Let’s Talk about Ms. Marvel Episode 1-6
After a delightful batch of four episodes – and one thoroughly mediocre one – Ms. Marvel is ready for its grand finale; Did the series stick the landing or faceplant at the end? Let’s talk about Ms. Marvel episode 1-6, the one that left us all cheering.
Who is the Final Boss?
Source: Marvel Studios
Last week, the Djinn collapsed as a threat, with one member of the clandestine offering a noble sacrifice. At the time, I inferred that the ultimate villain in this series must be the Department of Damage Control. I only earn partial credit for that. Instead, the real battle stems from the nature of humanity.
We all possess heroism and villainy within us, and it’s up to us to choose which skill we hone. I’m not even joking here. At the start of this episode, Kamran has caused Bruno’s bodega/house to explode. So the two teens go on the run.
For his part, Kamran has gained new powers from his mother’s death, a circumstance he hasn’t learned yet. Meanwhile, Bruno is trying to help someone who didn’t even know his name an hour ago.
Source: Marvel Studios
Kamran suffered an injury while incarcerated during the fourth episode. Whenever he experiences jolts of power, his new abilities explode out of him. These shiny powers mirror Ms. Marvel’s. Kamran is in a bad place emotionally since people are hunting him, though.
As such, the last remaining Djinn from his bloodline – excluding Kamala – faces the temptation of wanting to crush his pursuers. If the story breaks a specific way, he will turn heel and become a formidable adversary for Kamala Khan. Is this Kamran’s supervillain origin story?
For her part, Khan’s journey through time and experiences in Pakistan have altered her outlook on life. She’s clearly on a hero’s journey now.
Kamala’s Confession
Source: Marvel Studios
This episode weaponizes suspense for the most part. However, Kamala’s story begins with some levity. The superpowered teen gathers her immediate family together to inform them of her newfound abilities. They…already know.
Mama Muneeba has told her husband, Yusuf, who has passed the information along to Kamala’s brother and new sister-in-law. They…have questions.
Tyesha wonders whether Kamala’s powers require recharging – great question! – while her annoying brother teases her about dropping the kid during the semi-rescue.
Source: Marvel Studios
This lovely family moment elevates the story and makes the entire Khan clan so likable. We HAVE to root for them all after this! Even Muneeba has come around! To wit:
Kamala: “Abbu, I don’t think you raised me to sit by and do nothing when I can help people.” Muneeba: “And we trust her, right?!” Give her credit. Muneeba is definitely someone who can admit when she’s wrong!
Alas, Nakia interrupts the fun by Facetiming Kamala’s brother. She needs Kamala to know that Bruno’s bodega exploded. With that update, we’re off to the races…but not before one final lovely familial touch.
Source: Marvel Studios
Muneeba has designed a costume for her daughter, one that looks eerily similar to the Ms. Marvel look from the comics! It even includes a red sash. Fittingly, a stringed instrument accompaniment of The Avengers’ theme plays as the starstruck teen collapses into her mother’s embrace.
Where’s this Muneeba been all season? Anyway, Night Light’s on the move and no longer afraid to hide her powers in clear daylight. Meanwhile, Bruno and Kamran seek sanctuary at the mosque, a decision Nakia questions as ill-considered. Soon afterward, the boys head to the local high school. This leads to…
The Chase
Source: Marvel Studios
I no longer view the Department of Damage Control (DoDC) as pure villains because the dude from Spider-Man: No Way Home has reconsidered. Agent Cleary despises the optics of his agents assaulting people at a mosque and a bunch of high school kids.
So, Cleary comes across as a dutiful agent doing his job to protect the kids. He, too, is on a hero’s journey of a kind, one we’ll presumably explore in future MCU stories.
Conversely, Sadie Deever, his agent in charge on the scene, proudly wears her black hat the entire episode. She hates overpowered kids and wants to shut them down.
Source: Marvel Studios
As such, the DoDC and Agent Cleary aren’t the enemies, but Deever and the troops pursuing Kamran most assuredly are. That’s a fascinating storytelling wrinkle. For her part, Kamala finally tracks down her would-be gentlemen callers, one of whom is demonstrating uncontrollable Noor powers.
The trio heads to the school, where Kamala finally catches up with Nakia, who is mad about being the last to know about the superpowers. Nakia claims that she tells Kamala everything, which is a lie. We learn in this episode that she has a boyfriend! And a non-Muslim one at that!
Still, Kamala correctly argues that she wanted to tell her friend, but that proved challenging due to Nakia’s negative perception of superheroes. Eventually, Kamala stops stammering and point-blank says she’s sorry. Full apologies are so much more powerful than non-apologies.
