Common Sense Media Review
By Joyce Slaton , based on child development research. How do we rate?
Thrilling teen superhero show is vibrant and relatable.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
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Ms. Marvel
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 13 parent reviews
What's the Story?
Based on the Marvel Comics book series of the same name, MS. MARVEL relates the story of Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani), a Pakistani American teen from Jersey City whose obsession with superheroes turns into something altogether different when she discovers her own otherworldly powers. Before her realization, her life at home with her mom, Muneeba (Zenobia Shroff); father, Yusuf (Mohan Kapur); and brother, Aamir (Saagar Shaikh) is quite average, just as Kamala herself is. But when her similarly Marvel-preoccupied best bud Bruno (Matt Lintz) helps Kamala find a costume that suddenly unlocks her hidden abilities, things start to change, fast.
Is It Any Good?
A hero's journey that brings blazing new color to familiar story beats, this thrilling drama rests easily on the capable shoulders of actress Iman Vellani. Kamala's problems could have been exported from any teen movie: classmates who think she's a weird loser if they notice her at all, parents who just don't understand, teachers who wish she'd stop doodling and daydreaming. Somewhere, sometime, Kamala hopes, there might be something special inside her, but as she tells her BFF Bruno, "Let's face it, it's not really the brown girls from Jersey City who are saving the world." Ms. Marvel's great triumph is not only that it proceeds to show us just that, but also that Kamala feels like a fully realized character in a fleshed-out world, not a flat token.
This is partially because the Khans' heritage is woven through their whole world: It's in the foods they eat, the mingled English and Urdu they speak, the market where Kamala and Muneeba go to buy items for Aamir's wedding -- and in the traumatic family history during Partition that Kamala's elders don't speak of, but that comes to the forefront anyway. Authenticity extends to the soundtrack, with songs from Pakistan's rapper Eva B and vintage Pakistani films. But even more than that, Kamala feels real, with her oversized emotions, the push-pull to her relationship with her parents, and the dawning delight (quickly followed by misgivings) she experiences upon discovering her own powers. Similar stories have been told about superheroes, but Ms. Marvel paints in Kamala Khan's story in hues too vivid to ignore.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the fact that Ms. Marvel suggests -- by way of creating situations in which a sympathetic character must use violence to protect others -- that there may be instances in which violence is acceptable. Is this true in real life? To what lengths should people be allowed to go to defend themselves, even if they're in the wrong by law?
What different genres does Ms. Marvel fit into? Is it a superhero show? A teen soap opera? An action series? Does the mix of genres make this show more interesting or less so?
How does Kamala demonstrate courage and integrity in accepting her powers and learning how they can be used for good? Why are these important character strengths?
TV Details
- Premiere date: June 8, 2022
- Cast: Iman Vellani , Alysia Reiner
- Network: Disney+
- Genre: Drama
- Topics: Superheroes
- Character Strengths: Courage , Integrity
- TV rating: TV-14
- Award: Common Sense Selection
- Last updated: February 17, 2023
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What to Watch Next
TV Shows with Asian, Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Characters and Leads
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