Caution: Spoilers Ahead for Moon Knight episode 2. 

Among all the action scenes packed in Moon Knight episode 2, "Summon the Suit," one scene in particular poses an intriguing question—why Layla could not see the Egyptian jackal who attacked Moon Knight? The episode begins with a compelling sequence where Steven (Oscar Isaac) joins museum guard J.B. (Alexander Cobb) to look over the previous evening's security footage. To his surprise though, the footage only shows him running around the museum like a headless chicken, with no Egyptian jackal in sight. He desperately sets out to find answers and dives further into the rabbit hole of mysteries surrounding him.

In the second half of Moon Knight episode 2, Steven runs into Harrow again, who is deadset upon getting his hands on the golden scarab. When Steven refuses to give it to him and attempts to flee with Layla, Ethan Hawke's Arthur Harrow uses his cane to summon a jackal. With this, the man in the mirror, Marc Spector, shows up again and urges Steven to relinquish control. When he finally gives in, a showdown ensues between Moon Knight and the jackal, who is mysteriously invisible to Layla and other bystanders—but not to Steven.

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Moon Knight episode 2 plays around with Steven's perception of reality. One moment he is convinced that the chaos around him is real, while the next he is understandably questioning his sanity. This of course begs the question of whether or not the jackal is actually real. The opening sequence where the jackal is not visible in the museum's security footage suggests that Steven may have been hallucinating, however, several moments during the episode's final battle suggest there's more to the jackal's presence than meets the eye.

Moon Knight Episode 2 Steven Marc Mr Knight

Is Moon Knight's Jackal Real?

While the opening scene convincingly suggests that the jackal may not be real, the closing moments of the episode make it evident that the show's narrative is using a well-known fantasy trope called "Invisible to Normals." When Moon Knight and the jackal duke it out in the open, there are moments where the jackal pushes bystanders away. In another scene where Layla attempts to stab the jackal with a bottle, the monster's face is partially visible when covered with water.

These scenes confirm that although the jackal isn't visible to Layla and other normal humans, it is real. The logical reason behind this is that since Moon Knight's Steven and Arthur are avatars of Egyptian gods, only they can see mythological beings like the jackal. This is potentially similar to how in the magical world of Harry Potter, Dementors can be seen by wizards but not muggles (non-magic folk), who can only feel their chilling presence.

Moon Knight episode 2 is directed by dynamic duo Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead. The directors portray something similar in their cosmic horror films The Endless and Resolution, where they only draw an outline of the protagonist's perception and leave the rest to the viewer's imagination. Whether or not this outline will create a clearer picture of Moon Knight's mysteries remains to be seen, but it is certainly interesting how the directorial vision of Benson and Moorhead works in tandem with Steven Grant's complex identities.

NEXT: How Did Marc Spector Die Before Moon Knight?

New episodes of Moon Knight drop Wednesdays on Disney+.

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