Ms. Marvel Review: Crushed (Season 1 Episode 2)
To say this episode of Ms. Marvel crushes it is an understatement.
Ms. Marvel Season 1 Episode 2, “Crushed,” is a stylistic triumph with blasts of eye-popping title cards, moody dance numbers, and vibrant characters. This storytelling, coasting on a killer soundtrack, features a remix of teen drama staples, angst-filled mysteries, and culture shocks.
Just like Kamala, the series is still learning to navigate its superhero double life, but growing pains are hardly a problem with this fun and stylish television.
When observed strictly through a critical lens, “Crushed” may not be as solid as its pilot, but it lets loose in ways the premiere could not afford.
Episode 2 lovingly caters to fans with jokes about Paul Rudd’s age and Kingo’s Bollywood legacy. The crowning achievement comes when Kamala slips off the roof and takes a swing at Natasha’s death, complete with a snort as she lands unharmed. Kamala Khan that is downright savage!
Underneath that candy-coated levity are troubling dynamics as Nakia fights for a kinder mosque environment, and the fictional law enforcement reveals they are no less racist in their pursuit for justice.
Alas, I expected nothing less than complacency from the man that claimed Aunt May was endangering Peter. Matt Murdock will come for you, Agent Cleary!
Wrapped up in a balm of hormonal crushes and harmless banter, “Crushed” is a comforting, culturally immersive spectacle.
Team Work Makes the Dream Work
Ms. Marvel walks to the beat of its own drum, bypassing egotistical solos in favor of giving its larger ensemble storylines. This move pays homage to the drama format as Nakia and Bruno face struggles that don’t directly overlap with the titular hero.
It’s a bold move for a project that only has 6 episodes to execute what presents itself as an 8 to 13-episode arc. But by widening the scope of this story, the series allows Kamala’s family and friends room to grow into something tangible.
We don’t talk about Bruno — but we should!
His crush on Kamala is considerably toned down, and his desire to immerse himself in her family’s culture is dialed to eleven. That combination makes his white male presence more than tolerable in this live-action adaptation.
The boy dresses like Marty McFly and has a full ride to Cal-Tech. But just as a love for Kamala drives his decisions, his loyalty to their friendship drives our growing admiration. He is a welcoming presence, never overstating the simplicity of his role.
Nakia, on the other hand, is a cosmic force and a strong plot device for many of the heavier identity struggles Ms. Marvel helms.
Dialogue goofs rear their head when Nakia tells Kamala why she chose to embrace her faith. Presumably, this exchange would happen earlier in their friendship. But it’s also a captivating showcase of women’s issues in religious spaces.
Nakia allows the audience to see the community’s mosque through the eyes of a frustrated girl.
She touches on a universal struggle for equality. While the men get modern amenities on their side of the mosque, the women are forced to deal with broken tiles, stolen shoes, and musty carpets as they squint through a partisan meant to preserve modesty.
Her campaign for council has little overlap with Kamala, but this separate thread never feels out of place in the show’s grounded storytelling. Nakia really said, “kill my dreams and see what happens,” and we stood a little taller for it.
A Teen Series with Secrets
Ms. Marvel is many bright and wonderful things. But like its teen counterpart, Marvel’s Runaways, the show wields darker, more mysterious undertones.
Those mysteries give the campier hijinks an enticing edge, and the harmless lens allows these teases to evaporate into Kamala’s blissful existence without pause. However, suggestions that the bangle is suppressing her real powers could blow this premise open.
This flippant power lore hints at the potential for Kamala’s family/powers to shake up this teen drama with some big swings. This means Inhuman connections and polymorph powers are on the table!
Cue Kamran! A wicked addition to this cast and a man out to prove Walker isn’t the only one skilled at hiding behind a nice guy persona.
He’s just as devilish and charming as he needs to be without giving us everything. It’s fun to try and spot all the red flags as Kamran bonds with Kamala, and the ease with which he lies in multiple accents is unnerving.
School Before Superpowers
Ms. Marvel continues to put its best character-driven foot forward.
Despite strict time constraints to flesh out Ms. Marvel, the season is committed to exploring what makes Kamala ordinary. So this episode treats us to fleeting chaos and all-consuming crushes that encompass the teen attention span.
My only concern with this episode is the amount of time spent not fleshing out Kamala’s superhero persona. A character-driven series is not something to balk at, but we cannot underestimate Marvel’s ability to unload everything in the final hour.
Kamala’s underwhelming show of powers at the end of the episode doesn’t entirely sell these “hard light” pods. Not to mention, much of the family connection to the bangle is yet to impact the superhero plot meaningfully.
The key to Ms. Marvel taking this whole thing lies in how well it will continue to balance Kamala’s two worlds as they collide.
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Alicia Gilstorf
Alicia is a Rotten Tomatoes Certified Critic and a Critics Choice Association member. She credits her passion for TV to workplace sitcoms, paranormal dramedies, and coming-of-age stories. In her free time, Alicia loves to curl up with a good book and lose herself in a cozy game. Keep a lookout for her coverage of Ghosts. You can also find her work on Eulalie Magazine and Cool Girl Critiques. Follow Alicia on social media: @aliciagilstorf