With a refreshing change, Moon Knight premiered on March 30 on Disney+. The first episode has already become a point of discussion and debate, especially after watching Ethan Hawke’s phenomenal portrayal of Arthur Harrow.
Every phase needs a supervillain you can count on to destroy the world, and Arthur Harrow is one such. Or probably more.
Moon Knight’s creator, Jeremy Slater, took a different route while developing the Nobel Prize-winning scientist.
While the villain was nothing more than just a side character in the comics, he now takes center stage as a perfect enemy to Oscar Isaac’s Marc Spector/Moon Knight.
The first episode introduced the audience to Arthur Harrow’s unparalleled (and dangerous) faith in the Egyptian goddess Ammit.
Ammit is an Egyptian goddess known as the Devourer of the Dead, the Eater of Hearts, and the Great of Death. She has the right to devour humans who are deemed impure.
With the public display of Arthur Harrow’s powers by goddess Ammit, he has even become a cult leader.
Arthur Harrow’s power is divided into three sections: tattoo, double-faced crocodile cane, and the fierce loyalty of his followers.
1. The Scale Tattoo
With a scale tattoo on his right arm, Arthur Harrow walks with pride anywhere and everywhere. The scale determines the justice of life and death.
The scientist holds people’s hands, and the tattoo helps him judge whether the person is good or bad or pure or impure.
If the scale tilts on one side and turns green, it means that the person is good and gets a chance to live. If the scale tilts the other side and turns red, then it means that the person has either done a wrong deed or is destined to do so in the future.
When the power that be, determines the person “bad”, the scientist sucks the life out of them. Committing the act in broad daylight and distinguishing an individual from pure or impure is one of the reasons he is treated as a God.
2. The Crocodile Cane
Arthur Harrow keeps an antique, double-faced crocodile cane close to his heart.
The scientist’s slight limp makes us wonder if it has anything to do with either being a self-participant of his work in the pain theory or if it is an aftereffect of one of the greatest introductions.
In the intro scene, he crushes a glass and stuffs it in his shoe, walking with it to probably show his loyalty to goddess Ammit.
The cane also plays a role while passing judgment. Arthur Harrow places the cane between the person’s hands and swings it back and forth. It seems that the cane will have a major role to play in the future, too.
3. His Cult
While this section of power does not come directly through the goddess Ammit, Arthur Harrow gains it through his display of passing judgment.
For the public, the scientist is the messenger between their world and the Egyptian’s god, and they chose to make the world a better place.
A cult following with blind faith or fear can be as powerful as superpowers.
People worship the Nobel Prize-winning scientist as he takes multiple lives in front of their eyes and still believe that it’s all in good faith. If that doesn’t make him even more dangerous, then we don’t know what will.
Surprisingly, we do love this side of the supervillain, who serves an Egyptian goddess, uses his power to make a cult, and wants to rid Earth of any evil.
The last point might remind one of Thanos, but he neither had a cult (he had an alien team) nor was he connected to any Egyptian storyline—which is exactly what makes Moon Knight’s Arthur Harrow fun to watch.
Moon Knight’s second episode will be released on April 6, offering us more insight into just how dangerous the new supervillain is.
About Moon Knight
Moon Knight is an American superhero television series created for Disney+ based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name. The 6-episode series is directed by Mohamed Diab and the team of Justin Benson & Aaron Moorhead. Jeremy Slater is the head writer for the sixth MCU Show.
The series follows Steven Grant, a mild-mannered gift-shop employee, who becomes plagued with blackouts and memories of another life. Steven discovers he has dissociative identity disorder and shares a body with mercenary Marc Spector. As Steven/Marc’s enemies converge upon them, they must navigate their complex identities while thrust into a deadly mystery among the powerful gods of Egypt.
Oscar Isaac, May Calamawy, and Ethan Hawke star in the Disney+ series.
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