Ms. Marvel Destined Review: Stakes are raised in the most consequentiel episode yet

Through the first two episodes, Ms. Marvel has been a fun, family-focused, coming-of-age story. Destined throws everything at Kamala in this episode.

She still has family pressure. After all, her brother’s getting married. In addition, she finally gets some answers as to where her powers came from. Kimran’s mother Najma explains the bangle’s origins. An understandably freaked-out Kamala takes this new revelation to Bruno.

He wisely points out the significant risk of using the bangle to help Najma, Kimron and their people reach their dimension. Basically, using her powers will have consequences in the MCU’s dimension and could kill others. After the somewhat clumsy saving of the kid in the last episode, Kamala doesn’t feel up to the tasks of having these powers. Iman Vellani continues to astonish. From minute facial reactions to impeccable line delivery, Vellani is a revelation.

The action sequences were outstanding. In particular, the scene at the wedding where Najma’s family is hunting Kamala is intense, full of creativity and features great camera movement. Kamala’s in danger at every moment and you genuinely fear for her safety.

The only issue in the episode is Najma’s quick transition from wanting to help Kamala to outright villain. I think if writers Freddy Syborn, A.C. Bradley and Matthew Chauncey had built up the turn over another episode the payoff would have hit harder. There is a good aspect to doing so much in Destined. The whole episode has this feel of the world caving in around Kamala.

Ms. Marvel continues to brim with confidence. The series is scaling up at a great pace without losing the creative ferver of the series.

With the overview out of the way, let’s dive deeper into the elements that stood in Destined. There may be some minor spoilers. Ms. Marvel is available to stream on Disney Plus.

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Kamala’s destined for greatness

Kamala’s bangle and her powers come from another dimension. Najma wants Kamala’s help returning to their dimension. Initially, Kamala is excited to help. She asks Bruno to help her figure out the problem. Later, Bruno cautions Kamala on the dangers. Opening a hole to another dimension could hurt innocent people.

Destined adds more to Kamala’s plate. Early in the episode, the Department of Damage Control enters Kamala’s mosque. Kamala’s not there, but Nakia is. Nakia sends them packing since they don’t have a warrant. Nakia recounts this story to Kamala in Kamala’s bedroom, Kamala’s eyes getting ever so slightly wider as Nakia talks about the ordeal is terrific acting by Vellani.

Kamala is also not feeling 100 percent. She hurt her knee during her escape from DCC. Her mother notices the scrape and we get the sweetest mother-daughter scene of the series. Kamala talks about wanting something, then once she gets it, realizing the reality is more than she asked for. Her mother can relate. When her mother and father came to the United States they had to work so hard to make their dream work.

The series has done a great job handling the mother-daughter relationship. In the pilot, the dynamic between the two was pretty contentious. Since the pilot, it’s softened quite a bit, which is great to see in a relationship that could have been one-note.

A Wedding

Kamala’s brother, Aamir, is getting married. The wedding is a glorious look at a Muslim wedding. Dancing, vows, colors and joy throughout.

Like any wedding storyline there’s gotta be prewedding jitters. Destined is no exception. Aamir is concerned about finances. He has very little money in his bank account and talks with his father about being a good husband. While not as powerful as Kamala’s conversation with Muneeba, this conversation does touch on some of the themes in the mother-daughter talk.

The light touch with this storyline is a nice balance to the rather heavy tone present in the rest of the episode.

No more Djinn

The wedding goes off without a hitch. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said of the reception.

First, Kimran shows up. He warns Kamala. His mom is on the warpath. If Kamala won’t help, then his mom and her family will kill everyone.

Naturally, Kamala pulls the fire alarm to get everyone out of the wedding venue. She does a decent job of evading capture unit she ends up in the kitchen area. Kamala’s trapped with no place to go. The sequence kind of felt like the iconic raptor scene in Jurassic Park.

Kamala uses her powers to defend herself. Eventually, the fight spills out to the ballroom. Kimron steps up to help and showcases some impressive skills in his own right. Bruno also comes back to help. He’s not much help and is injured in the fight. Bruno’s injury serves as motivation for Kamala. Her iconic cosmic fist makes an appearance and briefly wipes the floor with the Djinn (one of the names the group has gone by throughout the ages).

Destined ends with Nakia finding out the truth about Kamala’s powers. Before Nakia can rightly scold her friend, Kamala asks Nakia to get Bruno medical help and she’ll explain later. The episode ends with Kamala calling her relative who knows about the bangle. It looks like Kamala leaving Jersey City in the not too distant future.

Destined Final Thoughts

The villain turn is abrupt. However, that’s the only slight misstep in Destined. Three episodes in and there hasn’t been a more consistent MCU series on Disney Plus. The biggest credit goes to Vellani’s flawless performance. It’s not easy to navigate between the comedic element in the earlier episode to the more dramatic, in-peril scenes in Destined, yet Vellani makes it look effortless.

Meera Menon does a great job behind the camera. The dance sequences have a fun, creative energy and the fight sequences are fast and chaotic, but I never got lost in the process. Bisha K. Ali has also done a great job of weaving in the larger superhero story with the family elements. The scripts continue to pack in great dialogue exchanges which allows this excellent cast material they can sink into.

I can’t wait to see Kamala’s next adventure, which should be outside Jersey City.

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