Moon Knight Review S1E2: Summon the Suit + Special Guest YebbaDebba!

We're delighted to welcome the hype queen herself, yabba dabba. Welcome to

Or like, especially, you know, during this past two years with the pandemic and with the election and with my history in election stuff, um, there, there were, there was a lot of uncertainty. And so, um, if there's anything that I can extend a as a welcome mat, it is a welcoming space for a lot of different vibes. But the one that we will always try to leave. Is cozy and comforted.

So we play a lot of different games, but the thing that's kind of consistent is that we have a lot of really important talks, but we also make sure that we check in with each other and tend to have a really good time. So I would say that's probably the most consistent thing. And we also kicked for. Uh, and if you are there for any of my scary streams, please have me on like 30% volume. It can, it can get bad, also very creative swearing, which I will do my absolute best not to

And you're again, if, if all that other stuff is not an incentive enough, please go listen to some of the creative swearing, because you have taught me new words that I never thought to ever put together,

So like $5 every time you're on the front page and you swear, and I was like, cool. Yeah, I can do that. Now we have a swear jar on my channel too. So if people activate it, it hurts the bank, but it's for a good cause.

Well, and I've always gone to my comfort shows and I've always had a good time, big Gundam fan, you know, big Robert robots go, boom. It was one of those, like I liked the anime community that was on Tik TOK. And so I wanted to create something that wasn't just a toxic hot take, like let's compare power scale, blah, type of a place. And I just wanted to create something that was still. And ridiculous because I'm silly and ridiculous, but also to explore new anime.

And I would say probably from 2010 till now, I have watched a huge slew of new genres of new studios, new types of things. And like, I'm just, I'm completely blown away. And I'm really, I'm honored that people, um, especially 13,000 of them have enjoyed my journey so far. Um, but it's all, it's a lot of silly fandom videos I have, you know, again, it's, it's really anything nerdy, um, that kind of pops into my head when it comes to stuff.

Books movies, television shows anime a lot of anime, more anime manga. So, um, yeah, so that's, that's really what it is. Yeah. I'm just, I'm just a goon over there. So it's, it's fun. It's light. It's it's not supposed to be taken very seriously. I'm not, you know, I'm not here to tell everybody that they should do something. I'm just here. Like, Hey, I had a good time with it and I hope you do too. That's what.

So of course we are going to be talking about moon night, but something we'd like to do every time we have a new guest on is to get a bit of a taste of where they started with the MCU. So what's your connection to the MCU?

Um, I am notorious for not up until probably the MCU in Lord of the rings. Uh, I'm notorious for not seeing movies on time ever. So like, uh, like I always, I was talking about how I finished X-Files in like 2013. Um, like I can, I can be very behind on literally everything all of the time, uh, except for one piece.

Like I, I had sort of known about the Asgardians, but like, I didn't know that big I had, I just, I had no idea something could be such a visual feast when it came to that. And so I was like, okay, well, if we're going to go jettisoned off of the fantasy of Lord of the rings, into the fantasy of other armored things with heavy things that go ouch, uh, I'm definitely gonna watch that. Definitely gonna watch that. So I still stand by the Avengers.

The Avengers is my favorite movie, so I know even above all the other ones, but it's, it's still, it's the well that I go back to it's it's the, it's the comfort. It's. It's the culmination of all the characters that I started to learn. And I, I still think it's to this day, probably my

So I was, I w I don't want to say I was disappointed because I still liked her story. And I still liked that little segment with vision, but it wasn't until wine division where I was like, yes, ma'am reporting for duty. I am. Um, so I would say that she was the most surprising one that I, I started latching on to when it came to all of that. I'm also, I'm also just a really big black widow fan. Oh. Cause I, I mean, besides it just being Scarlett Johannson, I like this.

I like the story of a redeeming character. Um, especially ever Demian character who has so much subtext and so much secrecy and just, and just creates so many walls. And then those walls just keep getting pushed down with all of the love that's around them, but also because of their own confidence and their own acceptance of their mistakes and kind of growing from that.

