As my interest in the Disney+ MCU shows has been steadily dwindling, the shows are quietly shifting to spotlight new characters from the comics, including Moon Knight, She-Hulk, and Ms. Marvel. I don't think the shows are getting any better, but it's a nice change of pace. The six episode "Ms. Marvel" is their riskiest project so far, because it's a YA story, starring a teenage superhero - a Pakistani-American superhero who lives in New Jersey and is a Captain Marvel fangirl.
Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani) is the beloved daughter of Muneeba (Zenobia Shroff) and Yusuf (Mohan Kapur), sister of Aamir (Saagar Shaikh), and close friend of fellow high schoolers Nakia (Yasmeen Fletcher) and Bruno (Matt Lintz). She's a normal girl who juggles school and mosque and her protective parents' expectations with her own interests. In the first episode, she sneaks out to a superhero convention so she can cosplay as Captain Marvel. In the process, she also unlocks her own unexpected superpowers. Unlike "Moon Knight," "Ms. Marvel" leans heavily into Kamala's background, and creator Bisha K. Ali packs tons of details about Pakistani culture into the show - family dynamics, wedding preparations, the various cliques at the mosque, and advice from the kindly imam (Laith Nakli). At the same time, the Khans are typical Americans. Kamala frets over her driving test, and her parents are Bon Jovi fans.
And this is all presented in a very light, very appealing style with a lot of energy. You can tell the creators wanted to take advantage of this rare opportunity to showcase a Pakistani character, and made sure to get as much authentic culture onscreen as possible, while still making a fun superhero show. The production design is very colorful and vibrant, emphasizing Kamala's rich heritage and the importance of her family to her. There are pointed references to the difficulties faced by Muslims living in the U.S., but these are handled very tactfully, never taking away from the fun atmosphere. The creators have also taken pains to show that Kamala is a contemporary character, who uses social media and doodles all over her school work. Most of these actors are new to me, but everyone is perfectly cast and gives committed performances. Iman Vellani is the best young MCU performer since Tom Holland, and carries the show without breaking a sweat.
The size of "Ms. Marvel" feels right for being on Disney+, with many episodes coming across more like parts of a solid teen comedy than a genre show. The charm of Kamala Khan is her adolescent point of view, and the specificity of her struggles. Whenever the plot tries to get more epic, it tends to lose its footing. Two episodes are spent in Pakistan, where Kamala learns about her heritage and picks up a few more allies and enemies. And these are pretty tedious compared to the rest of the show, because they quickly get bogged down in standard superhero schtick and the stakes are never all that convincing. It's a relief when she heads back to New Jersey for her final showdown.
"Ms. Marvel" does have many of the bad habits of the other MCU shows, which come down to trying to do way too much in the span of six episodes, and prioritizing the spectacle of the action sequences. The timing of when Kamala gets her costume, and when she gets a change of scenery, and when she has to fight a baddie with a poorly defined backstory are all very familiar. The Damage Control organization shows up at one point, with no explanation as to who they are. However, with "Ms. Marvel," the creators also clearly had other important priorities, and they're successful enough at making Kamala loveable and relatable that I found the show ultimately worth watching.
I've been sufficiently convinced to look forward to Kamala's next appearance, when she jumps to the big screen as part of "The Marvels" roster sometime next year. She's way more endearing than Carol Danvers, and has more to fight for.
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