Disney's Ms. Marvel Episode 6 and Season Review

 "That is why We ordained for the Children of Israel that whoever takes a life—unless as a punishment for murder or mischief in the land—it will be as if they killed all of humanity; and whoever saves a life, it will be as if they saved all of humanity.˹Although˺ Our messengers already came to them with clear proofs, many of them still transgressed afterwards through the land." (Qu'ran 5:32)

One of the last sentences of Ms. Marvel Season 1-paraphrased of course. It felt weird hearing this from Kamala's dad. Especially how it's paraphrased. It's like when in The Amazing Spider-man when Uncle Ben says, "He believed that if you could do good things for other people, you had a moral obligation to do those things! That's what's at stake here. Not choice. Responsibility." instead of the obvious line, "With great power comes great responsibility." 

In the last episode of the season, Kamala Khan comes back to Jersey City and immediately finds out that Kamran and Bruno are trying to escape from Damage Control after Kamran blew up the convenience store with his new found Najma powers (i know this is a run-on sentence). Once Kamala finds them, it becomes a game of trying to protect and hide Kamran from Damage Control in order to give him an opportunity to get out of the city. They find themselves locked in a high school trying to buy time. A reunion of sorts occurs with Zoe, Nakia, Aamir (Kamala's brother), and the triad. They hash out a plan to distract Damage Control while Kamala and Kamran escape. The plan fails and ends with Kamran battling Damage Control outside of the school while also keeping Kamran's powers at bay. Kamran somehow tunnels himself away from harm and Kamala is seen as a hero to everyone in the neighborhood. 

And that's the end of the season. There is a nod to Captain Marvel after the credits, but well...I don't want to get into that. 

I think the last two episodes of the season turned my opinion of the show around. I felt like they really honed in on one story beat and made it work. They spent more time focusing on Kamala and not on trying to set up 500 different plot points. 

Despite the partition episode being the better of the six, I wish they didn't go to Pakistan this season. They could have saved it for another season. If the writers knew they had six episodes to work with, they should have been less ambitious and more centered. Though I guess there might not be a second season in the works. 

And, I get it. This show is sort of one of a kind in the same way Crazy Rich Asians was one of a kind. It's not about the execution of the story, it's about what the show represents in the real world. Muslims representation in any form of media has never been the best. We've always been villains or token stereotypes. So I get why this show is a breath of fresh air. I know that if we want to change narratives, one possible avenue is to get positive representation in the media. I just also wish that we could tell...excellent stories. 

It's not the first time I have had high hopes for shows that claim to tell Muslim stories and get let down. Ramy told adult stories but reached too far into the "immature" mature storytelling that it got on my nerves. At times it felt unIslamic just to watch it. 

Ms. Marvel has a lot of good moments but it somehow is too short to tell the story it wants and also takes too long to get us to care about characters in the show. And I guess I believe that an origin story is about the characters. Even in the new Spider-man version, they were able introduce Peter's best friend, Ned, and give him enough material and lines to get us to enjoy watching him on screen. I did not get that from Bruno and it wasn't how Bruno acted. 

My only reason to really recommend this show is to drive clicks. Maybe if keep getting positive Muslim portrayals, I may find a show/movie that actually has a decent and well thought out story.

I'd give Ms.Marvel Season 1 a 7/10.