Driving my friend Dylan to zero hour at 6:30 in the morning, I wasn’t sure if my morning brain was too tired to comprehend phrases correctly, or if he actually claimed that Moon Knight was the best Disney+ Marvel series yet. How could this new series, which I had only heard of perhaps once in passing, compare to the wonders of WandaVision or Hawkeye?

Intrigued, my family eagerly continued the tradition of sitting down together to watch our favorite streaming shows. Even if my mom mistook the first episode to be an entire movie, these hilarious moments only add to the collection of the fond Marvel memories I have to look back upon.

The pilot episode, “The Goldfish Problem,” left my family and me with too many questions to resist watching the next installment. The protagonist, Steven Grant—played by Oscar Isaac—is a gift shop employee who finds himself waking up in a different location nearly every morning. Due to this disorder, Steven ends up in precarious circumstances and a variety of missed opportunities. 

Right off the bat, Moon Knight twirls viewers through a whirlwind of plot twists and excitement, the most vital plot points being the alternate person living inside Steven’s body and the connection to the Egyptian god of the moon: Khonsu. 

While many may stare at their screens in confusion, this aspect of the series is all part of the experience, for Steven Grant seems to be just as lost as anyone else watching his life unfold. I applaud this series for creating an entirely new character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe; there aren’t any references to characters or events from other movies, so new fans won’t feel in the dark about conversation points. 

In addition, the sheer talent of Oscar Isaac alone is enough to be amazed by the series. Displaying multiple personas within the same minute, he transitions through one of the most difficult challenges for an actor flawlessly. The emotion, expression, and exciting combat scenes exemplify his versatility.

With nearly every other aspect executed perfectly, it’s no surprise that the set and costume designs didn’t disappoint. From the crescent moon-shaped cape to the detailed Egyptian inscriptions, Marvel was once again able to immerse their audiences into every scene that flashed across the screen. The theme of the moon and nighttime was elegantly weaved throughout the costumes and story; I couldn’t help but smile at the simple creativity sprinkled throughout the series.

Later on, it was refreshing to step away from the intense combat and adventure scenes to dive into the history of the main character, exploring the themes of trauma, coercion, and desperation. The fifth episode, “Asylum,” purposefully gives these mental health lessons the attention they deserve.

Combining the talented actors, surprising plotline, and the fantastic design, this series is well-deserving of praise. Every episode was captivating and has left me impatient for the final episode to be released on May 6. Although I do not yet agree with Dylan that the new content surpasses every released Marvel series, I was surprised by its high status on my personal list.