**Warning – this article contains spoilers for Moon Knight Episode 4 from the beginning**
The new episode of Moon Knight pulls a huge rug out from under viewers, seemingly revealing that Marc has been in a mental institution this whole time, with all we’ve seen just delusions manifested by objects and individuals in the real world. But is is this the real world?
Based on the episode’s ending, it looks like there’s more to this reveal than meets the eye – and clues from the Moon Knight comics could reveal exactly what’s going on in this strange news. turn.
Of course, this article contains spoilers, so read on at your own risk.
Are Marc Spector and Steven Grant really in a mental institution?
After taking a bullet in Egypt, Marc wakes up in a mental institution full of familiar faces and objects, implying that the events of the series are a product of his messy mind.
Next, Marc discovers Steven alive and separated – then, the pair meet a Hippo goddess.
So what’s going on on Earth (or at least the Marvel Cinematic Universe)?
Considering everything the show has taken from Jeff Lemire’s Moon Knight comic book series, we might have our answer.
The asylum could be a psychological manifestation of Putnam Psychiatric Hospital, the mental health facility that Marc’s father places him in Volume 8 – given that it appears Harrow runs this asylum, perhaps Hawke’s Harrow has been a deception from the start, and this may be our first look at the real villain: Dr. Emmet.
In Lemire’s run, Dr. Emmet is the main antagonist who is connected to the Othervoid god Ammit, similar to how Harrow connects to her in the Moon Knight series. In the comic, he attempts to trick Marc into a false sense of madness, thus separating Khonshu from Marc and Marc from his alternate personalities.
This could very well be what happens in Episode 4 – Hawke’s curious rhetoric at their office meeting seems to mirror Emmet’s own attempts to convince Marc he’s crazy.
Another possibility is that Khonshu is attempting to permanently take control of Marc’s body as he seemingly crosses into the afterlife.
In the same comic book volume, Khonshu appears to send Marc to a mental hospital where he must confront his alternate characters, similar to (in the TV show) he must literally free Steven from a sarcophagus. Initially, this appears as Khonshu performing some sort of psychological mutiny in pursuit of Marc’s body. However, it ultimately turns out to be a test to purge Marc of his madness.
And, of course, that could allude to the third secret personality already teased in Episode 3.
In the same scene, we see a second sarcophagus shaking violently – this may be our biggest clue to Jake Lockley yet, Marc & Steven’s third personality, and possibly the mysterious third personality who has committed some of the darkest acts in Cairo.
Since Marc’s escape from the illusory mind palace Khonshu has placed him in hinges on accepting his Quirks, we might finally see Jake Lockley emerge and Marc Spector’s three personalities finally interact onscreen. .
Moon Knight Episode 4 Comic Influences
Of course, it was not only that great twist that drew inspiration from the Moon Knight comics, tracing back to the titular character’s origin.
Finally, Harrow reveals to Layla what many viewers may have already realized: Marc was responsible for, or at the very least implicated in, his father’s murder. In the comics, her father’s name is Peter Alraune, but given Layla’s own reinterpretation, he will likely be referred to by a different name for the show.
This is also where we get our closest reference to Moon Knight villain Raul Bushman, through Marc’s mention of a “partner gone rogue”, a key aspect of Marc’s backstory. First appearing in Moon Knight #1 and reprized in Lemire’s comic book series, Raul Bushman is a ruthless mercenary who indiscriminately shoots everyone at the excavation site he and Marc captured out of greed. This includes Marc himself, leaving him for dead until Khonshu decides he’s a good candidate for his role.
Given how this episode unfolded, it seems extremely likely that we’ll get a flashback to these events, finally bringing Bushman to our screens and perhaps finally shedding light on the terms of the deal between Khonshu and Marc that led to his possession.
It’s also possible that we’ll get a glimpse of Marc’s brother, Randall Spector, in an upcoming episode.
Historically, Randall has despised Marc, at one point killing one of his girlfriends out of hatred; while on a mercenary mission with Bushman and his sidekick Frenchie, Marc unknowingly shoots Randall who survives and is goaded into killing Marc because he believed Marc was out to assassinate him.
This leads to him becoming the “Shadow Knight,” a malevolent reflection of the titular hero (comics!). So far, the show has been an intriguing light on Marc’s family background, aside from a few faceless phone calls with his mother and a contradictory comment from Layla that cast doubt on their relationship. So who knows? Maybe it’s time for a family reunion…
Moon Knight Episodes 1-4 are available to stream now on Disney Plus. New episodes on Wednesdays. Check out more of our Sci-Fi and Fantasy coverage or visit our TV guide to see what’s on tonight.
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