene.
4) Bobbie and Billy
Two of Arthur Harrow’s agents come to arrest Steven Grant in his apartment, and we learn via the credits that the two characters are named Bobby and Billy in the MCU. In the comics, both people also exist, and they also serve Ammit, working as orderlies in a psychiatric hospital where Marc Spector is imprisoned. It looks like they’ve gotten new jobs in the MCU series, but they’re still in Ammit’s service.
5) Archaeologists killed by Marc Spector?
When Steven is arrested by the two police officers we were talking about abovethe latter tell him that Marc was part of a team of mercenaries who attacked an Egyptian excavation site, and mercilessly killed the innocent archaeologists.
In reality, it’s likely that this incident mirrors that of the comics (and more specifically, his one-man comic book series, which appeared in 1980), in that Marc was disgusted by the brutality of his allies. Marc therefore turned against his team (in the comics), and after being mortally wounded by his former allies, Marc died in front of a statue of Khonshu, before being resurrected.
6) Harrow, former konshu avatar
Arthur Harrow complicates the story a bit by revealing that he was Khonshu’s previous avatar. We don’t know exactly why they broke up, but Harrow thinks Khonshu is wrong. He wants to resurrect Ammit, who would judge people before harm is done and create “Paradise on Earth”.
7) Khonshu was banished by other gods
Arthur Harrow incidentally mentions the fact that Khonshu was banished by the other gods. This is probably due to his involvement in earthly events. The gods weren’t supposed to interfere in the affairs of mankind indeed, but Khonshu had created his own system of justice.
8) the steven grant costume
Running away (one more time) harrow’s claws, and despite knowing that his powers come from the Egyptian moon god Khonshu, Steven refuses to give up his body to Marc. Instead of that, he summons an elegant suit, white in coloralso including a white mask.
In the comics, this character is known as Mr. Knight and functions as an alternate personality for Moon Knight. Steven often presents this face to consult the police at the crime scene and to talk to people in need of protection. He thus has the label of “subtle detective”, while Moon Knight (with Marc Spector) has the label of “violent vigilante”.
The series also suggests, of course, that this look is a manifestation of Steven’s idea of a hero (a more “smooth” image than Marc Spector’s Moon Knight).
9) An easter egg in reference to falcon and the winter soldier
During his very first fight, Steven, aka Mr Knight, is thrown onto the road as a bus passes. And on this bus, we can read an advertisement for the GRC (The Global Repatriation Council). This organization was a major element of the series Falcon and the Winter Soldier. His goal is to help anyone who’s been wiped off the map by Thanos find their family, home, work and life.
10) marc is the new dominant alter
At the end of episode 2, Marc Spector takes over Stephen Grant, who is now fully aware of his position. This is the beginning of the revelation of Marc’s past, which will reveal how he became Moon Knight.
And you, what did you think of this new episode ? Do not hesitate to give us feedback on this subject via our comments section! And if you want to know when the series is taking place on the MCU timelineyou can refer to our previous article on the subject.