‘Ms. Marvel’ is incredibly charming and the most relatable series Marvel has released. While there have certainly been positives with every release they’ve done on Disney+, this one has more of a broad appeal. It felt as if you needed at least some background in the character’s comic-book lore with those series. ‘Ms. Marvel’ is more of a coming age story. It’s not about having powers as much as growing into the role. Complicating matters is Khan’s strict Pakastani family dynamic. Kamala comes from a culture where women are often seen but rarely heard. At its heart, this series is about standing out regardless of societal and cultural pressures.
Bisha K. Ali is one of the strengths of the series. Her writing is what elevates the show. Ali is able to seamlessly work in Khan’s cultural background, with the angst of being in High School, and just enough of Ms. Marvel’s lore to satisfy fans. While the previous series has seemingly thrived on the mythology of its characters, Ms. Marvel is at its best when it explores Khan’s dynamic within her family and her culture. At her core, Khan deals with the inner turmoil of being what her family wants and following her dreams. Even Kamala in the beginning would have agreed how silly her dreams are but everything changes when she puts on what was her grandmother’s bracelet.
There’s certainly an unsolved mystery as it pertains to the origins of the bracelet and how it relates to Kamala. We are led to believe that her mother might have some insight on that but after two episodes (which is what we were provided to review), that remained unclear. What is clear is that they’ve nailed the casting on the show. The performances are endearing. Meera Menon’s direction is spot on and creates a final series with such wide appeal, I anticipate the viewership will grow each week.