Review: Ms. Marvel, "Crushed" | Season 1, Episode 2
It may get swallowed by the MCU of it all eventually, but this second outing remains grounded in what made the premiere special
The biggest concern coming out of the Ms. Marvel premiere was that its inevitable climax—Kamala discovering her super powers and entering into the dynamics of the MCU—would take away from the coming-of-age dynamics that made the pilot so charming and compelling.
I would argue that “Crushed” avoids falling into this trap, but it doesn’t necessarily suggest the show is in the clear. It smartly uses the second episode as an extended training montage, pushing Kamala’s powers themselves into the background to instead focus on Kamala exploring their origins and exploring how the powers are making her reevaluate the rest of her life. The episode opens with a parallel to the premiere’s walk through the halls, but this time she has confidence beyond her station: she corrects the teacher who gets her name wrong, separates the couple by her locker, and even is a bit flirty with the cute new senior who is definitely not Jump Streeting her. Even if Ms. Marvel won’t be able to stay a coming-of-age story forever, “Crushed” keeps it grounded in that space for a bit longer to good effect.