Spoiler warning for Ms. Marvel, both concrete spoilers for Episode 2 “Crush” and theories that may spoil future plots of the series. The Update at the end spoils Episode 5 “Time and Time Again.”
The most recent episode of Ms. Marvel, Crush, sees Kamala developing a crush on Kamran (played by Rish Shah), a new senior at her school. After a ‘meet cute,’ a flirty look at the pool, a ‘driving lesson,’ and a quick save from the Department of Damage Control, Kamran appears to be a pretty ideal love interest.
Who is Kamran?
In the comics, Kamran is an Inhuman, a human/alien hybrid who develops powers when exposed to a “terrigen mist.” Though we have yet to see confirmation that Kamala is Inhuman (like her comics counterpart), the fact that the bracelet is unlocking something inside her does indicate her having some kind of inherited ability.
However, this is not the only thing of note in Kamran’s presence, as he is also an Inhuman supremacist who encourages Kamala to forget about protecting average human beings.
This, and his somewhat convenient timing in the ending of Crush, indicates that he and his mother probably do not have Kamala’s best interests at heart (or at least do not have the same moral code as her).
The show also seems interested in exploring Kamala’s family history during Partition, the time when British rule divided India into what is now known as Pakistan and Bangladesh. It was a horrible, very colonialist era that disproportionately affected women, and the effects of it are still being felt today.
What’s interesting about that is that Kamran is portrayed as British-Pakistani, possibly hinting at the colonial issues Kamala will be forced to confront.
(Or it could just be shorthand for him being a secret villain, like how Daisy Ridley was the only one in the sequel trilogy cast allowed to keep her British accent.)
Via Marvel Entertainment/Disney+
In any case, the changes to the source material are keeping both newcomers and longtime fans guessing as to what will happen next!
Update as of Episode 5 “Time and Time Again:
As of episode 5, Kamran officially has the same powers as Kamala, given to him by his mother’s life force(?) upon her sacrifice to close the veil between our world and the Noor dimension. The difference is, Kamran apparently does not need the Bangle to shape it.
Giving the villain the same powers as the hero is a common course for the MCU, which has frequently given the antagonists the same powers as the hero to make them a mirror to the hero. This can sometimes make for interesting fights but frequently led to some rather lackluster villains in Phases 1 and 2 that seemed more there to provide a physical challenge rather than a mental one.
The fact that Kamran is 1) in denial about his mother’s abandonment and 2) now putting Bruno at risk hopefully means that him being the potential final boss will make for some interesting conflict next episode. Will he blame Kamala for his mother’s death? Will she help him fight against the Department of Damage Control? Will Kamala learn to tap into her powers without the bangle like him?
Tune in next week to find out!
(featured image: Disney/Marvel)
