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Rewatching episode 5, I noticed Marc's face expression after Steven finishes beating up the last sand zombie

Like his face looked a bit more scared than impressed

Like maybe in his head he probably thought "oh damn I'm never pissing off Steven again"

Oh but Anon, this is one of the best scenes.

And yeah, he's definitely thinking shit, guess I should've given him more credit, huh? But also, consider this.

This is the moment that Steven realizes his own strength and courage. All that trauma, all that pain and anger and resentment that didn't really feel like it belonged to him, wasn't really his. But he accepts it, takes that on without a second thought. Carries it side by side with Marc and decides to face death side by side with him too, to fight beside him. Because Marc's always been with him, even in the dark, even when he didn't know. It's the companionship he's always wanted, and he's willing to die for it.

But it's also the scene where Marc realizes he doesn't have to protect Steven anymore, can't protect him, and the emotions that come with that knowledge must be so staggering for him. He's spent most of his life doing things for Steven, and he was fine with that, was willing to disappear to make it happen. Now it's not a matter of Marc shaping Steven's life, making it good. It's Steven making those choices now, and this is his way of telling Marc he wants him to stay.

There's that fear, sure; he knows he could lose him here, at any second (and eventually, he does), but now that Steven's risking everything for him, it's that fear of ruin. Marc thinks he destroys everything he touches, and now Steven knows the truth, the real truth, sees him for who he is and everything he could be. What Marc wants to be. So if he loses Steven on that boat, because of something he chose in his name, that blame would mean that Steven was wrong about him all along.

There is pride and love there, but all of that has given him more reasons to be afraid, and more to lose.

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[ID Harrow and Marc are fighting. Harrow uses his weapon to control Marc's own hand, causing him to stab himself in the side and then almost in his face. Marc stops the second attack.]

This whole final fight sequence is a true reiteration of all the themes presented in the series up until that moment.

Harrow starts with this speech: "If Ammit had been allowed to rule, young Randall's life would have been saved, your family would have been happy. She need only remove one weed from the garden. You."

And then forces Marc to stab himself. He uses Marc's own guilt against him. The pain caused by his own Moon Knife is the literal representation of the pain caused by Harrow's words. Throughout the series, as I've also talked a bit about in this post, Marc has been struggling against this mindset. That he is guilty, and that it would have been better if he'd died before the accident happened. Because then 'Randall would have lived'.

But Marc does fight it, even though he doesn't break free. The first attack hits, but then he stops the one going for his head. If this had happened before Marc and Steven's journey in the Duat, this would have killed him. But while he resists, Marc can't fight it off, because one soul searching journey is not yet enough.

And then who tries to help? Layla. She fights off her own assailants and charges in to rescue him, like she has done so many times before. The person connected to life. To love. Now an avatar of the goddess that protects women and children. All children, not just those that Ammit considers 'good'.

But Harrow uses Marc's blade against her as well. Because Marc has hurt her, intentionally and unintentionally. His rage and guilt and anger have negative consequences not just for himself but for her as well. But his blade doesn't kill her. It just pins her down. Ultimately, this isn't her fight. Not in this particular setting.

So Marc is blasted into the ground, his support network gone. He is on the verge of losing. Except there is one more person on Marc's side. The one that protected him as surely as Steven did. The one that fights when Marc himself can't anymore, protecting the system.

Jake Lockley absolutely wrecks Harrow and his followers. Because Jake doesn't buy into that mindset at all. He isn't swayed by Ammit's ideology.

So they survive. They win. Harrow is defeated. But that doesn't mean the struggle is yet over.

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Marc Spector: 2

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Steven Grant: 1

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Hope you’re doing well and sorry if anyones asked before. But how do you think Harrow stopped being Khonshu’s avatar? Like did Khonshu know he was straying too far, or did he just drop him when he saw Marc in his temple? I’ve been trying to figure out what their dynamic would have been like but we know so little from that time.

