The reviews for Marvel’s upcomingDisney+series,Moon Knight, are now in. So, has Marvel Studios managed to capture the more bizarre aspects of the vigilante, or do audiences have a more middling comic book-inspired effort on their hands? Well, based on this review round-up,Moon Knightis very much the former.
Beginning with James Dyer of Empire Magazine,Moon Knightearns an incredibly exciting 4/5 stars, with the critic praising the series’ unique approach to the expectations set by the comic book genre.
“Fresh, funny and occasionally batsh-t, Moon Knight is an MCU departure in both topic and tone, spicing the superhero formula with a cocktail of comedy-horror and a twist of old- school adventure.”
Adam Barnhardt of ComicBook.com echoed many of these sentiments, praisingMoon Knightfor standing largely separate from the wider world of theMCU. Even arguing that, if you weren’t told, you might not even know that the character inhabits the same realm asSpider-ManandThor.
“Moon Knight doesn’t rely on the connective tissues every other Disney+ Marvel project has to date. In turn, the creatives are allowed to make the show be the best it can be. Fans hoping for a darker series get what they want here, and it’s earnestly one of Marvel’s strongest outings yet — considering both film and television."
Much applause has also been aimed at the lead performances by Oscar Isaac as the titular superhero and Ethan Hawke as the villainous cult leader Arthur Harrow. Matt Fowler from IGN found a lot to love inMoon Knight’sintentionally confusing approach to the character’s debut, and could not wait to see more from the duo of Isaac and Hawke.
“Will it be a situation like The Long Kiss Goodnight’s Charly Baltimore, where the real answer lies somewhere in the middle of Marc and Steven, or is this so much of a standalone story that Moon Knight himself/itself is the ultimate obstacle? We’re left in the dark here, but in a fascinating way, and with two solid leads infusing confidence in the crucible to come.”
Variety’s Daniel D’Addario agrees saying, “Exploring other facets of the universe while trusting audience members not to wonder how it all connects has enabled Marvel to make a series that is finding its way towards a genuinely compelling portrait of dissociation, anchored by two terrific performances. The fact that it can be watched on its own terms is icing on the cake.”
The Hollywood Reporter’s Daniel Fienberg sadly found fault withMoon Knightand its tethered relationship with the MCU, but did commend Oscar Isaac’s commitment.
“Conceptually, the first season of Moon Knight feels intended less as a TV show and more as an explanation for why viewers would want to watch the character eventually hobnob with Doctor Strange or Blade or whomever. So far, it’s an argument for Oscar Isaac, and not Moon Knight, to join the Avengers.”
Rodrigo Perez of The Playlist also found much to criticize in Marvel’s live-action take onMoon Knightbelieving that, while it “is initially thought-provoking,” the series is “hardly the game changer that many devout fanboys will likely declare it.” Ouch.
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Moon Knight Hits Disney+ from March 30
Finally, shifting back to the more glowing praise for the Marvel series, Alex Maidy from JoBlo only had one criticism forMoon Knight– that there isn’t enough of it.
“Oscar Isaac is a great addition to this mythos and Ethan Hawke already ranks as one of the best Marvel villains yet. My only complaint is that six episodes are not nearly enough Moon Knight and I already want more."
Moon Knightfollows Steven Grant, a mild-mannered gift-shop employee, who becomes plagued with blackouts and memories of another life. Steven discovers he has dissociative identity disorder and must navigate his complex identities while thrust into a deadly mystery among the powerful gods of Egypt.