So I just, I really liked, I really liked that character and I also, I it's, it's so funny that I'm going from like an all powerful being to like just a bad-ass in a cat suit, but like, it's just, I, I, there, there are two very strong women in many different facets. That I think I latched onto, and it really, it was very encouraging to see kind of on the screen. I'm sad that we still had to wait until however long to get her movie, but I was happy when we finally got it.

So, and then we got Yulaina. Oh, yes.

But of course, if you download this episode and you know, we're going to be talking about season one episode, two of moon night called some in the suit. So the way we're going to handle this is we're going to start off with some pre spoiler thoughts, which is a chance for us to talk about the episode without really getting into the details. And that will be followed by an audio cue, which will take us in to the spoiler zone.

So before we get there, Yeah, but what are your thoughts for episode two of Moonlight?

And I, I really, I really can't wait to see more, especially when it comes to a couple of those

I want more. It's just well paced. And the final preschooler thought, I think I'll throw out there is that for as much flack as the MCU gets for undercutting moments with comedy, I think this show has found an impressive balancing act between humor and seriousness.

And, uh, in terms of, of that, and I, and I feel like it went into that a little bit more in this episode, and you got to see that the N that empathy also from other characters, which I thought was like, like, yes, like, yes, like people are addressing it. It's not just this, like only the audience knows type of a thing, which, which I get really annoyed with when I don't know how many books you read, but like unreliable narrator books, when it comes.

You're the only person that knows, but you don't actually know because that's the whole plot twisty thing of this book. And I'm glad that it's, it's, it's not just something shoved under the rug or, and it's not just used as a plot point to be like, wow, this is going to be, you know, shocking shock value and book. And it's not, it's not that at all, which I greatly appreciate. And they. Really went into that in the second episode.

So the way we're going to do this is break this down into the most important topics of the episode, which is a way for us to cover it without having to go necessarily scene by scene. So starting with the first one, this one's called explaining mark. We see really three instances of Stephen having to contend with this other personality. We see him explaining mark to the world around him. We see mark and Stephen, literally having a conversation between each other.

And then we see Steven explaining the situation to Layla. So, yeah, but again, starting with you, where do you want to start within this section? I think

The one thing that I caught on to during the second, my second watch through, uh, which I learned from you guys, um, to do so during my second walk, my watch through a, both one and two, I find that the cinematography choices are interesting. So the one thing that I noticed is in the beginning of the first episode, we see Arthur putting the glass in his hand.

And then walking and then as we're being introduced to Stephen and he's, as he's in the bed, one of the first shots that you see after he takes off the covers is you see the bottom of his feet. So then you, as the watcher are like, oh, they're not the same person. Cause his feet aren't injured. So you're like, okay, those are two separate characters with it so far.

And then as he was going through his whole routine and then, you know, checking the sand, doing the whole thing, um, he shuffles and scuffs a lot. Like his feet always touch the floor and he shuffles and he kind of goes in the balls of his feet and kind of does everything. Um, and then he sort of, he has like an interesting gate and when he walks, he's always rushing. He's always kind of bent over and then Oscar Isaac's body language in this as he's portraying, both characters is fantastic.

Um, because when we see mark for the first time as he's coming into scene in that security footage, he has sweat. He has sure. Footing, he is stable and like, and that's the first thing that you see and he's looking at the camera cause he knows, cause he's mark that Steven's going to be reviewing that camera, that camera footage, he just knows. He just knows that that's going to happen. Of course, he's going to do that.

So like the, to go from a character who mumbles to, uh, to, um, a very talented street performer and, you know, runs through all one of their thoughts with absolutely no feedback from anybody else. And then goes into a very, self-assured like just character, like the, I find that it's. So I find that they, that they chose feet and to be like the point of stability for people in terms of determining like, oh, this is going to be my impression of this care.

And I, I noticed that a lot in my second, one of just like where the camera was facing. So that was, that was really cool. I loved it. I loved the introduction of mark in that moment, more than when they talked in the

You've got that quick wit you've got that sureness, but it's not, it's not as bold when mark steps in to the scene where Steve is discussing with Layla, when mark steps into the aquarium, you know, it's mark, you just, you can feel it a hundred

Um, so it's, you're, you're sort of seeing how, how they intermingle in the same body, but when one is in control versus the other, they are very different

And so now that that's gone, he really is forced to examine, okay, who am I? And I'm always a sucker for this. I know it's not the most. What's the word I'm looking for. I mean, it's, it's pretty obvious, but the fact that they have to go to a storage locker to literally unlock the secrets of what they're holding out, they're just playing with so much with the cinematography and just visually telling the story between Steven and. And so I, I really enjoy that.

And before, before we get too much further into their intermingling, I do want to take a moment to spotlight Steven. His wholesomeness is just, I, I think I've seen this online. Like we must protect Steven at all costs at all

Um, and, uh, so I, I was getting frustrated, but I found myself getting frustrated with mark and not with Steven, because like mark is so reserved and he wants to compartmentalize so much and not have Stephen be a part of anything that he's not helpful. And it's like, he just keeps saying, let me take over. W why would you take over, like, clearly if you're not getting through to him, just by yelling at him, why don't you try to explain why it's better for you to do stuff?

And he sort of gets that way towards the li the later half of the episode being like, I'm the one who can control the suit. I am the one who can do this. I can protect you. I can protect Layla. I can pretend like he starts explaining it. But at the scene at the start, when, uh, when Layla's like first over and he just keeps saying like, stop, stop, don't talk, stop.

Why. Why honey, like, like it's like, it's like clearly, clearly Stephen's confused and you know, he's confused because, you know, he doesn't know all the information that, you know, so how about you throw this kid a bone? Like just do something a little differently. So I, so I, I got frustrated with him, um, at that point, but I didn't get frustrated with Steven who I was expecting to get frustrated with and I didn't. So it's good.

And you know, I, I didn't really have. Articulated thoughts on what you were talking about with the frustration of mark, but I think it is a nice thing to point out because I'm still working through this. And again, like we said, last week, we're trying to treat did with respect. Uh, so this is something that I don't know, a hundred percent, but it feels like at least within the show mark or Steven is a lot of either Mark's insecurities or things that he regrets.

So we see in the conversation with Steven and Layla, they had a lot in common and they're like, I think there was a favorite poet that Layla and Steven were discussed and he's like, oh, that's my favorite poet. And she was like, no, that's mine. So it feels like. Steven May internalize a lot of that for mark. So it makes sense in the beginning when he's like, I don't trust you, you can't do this. You're not capable of this. It is. It is.

It is him not having that self compassion for himself almost again. What I love about superhero shows that it brings the extreme to almost a literal sense. And you're getting to see that conversation here in, in the moment. I, I

And then with Steven, when she's, when she's like, like, like some in the suit, like, like just asking him and asking him and you know, that she doesn't believe him and you know, that she's having trouble with like all of this. And then when she sees just the pure frustration and just horror on Steven's face of being like, I don't know how to do this, and I don't want to do this. She immediately empathizes. And it's just like, okay, we'll figure out a different way out of this.

And like, again, that's just that night. Um, it's that acknowledgement that there is a struggle and instead of just meeting it and to butt heads and to call someone stupid or, you know, to degrade them or to do anything else, that's just like, you know what, this is a problem. This isn't going to solve the problem. We're going to find a different solution. So like, like I that's, when I also fell in love with the character Layla in general, um, just in terms of.

It's it's, it's almost like to build off of your point. It's almost like the chances that she didn't have with mark that she now wants to do with Steven in order to, to kind of, to, to explore those types of feelings, but to also, um, just to, just to reaffirm, like, okay, well, if we're going to be partners in this, because she emphasized that a few times, if we're actually going to be partners in this, I'm going to meet you halfway too, because you need me to right now, you know,

I didn't think about it until just now, but I think I love the fact that nobody can see the jackals, but mark at this point, because if super hero, like we did the episode on villains and the thing that I think makes good villains is, is whenever they make the antagonists. The embodiment of what the protagonist is dealing with. And so at least within this moment, that Jackal is an invisible thing to Layla, but it is a real thing to Stephen.

And so even though she can't see it, she recognizes the danger. I think that one shows the empathy on her character, but it makes me love the externalization of the problem that Steven and mark are dealing with. Yeah.

And like, it's so funny that like, the more you talk about it, or the more times you watch it, or the more times you do anything, it's just, you keep pulling all these little pieces out. So 10 out of 10. Love it.

And yet Steven is talking to her through the mirror, like at this point, that is the only connection they have. And so to get from there to where she's happy, where she's helping them with the invisible force at the end, what a great character arc within just this episode. Yeah. And again,

Nothing is empty in terms of character reaction. Or, um, or the actions that they do, um, or even, even just the lines like th th there's nothing. Well, in the MCU in general, there's really nothing. That's like a throwaway line because a lot of times they just go back to it of just being like, Hey, remember when I said that in like three movies ago? Like, ha, there you go.

But yeah, I, I really liked the character, Layla, um, Ethan Hawke, again, just secured for me that if he's not up for an Emmy, I'm going to be disappointed. So it's fine.

That's terrifying. That's that? That's the ultimate evil, because there, there is no sympathy. There is no empathy. And, uh, and I actually disagreed with, with the, like, you know, he was having, like, he had relief. I don't think he had relief at all. When he finally made those choices. I think, I think to him, it was just like, yes, I am on the right path. Like for him, it's reaffirming for him. It's not reaffirming. For like everyone else, he doesn't care about anyone else.

He cares that everyone else is believing what he

I shouldn't say obviously, and then not everybody is super into, to ridiculous true crime and tyrannical dictatorships and reading all those books like I do, because you're not weird like me, but, um, so, uh, for anybody who doesn't know, uh, I have a background in politics and one of my big things that I read are, uh, historical instances of tyranny and deviance. Um, you know, I've read a lot about serial killers. I've read a lot about cult fanatics. I've read a lot about all of this stuff.

That's why I had a podcast at one point talking about this. Um, yeah, sort of like files. Yes. Um, we, we may come back. We'll see. I need to stop being busy. That's really what it comes down to. So, but the, the big thing is something that goes hand in hand with this, especially when you start gaining power.

And especially when you start a certain path and you have a certain zeal is that you have a certain level of paranoia and that paranoia turns into distrust of the people around you, or it turns into distrust of yourself. So we already learned that Arthur was at one point partnered, uh, with Concho. Like he, he was the avatar of conscience. That's what we. He's strayed from that path because he found a firmer path and he was just like, I'm not going to wait until something bad happens.

I'm going to preempt it. I'm going to minority report this. I don't, I don't want to wait. I want, I want to, I want to nip it in the bud and I want to create my utopia. So, because he's been exposed to both sides, he needs to reaffirm that he chose the right side. So he needs to know that every action that he does.

Not only do they believe, but he believes that he's on the right choice because it starts feeding into that paranoia that I don't know, or any, any self doubt in any of this he's going to die. So he can't, he can't, he can't have doubt from other people and he can't have doubt in himself. So he just needs to charge all the way forward, all collateral damage in his

Don't don't be a conformist. So, so at that point, I wasn't sure. Um, what, what the type of agreement was, but it didn't sound like mark. He didn't tell him like his arm was twisted. It didn't sound like he kept saying that he had like a duty that, that he had a task to fulfill. So it sounded, it sounded very finite in terms of what this agreement was going to be. So it wasn't like, uh, selling your soul, whatever type of thing. Um, but it was interesting at the end of the episode, after

So starting with me this time, You know, I I've seen this comparison a lot on social media about how much the, the Ahmet believers are starting to feel like Hydra, because we saw the, you know, we're going to strike before even the crimes are committed and that is 100% the belief that they have here. I want to go out one further. They're obviously playing within the ideology of those two factions.

But the thing that I think is super impressive and can be felt in the scene where the officer comes to Steven's home, or when he's like trying to reach out to the person outside of the car who was playing with a soccer ball, they have created, as you said earlier, the paranoia of who can you trust and the way that it is depicted with the scales, just being like shown when they move a hand, oh man, there's so much fear going on in that first introduction with HARO

Also when it comes to cult stuff, you know, it's not just the uneducated, it's not just the susceptible. It's not just the naive. It can be anybody, anybody can be susceptible to being brought in by a certain message. And I think what we see, especially when he's walking through the community, you know, when he admires the tomatoes and they start talking Mandarin and they, they, um, you know, they go get the lentil soup and there's, um, there's a silent movie, not silent movie.

A, um, what's the word I'm looking for? Uh, screening. Yeah. Like, like a, like a headphone screening. I don't, I don't know what word I was trying to look for. Um, but, um, I did silent parties in the library before where we all sync up playlists on the same thing, and then we all like jam out to it, but not annoy other people. So, you know, the early or the late two thousands college, it was fine. Um, so like, I feel like we get a sense of the utopia that he's built.

But just like with Venos and just like with everybody else, even if you have a great idea, the means to which you get, there can be very problematic and you start to see Stephen get really comfortable and be like, yeah, I'm vegan. I'm going to have this soup. This looks delicious. But then he starts to hear it. And then he starts to question it.

And then as he questions it, there's people closing in because once again, if you have a shun, the non-believer, but also when you have someone who has the potential to convince someone, to break ranks with these people, I don't see that happening. But when, when you have the potential of that, you have to neutralize that threat. So, um, horo was looking to neutralize, two threats. He was looking to neutralize someone who has the power of conscious.

And he was also looking to neutralize someone who has the potential to maybe convince some other people in the room that, Hey, maybe what he's saying is, is kind of true. Maybe we shouldn't, you know, potentially just off some innocent person before they commit some type of crime in 30 years in the future.

I, I, it's still, it's only two episodes, so I'm scared to make this bullet of the claim, but I think Steven really might be one of the. Strongest characters emotionally that we've seen in the MCU. 'cause I, I had to write this line down whenever it was written, because it, it, it hit me right in my heart.

Whenever Arthur is trying to appeal to them at first to get to his side, he talks about like, okay, did constitute choose you because you're a broken or when you would be easy to break and Stephen goes, I'm not broken. I just need some help, mate. Oh man. What a beautiful line. Because like at every turn, so. Everybody has put Steven down and he keeps like standing back up.

So I love that this show is taking a character like this, who should be a pushover because I've gone to try and like describe Steven. And every time I go to one of the first words that comes to mind is pushover, but he's not, he's only. Appearance of being it, but he's got that strength to stand up to HARO. So I, I love the way that you had just outlined that there

Hey mark and con Concho, I understand that you have to fight against this, but I also can't have you keep using me to hurt innocent people? Well, who will or just hurt people in general? Not even, not even innocent or guilty, just hurt people in general. I don't, I don't subscribe to that, especially when he's he's in between two sides of literally the same coin where you have conscientious.

Where they have the same objective, but they also have the same faults where Concho does not care who he gets roped into his stuff, as long as he has their body and has their power in order to complete his duty. And then HARO on the other hand does not care about anyone and will do exactly what he needs to do in order to make sure that his vision comes from. So he's caught between perfect black and white, and he has this fantastic shade of gray that is saying both of you are wrong.

Like, like, like, like both of you are just this isn't this isn't right. And, and he's not saying that he's right, but he knows what's not, he knows what's wrong and he knows what he stands for. And he knows what he believes. So in terms of like being a pushover, he's not a pushover, he's just, he's, he's so understanding of where he wants to be, that he knows where he doesn't want to be. So he, he just knows that like, this is, this is not for me. I don't want to be a part of this.

I don't want to be a part of your utopia and I don't want to be the utopia smasher. So I, I don't know what you want me to do, man, but I don't want to be a part of any of it. I just want to be a gift shop is

And like the fact that you have awareness of that is emotionally intelligent is, is emotional, intense. And it's, it's, it's, you're wrestling with empathy with yourself, even when people are not giving you that same empathy back. And it's a very exhausting space to be in trust me, men there. So it's, I, I feel like they do a really good job. Um, I'm, I'm curious for people who don't suffer from mental illness or. I don't have that as a constant daily battle or don't have any of those feelings.

I wonder how they interpret him because, you know, I, I, I have depression and I was also recently diagnosed with ADHD. I'm sorry. I need to change that. I, I was diagnosed with severe depression last year, um, which I didn't appreciate the severe, but it was it's accurate. So, um, it's one of those, like, I, I understand what I can handle. I understand what I can tolerate. I understand what are my limits and what are my boundaries, but I also understand what I need.

It's, it's, it's a very difficult conversation with people who have. Either have to have that awareness or haven't gotten there yet. So I'm just curious what, um, how people interpret Stephen. Cause I feel like a lot of people know where mark is, but maybe don't know how to interpret

I'm waiting for the moment where we see the reveal that horo is seeing Ahmed like Marcus seeing Concho. And so we're seeing these two ideologies because you can see moments where Arthur is talking to Steven and he just kind of like turns his head to the side

Or that's a really good term to put it as in terms of boundaries, that Steven is is, is the boundary. Yeah. So, and even like, even when mark like freaks out, when he finally like, like takes control and he just gets so frustrated with Steven, and it's just one of those, like, Steven, didn't do that with you, Steven. Didn't do that with you. And like, and like, I understand that like, maybe you don't want to deal with it. Like, you know, in the last scene he's like drunk and stuff.

So like, obviously there's some, there's some addressing issues. Uh, that he probably has, um, when it comes to facing things or maybe he just, you know, needs a break from stuff and that's understandable, but it, but, but like, again, that's, this is where I'm getting frustrated with mark and I'm not getting frustrated with Steven because Steven is articulating what is frustrating and what he's dissatisfied with and what he's upset by. And with mark you're, he's just a loose cannon.

He like, he just, something's going to flip that switch and it's just like, well, now he's in. Crap. So,

Cause you again, you've, you've detailed the spectrum with which we're dealing here. How did you feel about the realization that Arthur once was in? I want to say cahoots, but partnership with Concho. And because of that, he is able to call the shots of, oh, is he saying this as he's saying to kill me? Oh, is he saying that he's real justice and he doesn't have to hear that? Like what, what was your read on that moment? And

When it comes to this type of interaction that you're having. Um, which is very manipulative, but at the same time, it's a really cool window into Arthur to be like, oh, like, like he had this power at one point, huh? I wonder why he gave it up. And so you're, so that, that starts kind of turning in your head of like, did he give it up or did you say, you know, screw you, I don't need you anymore.

I need a new vessel because as we learned, you know, he seems to be on the lookout for all that all the time. So, um, what, what is more enticing with Ahmet? It is, is it because I'm at promised him something. Or is it because Ahmed has more power and he's power hungry and he's greedy, or did Ahmet appeal to, um, you know, he's partially there with Concho of like, I'm avenging the innocent and I am punishing the, uh, I am punishing who needs to be punished?

I, I am, I am justice, but he he'd, since he said it. So facetiously, like he said it in like a, oh, does he say like, I am justice? He, he clearly, he's not co-signed the con shoe anymore. And he clearly got sick of Concho and then Ahmed was just way more attractive. Well, as a crocodile head lady.

He knows what his compass is and he knows what he wants to do. He's just not sure who around him is either going to make fun of him or shun him or, um, you know, hurt him or be somebody who's just not going to support him. So that's that, that's where his hesitancy is. It's not really in himself, it's with everybody

But the fact that he is limited to the sidelines, at least in this moment, because Arthur says like, oh, is that him? Is he here? Like, don't worry. That's the worst that he can do without your help. And so they have undercut him, I think. The cause we still don't know enough about Contra yet because we'll get to it later in the outline.

I still can't get a perfect read on what it is he wants or whether or not we can see him as not necessarily good, but at least not somebody who is taking the souls of people who were believing in him way to

That was a way too quick for the scales to balance on that.

Off with you. It was justified. It's justified his brain. He's fine with it. So yeah, malicious, malicious, malicious

And it turned into a fantastic comedy bit and, and it was, it was quippy. And so it wasn't, it wasn't like Hawkeye. In terms of like comedy, because Kate Bishop was the queen of comedy through that entire series, along with Julina.

So I found it to be a little relieving after a really heavy scene with Arthur, but also set up some really fantastical action because it was cool to see that the Jackal was actually invisible, uh, which we, we sort of thought with the camera, but like maybe it just wasn't caught on electronics for whatever reason. I don't know. So it was nice to have that confirmation. And just like, I, I'm still really curious about the powers. Like I want to see more, I want to see, like we saw restarted.

We sort of saw it when mark redid the suit, but like, I want to, I want to see more and I, and it's kind of cool that it can be so manipulated, um, at the person's window. Um, to be useful, almost that, that, that was, that was really cool.

Then we have, what I believe is referred to as Mr. Night with this one in the suit with Steven, I never would have guessed that that suit would not be because it's not it's so. Not, not that it's defined. I know these are all based off comics, but it was a whim of, of him not knowing how to use the suit. Like I never would've guessed that. And the lead up into the psycho Colonel Sanders, like, it's just my God, like this show.

It is so rich with the way it's using its premise that it's it's, this is the balancing act that I was talking about in the preschool and our thoughts. Like it, it, it can be serious. It can be action and it can be comedy and it is not missing a beat whatsoever. I mean much like the Stephen with the float, like a butterfly sting, like a bee. My name's Steven with a V like this

Mark actually showed some side of like the punch. Yeah. He's like, that was pretty good. But if you don't want to hurt these. Let me take control from

Um, you know, I'm so used to like, like, I'm not saying, I'm not gonna say I'm used to crappy action movies, but like, especially with us growing up where, um, most of like the banter between like buddy cop movies or like action movies was always just like insulting the person or, or, um, you know, pointing out their faults or like doing anything marks appealing to something that Steven would see be a reason as to why he should take over. Like, it's, it's a lot of.

Um, and also mark recognizes that he's earnest, he's earnest in that I want to do something and I want to do it because I don't want it to do it your way, because your way has made my body hurt a lot of people. And so like, he's, he's trying to thread that needle to be like, I need to keep you safe. I need to keep well, you and me safe, and I need to keep Layla.

I'm sure mark thinks about other people, but I don't think it's his top most concern, um, a lot of times, but he knows that he needs to do something different. And then he listens to Layla. When Layla says, get him out of here, like get him away from these other people. I feel, I feel like mark does not have the same level. Um, but he sees the reason behind making certain decisions for the greater good or for public safety or whichever,

Um, and it culminating to Layla being the one to say, like, all right, go get him so good to

I, I am not a strong, independent woman that don't need no, man. I am a woman who is choosing to be with you because I know we can be stronger together. Like come on dipstick, like get with it. So like, it's just, it's, it's just one of those, like, whatever your feeling in terms of. Like, I need to keep you safe if you're not taking into account what the other person is saying, you're not keeping them safe. You're saying that you're a burden and you need to leave.

So, and Steven sees that and Steven sees that because for him, it's very much like why would I ever get rid of you? And then he, and the only time Steven listens to mark is when he says you're putting her in. And that's when he realizes, oh, maybe I shouldn't act so rashly, or maybe I shouldn't do that because I don't want to put Layla in danger. So they have the same motive and they say they have the same goal to keep Layla safe.

But it's the emotional intelligence of Steven that recognizes it's a partnership. It's not a get the hell out of here. And she points that out to,

Like if they go full miss Marvel with it, but like, I want to see, I want to see kind of where else those superpowers can go, but also how they choose to use those powers. Especially Steven. Um, if Khan shoe actually wants to work with him, to

The writers will capitalize on some of it. And then I know they'll leave some of it for a future iteration of some sort. So I'll be curious what they finally expose us to through this

Uh, and then you had the whole from radiation. So like we've had different induced euros, but it's curious to know that you have someone who can be who who's in a packed almost of like, I wonder where this could go. And, you know, we saw this with the terminals, with the black Knight and yada yada yada. So

So like, clearly we know that he's, he's very belittling to Stephen and he, and the way Khan shoe acts is the way, um, I don't want to, again, I don't want to say I'm used to in action movies, but as a very prevalent trope, when it comes to, um, you know, like the, the come around, like somebody has a face turn to use more wrestling terms. Sorry. Um, and, um, the, and so it's, it's very, um, it'll be very interesting where they take it.

If Concho, you know, ends up having some revelation or ends up having, uh, being nicer to mark or something. But the fact that he's holding Layla over his head makes me think that there, there is something. And I don't know if it's consci or Mark's fault. So I'm, I'm, I'm curious to see where that goes in terms of like, how nefarious was this deal or how advantageous was it, you know, who, who was being exploited when it happened? Because it doesn't sound like mark doesn't like the powers.

It sounds like he does very much like the powers, but it then turns into at what cost. And obviously if the cost is Layla, he had some definitely some second thoughts.

But then at the same time he goes, you were worth protecting and yes, there is that beneficial, like, okay, you are my avatar, you are very capable of this, but there's something about that that felt a little bit more like, no, I think he does somewhat care about mark. So. I, I dunno, I'm still trying to figure it out, but I think the, the biggest question I have that I I'm going to pose to Euro. Do you believe mark? When he tells Steven, Hey, when we're done, you'll never see me again. No, no,

And I, I don't think what caused this internal rift within them is something that was necessarily, necessarily started with Concho. I, I, so I, I don't see how once they get rid of con shoe, that that would suddenly disappear. It's not like it's and we still haven't learned who was before whom we haven't learned if they've always been this way. And they've always been split. We haven't learned the catalyst. We haven't learned the Kazi.

So like until we have a little bit more, more information, um, I don't think they're ever going to need to be separate, but I'm curious to see how co-living can happen. Question mark. So, yeah, I'm not sure about that, but especially with the way Khan she talks. I, I don't, I don't think it's, I don't think he's

I want to say mark, because he obviously has the experience with cashew, but Stephen seems to have a very well lived in life here in London. And they're like, I mean, Steven OD pointed out, you know, the tiny American living inside me. They have two distinct lives, so I, I'm still waiting to figure out where we're at there.

She knew about Steven or at least their mom, I guess she doesn't know about Stephen's mom, but, um, Steven keeps calling somebody, but never actually talks to them. So who that, what number is he calling? What, like, is that just a fallacy that he's created in his head? Like is the mom non-existent and he just that's something that he created or was she existed, but he doesn't remember something that happened. So like it's um, I'm, I'm definitely curious. I'm definitely curious.

Of, you know, the chicken and the egg story, um, is, you know, is mark the egg or with Steven or were they both chickens? Cause we actually don't know what came first chicken or the egg then more immaculate exception. Sorry I'm done.

This story has gripped me and all the cinematography is incredible. Bring in next week. I'm right there with you, Ben. I, I know we joked how we turned down, the four episodes that were given to the press last week. I take it back. I want it. I want, I don't want to be part of the people I want to watch mutiny.

And as we said last week, we are doing something different this season where we are going to put out a number that you can call. If you want to leave your audio thoughts as well. So real quickly, if you want to reach us, you can call us at (512) 893-1355. So, yeah, well, yeah, but we're getting to the end here. Uh, I just wanted to give you a chance to share any final thoughts you may have on this episode before we go. I think

Like, are they more mythical? Are, did they appear? Do they appear differently? Can they not take that type of form? So do they have to possess people in order to be seen? So, um, it was, it was something really cool. So I liked that there, they showed more of him and his connection to everything. Uh, and I really can't wait to see more of mark because I feel like next episode is definitely going to be giving us more mark than Steven. And, uh, we'll see what's happening in Egypt.

But after our conversation today, where we talked about the way Stephen is almost marks awareness and how that shows them growing together as a person on that bus, one of the ads says something to the extent of reunite with your loved ones. And so now after that conversation, I love, I love that that has to be intentional. So I just want to throw that out there.

And if you'd be so kind to leave us a rating and a review, we'd really appreciate it, especially on Spotify, where they just implemented that system, which will help our discoverability. And if you wanna join in the active community, there is a discord link where you can come join other like-minded MCU fans, as well as general pop culture fans to hang out with.

Um, so it's just like, I feel like there's other people that could potentially play people, but when it came to iron man, it was just like, Nope, it's Robert Downey Jr. That's it. Our DJ done and done and done.