Ms. Marvel Ep. 2: Crushed

Following the events of Episode 1, Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani) is training with Bruno (Matt Lintz ) to control her powers. Bruno believes that Kamala’s bangle activated powers that were already within Kamala.

Meanwhile during a visit to the Mosque, Kamala’s friend Nakia (Yasmeen Fletcher) decides to stand for election to their Mosque Board as she feels the women are treated badly. Later, with Bruno, they attend Zoe’s (Laurel Marsden) party and meet Kamran (Rish Shah).

Later Kamala passes out at a family meal and has visions of a mysterious woman. She later asks several people about her great-grandmother Aisha and learns that she “brought shame upon the family.” Kamala’s father Yusuf (Mohan Kapur) states that the Kamala’s grandmother Sana lost her way in the violence of the Partition of India but was able to find her father almost mysteriously!

Elsewhere, Agents Cleary (Arian Moayed) and Deever (Alysia Reiner) of the Department of Damage Control (DODC) question Zoe about what happened at AvengersCon. They decide to target South Asian communities in a bid to find this new hero.

Following some exciting goings on at the annual Eid Al-Adha celebration in which Kamala saves a boy’s life and has another vision of the woman, Kamala finds herself on the run from the DODC. Kamran helps her escape in his car and introduces Kamala to his mother Najma (Nimra Bucha), who just happens to be the same woman from her visions!

Verdict: 8/10. Vellani’s enthusiasm for the role is contagious and leaps off the screen and that alone is enough to keep Ms. Marvel compelling viewing. The slow unravelling of her family history remains intriguing as soon the involvement of the DODC. The way each episode peels another layer back helps pace this show well and keeps it must see viewing.