Ms. Marvel: Time with Family

The fifth episode of Ms. Marvel picks up right where the fourth left off.  When Najma’s dagger struck the bangle, it transported Kamala (Iman Vellani) back to 1940s India during the Partition and the migration of Muslims from India to the newly formed country of Pakistan.  In a flashback, we then go even further back to seeing how Aisha (Mehwish Hayat) and Hasan (Fawad Khan), Kamala’s great grandparents, fell in love and what really happened to Aisha. Aisha is on the run, when she meets Hasan, who offers her food and shelter.  The two quickly fall in love and begin to start a family.  The couple have a daughter, Sana (Zion Usman).

Years go by, when Najma (Nimra Bucha) finds her and wants the bangle Aisha possesses so they all can get back home to Noor.  Not wanting to leave the life she has built with Hasan; Aisha convinces her family that it is imperative that they leave India that night.  Hasan, knowing that Aisha was on the run when they met, finally asks about her past and Aisha explains and then turns from them so she can confront Najma to try to save her family. Aisha confronts Najma, and it does not go well. Kamala finds Sana who had gotten lost in the crowd and uses her powers to guide her back to Hasan. The two get on the train. At this, Kamala is transported back to the present and we find that the portal to Noor has been opened.  How will Kamala close the portal, and what repercussions will this have for our hero?  Watch and find out.

To be honest, this wasn’t my favorite episode of the series, I guess there is always one that just doesn’t work on some level.  The back story of Kamala’s great grandparents is very interesting, and I enjoyed seeing that story unfold, but I feel they rushed it a bit.  Usually when something feels rushed, it is because there is too much information that needs to be crammed into a single episode, but this is one of the shorter episodes of the series and they could have spent a lot more time expanding and explaining things. The whole “closing of the portal” part of the episode especially felt rushed, and this lessened the emotional impact that these events could have had.  There were a lot of things that happen that move the story forward.  Kamala’s family is now aware of her powers and Kamran has now also gained powers, although they have not explained exactly why.  The episode also ends on a cliffhanger with Kamran and Bruno’s fate undetermined.  I still very much enjoyed the episode and am excited for next weeks big finale.