Ms. Marvel – Destined

By starrymag | June 28, 2022

By: Atiya Irvin-Mitchell

 

 

We open with a flashback to 1942 a few years before the Partition. We finally meet Aisha (Mehwish Hayat), Kamala’s great-grandmother, and she’s not alone. With her in a temple are Najma (Nimra Bucha), Kamran’s mother, Fariha (Adaku Ononogbo), Aadam (Ali Aisaleh) and Saleem (Dan Carter). They say they’re from a different dimension and they really want to go home. They find a bangle, but they need the other one to get home. Aisha puts the bangle they have on and she feels the power. This is interrupted by the British Army and the group has to seperate. They promise they’ll find each other when it’s safe, but they never do.

 

We flash forward to the present day. Kamala (Iman Vellani) is at Najma’s house and is fascinated by the story, but she’s got questions. Fariha, Aadam, Saleem, Fariha and Najma all look to be in their 40s. So, how is someone who was around in the 1940s young enough to be the mother of a member of Gen Z? It’s the being from a different dimension thing, specifically they’re from the “Noor” (meaning “light”) and they’re called Djinn. Kamran (Rish Shah) reassures her that he is really only seventeen-years-old. They want Kamala to help them get back to their home dimension, but she says she’d like to think about it. Also, she needs to get home so her parents don’t worry.

 

The next morning a lot is happening. Bruno (Matt Lintz) is relieved that Kamala is okay. Kamala gives him the reader’s digest version and asks him to help her figure out if she should assist the Djinn. Elsewhere, at the mosque Agent Deever (Alysia Reiner) is asking about Night Light. At first she’s just talking to Sheikh Abdullah (Laith Nakli), but then Nakia (Yasmeen Fletcher) interrupts and points out their lack of warrant. She also pointedly asks if they’re interested in finding Night Light because she has powers or because she might be a muslim. Deever declines to answer and Sheikh Abdullah tells her that if she wants to talk more she needs a warrant.

 

Not for nothing, but it’s almost time for Aamir’s (Saagar Shaikh) wedding. So, Kamala has to deal with her rocky rescue attempt being all over the internet while shopping for party supplies. Mid scrolling through memes and videos about herself she’s interrupted by Nakia. There is good news and bad news. The good news is she won the board seat she wanted.  The bad news is Nakia is frustrated that whomever the masked hero is she’s put a target on their backs. Kamala is a little sad that even though she doesn’t know it Nakia’s talking about her.

 

Later it’s time for the mehndi, meaning the practice of making designs on someone’s hands with henna specifically for wedding days in Indian and Pakistani cultures. It’s a full house, but Kamala’s grandmother is missing. Muneeba (Zenobia Shroff) seems upset but she says it’s typical. Her mother didn’t show up to her own wedding, so why would she come to her son’s? And there’s talk about Night Light. Muneeba says Night Light’s mother should be ashamed of herself. This makes Kamala understandably sad and she steps outside and bumps into Sheikh Abdullah. They talk about what people think of Night Light and what it means to be good. Sheikh Adullah tells her that good isn’t something that you are, it’s something you do.

 

Yusuf (Mohan Kapur) goes to the convenience store where Bruno works to get snacks. While they talk Yusuf notices the research Bruno’s doing and provides him with some clarity by translating an important piece of mythology about the Djinn for him. Djinn can be called genies or demons. There is a myth about a group of them who were exiled from their dimension and sentenced to live among humans. It seems Najma neglected to mention that sending the Djinn back to their dimension could be very dangerous.

 

After this Bruno talks to Kamala and tells her what he’s learned. Kamala is surprised, but feels she was given the bangle to do something good. She’s just not sure what that is yet. Kamala still wants to be like Captain Marvel, but Bruno thinks Captain Marvel was a little reckless.  In the middle of destiny pondering Bruno decides to tell Kamala about Caltech. Kamala congratulates him and Bruno says that he thinks he needs to go. However, before he goes to California he needs to know that Kamala will be okay. Bruno promises he’ll help her however he can, but until they know more he asks her to wait.

 

It’s wedding time and Aamir is having nerves To be clear, it’s not his future bride that he’s unsure of. He just feels like as a poor grad student he doesn’t have a lot to offer Tyesha (Travina Springer).  His father tries to reassure him that he’ll figure things out after he graduates and that he should have more faith in himself. The wedding moves forward and it’s very sweet. Kamala, Nakia, Bruno and extended family and friends do a well-received dance tribute for the bride and groom.

 

But the good times might not last as Najma reads a text message Kamala sent to Kamran. The gist is that she’s not sure about opening the door to the other dimension because of the danger. Najma takes that as a betrayal and says she’s done waiting. Kamran asks her to be patient as he thinks Kamala just needs a little time. Unfortunately, Najma won’t hear of it and is headed to the wedding.

 

Somehow Kamran manages to beat his mother to the wedding and he warns Kamala in barely enough time. He tells her that they’ll kill everyone as they’re walking in. So feeling the urgency Kamala pulls the fire alarm because that’s the fastest way to get her family out of the building. Another good news, bad news deal. The alarm does get everyone outside but the Djinn are still gunning for Kamala.

 

“Living on a Prayer,” by Bon Jovi plays and the Djinn chase Kamala and Bruno through the building. Kamran begs them to stop, but they are undeterred. Kamala uses her powers to evade them but she’s still pretty inexperienced and she’s facing people who’ve had their powers for decades. Najma says that the bangle was meant for bigger things than her.  Bruno gets between her and the Djinn, but gets a chair chucked at him with super strength for his trouble. Thankfully, Kamran intervenes and starts fighting with Saleem.

 

Kamala uses the time to try and get Bruno out of the building, but they bump into Aadam and see Karam get thrown from the second floor. They quickly find themselves surrounded. When Kamala comes face to face with Najma she reminds Kamala that she promised to help, but Najma asks why she should protect someone who betrayed her. Then, the federal agents bust in and start arresting everyone, except Bruno and Kamala who use the chaos to slip away. Once they’re outside they bump into Nakia. She sees Kamala use her powers and seems a little hurt that Kamala didn’t tell her about her powers. However, she can recognize that it’s not the time or the place to talk about it. She and Bruno tell Kamala to leave.

 

When Kamala gets home her parents are worried. Why was she with the people who were arrested and did she really pull the fire alarm? They’re not angry, just very concerned and ask her to be honest with them so that they can help. Kamala says she’s sorry, but she can’t answer their questions right now.

 

When Kamala is in her room she gets a call from her grandmother (Samina Ahmed). She tries to tell her it’s a really bad time, but she’s undeterred. Kamala’s grandmother asks if she’s been having the visions of people on the train. Kamala has and her grandmother has as well. She says that Kamala and Muneeba need to come and see her.