Kamala Khan is getting her first shining moment in the live-action sun. Ms. Marvel is an absolutely delightful introduction story for the teenage Pakistani-American nerd from Jersey City. We get our first glimpse into her epic powers as she tries to discover herself and her heritage while being inspired by the great Captain Marvel. One of the most fun aspects of Ms. Marvel (out of many) is the show’s penchant for infusing in pop culture. We saw this with the trailer using The Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights” but the show takes it up a notch. There are some great songs from Pakistani artists and much more pop culture fare that make Ms. Marvel a wholly unique addition to the MCU.
Here are the best pop culture references in Ms. Marvel.
“Blinding Lights” – The Weeknd
Ms. Marvel brings that Weeknd song back again, playing it over the logo and the opening voiceover scene. We get an excellent look at Kamala’s wonderful artwork and her vivid imagination as the pop tune plays in the background.
Many, Many Nods to the Avengers
There are far too many references and images of the Avengers to begin to list. It’s worthy of a whole separate post but that makes total sense. Imagine being a nerdy kid in a world where actual superhuman beings exist! Kamala loves them deeply, from her videos to her fanfiction to the many doodles and posters on her wall. Of course, her fave is Captain Marvel, so she shows up pretty much everywhere. She’s got pins on her bookbag, a lovely Captain Marvel costume, and of course there is AvengerCon itself with many costumes and replicas of the heroes.
AvengerCon
Speaking of AvengerCon, this is an obvious nod to the many geek and nerd conventions we love. From big productions like SDCC to smaller local comic conventions, it reaffirms that Kamala is one of us in so many ways. We love a relatable cosplaying hero.
“Deal With It” – Riz Ahmed
Editor’s Note: The above video might contain NSFW language.
The music in Ms. Marvel is a nod to Kamala’s heritage, featuring many South Asian—mostly Pakistani—artists. This rap song by Riz Ahmed plays as we see Kamala walking into her chaotic high school, where people are mean to her and mispronounce her name. Ahmed is a British Pakistani actor and musician. “Deal With It” is from his album The Long Goodbye, which tells a story of the effects of colonialism on Pakistan and South Asia, centering it as a toxic relationship. Ahmed regularly tackles his experiences as a British Pakistani Muslim in his music and his work as an actor.
Smash Bros. Hangout
Kamala’s homegirl Nakia wants to know if she’s being invited over to play Smash Bros. The crossover fighting game has been around for a long time, including Nintendo characters like the Mario Brothers, Donkey Kong, Zelda, and Sonic the Hedgehog. The question is… which gaming console are they playing it on?
Mulan’s “Reflection” for Motivation
“Who is that girl I see, staring straight back at me?” Well, for high school guidance counselor Gabe Wilson, it’s Kamala. He makes the reference to the popular Mulan lyric while trying to give her a pep talk. It actually reflects Kamala’s story a lot, as we see later on in the episode. Her mother tells her to dig into herself and discover who she is and more about her family heritage. Like Mulan, it seems that Kamala will go on a quest of understanding self. Also, we’re glad that Kamala knows (and presumably loves) a throwback film like Mulan.
“Ko Ko Koreena” – Ahmed Rushdi
This song is from the Urdu-language film Armaan and is widely regarded as one of the first pop songs of Pakistan. In Ms. Marvel, we hear it playing while Kamala runs market errands with her mother, giving us a chance to see a slice of their lives. Ahmed Rushdi was one of the most influential singers in the Pakistan film industry in the ‘60s and ‘70s.
Darth Vader Mom
Bruno tells Kamala to take a chill pill over asking her mom about AvengerCon, saying that she should stop acting like her mom is Darth Vader. I mean… he is right. She might be strict and wary of the world around her daughter but she’s certainly not Darth Vader.
Smushee’s Like a Slurpee
Kamala’s delightful drink of choice is a Smushee. It’s a clear play on the Slurpee, a popular frozen sugary dyed drink at 7-Eleven. They were a staple in many kids’ childhoods and bring a little burst of joy to us kids at heart, too.
Kamala Loves Felicity
Kamala might be a Gen Z girl but she’s really a millennial at heart. We see Kamala checking out an episode of Felicity featuring Keri Russell before that infamous haircut. Totally a ‘90s kid after school activity.
Zuzu Is Alexa
Bruno makes a home device for Kamala’s family and it is rather familiar. Zuzu lets you change channels, turn off lights, and much more. It sounds a lot like our version of Alexa or Google Assistant.
Classic TV Teen Fare
A dodgeball to the face to show that a person isn’t popular. Sneaking out of the bedroom window to go on a forbidden adventure. Your parent or responsible adult sitting in your room when you come back in. Biking around town aimlessly. Chillin’ on a building’s rooftop with your pal. A really cool room with neon lights and awesome décor. These are all things that kids may do or have in real life. But they are primarily shown time and time again in TV shows and films.
“Rozi” – Eva B.
The end credits of Ms. Marvel feature “Rozi” by Eva B, yet another pop culture gem. She’s one of Pakistan’s first female rappers to break through to the mainstream. The singer and rapper quickly rose to fame, often discussing the obstacles women face in her music. And she writes in both Urdu and Balochi.
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