Ms. Marvel Season 1 Episode 6 Review: No Normal

A stellar finale, Ms. Marvel Season 1 Episode 6, “No Normal,” returns to New Jersey to reunite with the hijinks at the heart of this coming-of-age romp.

As long as Marvel Studios ignores the issues of its passive TV ambitions, there will be pacing issues. But there is no hero on the roster as compelling as Iman Vellani’s Kamala Khan, and that itself is a win for Ms. Marvel and fans of this character.

By focusing on the power of community, her superhero stand is every bit the sentimental tug on our heartstrings it should be.

After much debate over this show’s legacy, Ms. Marvel‘s finale solidifies this series as one of Marvel’s best.

“No Normal” does precisely what was needed after a trip abroad, throwing us back into street-level New Jersey warfare with a giddy vigilante. This final stand is simple, scrappy, and brings us full circle to the pilot.

Kamala’s story still suffers pacing issues, and the pro-law enforcement imagery in a scene condemning law enforcement does threaten the fun. Still, the Khans are too wholesome to be so easily deterred from cheering Kamala on.

That shot of Kamala, shielded by her community as she gets back on her feet, envokes a swell of pride for this show’s beating heart. Just as New York City protected Spider-Man’s identity, the people of New Jersey will protect Ms. Marvel.

The imagery may be cheesy, the sentiment basic, but the savior complex does not need to be overstated. This episode — channeled beautifully through Kamala’s innocent lens — shows the superhero coming-of-age in its most vulnerable form.

A Super-Sized Reveal

Slow-clap it out for the special effects and costume teams because that is how you do a superhero reveal.

Kamala’s super-suit may be the most practical, gorgeous fit to grace our presence. The fabric detailing gives the outfit such intricate depth, the comic-accurate scarf is adorable, and Vellani looks complete at ease in the outfit.

Her superpowers are some of the most difficult to adapt, yet the sleek, crystalized special effects defy all odds. The choice to only render Kamala from the torso down when hopping around on her light pods lets our imagination do the work.

When it is time to show off her embiggen powers, the special effects refuse to hide, using translucent crystals and the show’s fun stylistic lens to bring her gigantic fists to life. When Kamala throws up two big peace signs, it’s clear she has the winning hand.

Ms. Marvel‘s live-action look is a masterpiece and will continue to be when kids take to the streets on Halloween in this iconic costume.

A Family Affair

With super suit perfection and sturdy special effects, the only element left is the story. And the story ensures Kamala’s superhero coming-out thrives within its themes of family and community.

For Kamala to receive her costume from her mother and her superhero name from her father is the kind of sentimental family crap we want to see from this series. They embrace her passions and shower her in support without hesitation.

It is the resolution this season has been building to with Kamala’s family becoming part of her superhero journey. In a genre where many young heroes are forced to grow up too fast and face their supervillain parents, Kamala’s support system is entirely normal — and supportive.

She can be a kid who stops crime in her free time, and her parents will still be there to catch her when she falls. That’s the loving sentiment “Nothing Normal” drives home at every turn.

The Kids Are Alright

All great moments in teen dramas happen on the high-school sets, so to see Kamala and her friends use the hallways as their playground is perfection.

Their Home Alone hijinks tap into the series’s chaotic, goofy undertones, circling back to Kamala’s manic plotting montages and giving little to no explanation for Aamir and Zoe’s sudden appearance.

It may be last minute, but I am glad to see Zoe and Nakia stand by Kamala. Zoe’s comment to Nakia about not wanting to out Kamala is a sweet acknowledgment of Zoe’s coming-out experience in the comics.

Between Kamran’s awkward almost-kiss and Kamala’s brother being his chaotic self, this unlikely team-up dares to run away with the entire episode. Their light-hearted comradery softens the darker notes of this battle, and the close quarters allow many last-ditch developments to progress naturally.

Ms. Marvel is at its best when it’s focused on the innocence of its teens, and allowing these kids to embrace the superhero experience in their own absurd way is so fun.

Transformative Teases

Am I irritated Ms. Marvel responded to its vague superhero lore with more vague superhero lore? Of course.

Yet, despite the MCU’s refusal to give any real power to its shows, Kamala takes back agency with two epic teases. Teases that will keep us well fed until The Marvels.

The decision to throw “mutation” and the X-men theme at us with zero lead-ins is too good to criticize, and it’s backed by reasonable logic. Inhuman was always the assumption, but the X-Men could be the solution.

The change from inhuman to mutant is an example of smart rebranding. Inhumans has proven a difficult property to adapt and this way, Kamala can still separate her powers from the bangle and embrace a better label than Clan Destine.

And for all those that couldn’t bother to give Ms. Marvel a chance, you have to hope they enjoyed having the return of the X-Men spoiled on Twitter. Karma is indeed spelled, Kamala Khan.

 

We suspected Carol Danvers would make an appearance, but Kamala accidentally swapping places with Captain Marvel — wow, that’s good! The vague lore is not ideal, but it does make for some banger twists.

The reveal is perfection as Kamala crashes through her closet, and a panicked Carol appears.

It’s a clever pivot that conveys Kamala is still capable of shapeshifter, but a white hero will not define her legacy the way it could in the comics. Only after Kamala has learned to embrace her identity as a Pakistani-American superhero does Carol’s legacy collide with hers.

For a show that has balanced two worlds incredibly well this season, it feels right to end on a high note with an awkward superpower puberty and Captain Marvel tease.

A high-profile cameo and a game-changing reveal? This finale is everything Kamala would want from her superhero series.

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What did you think of the finale of Ms. Marvel‘s first season? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Ms. Marvel Season 1 is now available to stream on Disney+.

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