Squad Review: Ms. Marvel Episodes 4 & 5

Hey folks! Apologies for missing last week and our squad blog review of Ms. Marvel, but I was traveling so wanted to double up this week in preparation for the finale which is hard to believe is already a few days away!

Let's start with some thoughts on episode 4: Seeing Red.

I have to say this might be my favorite episode of the series so far. We finally know the motives of our villain in the Clandestine, and the introduction of Waleed and Red Dagger were incredible. The action set pieces and practicality of all the stunts show a commitment to realism when possible for this show, and is much appreciated. I was unsure if the story would lose momentum or divert away from the main narrative with Kamala going to Pakistan and leaving Jersey City, but it didn't miss a beat for me. Nani played by Samina Ahmed was a very fun wrench to throw into the family dynamic we've seem with Kamala, and her integral part in Kamala's acquisition of her powers was handled well I thought. Earlier in the series I thought her shift from teenager to super hero was handled rather clunky, but this righted a lot of my issues.

Now onto our most recent installment, episode 5: Time and Again. Back to using the four Bro Force Squad criteria:

ACTING - Some heavy lifting needed to be done by Mehwish Hayat as Aisha, and Fawad Khan as Hasan. I felt like Hayat had all the physicality needed for the role, but her big emotional scene with Najma left something to be desired for me. I know the character Aisha is keeping her cards close to the vest, but I didn't buy what her character was selling in terms of being afraid of the Clandestine and I know we have to see it all in warp speed, but her connection to Hasan needed more attention.

Speaking of Hasan though, he was my favorite part of the episode. Fawad Khan was able to make me fall in love with his character almost as quickly as Iman Vellani was with Kamala, and that's saying something. Hasan's rugged exterior that is pierced by his love for Aisha was great to see unfold throughout this episode.

STORY - Have to tip my cap to Marvel. It's ballsy to devote 1/6 of a show to a flashback episode to 1942 and the partition, but it was well used bandwidth in this case and really gave this show a sense of emotional stakes. The only comp I can think of in the MCU is the first Captain America movie that is 99% a period piece, and that worked equally as well.

We now have good context for the motivations of both the Clandestine, and Kamala's family in wanting to protect her from the secrets of what happened to her great grandmother and grandmother during partition and it makes so much more of the series make sense. I still think the Clandestine are weak ass villains who just sound like whiny bitches, but Kamala and her lineage is more than interesting enough for me to carry the show.

BEST SCENE - I'll have to go with the scene towards the end of the episode where we see a young Nani lose her father at the train station while her mother attempts to head off Najma and provide them with the time to escape. I'm still not sure what Kamala being there means, or if it's just metaphorical, but it was a really tense moment that I think Iman Vellani was incredible in. I love the use of the Bengal in this scene and it's significance to her family makes her power set feel more rooted in character than a lot of things we've sen in the MCU.

THEORIES AND QUESTIONS - Alright one more episode so last time to see which of these we get answered:

T - Kamran is possessed by Najma, but doesn't know it. Dude might have to die for this thing to end well.

T - We're getting Photon and Captain Marvel at the very end of episode 6. Safe bet I know, but wanted to put it in writing one more time.

Q - Was that drone at the end part of Damage Control? Why tf are they just blowing up convenience stores now? Chill out guys.

Q - Will Bruno stick around for future MCU appearances or does he REALLY have to go to Cal Tech?

One more episode left. Can't wait to see how things wrap up next week. Let us know your thoughts in the comments, or find us on twitter @broforcesquad as we'd love to discuss your theories. See ya soon!

-JH