Content Warning: Spoilers for the season finale of Moon Knight ahead!
From one episode to the next, Moon Knight delighted, shocked, and entertained audiences and now that the final episode of the season is out, fans are eagerly hoping for a second. The series stars Oscar Isaac in the titular role and is the first Disney+ show to feature a new character as the leading protagonist.
The character has had his fair share of fans in the comics, and now the community has grown immensely with further adoration for the likes of characters such as Steven Grant, Layla Al-Faouly, and Taweret, to name a few. Immediately following the finale’s release, Twitter became abuzz with reactions, memes, and observations from audiences around the world, and here are some of the best.
A Thank You Note
Perhaps the most heartfelt response to the final episode comes from its director, Mohamed Diab. He was obviously the powerhouse behind developing Moon Knight into the stellar psychological adventure tale that it is and was largely responsible for bringing Ethan Hawke in without even reading a script.
He shared this and more tweets expressing his deepfelt appreciation to the cast, crew, and everyone involved in creating Moon Knight. Fans are certainly reciprocating the feeling, sharing their own thank you notes and favorite moments throughout the series.
Best Finale Yet!
Moon Knight is a perfect addition to the MCU, and the sixth show to be released on Disney+ and the eighteenth overall encoming the ABC, Hulu, and former Netflix shows. So far the response from fans and critics alike has been highly favorable with high ratings on IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes.
This was in large part due to the mixing of styles and genres to create such an exciting story. It felt authentic to the MCU and the comics, while also sprinkling in elements comparable to Legion.
MCU Minus The MCU
A divisive aspect of Moon Knight that found some fans appreciating, while others deriding is its relationship with the rest of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. For the most part, the series was distanced from its predecessors with a few easter eggs here and there, like a mention of the ancestral plane from The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.
This allowed Moon Knight to feel independent, but still such a part of the universe that Marc and/or Layla popping up elsewhere would still be plausible. However, some fans wished for more tie-ins or cameos to make it feel more like a classic MCU property.
Stellar Performances All-Around
The entire series has been remarkable to watch not only for the exciting story or the thrilling effects but particularly for the nuanced and outstanding performances. Oscar Isaac, May Calamawy, and Ethan Hawke shine in each and every episode, leaving audiences excited for more.
Calamawy brings fresh energy and becomes a new hero. Hawke surprises audiences yet again with a fantastically intricate and menacing performance. Isaac takes the cake in playing not one, not two, but – as finally revealed in the final episode’s post-credits scene – three characters. He distinguishes and transitions between each seamlessly, so much so that many fans expect to see an Emmy nomination in his future.
Spoilers, No Context
As always, some of the best reactions to new episodes or films are the funniest, yet fans typically don’t want to spoil anything for others. As such, there are many different tweets like this humorously highlighting some of the best moments from the episode.
This one refers to the arrival of the goddess Ammit, her subsequent kaiju-style fight with Khonshu à la Wonder Woman: 1984.
Layla's New Get-Up
Speaking of Layla, many fans were exceptionally exciting to see her suit up as the new avatar for the loveable goddess, Taweret. Since her introduction in the second episode, Layla has become a fan-favorite character in Phase Four of the MCU for her charm and general badassery – with some fans she'd be a ing character that gets her own series.
This transformation had been teased subtly throughout the previous episodes. Avid comic readers might’ve connected the dots that she is an amalgamation of two other ing characters, Marlene Alraune and Abdul Faoul. Regardless, that didn’t soften the excitement to see Layla as the Scarlet Scarab.
Jake Lockley's Finally Here!
Layla was not the only character to get a brand new get-up. At long last, the post-credits scene revealed Marc’s third alter, Jake Lockley. This was met with incredible excitement all over Twitter as his appearance had been teased all throughout the series, and it did not disappoint.
In the comics, Jake is a cab driver and helps Marc gather intel from on the ground and among the people. It seems like here, he fills a similar role, though with a much more violent flare. Perhaps a second season will see Marc and Steven grappling with Jake in learning how to tame him into his more classically chill personage.
Steven's Return
The fifth episode, entitled “Asylum” left fans devastated as they watched Marc’s backstory from his brother’s death and the creation of his Steven Grant alter to his agreement with Khonshu and transformation into the Moon Knight. In the end, they were left with the haunting image of Steven turned to stone in the sands of the Duat.
Fans couldn’t accept the show continuing on without Steven – not after he and his silly accent had stolen their hearts. Therefore, they were excited when he was restored to life in all his loveable greatness. Many fans shared their favorite of Steven’s quirks in celebration of his return.
Marc and Steven's Relationship
The appreciation for Steven continued with fans reflecting on the entire season. Following the first trailer, Moon Knight was surrounded by cynicism and skepticism due to Oscar Isaac’s accent. However, in the end, there was a method to the madness, and the character became a fan favorite, despite the on-screen Steven Grant's differences from his comic book counterpart.
It seems Marc went on a similar journey to the audience, with a deep connection developing between him and Steven as each episode es. Their hug in episode four’s asylum sequence, their separation, and subsequent reunion forced devoted viewers on an emotional rollercoaster. In the end, the ride ended and left audiences feeling exhilarated and eager for more.
Khonshu Being Khonshu
Throughout most of the series, Khonshu has never come off as the most benevolent god – though compared to the likes of Ammit, he’s far more preferable. F. Murray Abraham perfectly portrays his power and vulnerability simultaneously, helping viewers understand his influence over Marc. In the end, though, their partnership is severed – or so Marc believes.
The post-credit scene shows that Khonshu deviously still has a hold over Marc through Jake Lockley as this tweet humorously memes. Though it might be clarified that Jake was the alter who suffered the brunt of the childhood abuse, and it made him equally cruel and violent. Thus, he’s the perfect fit for Khonshu, who wouldn’t relinquish such a capable avatar lightly