Moon Knight Episode 6 “Gods and Monsters” Review - Marc and Steven’s Journey Comes to a Close in a Bumpy, but Memorable Finale
If you haven’t read my coverage of Moon Knight thus far, click here to read my critique of the series, plus all previous coverage.
We’re finally here: it’s the finale of Moon Knight. Whether it’s the series finale and going forward, we’ll only see the titular hero in the films or if Disney+ decides to pick the show up for a second season, I have no idea. Disney+ has been awfully strange with their language surrounding the future of Moon Knight. For now, I’m treating this as a season finale rather than a series finale. That’s no spoilers for this episode, I’m simply picking up on the vibe of the show since the final arc of this season started.
Beware - there are slight spoilers for the episode below. If you want to go into the episode knowing nothing about it, stop here.
So, what did I think of this finale? Well, it’s a multi-faceted answer. There are parts I love.
For example, I loved what the episode does with Steven, Marc, Layla, and Khonshu. There’s a rich sense of these characters learning from each other’s experiences throughout these six episodes, and using that information to inform their decisions. It seems like a small thing, but I love how these scenarios are written. Props to Danielle Iman, Jeremy Slater, Peter Cameron & Sabir Pirzada for their work on the story here.
On the other hand, there’s a lot here that doesn’t make sense. To call these scenarios leaps in logic would be a massive understatement. For example, there’s a scenario that was introduced as a consequence earlier in the series that goes completely ignored in this episode. This scenario is probably not a big deal to most people, but I’m a logical person. If logic is swept to the side, it becomes irritating for me to watch.
On a similar note, the episode’s pacing becomes irritating to witness at times. There are big character moments that happen offscreen, and for such a character-focused show to sweep these things under the rug is disappointing, to say the least.
And the worst part is I can’t even say the performances are all that great, either. There’s no room for the performances to shine. All of the great performances from weeks past feel like cameos at this point. Characters don’t talk to each other, save a line or two before the next action scene starts happening. It’s a shame. Here’s hoping a potential second season or wherever these characters appear next will serve the more grounded character work they’ve put into their performances.
For the second week in a row, Mohamed Diab is in the director’s chair, and while I liked his direction last week, there seems to be an overall lack of direction. I’m reminded of the series finale of WandaVision, where everything is reduced to CGI-laden battles that have no weight to them because we’re not given time to experience what would naturally be an emotional final battle. I’d hoped that maybe the direction of the episode would focus more on these emotions, but I was proven wrong rather quickly.
Speaking of CGI, Framestore, Image Engine, Mammal Studios, Wētā Digital, and Zoic Studios’ effects work is questionable, to say the least. Look, I’m sure remote working has been difficult for CG houses, and I’m sure that affected the quality of what these CG houses could put in the tight timeframes Marvel Studios enforces. That said, the effects work here has cut significant corners, leading to scenes where it feels like a character’s head isn’t attached to their body, or at other times, generalized odd-looking movements by characters, where it’s clear it’s a CG model and not the actual actor.
Nowhere is it more prevalent than in an extended fight scene involving characters fighting in the streets of Cairo. Everyone involved in the fight looks like they lack weight behind their movements, making said characters look like they’re made out of rubber.
That said, the fight scene I’m talking about features some pulse-pounding fight choreography that feels ripped from the Marvel vs. Capcom games, mixed with some Injustice: Gods Among Us vibes. It’s the one fight that feels like a comic book fight, so props to Patrick Vo for introducing that aspect into the MCU.
The finale of Moon Knight (season or otherwise) proves to be one of the better finales in the Disney+ era of Marvel Cinematic Universe shows, but ultimately feels like a sprint to the finish rather than a natural conclusion to the story told over these six episodes.
★★★
Season one of Moon Knight is now streaming, exclusively on Disney+.
Until next time!
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