Moon Knight has delivered some of Marvel’s firsts. Most notably among them is their first unreliable narrator. The relationship between Steven Grant and Marc Spector has caused rifts in the lives of both men, as they struggle to see eye-to-eye in their conjoined journey to serve Khonshu. The moments between them have led to some incredibly comedic and memorable moments in Moon Knight thus far. This budding bond between Steven and Marc is physically unlike anything the MCU has had thus far, but the nature of their relationship is actually quite familiar.
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Marc and Steven have been butting heads long before Steven even realized what was happening to him. The early episodes of Moon Knight let Steven grasp the nature of his link to Marc, and while he has yet to fully accept what the two of them must accomplish together, it is gradually getting better. Since becoming aware of Marc’s presence and ability to shut him out, Steven has begun to resist and challenge Marc, making the orders from Khonshu even more difficult to carry out. The dynamic between Steve and Marc is quite similar to the relationship between Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes.
Sam and Bucky were first pushed together in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, where Sam was not-so-subtly recruited to assist Steve in his journey to find and save Bucky from the clutches of Alexander Pierce and Hydra. Their relationship continued to steadily evolve over the course of Captain America: Civil War, where viewers got the first glimpse of them as a duo. This would continue throughout the Avengers films that followed, as well as their Disney Plus series, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. In it, they were forced to put their trust in an unlikely ally in Baron Zemo, which Sam routinely opposed. Sam’s feelings toward Zemo mirror Steven’s feelings toward Khonshu and the violent mission that he’s being forced to go along with.
The personalities of Steven and Marc also align with Sam and Bucky’s. Steven is much like Sam. He is far more jovial than his partner and tries to do the right thing by the book. Even if the path Steven and Sam choose requires more resistance, these two find comfort in knowing they are playing by the rules. Marc is the stern, Bucky-like character of the two. He plays his cards close to his chest and finds himself devoted to serving a specific cause and purpose. Marc and Bucky are not ones for wearing their hearts on their sleeve, which can be seen in Marc’s relationship with Layla and Bucky’s struggles in therapy and pursuing a romantic connection.
The similarities between Moon Knight and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier can go on. The organizations that the unorthodox duos are struggling to fight against, both believe they are advocating for a cause that will save lives. Those they lose along the way are deemed a necessary sacrifice to accomplish their goal. Arthur Harrow is much like Karli Morgenthau in that regard. Khonshu’s somewhat sarcastic demeanor mirrors that of Baron Zemo, who Sam and Bucky were forced to rely on in the series. While Steven is the most apprehensive to support Khonshu’s cause, Marc has demonstrated reservations of his own.
The MCU has delivered a number of formidable duos, and the Disney Plus series has continued that trend. Loki birthed several between Loki, Sylvie, Morbius, Ravonna, Hunter B-15, and Miss Minutes. Hawkeye began a mentor and apprentice-style relationship between Clint Barton and Kate Bishop, which naturally caused problems for them both. The Falcon and the Winter Soldier was built around the nature of Sam and Bucky’s relationship, which had experienced several bumps prior to those they had in the series. While Moon Knight has not shown the bumps Marc and Steven have experienced prior to the start of the series, the repercussions of Marc’s previous actions are catching up to them.
Steven and Marc will continue to develop their relationship over Moon Knight’s remaining episodes. Given the circumstances of Steven and Marc’s existence within the same body, their relationship can’t follow the paths set by any of the previous Marvel duos. It’s a unique situation that while similar to Sam and Bucky’s, will embark on its own path. As time passes, Steven is no longer treating Marc like a disease that needs to be eliminated. Whether Steven realizes it or not, he’s actually making a friend out of both Marc and Layla. In The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Sam and Bucky were reluctant to consider one another in the same way they regarded Steve, but by the end of the series, they had become more than mere friends. Steven and Marc can do the same by the time Moon Knight draws to a close.
Moon Knight is now streaming on Disney Plus.
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