Ms. Marvel, Season 1, Episode 4: Seeing Red
I actually did catch up with Ms. Marvel over my July trip, but I didn't get the chance to actually write reviews for the episodes. Better late than never, right?
One thing that I do feel the need to mention since I've actually watched all the way to the end of the series is that... there are two stories running together across the six episodes of Ms. Marvel. And you can tell which one the show-writers and directors and actors poured their heart and soul into, and which one is... I don't want to say 'phoned in', because that implies a lack of effort, but it feels obligatory more than anything. And episodes 4 and 5, telling us about Kamala Khan and her family background and how it relates to the India-Pakistani culture and history? That's the strongest part of the show, and the most enjoyable. I don't think that the show does anything drastically monumental or innovative, but it feels genuine and the story being told as episode 4 takes us all the way to Karachi to meet Kamala's grandmother.
And a lot of the episode is just... scene-setting. Removing literally all of the side-cast other than Kamala and her mother Muneeba is an interesting move that, while odd, does serve to highlight Kamala's journey for the better. Again, the show is strongest when exploring family dynamics, and the dysfunctional and cultural-clash between Kamala and Muneeba; as well as the estranged Muneeba and Sana; while Sana and Kamala bond over their shared mystic-bangle visions? All very well-done. I can't really elaborate all too much about them without essentially recapping the entire episode, and I definitely am not qualified to analyze all the cultural details, but it feels authentic and genuine. All the little passive-aggressive jabs that the three generations throw at each other, the cultural clash over jeans... a lot of great stuff here. One of my favourite lines is Sana talking about her multi-cultural background, and even though she's already a grandmother she's still trying to figure out her own identity -- something that Kamala herself is doing, albeit with regards to her Djinn-derived heritage and powers.
And after ditching her two nosey cousins (who are much less interesting than grandma Sana), and a short fight with rather forced banter, Kamala stumbles into a group of local superheroes called the Red Daggers. Or, well, two Red Daggers -- the main guy, Kareem, and his mentor Waleed. And... okay, here's where I think one of the biggest criticisms of Ms. Marvel stands. It's something that I felt this show shares with Falcon and the Winter Soldier's Flag-Smashers in that they just keep introducing these small organizations with multiple members, and none of them really do have any personality. I barely remember any of the Clandestines other than Najma and Kamran, and now we have a second group to keep track of.
Beyond being 'good guys' and vaguely associated with Aisha and the 'good' Noor, the Red Daggers really do feel under-baked, and I feel like other than to provide some (not very impressive) action scenes, all they're good for is to give the exposition about how the Djinn's home realm is layered over the 'physical' realm. It's something similar to Shang-Chi or the first Doctor Strange movie and... I don't know. This one does actually feel randomly shoved in as an explanation. It feels like this is exposition that Bruno or Sana or Najma could've given Kamala, and the Red Dagger sidequest is just something that felt like time-waster that could've been given to developing the still-uninteresting Clandestines. At least Kamala gets some information and bits of what would become her final costume -- embracing the more cultural aspects of what she finds at the bazaar or from Red Dagger, in stark contrast to her rejection of the Hulk cosplay in episode 1.
Which is where what I mentioned at the beginning of the show becomes relevant -- it's clear that the show-writers care a lot about developing the Khan family and their history. They care about developing the supporting cast around Kamala in Jersey City and making it feel like home. But as far as the more superhero-ey plot part, that's where Ms. Marvel as a show doesn't do so well, I feel.
Because we jump from the honestly very bland Red Dagger stuff to Muneeba and Sana are interacting at home, with Muneeba going on what Sana calls a 'cleaning rampage', the two of them try to bond over foot massages and toffees and memories of their past... before getting into a verbal spat again over Muneeba's frustrations that Sana refuses to admit that their family were shunned for Sana's "wild stories"... while Sana is also sad because those wild stories are true -- a tragedy that the audience also knows, as a third-person observer. This short scene of two ladies talking in a room ends up being far more engaging to watch than Ms. Marvel and Red Dagger fighting each other, which is... interesting, to say the least. This show is definitely different.
Meanwhile, speaking of superhero-supervillain stuff that should by rights be exciting, the Clandestines escape from Damage Control's prison. And... and I really want to try to care about them, I really do, but none of the Clandestines other than Najma have any personality (or any memorable powers, because after all this is still a superhero show) to speak of, and Najma barely qualifies. She does leave Karman behind because Kamran helped Kamala last episode, and... I don't know. With better buildup for Najma's character I feel like I would care more, but we spend so much time with her false friendliness that when she becomes cartoonishly evil like this, it's really hard for me to care.
Then we get an action scene, because the Clandestines chase down Kamala and Kareem throughout the streets of Karachi. It's... it's all right. The rickshaws are fun and whatnot, there's a bunch of wanton destruction, but the scene did run on for a bit too long. In the midst of it all, the older Red Dagger Waleed dies fighting Najma. Again, we barely know him and the show brushes his death off so quickly that I'm kind of left wondering if he was necessary at all. Did some of the Clandestines fall this episode, or is that the next one? The ones whose exits are memorable are just Najma and the other lady. But Najma strikes Kamala's bangle with her weapon, and that causes a magical veil-rift that transports Kamala back to the train station in 1947, leaving us with a huge cliffhanger.
Again... I really do enjoy Ms. Marvel, at least when it's firing on all cylinders when the show actually focuses on what it manages to do very well -- telling the story of Kamala and her long history and culture and family. Everything else is a bit less well-developed, and I think my apathy towards the Red Daggers and the Clandestines really reached its peak in this episode. It really is unfortunate considering how this show already has a lot going against it, but this is a review and I'm still obligated to highlight the weaker parts of the show.
Marvel Easter Eggs Corner:
- In the comics, Red Dagger, or Kareem, is a local Karachi superhero that Kamala Khan met when she visited Karachi in Ms. Marvel (Vol. 4) #12. Both the comic and live-action versions of Red Dagger doesn't have superpowers, they just throw daggers.
- Before fighting with Red Dagger, Kamala was looking for a while at a mural of Ant-Man on the train station wall.
- During her fight with Red Dagger, Kamala asks him "how do you know I'm not Canadian?" Kamala's actor Iman Vellani actually is Canadian.
- Waleed brings up Thor specifically when he notes that if he had landed in the Himalayas, he'd be called a Djinn as well.
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