You know, I'm so glad you asked, because I'm pretty sure Khonshu dumped him. And I do NOT think it was a clean break, I think Harrow made it messy.

The way he talks about Khonshu is just. Actually so funny to me when you think about the fact that they probably have an extensive history? He's almost petty about it. There's something to be said about the intimacy required to be an avatar; you'd have no privacy, would be called upon at a moment's notice. They would've been together a majority of the time, or at the very least, Khonshu would've been watching him. He would've maintained some sort of presence whenever he could.

I bet Harrow loved that, because I think he felt like he was the best at his job and wanted to continue doing it for as long as he could. He wanted Khonshu to see it. His entire drive is vengeance, justice, and all matters of judgement. And I think over time, that belief became a little more harsh, those decisions made a little more hastily. Which isn't to say Khonshu didn't appreciate that sentiment, a sharper blade cuts deeper and all that. But it's a chaos not so easily controlled or contained. It's why Harrow turns to Ammit after being separated from Khonshu, because she shares that vision, just more to the extreme under the disguise of being preventative.

I feel like I should also point out that at this point, Ammit's trapped in an ushabti, unable to communicate with anyone (to our knowledge, I'm only basing this off the fact that Khonshu was completely separated from Marc and Steven while trapped). Meaning Arthur would've had to do his research, leading towards the entire plot of him seeking her out. He was looking for a rebound.

What makes the most sense to me is that I think Arthur got a little too confident for his own good. I think he may have starting questioning Khonshu's ideas a little bit, maybe backtalked more than Khonshu cared to listen to.

What's he saying? Is he telling you to kill me? Just remember, you don't have to do everything he asks.

You don't have to listen to him. He often throws temper tantrums like a two year old. None of the gods respect him. Perhaps that's why he's banished.

Because Khonshu very clearly wants a certain level of obedience, he's an omnipotent god after all, and Arthur wanted more than that. More responsibility, more punishment, more blood, and the more he craved, the less satisfied he became with their arrangement. So at some point, Khonshu would have (very dramatically, I imagine) left him to his own bloodlust.

Do you seem him right now? That's a privilege I no longer have.

Now that brings me to Marc. The story's always the same; Khonshu chooses Marc because of his chaos, but it's a different kind. He chooses him because he's so malleable, so changeable. It's easier to manipulate a person who's already questioning and struggling to make sense of their own thoughts and who they are. Khonshu knew he could forge him into a better, more obedient weapon. And Harrow clearly hates that, he's jealous of that.

I'm curious, do you think that Khonshu chose you as his avatar because your mind would be so easy to break or because it was broken already?

He looks at Marc and Steven and only sees insanity, he's not sure what to make of Khonshu's choice in picking them. It's like.. he looks down on them both because he thinks he's better than they are, makes a better avatar, like he can't believe that Khonshu replaced him with what he views as lesser.

Before you, I was the fist of vengeance.

I see by the presence of Khonshu's current makeshift avatar, the purposes of our meeting must be nefarious?

I've seen him speak to himself, threaten himself, I have no idea how many personalities he must possess, the man is clearly insane.

Arthur makes it clear how devoted he is to Ammit, a stark contrast to Marc and Steven's vocal desire to break their deal. It's almost like he has this insecurity, or a need to prove himself to someone, whether that be Khonshu or another god that might appreciate his proclivities more. I mean, he's seeking to free one while he can't seem to let go of the first. It's a pretty interesting dynamic to me, especially in the context of Khonshu taking Jake back to take him out for good.

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The way Marc backs away from her although she’s just a memory but Steven doesn’t is breaking my fucking heart 

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what are your favorite aspects of Marc and Layla's relationship?

Hi Anon. It’s taken me a while to compose my thoughts on this because dl;j;jasdfhj kasdffkhja dfgjasfdf Layla is just so important, ya know?

Layla is … the caring, grounded, understanding, genuine, forthright, and KIND neurotypical friend that we all need.

