WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Moon Knight Episode 1, "The Goldfish Problem," now streaming on Disney+.
Moon Knight has now aired its first episode, and it's already setting itself apart from the rest of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Except for a few shows like Wandavision and Loki, a lot of the MCU starts to feel the same after a while. Obviously, the movies are a ton of fun and exciting to see, but the stories aren't always the most unique or creative. Moon Knight changes that right from the start. The show's main character, Steven Grant, has Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), and this not only highlights the mental health condition but also allows the show to tell a very special story.
Moon Knight's DID causes him to have multiple personalities that all take control of his body in different situations. In the first episode, fans meet two of these personalities. One of them is Steven Grant, a mild-mannered person who is just trying to live his simple life, and the other is only referred to as Marc, who is Moon Knight and serves the Egyptian moon god, Khonshu. Based on the trailers, viewers can also expect at least one other personality, Mr. Knight, who many longtime fans of the character are eager to see on screen.
The first episode focuses a lot on Steven discovering that he isn't alone. His DID is shown through a series of 'blackout' moments. When Steven is in trouble, he seemingly blackouts, then wakes up and is usually covered in blood and surrounded by injured or dead people. From a storytelling perspective, this is a particularly interesting way to build the character and the plot. For people that aren't familiar with Moon Knight, it builds a big mystery throughout the episode as to what is happening to Steven. People who do know about Moon Knight are given a payoff when Steven talks to Marc in the mirror and finally willingly gives into the transformation.
While some other movies and shows have used DID as a part of their story, it's new to the MCU. Getting to see the story of Moon Knight through multiple perspectives of the same character can be an incredible way to deliver a wide range of emotions and opinions as the plot progresses. Viewers are already excited to see if Steven's innocence will be corrupted by Marc's violence or if Marc's violent tendencies will be quelled by Steven's fear and timidness. Being able to use multiple characters in one person challenges the actor and the audience to rethink the way that they typically understand character interactions.
As the show progresses further in its story, fans are curious to see how Steven and Marc learn to live together and find a happy medium that works for both of them. Moon Knight is also a great platform to shed more light on DID. The mental health condition is frequently mislabeled and misunderstood. Having a character that has the condition offers the show a chance to help educate people on it and tell their story. At the climax of the first episode, fans finally see Steven have a full conversation with Marc. This is most likely just a taste of what the show will be like. Steven and his alternate personalities will all have to learn how to balance out their needs with each other and find a way to protect themselves while serving their god.
Moon Knight is working hard to distinguish itself from other MCU properties. By leaning into the mental health aspects of the character instead of downplaying them, the show is in a position to offer a unique look at someone who is a hero and battling DID. They can use the platform to tell a compelling and intriguing Marvel story and educate people on DID and what it is. Fans and critics are quite happy with the first episode of Moon Knight, and most people cannot wait to see how the story evolves and what it has in store for Steven/Marc.
The first episode of Moon Knight is now streaming on Disney+.