The episode begins with a distant flashback to “British Occupied India, 1942”, the time of the Partition. We hear smashing noises. A wall with ancient reliefs. There is digging and removal of artifacts, very Indiana Jones. A black woman of this archelogical team, Fariha (Aduka Ononogbo) tosses a helmet. Najima, whom we just saw last episode, has found the bangle. She gets the attention of Fariha and Saleem (Dan Carter). The bangle is on a severed, blue arm! Aisha (Mehwish Hayat) walks up saying a man at the temple says they need two bangles. She removes the bangle. Fariha says the British most likely took the other bangle. The British soldiers outside threaten them and the temple is rocked by cannon fire. Najima sends Fariha to find Aadam.
Fariha says the British Army is burning the temple! Aisha puts on the bangle, it glows as well as her eyes. Fiery debris starts to fall. Najima tells Aisha to take another exit while she joins the others. She promises to return and then the temple starts to collapse. Night, at Aadam,’s house, she picks up the narrative for Kamala. She explains that they are from another dimension and says they were exiled. This actually reminds me of a book, The Toybox (1995), by Jackie Cassada. It is based on the Changeling the Dreaming role-playing game. Six changelings, faeries trapped in human bodies, are trying to find a remaining portal to return to their world of Arcadia. Aadam (Ali Alsaleh) is amused by popcorn, the comedian of the group, Kamala wonders about their age. Aadam says Kamran is 17 to Kamala’s relief.
Najima smiles and agrees with what Kamran said, “she’s adorable.” She takes Kamala away as the others are caught up in conversations. Kamala thanks Najima for saving her and she is told that they didn’t know about her. Then, they detect Noor, which Kamala translates as light. I wonder if Dagger from Cloak & Dagger uses her Lightforce powers from that dimension? Najima explains that Noor slows down aging, but they can’t tap into its full power. She thinks Kamala can use the power since she is from this Earth. Kamran’s power has not been released since he doesn’t have a bangle. Kamala thinks bad things happen because of it, but Najima says it led them to her. It is offered by Kamala to Najima, the One Ring handed by Frodo to Galadriel? Najima explains in the Noor dimension, they are known as Clan Destine. I was surprised, this was a group created by Alan Davis, first appearing in Marvel Comics Presents #148 (1994). It was lead by Adam Destine.
Kamala is told they are known by many names including Djinn, this is the childhood boogie man for Kamala, the basis is an Arabic spirit that later was known as genies. Kamala is a “Genie in a Bottle”! I love the background! The djinn Elalyth married Adam Destine and she came from a land called Yden. This feels like the show is breaking away, slightly, from its comic book roots where the comic book has Kamala with Inhuman genes activated by a Terrigen bomb. I prefer this version. Kamala bursts into Bruno’s room, she sidetracks saying she doesn’t like the name Night Light, funny! She explains what happened to her after the rescue. Kamala is there to ask for his help. She asks him about interdimensional travel and also the Noor dimension. This reminds him of a paper by Dr. Erik Selvig! We see the Damage Control car pull up and Agent Deever walks with other agents into the mosque. She asks Sheikh Abdullah about the enhanced individual “operating” from his mosque.
Deever wants the agents to search the place, but Nakia says she has no legal right! She says Damage Control that they can’t enter private property without a warrant. Something Nakia learned from Law & Order, but really shows her leadership as a console member, no one else stepped up. Sheikh Abdullah tells them to come back with a warrant and to remove their shoes! Kamala watches the videos from the previous night, look at Iman Vellani’s face that go through all kinds of emotions! Nakia enters and crashes on the bed. She sees Kamala’s video and recognizes Night Light, but doesn’t like the name, funny running joke! She explains that Damage Control agents entered the mosque and also that Nakia was voted in as board member. Kamala is too distracted to notice her friend’s accomplishment! They get ready for the Mehndi Party, a pre-wedding party where the bride gets mehndi or henna designs on her hands and feet. Tyesha is surprised about the number of family members.
Aamir enters and says that the tradition is to hide one pairs of shoes, but they hid all of his shoes! It is brought up to Sheikh Abdullah about the agents. Then, Muneeba mentions that Bruno had dropped by with a box. Kamala goes alone outside on the porch with the box. Sheikh Abdullah walks out and talks with her. Kamala is doubtful she is good as a superhero, then she is told it is the actions that make people good. Wise advice. Kamala opens the box to find a blue-green, gold-rimmed mask! Night at the Circle Q, Bruno is at the register, Yusuf asks if he can keep a secret. Then, brings up a fruit pie forbidden by his wife! Yusuf laughs and sees that Bruno is reading about the Djinn. Yusuf offers to translate the pages written in Urdu, this amuses him, and he tells of the hidden Djinn. Later, at his room, Kamala is feeling her injuries, and Bruno says his research informed him that interdimensional travel is possible. It would need a power source like the sun.
I’m thinking that maybe Aisha was looking for the other bangle and together they would have Captain Marvel level power? Kamala wants the non-technical explanation and Bruno says that once the Djinn travel back, it could be destructive. She thinks that this might be her purpose, not being a superhero, and Bruno finally admits he was accepted by CalTech. Kamala is in the bathroom when Muneeba sees the injury that is explained by a fall from Kamala’s bike. She asks her mother about getting her dream, but not as she expected. Muneeba says to her America was her mountain, but it was a struggle. Slowly, she found her mosque, friends, and of course family.
Muneeba says Kamala doesn’t have to take on her challenges alone, tearfully Kamala hugs her mother. She gets a text from Kamran writing she wants to help, but worried. Kamran says to focus on the wedding.
Then, we get the wedding the next day! Feels a little Sixteen Candles (1984), but more of a drama. Aamir paces and Yusuf puts on his coat. He worries about the funds in his bank account. Yusuf encourages him that he has chosen love and is brave. Kamala overhears the conversation and is also inspired. Sheikh Abdullah presides over the ceremony with both sets of parents at either side. He has Tyesha and then Aamir answer three times if they will take each other as husband and wife. These quiet, family moments are the best parts of Ms. Marvel and beautiful. Everyone cheers for the married couple. Najima sees Kamran’s phone, he tells her Kamala thinks it’s dangerous, and his mother knows. She wants the return to happen at any cost! At the wedding after party, Aamir and Tyesha Kahn sit on chairs at the edge of the stage.
Their heads are made to touch explained to Bruno by Ruby. Then, we get a lively dance, with Yusuf and Muneeba. Tyesha’s parents join the dance. Then, Kamala and Nakia have a dance line, and Bruno joins them. Next, it is Aamir and Tyesha. It is awesome, very Bollywood, and more natural to the story as a celebration than Kingo’s dance in The Eternals (2021). Following the dance is the tribute band, Brown Jovi! Kamran enters as Kamala asks Bruno to dance. She warns Kamala about the Clan Destine. Kamala activates the fire alarm. Kamran tries to stop his mother. Kamala sees Saleem take down a security guard. She reaches the kitchen, but Saleem and Fariah enter. Aadam knocks out one of the cooks and they all run. The battle begins all to Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ on a Prayer”! A battle with Kamala outmatched! Ms. Marvel, “Destined”, has Aamir’s wedding with many cultural touches, the introduction of the ClanDestine, but will Kamala survive against them?
Five Bangles out of Five!
#MsMarvel, #Destined, #ImanVellani, #ZenobiaFletcher, #MohanKapur, #SaagarShaikh, #TravinaSpringer, #YasmeenFletcher, #MattLintz, #LaithNakli, #RishShah, #MehwishHayat, #NimraBucha, #AdukaOnonogbo, #DanCarter, #AliAlsaleh, #AlysiaReiner
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