Layla is gonna jump out of a plane with you, but she’s also gonna make sure that both your parachute and hers are packed correctly before you leap.

You can see it in the way that she is with Steven. At first, she thinks that Marc has escaped abduction again (again??? I want that backstory). Then she thinks that Steven is another undercover identity that Marc is using to evade pursuit (which confirms Steven’s perspective, that they’ve never met before). Then she thinks that Marc is trying to avoid her by pretending to be someone else: “I'm sorry. I'm not buying this, Marc. Use whatever accent you want. Let's just get this over with. You sent these papers but you never signed them.”

BUT when she finally starts to realize who Steven is, and starts to maybe put together WHY he is, she just … brings him into her life. Without judgment. Without a thousand questions. She just accepts him.

She tells Marc, “You could've told me. You know? What's it's been like for you. About Steven.”

This is a really important part of her characterization, that no matter how frustrated she gets with Marc for shutting her out of his life, for leaving without an explanation or even a goodbye, she never once tries to grill him about what’s going on. She lets Marc know that she’s here to support him, but she’s not here to pry about his mental health.

And then … just the way that she is with Steven. The way that she recognizes his autonomy. The way she values him as a person. She sees him.

“Marc, we need Steven. He understands all of this. I really think it's worth giving him a shot.”

And:

“I don't need protection. What I need is honesty. That's more of a ‘you’ thing, isn't it? ... Being honesty.”

Layla is probably the first person that Steven has ever interacted with, other than Marc, who really sees him. Who accepts him. Who values him. And Steven and Marc are in a bit of a rocky place at this point, so for Steven, Layla really is the first: “I know I'm not alone. I know I'm bloody not alone. I've got Layla. She's got my back.”

Layla models the kind of calm stability and understanding that is so important for the audience to see. That when you’re interacting with someone who’s dealing with the effects of neurodivergence and mental illness, you need to let them lead. Don’t push. Don’t pry. Listen.

And May Calamawy worked with Oscar and Mohamed to make sure this came across. She is so consistently present, and engaged, and responsive to the energy she’s getting from Oscar when he’s portraying Marc and Steven. She knows how to listen as an actor, and she has a soft strength that comes through so beautifully.

If I say too much about May Calamawy, I’m going to gush embarrassingly. And my eyes will turn into two giant hearts that will bug out of my face like a cartoon. I just … think she’s really neat.

Alj;klasdfhkjad hkladghklasdfsd fsdfl;kajsdf jkdf

(banging on my keyboard some more)

So, is Layla angry at Marc? Of course, and she deserves to be. And is she confused and concerned at first by Steven? Again, of course she is. But I come back to my premise that she is the caring, grounded, understanding, genuine, forthright, and KIND neurotypical friend that we all need.

She calls Marc out for his behavior. She expresses frustration, anger, and sadness that she doesn’t really know him, even after ten years. She is beside herself with fury and disappointment when she finds out that Marc was there when her father was murdered, that he led a killer to her father’s dig site … when she realizes that the reason they met was because he tracked her down out of a guilty conscience. And then he fell in love with her. And he just could never bring himself to tell her. (And you’d better believe that he DESPISES himself for it.)

And she should be furious and disappointed at what he has chosen to do.

Marc has done terrible things. But Layla never judges Marc as a bad person (in the way that Wendy, Harrow, and Ammit do). She understands that his actions don’t define his essence, and that he can always take a different path. That is why her line at the end of Episode 6 is so important: “Marc! You have a choice. You are free.”

Layla is able to be angry, confused, concerned, and sad without being judgmental.

She is the antithesis of Ammit ... and Wendy. She believes wholeheartedly in Marc’s free will and his ability to change.

So, both within the world of the show and within the external world of the audience, Layla models how to hold people accountable for what they have done without judging them for who they are.

And that’s why she’s the best. I don’t make the rules.

