Ms. Marvel review, Episode 104: “Seeing Red”

Posted on June 30, 2022

This week’s episode of Ms. Marvel would possibly simply be my favourite one but…of any Marvel Disney+ exhibits. This week, Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani) travels to Karachi, Pakistani along with her mom Muneeba (Zenobia Shroff) to go to her maternal grandmother Sana (Samina Ahmed).

On the finish of final week’s episode, Kamala had a imaginative and prescient of a practice coming in the direction of her by way of a portal, and shortly after her Nani (aka maternal grandmother in Urdu/Hindi) known as her asking if she noticed it. We’ve already realized that the bangle that provides Kamala her powers has some hyperlink to her great-grandmother Aisha (Mehwish Hayat), so there’s positively one thing of their genes. Or on the very least, their jewellery.

What I completely liked about this week’s episode is that the present travels to Karachi, Pakistan, my mom and father’s residence nation. Though Marvel didn’t really bodily movie there, they acquired each element proper. From the genuine Pakistani transportation to the chaotic site visitors to the slim streets with retailers on each side to the individuals themselves, every thing was simply…good.

And I credit score not solely Marvel however the director of this episode (and subsequent week’s), Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy. She is a fully good director who received an Oscar again in 2012 for her documentary Saving Face, highlighting the plight of girls that endure acid assaults. I used to be past excited to study that she can be part of the collection.

I say this each week, however Ms. Marvel simply tugs at my heartstrings and I fall deeper in love with it as each episode goes by. My coronary heart shouldn’t be prepared to just accept that we solely have two extra episodes left, however I’m going to get pleasure from it to the fullest.

And with that thought, right here’s what occurred throughout this week’s episode of Ms. Marvel. Main SPOILERS forward!

Ms. Marvel goes to Karachi, Pakistan

Kamala and Muneeba’s arrival in Karachi is ideal. As somebody who has been there many occasions, I’ve turn into accustomed to the tiny traditions that make your arrival so memorable. There are at all times relations able to greet you who swarm you with love regardless that you solely vaguely keep in mind them. That’s precisely how Kamala is greeted.

Kamala will get to work shortly as a result of she’s on a mission. She desires to study extra in regards to the bangle and her household’s connection to it. She heads out to the streets of Karachi along with her cousins, the place she stands out amidst the group. For anybody that goes to go to from the States, people in Pakistan check with us as “ABCDs”, aka “American Born Confused Desis”. Vellani nails this a part of Kamala’s character.

At any time when I’ve visited Pakistan, I’m at all times instructed to not speak as a result of my American accent will give away that I’m not from there, and subsequently the road distributors will upcharge for every thing. We see it occur to Kamala through the episode so I really like that they threw that in there.

Looking for solutions, Kamala heads to the practice station the place she comes throughout a personality from the Ms. Marvel comics: the Pink Dagger, aka Kareem (Aramis Knight). They get into an epic combat however finally Kareem realizes that Kamala shouldn’t be part of the ClanDestines.

And right here, my associates, is the place the episode will get super-interesting.

Ms. Marvel introduces Waleed

Okay, so the introduction of Waleed (Farhan Akhtar) might be the second most enjoyable factor that occurs on this episode. Whereas others could not know the actor taking part in Waleed, I’ve grown up watching him act in Bollywood films. To see him in a Marvel collection is past thrilling and one thing I might have by no means imagined taking place. I’m nonetheless ready for an additional actor I’ve adopted for years to make his look however he hasn’t proven up but (he’s rumored to be taking part in Kamala’s great-grandfather).

Anyway, Waleed is launched quickly after Kamala meets Kareem, who takes her by way of a Chinese language restaurant and a secret entrance the place she meets this mysterious man. We discover out that he is aware of all in regards to the story of Kamala’s great-grandmother, calling it “the stuff of legends.”

In response to Waleed, there’s a “Veil” that separates their world from the world of the ClanDestines, which may be torn down with Kamala’s bangle. That’s the reason the ClanDestines have been so dead-set on getting it from her and why Waleed desires to show Kamala find out how to use it correctly so she will be able to overpower them.

The collection briefly switches again to the States the place it exhibits the ClanDestines breaking out of the Division of Harm Management jail, the place they have been shipped off after being caught in final week’s episode. They make a run for it and head on to Karachi to face off with Kamala once more.

What ensues is a chase by way of the streets of Karachi full with automotive crashes, Kamala attempting to drive a stick shift on the alternative aspect of the road, and extra. Sadly, Waleed doesn’t make it out of the combat alive, however Kamala and Kareem do handle to forestall the ClanDestines from taking the bangle.

The disaster is averted for now, however my coronary heart breaks for Akhtar’s short-lived efficiency as Waleed.

Ms. Marvel, Episode 4 ending defined

In the course of the combat between Kamala and the ClanDestines, she is transported again in time after Najma (Nimra Bucha) stabs her bangle with a knife. Kamala finds herself in 1947 India simply because the partition was occurring and many individuals have been fleeing to Karachi, Pakistan. She’s at a practice station (the identical one from her visions), and as she climbs atop one of many trains, she finds that there are individuals all over the place.

It’s a madhouse, however the madhouse is the place I imagine she’s going to see her great-grandmother and great-grandfather fleeing to Karachi. I believe subsequent week’s penultimate episode will lastly deliver us nearer to studying the true thriller of the bangle, and what Kamala’s powers really imply. It truthfully can not get right here quickly sufficient!

You all know already understand how I really feel about Ms. Marvel, however this week actually hits near residence, fairly actually. Getting to observe an episode that takes place in Karachi, Pakistan (regardless that I don’t imagine they really filmed there) meant a lot to me as a Pakistani lady.

It’s been such a pleasure to see this present unfold, and I’m tremendous excited not just for this character however for Vellani herself. She’s been doing such a tremendous job taking part in Kamala Khan, and I do know issues are simply getting began for her.

See you all subsequent week!