Moon Knight - SPOILERS

[Davies]

On the other hand, there's also drama in Steven being led to believe that he's not real (and referred to as a parasite) while actually being the real one all along. And Marc's words to him, "Let me protect us", echoes what I believe real-world dissociative subjects also experience -- the alter is created to protect the original personality. Usually in a much less violent fashion, but this is an action movie.

 

[Umbran]

Well, Steven could have stumbled in to some mythological stuff in the museum if this was a 90s movie....

Yep. They certainly could make that, or some variant thereof, the story. It just makes the story of how we get Marc's skills a bit harder, and I'm not sure there's much payoff to doing it.

 

[ART!]

So, the answer is "kind of yes." Marc Spector might actually be being possessed by Khonshu or he might just be crazy. It's not exactly clear.

According to interviews, the writers have worked really hard to deal with Marc's mental illness respectfully. "He's just crazy" is very reductive.

Narrativelly it makes a lot of sense too. Make Steven discover he is not real, give the audience some drama...

Not knocking what you're saying at all, and this is arguably very tangential, but I'm reminded of Tolkien's essay "On Fairy Stories", wherein he says - to very roughly paraphrase - maybe what's important isn't what you or I might agree is real, but what's important.

 

[Umbran]

On the other hand, there's also drama in Steven being led to believe that he's not real (and referred to as a parasite) while actually being the real one all along.

So, while they aren't using real-world dissociative identity disorder, I am going to guess that they are going to be a little more sensitive than that - they probably aren't going to gaslight the main, sympathetic character in that way. They won't lie to him, or tell him he's "not real".

 

[Bolares]

Yep. They certainly could make that, or some variant thereof, the story. It just makes the story of how we get Marc's skills a bit harder, and I'm not sure there's much payoff to doing it.

I 100% prefer the story they are telling, no doubt

 

[Umbran]

Not knocking what you're saying at all, but I'm reminded of Tolkien's essay "On Fairy Stories", wherein he says - to very roughly paraphrase - maybe what's important isn't what you or I might agree is real, but what's important.

Yes, and, in addition, if they are going to give a nod to real world mental illness, then we should expect that, in some sense, Steven serves a purpose. While Khonshu may think of him as a parasite, that's probably because Khonshu only cares about the goals, and not a whit about the person who was Marc Spector.

I will be unsurprised to find that Steven is what remains of Marc's humanity. And, in a hero story, losing that would be very bad.

 

[Ryujin]

Yes, and, in addition, if they are going to give a nod to real world mental illness, then we should expect that, in some sense, Steven serves a purpose. While Khonshu may think of him as a parasite, that's probably because Khonshu only cares about the goals, and not a whit about the person who was Marc Spector.

I will be unsurprised to find that Steven is what remains of Marc's humanity. And, in a hero story, losing that would be very bad.

The role of either Conscience or Safe Harbour are pretty likely. An alternate identity for a superhero is a must so an alternate identity that doesn't know it's a superhero is double-plus good.

 

[Bolares]

I use "real" here with heavy air quotes...

 

[Umbran]

An alternate identity for a superhero is a must so an alternate identity that doesn't know it's a superhero is double-plus good.

Well, until their ignorance gets in the way...

So, separate topic for the collected readers here:

When, in Marvel comics, a character shows up in a quaint Bavarian-style town, near a quaint castle, do you think Bavaria, or do you think... Latveria?

 

[Bolares]

Yes, and, in addition, if they are going to give a nod to real world mental illness, then we should expect that, in some sense, Steven serves a purpose. While Khonshu may think of him as a parasite, that's probably because Khonshu only cares about the goals, and not a whit about the person who was Marc Spector.

I will be unsurprised to find that Steven is what remains of Marc's humanity. And, in a hero story, losing that would be very bad.

I saw a interview with the director where he says that he is very interested in shades of gray, so Khonshu could be viewed as much as a villain as the glass guy or aligator goddess (I'm bad at names)