On the heels of the premiere, Disney+ and Marvel Studios released the second installment of its six-episode run for Moon Knight in the form of “Summon the Suit.” Following the aftermath of the destruction caused by the jackal attack at the museum, Steven is fired from his job at the gift shop, and more becomes known about his whereabouts and seemingly dual personality. Finally, the audience is introduced truly to the violent alter-ego, or split personality, of the all-American killer Marc Spector who is currently under the role of an avatar for the Egyptian god of the moon Khonshu.
Despite the utter ridiculousness of the situation, Steven finds himself contemplating the crumbling of his world before uncovering and encountering Marc’s wife, or in actuality soon-to-be ex-wife, Layla who piles the confusion furthermore. Steven, who has been incapable of romance and relationships his entire life due to his supreme awkwardness, has now been graced by a wife, albeit through his reflection and other personality of Marc. Regardless of the further complication to Grant’s personal life, Ethan Hawke’s (Boyhood) Harrow has continued the pursuit of Grant and his scarab in order to satisfy the wishes of his new leader Ammit.
Unbeknownst to Grant, Harrow was previously the avatar for the Egyptian moon God Khonshu, who has been banished by their fellow Egyptian Gods. Harrow departed from his role in favor of following Ammit, as his new leader’s mission is to cleanse humanity of evil through the balance of their acts and deeds during their life. Ammit’s desire, and by proxy Harrow’s, seems to be an altruistic cause, but with the overview of the rest of its followers and the caution that Spector warns Grant of, there seems to be sinister intent behind all this.
While Grant was unaware of Harrow’s previous role, Spector is aware as he acts as the successor for Khonshu’s human avatar. Spector carries a further split personality in his own right as he does serve Khonshu to the best of his ability, but also holds his own beliefs about the mythological world dear. The naive Grant hears the mission of Harrow and Ammitt and unwittingly believes this notion, yet Spector continues to provide doubt into Grant’s mind throughout the conversation before Layla arrives for a rescue of Grant and Spector from Harrow’s temporary home base. During the rescue mission, the Moon Knight suit arrives once more at the request of Layla. However, instead of the iconic and slick look that Spector sported in the last one, Grant summons a more elegant suit more fit for a ballroom dance.
In the meantime, Harrow has unleashed yet another jackal to contain Grant and secure the scarab. Spector, after a ton of convincing and a lot of losing exchanges between Grant and the creature, assumes control of Grant’s body and fights off the jackal while also losing possession of the scarab to Harrow as the latter flees the scene.
In the closing scenes of the episode, it is ultimately revealed that Harrow will be looking for the tomb of his leader Ammit in Egypt. Khonshu sends Spector on his way to prevent Harrow’s discovery, but also provides him a warning of taking on his wife Layla as a successor avatar if Spector fails.
Much of the contention with this installment is the further confusion laid upon the audience. For one, it is understandable as the series is following a protagonist suffering from split personalities, and the inclusion of a romantic interest that could seemingly provide division between Oscar Isaac’s two counterparts truly strengthens the series and episode as a whole. Furthermore, the divorce between Spector and Layla was an interesting first piece of information for their relationship, yet the closing moments do indicate this has been made by Spector in order to protect Layla from the hellish world that he has been inducted into.
The series engaging in the split personality protagonists offers a unique perspective and lens to view the journey of Moon Knight the hero. Grant, the bumbling and socially awkward, half acts as a segue for the viewer as they’ve been injected straight into this story world of Egyptian lore instead of kicking straight off at an origin story. The dichotomy of the characters provides the unique comedic aspects as well as the deconstruction of the confusing elements that this comic book character may encounter with new audiences. The most interesting aspect of the series so far is Layla and Spector’s backstory of their adventures and also how Spector came to be the avatar for Khonshu, yet this will most certainly not be introduced until the viewer has been engaged with much of the narrative although presumed tidbits along the way will definitely continue to provoke the interest and guide us some satisfaction.
Rating: 8.5/10