The following article contains minor spoilers for Episode 3 of Ms. Marvel.
Phase 4 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe has so far placed a lot of importance on family and companionship, and the latest offeringMs. Marvelisn’t any different. From the get-go, Iman Vellani’s Kamala Khan has been surrounded by close family members and friends, with each character playing an important role in her life. It is rare to see a superhero in the MCU surrounded by such love, andMs. Marveldrives home the message that not all heroes need to have tragic backstories.
Within the first few minutes of theMs. Marvelpremiere episode, a family dynamic between the Khans is established.Mohan Kapur’s Yusufis a witty father who potentially has a treasure trove of dad jokes, Zenobia Shroff’s Muneeba is the strict mother, and Saagar Shaikh’s Aamir is the brotherly ally in Kamala’s corner. Outside of her family, she has her best friends Matt Lintz’s Bruno Carrelli and Yasmeen Fletcher’s Nakia Bahadir. It seems like an average coming-of-age story about a teenager living in New Jersey, until of course she manages to unlock some superpowers.
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Family is an important aspect of any individual’s life, andMs. Marveltakes a cue from reality. The show has so far captured the familial relationships beautifully, and each interaction between any of the family members is relatable for the audiences. It is a bonus that the series was also able to weave inKamala’s cultural backgroundinto many of the conversations, and audience members of similar demographics will be able to relive many of their memories by just watching the characters on screen. The Khan family was shown to be an important part of Kamala’s life in the comics, and it is great to see how Marvel Studios brought the relationships to life inMs. Marvel.
In justthe latest episode ofMs. Marvel, there are several instances where the importance of family is emphasized. Aamir and Tyesha tie the knot, and like many romantic comedies, the groom is seen having a moment of cold feet just before the nuptials. At this point, his father Yusuf steps into the room, and Aamir reveals the source of his worries, the fact that he only has “$732.49 in [his] checking account.” Yusuf’s monologue that follows this revelation, is all about love and family, and a moment of clarity for both Aamir and Kamala. “The man who chooses family is never alone,” he says. Several other Marvel projects have shown the heroes’ respective family members, and highlighted the importance of these characters, but to say it in those words confirms thatMs. Marvelhas decided to make family a priority for the latest hero in the MCU.
Another scene that stands out in the episode is a conversation between Kamala and her mother Muneeba. The latter talks about her struggles of when she moved from Pakistan to the US, something every immigrant family can relate to. She confesses that she had to seek solace in the mosque and her newfound friends, but most importantly, she “found [her] family.” It is endearing to see that it was herfamily that helped her get througha difficult time in her life, even though she was in a foreign land, unable to speak the language, all while raising two young children. “Whatever mountain you’re facing, you don’t have to do it alone,” she tells Kamala, reminding her that she also has a family that she can rely on.
It is refreshing to see such positive role models in a young hero’s life in the MCU. It reiterates the fact that heroes can have loving homes, too. Both these scenes will remind viewers of the interactions betweenPeter Parker and Aunt Mayor Uncle Ben. Both those figures played a huge role in Spider-Man’s life, and Kamala’s family seems to be doing the same for her. Even though they don’t agree on everything, or always see eye-to-eye, Kamala has a safety net that she can fall back on if things get out of hand. Even though Kamala does not come clean to her family about using the bangle and its mysterious powers at the end of Episode 3, it is obvious that they would stand by her when they do eventually find out. Of course, Muneeba might give Kamala an earful before that.
Bringing in this family dynamic inMs. Marvelalso makes the series more relatable to the wider audience. For those who do not understand thecultural references or religious nuances, seeing the family members interact is close enough to reality. Many people watching, irrespective of the demographic, would have possibly dealt with similar parental restrictions at the age of 16, experienced sibling rivalry where one child is the parents’ favorite, or have had to cry on a family member’s shoulder in a time of crisis.
In some of Marvel’s other Disney Plus series, family has been an important aspect as well. For instance, Wanda’s entire drive inWandaVisioncame from her family. She creates a whole fictional world in Westview just so she can be closer to Vision and her sons, Billy and Tommy. Losing them leads her to the Darkhold and utterchaos inDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. She is willing to kill anyone that stands in her way of achieving a life with her children. While she might have been the villain in the movie, many fans sympathized with her and understood her motives.Hawkeyeis another example of familial bonds, with Jeremy Renner’s Clint Barton constantly trying to get home for Christmas, just so he can celebrate it with his wife and children.
These aspects of the Marvel shows make them universal, while also making the heroes more human at the same time. Kamala might be learning how to deal with her powers, but she is still ateenager who has to make decisionsin her day-to-day life and whose pain affects those who love her.Ms. Marvelhas so far been the perfect show for families to watch together, and almost encourages parents to converse with their young children about the choices that they make on a daily basis. Many would argue that it is a superhero show, and needs to focus on Kamala’s powers. But, it is in these moments of familial interactions that fans are able to connect with the hero and understand her life. Disney Plus’ weekly format gives Marvel the luxury to explore the heroes’ lives in much more detail as compared to the films, andMs. Marvelhas done absolute justice to the runtime of each episode so far.
Ms. Marvelis streaming on Disney Plus.
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