Ms. Marvel

From the moment Ms. Marvel kicks off, it's clear we're in for something special. The show practically explodes with youthful energy, bursting at the seams with creativity and color. It's not just a superhero story-this is a coming-of-age tale wrapped in a cosmic, Marvel-branded package. And Iman Vellani, in her screen debut, absolutely nails it as Kamala Khan.

Right out of the gate, Ms. Marvel hooks you with its lively, comic-book-inspired visuals. It's like stepping into Kamala's brain, where graffiti comes to life and the world feels as vivid and imaginative as a Captain Marvel fan's dream. The visual creativity here is stunning, and it's clear that directors Adil & Bilall went all out to bring Kamala's wild imagination to the screen.

Iman Vellani's portrayal of Kamala is pure magic. She's charming, funny, awkward, and endlessly relatable-everything you'd want from a teen superhero. Watching her grapple with her newfound powers while navigating the everyday struggles of high school is an absolute delight. And while the stakes might feel lower than your typical MCU fare, that's part of the show's charm. It's not about saving the world (at least not yet); it's about Kamala figuring out who she is, and that's just as important.

But let's talk about the representation because Ms. Marvel doesn't shy away from celebrating Kamala's Pakistani-American heritage. The show dives headfirst into her family's culture, with references to everything from Zamzam soda to gossiping aunties, all while avoiding tired stereotypes. This isn't just another superhero story-it's a rich, layered exploration of identity, family, and heritage, and that's what makes Ms. Marvel stand out in the crowded MCU landscape.

One of the things I loved most about this show is its heart. From Kamala's complex relationship with her mother to the intergenerational ties that connect her to her past, Ms. Marvel is brimming with warmth and sincerity. And while there's plenty of superhero action to be had, the show's quieter moments-where Kamala just exists as a teenager navigating life-are some of the most compelling.

Sure, some of the villains might have missed the mark (the Clandestines were a bit of a letdown, to be honest), but that doesn't detract from the overall fun of the series. The high school drama might not be for everyone, but Ms. Marvel is a show with style, charm, and a fresh, youthful take on the MCU. It's a joy to watch Kamala come into her own, and with the added tease of her mutant status, the future looks incredibly bright for this young hero.

Bottom line? Ms. Marvel is a fresh, lighthearted series that'll resonate with both hardcore Marvel fans and new viewers. It's a cosmic coming-of-age story filled with family, culture, and one of the most likable leads we've seen in a long time.

Ms. Marvel has the look and feel of a Disney Channel program. That's not to say it is bad, simply quite different from the MCU miniseries we have seen before. It is clearly lower budget and appears to be targeted at a younger demographic. The best thing about it is that it shows Muslims in a positive light, celebrating Pakistani culture and history, although the depiction of the partitioning of India and Pakistan was very heavy-handed while leaving out much of the horror.

This is easily the least of the MCU series and most viewers would be just fine skipping it.

Plot

Kamala, a superhero fan with an imagination--particularly when it comes to Captain Marvel--feels like she doesn't fit in at school and sometimes even at home, that is until she gets superpowers like the heroes she admires.

Cast

Unusually not familiar with anyone involved, however Iman Vellani is excellent which is further impressive when you remember this is her first role.

Verdict

I remember when word got out that Ms. Marvel was happening there was a lot of unpleasantness, I remember when the trailer dropped there was even more but this time for different reasons. I however went in with an open mind and experienced quite the surprise.

Vellani knocks it out of the park as the titular hero in what most consider a tamer more light hearted Marvel outing, but is it? Different Marvel characters, different tones, some lighter and some darker. So why emphasize the lighter tone here? Is it aimed at kids? No, no more than Guardians of the Galaxy or Antman! Not everything needs to be gritty, not everything needs to have dark undertones. If that's what you want, go watch the tatters that is the DC universe!

Her powers? That complaint is valid and frustrating. The MCU has taken liberties with characters before, look at the Mandarin, look at Taskmaster, and though it's into the X-Men extended universe look at the original outing of Deadpool in the Wolverine movie! Yikes! So yes this isn't the Ms. Marvel you're used to in the comics and that I don't like, but I got over it so you can as well.

Ms. Marvel is a silly, fun, wholesome and oddly endearing tale that left me wanting more but also appreciating it simply wasn't needed. This was an origin story, an introduction and nothing more.

Bravo, I enjoyed it.

Rants

It's poorly written they bark to disguise the real reasons, weird when you look at the similarities between all these allegedly poorly written movies and shows. It's almost as if it's not about the wring at all. All the things in the world to get upset about, to be passionate about, to spew vitriol about and this is what you choose? No wonder the world is such a tribalistic mess.

The Good

Iman Vellani A lot of fun Really charming

The Bad.

The changes to the character.

But so what? With the amount of content we get from Marvel who cares if we get something squarely aimed at kids? I thought it was fresh and fun - and WAY more enjoyable than Moon Knight. It's sad that a bunch of man-babies have to resort to review bombing because "Disney bad"

I actually watched this series after seeing The Marvels. I decided to binge all the Avengers series in order because I keep reading all sorts of negativity about how Disney wants to insert DEI into movies going forward and the online boy nerds on YouTube freaking out about "gasp!" females and people of colour being promoted. Personally I think Disney CEO is heavy handed and grooming which will lose what little audiences left. It's called entertainment, Bob!

That being said I really enjoyed this series! The cast did a great job! Lots of talent there! I find that the way life flows with its highs and lows very realistic and it makes you want to root for the characters and keep watching. Family home life interaction was good. The depiction of a vibrant religious Muslim life was a pleasant change from the negativity portrayed (I'm Christian myself) and loved the wedding! The depiction of Partition - a terrible mistake with tragic results - was powerfully portrayed! The graphics and colours was wonderful particularly the moving graffiti. A nice touch!

I'm really glad to have watched this series. When I watched the movie Ms Marvel first I told someone that it felt like a bunch of tv episodes stitched together and now I see why. The movie felt like something was being forced to be female entertainment written by males. That planet of singing, dancing aliens was uncomfortable to watch where the wedding in the series was more lively and fun and realistic!

I recommend you watch the series for some fun, some education, and some eye candy! It's well done and you will find yourself caring about the characters. Thats a hallmark of the Marvel world isn't it? Seeing the characters as people dealing.with life they never expected to have to and not always winning. Ignore all these social media fan-nerds boys whining and make your own mind up!