Source: Marvel Studios
Notably, the women earn a third friend when Zoe appears. She knows Kamala saved her and wants to help. So, we have three teen girls, two teen boys, and two sets of ill-defined Noor powers against the agents on the ground from the DoDC. Suddenly, the story takes a turn for the…
Home Alone
Yeah, science boy Bruno uses the home court advantage by heading to the science department and creating some traps for the pursuing agents.
The whole thing shamelessly riffs off Home Alone until the final bubble explosion, which mimics the popcorn scene from Real Genius.
Eventually, Kamala and Kamran depart the high school – after nearly kissing! – with Ms. Marvel using her powers for defensive purposes. Kamran’s the opposite, aggressively lashing out at those who would hurt him. That’s the story here. The one treated kindly in this episode acts heroically.
Another person with similar powers has lost his entire family. Now, law enforcement officials are attacking him. His fate is hanging by a thread. In the end, Ms. Marvel as a series is about heroism, though. Kamala Khan saves the day. “Embiggen.”
The teen utters Ms. Marvel’s comic book catchphrase for the first time as a DoDC drone targets Kamran. At this point, she stretches in size and goes on offense. She disables the drone and all other threats. In unison, her friends and family members say, “Whoa!” She’s even greater than they thought she was.
Source: Marvel Studios
Fittingly, Kamala checks the local enforcement officials to verify their safety… as a good hero would. Kamala resists the Night Light moniker, though. It’s a charming moment.
Eventually, Kamran’s self-defense nearly veers into accidental homicide when he knocks a Jeep toward the quite deserving Agent Deever. Once again, Kamala saves the day, something she does yet again after Kamran’s powers accidentally (?) create a…growing crystalline dome with tentacles?!
Kamala enters the dome and informs Kamran of his mother’s sacrifice. He cannot deal with his actions, asking how he can be normal. Ms. Marvel replies, “There is no normal. There’s just us and what we do with what we’ve been given.” That’s superhero talk.
Wrapping Up
Source: Marvel Studios
After saving the day, Kamala skywalks away from the engagement. At this point, Cleary calls to fire Deever in a way that means she probably shouldn’t use him as a reference. I presume the former agent will soon hear from Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine.
On social media, New Jersey residents, especially members of the mosque, celebrate Kamala’s triumphs…as does a woman who looks suspiciously like G. Willow Wilson, the creator of Ms. Marvel. Look, this is a comic book site, so I can say this here. You need to read Air.
That night, Kamala Khan soaks it all in and then sits outside on her roof. Her (somewhat acrophobic) father joins her and reveals that in Urdu, her name means…marvel. She’s…happy to learn this. “I share the same name as Carol frickin’ Danvers?!”
Source: Marvel Studios
We also learn that Kamran has joined Kareem…and possibly the Red Daggers? I dunno, I may be reading too much into that. Anyway, Kamala Khan assumes the poise from the Blinding Lights trailer and watches her city from afar. Total hero pose.
Then, we fast-forward a week when Bruno is ready to leave for Cal Tech. He thinks he’s taking Kamran’s car, while Nakia and Kamala believe it should stay in Jersey City. Bruno does reveal one final secret, though. He has deduced why Kamala possesses bangle powers when the rest of her family doesn’t.
There’s “something…different in your genes. Like a mutation.” The theme song from the X-Men cartoon plays as he says this. So yes, the implication is that Kamala Khan isn’t an Inhuman…she’s a Mutant.
Source: Marvel Studios
She handles this news calmly. “Whatever it is, it’s just gonna be another label.”
Then, the new Avenger and her friends get shawarma. Seriously.
Final Thoughts
Source: Marvel Studios
I should mention the post-credits scene, which borders on predictable, at least involving the appearance. While sitting in her room, Kamala notices her bangle glowing with a new cosmic glow. So she stands up and…gets pulled across the galaxy, maybe?
I dunno the specifics, but Carol Danvers is suddenly standing in her superfan’s bedroom, which must feel like a scene from Misery for her. We’ll learn the specifics when The Marvels debuts in theaters in a few months. Still, this episode puts the wrap on the origin story of Ms. Marvel.
I think it’s readily apparent that I’m a huge fan. I thought Moon Knight overreached and proved too inconsistent and sometimes even lazy with its storytelling.
Source: Marvel Studios
Compare that to Ms. Marvel, which featured five episodes I’d grade as an A or higher. Sure, episode 1-4 was a clunker, but the season stands tall overall.
Now go read some Ms. Marvel (and other G. Willow Wilson) stories. You’ll love them!
