Chris Connor reviews the season finale of Ms. Marvel…
After an ambitious if slightly uneven fifth episode, the question for many after a strong run was would Ms. Marvel stick the landing and prove to be one of the strongest projects not just in Phase Four, but the MCU as a whole? The answer proves to be an emphatic yes with ‘No Normal’ which takes its title from Kamala’s debut comic run.
The finale of Ms. Marvel is a celebration of everything that has worked wonderfully for the series to date while sowing seeds about where Kamala and the wider franchise might head next. After the revelation last week that Kamran now has powers, the core of this episode sees Kamala, now back in the US, trying to prevent damage control from capturing her and her friends.
The tone of this episode is far more playful than the last couple and the humour feels more organic and earned than some other recent Marvel projects. Seeing Kamala finally in her comic outfit is a delight and it once again cannot be stated enough how Iman Vellani has managed to fit the role so perfectly. A sequence involving Kamala off to find Bruno and Kamran is full of such pure bliss and fun; it’s hard not to smile and enjoy the moment, ultimately reminding us that much of the joy of comics is escapism – something which this series has proved so successful at understanding.
If Ms. Marvel has a weak spot it is perhaps its lack of an overarching villain which ultimately proves to be Damage Control, although the organisation will likely crop up in other projects which could make their role here more meaningful. The villain or lack thereof hasn’t been enough of an issue to stop the series being immensely enjoyable and hopefully future projects with Ms. Marvel are able to dive more into her roster of villains.
The focus on the ensemble cast is refreshing; rather than having Kamala solve all problems on her own, her friends and family are given a greater role, the group all care immensely for each other and the performances convey this. The set pieces at the high school are incredibly fun incorporating elements of Ghostbusters and Tom Holland and Andrew Garfield’s Spider-Man films but feeling their own at the same time.
Ms. Marvel’s finale more than sticks the landing, proving to be one of the strongest series in the MCU to date and featuring several nods to the comics and films that will have fans eagerly anticipating her next appearance in 2023’s The Marvels. The performances and tone across the whole series have been wonderful, capturing Kamala’s comic run if altering her abilities slightly to fit the screen.
While critical response to some of Phase Four’s projects has erred more on the negative side and there is talk of burnout, Ms. Marvel proves that there is still an opportunity for the franchise to be pure escapist fun and innovative at the same time.
Chris Connor