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Latest headcanon is that Jake often fronts just to take a nap.

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The Gang’s All Here, Moon Knight: 1

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Marc Spector: 1

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I think Khonshu only started threatening to take Layla as his new avatar after Wendy's shiva.

Up until that point, Marc didn't have a reason for wanting to leave Khonshu's service. As Layla mentions in episode two, Marc and Layla were trying to find the scarab together. Given the ease with which they fought side by side in episode four, and the way Layla urges Marc to use the suit, Marc's position as the Moon Knight must have been useful for their exploits.

His mother's shiva, however, broke Marc enough for him to want to disappear. He was already struggling with all the death he delivered, even if the ones he killed weren't innocent. But while his love for Layla (and probably Steven) kept him going, his mother's death and shiva brought out his worst internalized self blame and self hatred. He must have thought that both Layla and Steven were better off without him, and his solution was to remove himself from Layla's life and let Steven front forever.

But of course, Khonshu couldn't let that slide. He needed his avatar. His previous reasons ("I saved you be grateful", "We're only punishing evildoers") didn't work any more, so he needed a different tactic. Which was to target Layla, because only Marc's love for her was enough to keep him fighting.

Khonshu used Marc's love for Layla against him when what Marc needed was support and help. And while I love the plot twist of Jake still being in service of Khonshu, I dread what it will do for Marc's self image if he realizes he was never free.

(manifesting season 2 here by sheer stubbornness)

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MOON KNIGHT alters + cinnamon roll alignment (insp.)

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I’ve only read, like, two runs and one of them was trying to demonize the hell out of him, but Jake is fully the kind of guy that everybody knows because he’s a genuinely good dude. He’ll help old ladies across the street. He’ll help a frazzled mom get the stroller up over the curb. He’ll help the little kids get their cat out of the tree. He’ll help the old man fix his creaky old door. He’ll help the guy on the side of the road struggling to change his tire. You ask anybody around about him and they all have at least one story where he’s helped them.

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Honestly, never seen jake as a kiddo. Only seen steven and marc as kids in the lemire run. Maybe you could draw jake as a kid? I have no idea what the differences would be

this playground... is infected with crime.... it aint safe out there in the jungle gym...

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Steven: *Is carrying all the groceries*

Layla: *Holds out hand to help*

Steven: *aggressively moves all groceries to one hand to hold Layla's hand*

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Have we talked about the boys' fighting style yet? Can we talk about their fighting style? Cause I'm going rabid just thinking about it.

In the comics Moon Knight is known for how brutal his fighting style is. Not just to his foe, but to himself. The man does not know the definition of duck.

Episode 2 when we first actually see Marc show up in body as Moon Knight we catch a glimpse of how little he cares about his own well being. When he slams the jackal into the pointy mirror thing and his own body just slams into the side and bounces off. Any other super hero probably would have done a cool flip away or something. Not Marc. Just WHAM.

Episode 3 we see the fists come out and it's just a relentless force. He doesn't care about watching his back. He'll get to who ever is attacking him there in a moment. He's focused on first beating the shit out of who is in front of him.

Steven on the other hand is careful. His first fight as Mr. Knight shows his inexperience. He's mimicking what he thinks a fighter would look like. Later in the big fight with Harrow after he's communicating as a team with Marc, Steven is the one doing the fancy flips. He's the one with strategy. Harrow is clutching the cape? No more cape. Now it's Steven pulling back so Marc can come in later and get the upper hand.

I have a visceral NEED to see Jake fight. I bet it's a completely different style.

They talked about how Marc is pulling his punches. He's afraid to let loose and love his violence. As Moon Knight he does let loose a little and become the force of his rage, but it's still repressed.

From what we can gather with Jake, he is protective. He is not going to let the body come to harm. He's also not careful like Steven. Every time we come back from a Jake cut, it's a MESS. Blood everywhere, signs of a massive unleashing of force. Things are on fire...

