The first season of Ms. Marvel just ended and the finale certainly delivered on its promise to change everything. Throughout its six-episode run on Disney+, fans got to see Kamala Khan go from being a fangirl to a full-fledged hero in her own right. But while there is a lot to love from her series, there are still a couple that seems off. We take a look down below at which things for Ms. Marvel as a Phase 4 project and which didn't.
2 things Ms. Marvel got right
Kamala Khan's portrayal
Take a look at the Marvel Cinematic Universe right now and fans will see how diversified its characters are. The thing is, outside of Spider-Man, there aren't a lot of heroes that young people can relate to right now. This is where Iman Vellani's Kamala Khan comes in.
#MsMarvel suit reveal pic.twitter.com/TyM936rhW3
— Iman Vellani Updates (@ImanVellaniEn) July 13, 2022
As compared to other heroes present in the MCU right now, Kamala is very much an ordinary girl with a very ordinary upbringing before gaining powers. And like Peter Parker before her, Kamala presents a very grounded take while providing more representation to teenagers, young girls, and Muslims in today's world. And the great thing about it is that Vellani manages to represent those groups well in this series.
In stark contrast to older characters playing established characters in the MCU, Vellani was relatively an unknown when she was first announced to play Kamala Khan in a Ms. Marvel series. And now, after a whole season of playing the role, it's safe to say that her portrayal of Kamala is the highlight of the show, thanks to her relatable nature and impressive history as a true fan of the character and Marvel itself.
Ms. Marvel's colorful world
Apart from Vellani's fun take on the character, another thing that worked for the Ms. Marvel series is how it conveys the story through the use of creative graphics. Right from the start, the show uses different forms of animation to relay Kamala's character, and even the people around her.
The best example would have to be the first episode's opening sequence, one in which Kamala narrates the events of Avengers: Endgame with a central focus on Captain Marvel. The use of this animation style is found all throughout the series, except in the parts where Kamala headed to Karachi. Nevertheless, these graphics help set Ms. Marvel apart from other Marvel projects in a unique manner.
2 things that didn't work for Ms. Marvel
Six-episode format
A lot of praise has been showered upon Stranger Things 4 and The Boys because of how they come up with a compelling story for a single season. The same can't be said for Marvel's recent shows on Disney+. The primary culprit here is that while the said shows enjoy the benefit of having eight episodes or more, Marvel's offerings are mostly contained in a six-episode format.
Like Moon Knight and Hawkeye before it, Ms. Marvel suffers from poor pacing. We get the first two episodes that set things up, a second half that tries its best to cram as much detail as possible, and the final act that feels rushed. The result is an ending that does its best to carry to story forward but fails to give justice to most of its characters and various plot lines.
Ms. Marvel would have been a better series if it had the opportunity other shows had – more episodes. With two or three more, Kamala, the people around her, the bad guys, and the overall story could have been fleshed out more. This will result in a better story that will surely captivate Marvel fans and help them be invested in the series.
A lack of compelling villains
Speaking of the bad guys, there isn't really much to say about the antagonists in Ms. Marvel. The introduction of the Clandestines was forgettable and Najma's arc was a really shallow one. Even her sacrifice in episode five feels forced due to the fact that her change of heart came abruptly. Even the final episode‘s antagonist, Agent Deever, had nothing going on for her except capturing both Kamala and Kamran.
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The Clandestines were uncoordinated & desperate all season. They escalated to homicide so fast ??? & with no real plan. Najma abandoned Kamran and then said, 'nvm, I'd die for him' equally as fast. What were their powers? pic.twitter.com/Dlgksbl5hJ— gabrielle alexa noel 💘 (@gabalexa) July 13, 2022
The lack of a compelling villain takes the show down a notch. Again, a couple more episodes could have been used to flesh these characters out so they can present a more credible threat. Instead, Marvel fans end up with one-dimensional villains that will never be seen or heard from again.
All in all, Ms. Marvel achieves its goal of introducing a new hero in the MCU and expanding the Captain Marvel franchise. It remains to be seen how the story goes in The Marvels, especially with Brie Larson's cameo connecting the show to the upcoming film.
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