‘Ms. Marvel’ Episode 4 Review- A Trip To Her Ancestral Home Leads To More Questions Than Answers For Kamala Khan

In this week’s installment of Ms. Marvel, Kamala and her mother pay a visit to her grandmother in Pakistan and continues to unravel the secrets of the bangel and the Clandestine.

After watching Kamala disappoint her parents for three episodes straight, it was nice to watch her grandmother dote on her. In contrast, it was funny to watch her grandmother immediately criticize her  mother for having dry skin. Most of my favorite moments from  this episode of Ms. Marvel were the quiet, grounded moments like this. Moments that revealed more about the characters and their strained family ties.

I enjoyed seeing the dynamic between Kamala’s mom and grandmother, and this episode really cemented the fact that Kamala’s mother didn’t have a normal childhood because of an eccentric parent who lived with her head in the clouds and reveled in fantasy stories about the Djinn. Kamala’s mom has spent her entire life trying to recover from being raised by someone she perceives as a weirdo, and she’ll be damned if she lets her daughter turn out the same way.

Ironically, its the eccentric and dreamer traits that bond Kamala and her grandmother so tightly.  Kamala is stunned when her grandmother casually confirms  that their family descends from the Djinn. She tells Kamala that it’s ultimately up to her to figure out the bagel’s importance and true power. Kamala isn’t sure she’s up for the task, but her grandmother’s belief pushes her forward.

After spending time with her cousins, Kamala investigates a local train station hoping it will clue her in to the meaning of the mysterious visions she has been having. It’s there that she meets the Red Dagger (Aramis Knight) who’s real name is Kareem. He sensed the power of the Noor, and was concerned the Clandestine had returned.

After an entertaining and flirty battle, Kareem takes Kamala to meet his wise mentor, Waleed. Waleed informs Kamala that if the Clandestine succeed in opening the portal to their home dimension, which sits atop the earth dimension, it will be cataclysmic for everyone.

Elsewhere, the Clandestine escape from prison, and head out to find Kamala Khan. I’m guessing this scene takes place at least a few days or possibly a week before this episode begins, because the group is instantly chasing down Kamala, Kareem, and Waleed. Waleed sacrifices his life to give Kamala and Kareem a chance to escape, and unfortunately, it’s in vain. It does lead to a thrilling battle in which we see Kamala get a better handle on the powers the bangle provides her.

She holds her own better than she did in the previous episode. It’s only when Najma’s blade connects with the bangle that we get the episode’s cliffhanger: Kamala seemingly wakes up in the past during the 1947 Partition of India. Not only is this a significant event history,, but this was also the last time her grandmother saw her own mother, Aisha.

I’m willing to bet we will find out the fate of Aisha in the next episode, and learn how the bangle ended up in the care of Kamala’s grandmother. This episode was thrilling, and although Kamala hasn’t yet received all the answers she needs, watching her get closer and closer to the answers of Aisha’s fate, the origin of the bangle, and the fate of the Djinn is thrilling. With two more episodes left, this series heading toward an interesting season finale.