Can we please see Oscar let loose and just GO?

ALRIGHT BUD LET'S GET INTO IT. (Also for the record, I lost it at "the man does not know the definition of duck skdlgjklsjgslkdgjl god you're so right.) ANYWAY. Also, gonna put this under a read more because this was way longer than I intended oops:

I remember watching him jump off that building in episode 2, turn in midair to slice the jackal, and just thinking. Marc. Buddy. That was so, so cool but how did you think you were gonna land that? Like, it's really just luck that he finds that spike because he ends up rolling down the roof with the jackal, doesn't grab it until he looks down and notices the sharp end, then proceeds to make a kebob out of him. AND THEN he just. Falls flat. And it barely registers because he gets up just as fast to make sure it's dead? Steven summoned the suit randomly, not knowing how it worked or if he'd even succeed and was still able to pull off a super hero landing. I know he falls over after but still not the pointslkjglsj. It's not because Marc can't do it, he just.. Doesn't want to, doesn't care.

Ohhhh I am soooo happy you mentioned the fight on the rooftop because like. Marc is all brute force and redirecting momentum and this is such a great example of it. Man comes at him with a knife? Marc uses his speed to throw him in the opposite direction. Same man comes at him again and he has to block his strikes with both hands? Marc bashes his own head against his skull, which clearly can't feel good. And at that point, the man is incapacitated already and probably disoriented, he could just pry the knife out of his hands easily but instead, Marc bashes his knee so hard into the guys wrist that he drops it. (ALSOOOO mildly unrelated but I think it's significant to mention that Marc uses closed fists on all of the adults except the younger boy, when he switches to an open palm strike. Can confirm from experience that those are more disorienting but less wounding and absolutely less painful.)

"He's mimicking what a fighter would look like," yeeeah yeah yeah yeah, and if you really wanna take it further, you could say he's mimicking what he thinks Marc fights like. Marc's telling him over and over, you can't handle this, let me do it, and Steven wants to show him, I think I can. He's standing with a solid base, striking the jackal with a closed fist because that's how he thinks Marc would do it, wants to impress Layla in the same way Marc has impressed her because he knows she's seen Marc in the suit. He's seen the way Marc can brutally damage an enemy with just his hands and tries to do the same, but it's not necessarily his style.

Now, Steven fighting is just. Sigh. I'm swooning. Because when Steven finds his confidence, his poise, his style, it is just. Something else. Instead of relying on brutality and raw force, he uses certain situations and objects to his advantage. After Layla distracts the first two men with guns, he strikes them in the throat (not fun, very very not fun). AND THE TRUNCHEONS, he thought they looked so cool and they do but he uses them specifically as an extension of himself, striking at weak points like the throat, the knees, the places that make people fall. He flips over Arthur's attack, avoids it easily, but then he even uses a technique of Marc's, using the momentum of the turn to throw the truncheon at Harrow in response. It's kind of a cool way of transitioning to them switching too, because then Marc's fronting and he catches the truncheon a few seconds later.

Now Jake. Jake Lockley. I have. Thoughts. Very, very normal ones. Because all of them show a certain level of control, right? Steven's is cool, calculated, methodical. Marc's is more restrained, you can tell he's holding something back every time. I think Jake would be the same, controlled but more. Directed. He always has an objective, a goal, and when he does, no one can stop him from getting there. A gun that doesn't miss, even if it's a little messy. Not unhinged, not chaotic, just.. specific. He gets to the point. When Jake Lockley has his eyes on you, there's nowhere you could run that he wouldn't find you, and that shit would be terrifying.

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How I've seen people write Steven

Steven: I don't understand the whole thing about dom and sub. Subway is wayyy better than Domino's.

Jake:

Jake: I'm gonna tell him.

Marc: Don't you dare.

What he's actually like

Layla: Steven, get that hideous thing out of the living room, would you?

Steven: Khonshu, Layla wants you to get out of the house.

Khonshu: