Moments subpages are Spoilers Off. You Have Been Warned!
"You are the only real superpower I ever had."
Even in one of the most serious of the Disney+ MCU shows, there is an element of sweetness within the madness that occurs. open/close all folders
Episode 1: The Goldfish Problem
- While it's also sad (and hilarious), Steven's relationship with the living statue is cute. He just comes in to ramble about his problems, make sure his friend is okay, and tips generously while also reminding tourists to do the same. He also leaves a sandwich for the man in addition to money.
- It's implied that Marc took over Steven in order to get Steven a date and buy a new goldfish to replace Gus (who presumably died while Steven was overseas), given how the pet shop owner mentions that "Steven" came to her for a new goldfish with a single fin.
- Steven also receives postcards that are supposedly from his mother. Given what we learn about their mother later on, it's entirely possible that Marc has also been sending those to keep up Steven's belief of having a happy, normal life and a loving mother.
- It only lasts for a couple of seconds, but when Steven's otherwise cruel boss Donna learns that Steven has a date with tour guide Dylan, she momentarily seems pleased and proud of him. It doesn't last, however.
- The waiter at the restaurant where Steven gets stood up is very kind and understanding towards him, and even helps him through placing an order when Steven is too shaken up to properly voice what he wants. It's a far cry from the treatment he gets from his coworkers, who are generally dismissive of him, or the cult members trying to kill him.
- While it's still a pretty unnerving scene, Arthur's praise of the man that the Scale of Justice judges to be a good person seems completely genuine, and he even hugs his devout disciple. Also note that Harrow isn't forcing anyone to go through this ceremony. He asks if any of his followers are willing to take the risk, and several volunteer. Harrow's a Knight Templar, to be sure, but he's far from having well and truly jumped off the slippery slope.
- Marc truly cares for Steven's wellbeing, and asks Steven to let him take over so he can save us. Steven may be Marc's alter, but he's still a person in his own right.
Episode 2: Summon the Suit
- While he was fired, Steven isn't charged for the destruction of the bathroom, because they believe he had a genuine breakdown and have nothing but sympathy for him. The head of HR even gives him some encouraging words and hands him a pamphlet to see a reputable psychiatrist they've worked with before.
- After a brief moment of panicked confusion when Layla says she's his wife, Steven is quickly taken with her, referring to her as "our" wife instead of just Marc's, and is only kept from telling her everything by Marc saying that doing so would put her life in danger.Steven: Divo- Divorce?
Layla: Yeah, are we doing this or not?
Steven: [entirely sincere] I would never divorce you. - When Layla first visits Steven's apartment, she notices that he shares several of her interests, including French poetry and hieroglyphics. The implication is that, when Marc created the Steven Grant persona, he (subconsciously or otherwise) based parts of it on Layla.
- Though this implication is later Jossed, as the Steven alter was created in childhood, it instead has another implication — that Marc had those interests himself at one point, and thus has more in common with Layla than previously assumed.
- When Arthur ponders if Khonshu chose Steven/Marc because his mind would be easily broken (or was already broken to begin with and would be thus easier for Khonshu to control), Steven counters that he is not broken, he just needs a bit of help.
- Layla realizes that Steven hasn't been lying to her when he has a near-total breakdown. She calls him by his name instead of "Marc", and gently tells him they'll find another way to escape if he can't summon the suit.
- Though Steven is terrified, panicking, and a completely inexperienced fighter (unlike Marc), when he realizes Layla can't see the jackal that's about to kill her, he taunts it into attacking him to defend her.
- Despite being in disbelief at the "suit" Steven summons (the Mr. Knight attire), Marc actually does comment that Steven's punch on the jackal monster was pretty good.
- The chase across the rooftops happens not because Marc is in danger, but because he's luring the jackal away from civilians. Vicious as he is, Marc does genuinely care about protecting the innocent.
- Marc trying to calm Steven down and telling him to breathe through it when Steven is panicking about finding himself on the inside shows Marc isn't quite as dismissive of Steven and his feelings as it might appear.
- It's revealed that the reason Marc has remained in servitude to Khonshu is because the moon deity is eyeing Layla as his next avatar, and Marc is trying to prove he can handle the job so that Khonshu won't put her in danger.
Episode 3: The Friendly Type
- Steven Squeeing over being in the Great Pyramid of Giza is adorable.
- Now that she has a full understanding of Marc's DID, Layla becomes significantly more supportive of Steven Grant than she was in the previous episode. Notably, she openly encourages Marc to let Steven take control of the body when she realizes that he knows much more about Egyptian history/mythology than Marc does. When Steven does take control near the end of the episode, she appears much more comfortable around him than Marc, and almost appears dreamy when watching him geek out over the connections to the sky in Egypt eons ago.
- It's not a total reversal of opinions (he still refers to him as a worm), but Khonshu is much more willing to work with Steven after the latter proves himself knowledgeable and able to contribute to the mission. He goes as far as referring to Steven by name, and even performs a Heroic Sacrifice with Steven's help.
Episode 4: The Tomb
- As much as it is quite unfair to Marc (since he's the one who actually married her and all), it's a bit difficult to not smile at Layla and Steven kissing, especially since both of them are at least consenting and appreciative of each other.
- The kiss itself is both hilariously and endearingly awkward, especially with how downright giddy Steven looks afterwards. (Marc, of course, is less pleased.)
- Later on, when Steven and Marc are arguing, Steven blurts out that "I'm not alone, I've got Layla!" For someone whose only friends in the first episode were a living statue performer who never actually talked to him and a goldfish, it's moving to see that he's not alone anymore (and even more so when he and Marc hug it out in the end).
- Steven decides to tell Layla why Marc left and how Khonshu was eyeing her as his next host. He later tells Marc that he did it simply because she deserves to know.
- One notable moment in an otherwise Tear Jerker scene: when Layla goes out to confront Marc about his role in her father's death, she explicitly asks for him instead of just screaming it out while Steven is in control. It's telling that even at her most angry and grieving, she manages to respect Steven as a separate person when so few others do.
- While still a Mind Screw and heavy dose of Paranoia Fuel, the psychiatrist version of Arthur Harrow seems to be nothing but comforting towards a distressed Marc. He also quickly asks his orderlies if they're all right after Marc attacked them to escape.
- Marc and Steven have spent the entire episode arguing over Layla, with Marc even forcing Steven to hit himself in the face for kissing her, but when they find themselves face-to-face in the asylum they immediately pull each other into a hug.
Episode 5: Asylum
- Compared to the other gods, Taweret is much kinder and nicer, even deciding to help Marc and Steven get back to the real world by steering the ship to the Gates of Osiris.
- A blend of this and Tearjerker, but Taweret mentions that there are many different variations of the afterlife — a multiverse of spiritual planes, as it were — and specifically mentions the Ancestral Plane and its beauty. One can't help but smile a teary smile at the mention of it, as no doubt T'Challa is resting there peacefully with his father and all the Black Panthers who came before him.
- What comes next is gut-wrenching, but Steven has an honest, child-like joy when he learns he has a brother.
- Steven, upon realizing that the cave young Marc and Randall are in is flooding, starts calling for them to get out, and even goes into the flooding cave in a fruitless attempt to reach them. It doesn't do anything because it's a memory, but this shows Steven's compassionate personality perfectly.
- Randall's death and Wendy's deterioration and blaming of Marc that follows is a massive Tear Jerker. However, Elias' love for Marc never wavers, as he continues to throw him birthday parties and tries desperately to get Wendy and Marc to reconcile. Except they never do, and Wendy dies, with Marc being unable to bring himself to attend her shiva after her years of abuse.
- Even after learning the truth about himself, Steven tells Marc that what happened with Randall was never his fault. Considering the implications that much of Steven is meant to be a surrogate for Randall, Marc very likely receives the forgiveness and closure he desperately wanted from his brother in this moment.
- Despite losing Steven (i.e. the pure, innocent part of himself) in the Duat, bitter and self-loathing Marc's heart is light enough to balance with the feather on the Scales of Justice, and he is deemed worthy to enter the Field of Reeds.
Episode 6: Gods And Monsters
- A villainous example. As Harrow begs for his death after learning his scales are unbalanced, Ammit instead makes a counteroffer, stating that her last truly good avatar imprisoned her in stone. Thus, she sees Harrow's devotion as the perfect reason for him to be her avatar.
- Marc leaves the Field of Reeds to go back to Steven, with his acceptance of Steven bringing him back to life. Steven's first reaction is naturally "Why did you risk yourself coming back for me?" They hug as the Gates of Osiris open.Marc: You are the only real superpower I ever had.
- Taweret's return. In one swift move, she drives away the sands and gives Steven and Marc enough time to run through the Gates of Osiris to the mortal world. Both are ecstatic to see her again.Steven: Whoo-hoo-hoo! HIPPO!
- Taweret is practically giddy at getting to speak to Layla and offers to help by making Layla her avatar. Layla initially refuses, but once Ammit is released, she changes her mind. Taweret immediately starts cheerily talking about the ideas she has for Layla's costume.
- Taweret also tells Layla that her father will be delighted to hear that his daughter became Taweret's avatar, confirming that Layla's father is in the Field of Reeds. By the sound of it, Taweret and Layla's father have become friends, and Abdullah El-Faouly has apparently been proudly gushing about his daughter even in the afterlife. In fact, one can assume that it's through this conversations that Taweret created Layla's scarab designed attire in honor of her father's nickname for her, "Little Scarab".
- Also, confirming Abdullah's scales balanced and he made it into (the Egyptian equivalent of) Heaven must've been no small comfort for Layla.
- During the fight with Harrow, a little girl asks Layla if she's an Egyptian superhero, something Layla confirms that she is. The girl looks completely awestruck. Even better when you remember that Taweret is the goddess of mothers and childhood.
- After their resurrection, Marc and Steven are delighted to see Layla again. Marc calls her "baby," and Steven tells her her Taweret-suit looks "amazing."
- Marc and Steven's transitions between each other fronting are essentially seamless at this point, rather than the violent and stuttery blackouts from earlier episodes; this exhibits just how comfortable the two are now with each others' presences. That the transitions between them and Jake still retain this trait somewhat sours it, though.
- Upon awakening in Steven's apartment, we get to see that there are now two goldfishes in the tank. Gus isn't alone anymore, just like how Marc and Steven now have each other.
- A somewhat twisted one. Khonshu is clearly fonder of Jake than he is of Marc and Steven, openly calling him a friend.
