Warning – this article contains spoilers for Episode 4 of Moon Knight.
The fourth episode of Moon Knight has just aired to global audiences and has certainly dropped a bombshell with audiences. Not only was Oscar Isaac’s Marc Spector shot dead, but he woke up in a mental hospital instead of falling to his death. Is he dead? Is this new world his actual reality or a trick of the mind?
DISPLAY
There are many questions, but little to no answers have emerged. The biggest shock came in the final seconds: a giant hippo lady appeared, scaring the deaths of both Steven and Marc – not to mention everyone watching from home.
Wonder
For those wondering, this mysterious talking figure is the Egyptian goddess Taweret. In myth, she, the hippopotamus, is described as the goddess of childbirth and fertility. With a twist this big, it’s hard not to wonder if the show’s cast knew it was going to happen before actual production began filming. Now one of Moon Knight’s actors has addressed the hippopotamus in the room.
The hippopotamus in psychiatry
The Direct’s Russ Milheim had to sit down with actress Lucy Thackeray, who plays Donna in Moon Knight, to talk about the lurid hippo in psychiatry in the closing seconds of the fourth installment of the Disney+ series.
DISPLAY
Wonder
Thackay revealed that despite her brief appearance in the scene previously, Marvel kept her in the dark about the surprising Egyptian goddess. However, the actress noted that there was a specific reference to Taweret in the show’s premiere episode “one of [the] small scenes in the camp [between Donna and Steven]:
“I’ve heard of hippos, but I have no idea. Someone else asked about the hippo and I said, ‘Sorry?’ One of our little scenes in the storage room, actually right at the beginning of the scene, I’m like, ‘Bring the hippos over here’ and [Steven] says, “Oh no, their real name is Taweret.” You really have to listen. But other than that, I literally have no idea what to expect. I’ve heard bits and pieces from other cast members [about the last episode]and it all sounds crazy.”
Wonder
Unfortunately, for those hoping to see Donna one last time, it doesn’t look like it. According to Thackeray, “This is Donna’s [last scene],” but she hopes there is room for her return:
“I mean, unless they did something crazy with the cut. I think this is Donna’s [last scene]… I just hope the museum doesn’t get blown up [in one of those final episodes]. Because then there’s hope that Donna can come back.”
Wonder
Keep the hippopotamus in your pocket
While the show’s stars Oscar Isaac and Ethan Hawke were likely aware of the Egyptian hippo goddess’ surprise appearance, many of the other various actors who have appeared throughout Steven/Marc’s life were likely in a similar situation to Thackeray when they did Hospital scenes began filming. Even with all the confusion, they were probably all enjoying the weirdness of it all.
DISPLAY
While fans are used to dealing with Marvel’s intense secrecy on this side of everything, it’s easy to forget how sometimes the actors on these projects have to deal with the exact same situation. It’s nothing new, however, but it’s a system that seems to be working pretty well for them.
As for the hippopotamus, well who knows why the goddess ended up there. Marc’s situation doesn’t really fall within their god-coverage realm, so it’s confusing to say the least. Luckily, fans only have to wait a week to get the answers; Well, at least for some of them.
Moon Knight is now streaming exclusively on Disney+.
DISPLAY