Titled Seeing Red, Ms. Marvel’s latest episode is the first of two episodes directed by Pakistan’s very own Sharmeen-Obaid Chinoy. Quite fittingly, it’s set in Karachi and shows Kamala connecting to her ancestral history. Seeing Red does not shy away from centering the protagonist’s cultural roots and marks the first time that Pakistan has been so heavily featured in Marvel’s cinematic universe. Here are some of the things that Something Haute loved most about the episode:
- The Soundtrack
Nani and Kamala’s mother have a conversation while Mera Laung Gawacha plays in the background
Seeing Red features a whole host of songs by Pakistani artists. A few years ago, it was unimaginable that we would be humming along to our own songs while watching a Marvel production. From Ali Sethi and Shae Gill’s Pasoori playing over Kamala’s first outing in Karachi to Abid Brohi and Somewhat Super’s banger The Sibbi Song perfectly capturing the hustle and bustle of Saddar, this episode was densely populated with Pakistani songs weaved in naturally with the unfolding story. We particularly loved hearing Naseebo Lal’s voice in Aag, sung with Talal Qureshi. The episode also paid homage to music of a bygone era: in one scene, we see Kamala’s Nani and mother having a conversation as Musarrat Nazir’s evergreen Mera Laung Gawacha plays in the background on a record player. Seeing Red is a testament to the diversity and universal appeal of Pakistani music and we are here for it!
2. The Location
Kamala sees the Teen Talwar on her way to Nani’s from the airport
In mainstream international productions, Karachi is usually framed as an exotic and dangerous city, filled with burqa clad women and underground terrorists. For our beautiful city to be featured in all its multifaceted glory in Marvel’s cinematic universe is unprecedented. Seeing Red doesn’t reduce Karachi to a breeding ground for militant activities but also doesn’t gloss over the chaos of the city. In Ms. Marvel Karachi is a city where Kamala can easily walk the bazaars in a jeans and shirt while also being accosted by knife wielding young men with covered faces.
There will be undoubtedly be a tinge of excitement for every Karachiite who watches this episode and gets to see our well-known landmarks in Kamala’s universe. On her way to Nani’s from the airport, Kamala gets to see Teen Talwar and Frere Hall. The next day, she takes a tour of Saddar with her cousins and eventually ends up at our historic Cantt. Station.
Kamala visits Karachi Cantonment Station
The episode also does a great a job of capturing the experience of being in Karachi beyond just being in the space. It’s peppered with moments that are relatable to us. As Kamala’s plane begins to land and the seatbelt signs turn on, her fellow passengers take it as a cue to start rising from the seats to collect their overhead baggage in a scene that is only too familiar to anyone who’s taken a flight in Pakistan. For the more yuppie audiences, Kamala’s mistake of wearing jeans to Boat Club is one that they’ve amusedly watched their own visiting cousins make. Sharmeen has captured the textures and sounds of this city in a way that captures the chaotic beauty of our beloved city and we’re over the moon about it.
3. The Food
Kamala tries a particularly spicy plate of pani puri
A Marvel superhero eating biryani out of a plastic thaili sitting by a bonfire on the beach. This is such a uniquely Karachi experience that has now forever become a part of the Marvel universe. Seeing Red features several moments like this one that pay ode to the dining experience in Karachi. Being hosted by the Red Daggers, Kamala is treated to Hot & Sour soup which is the fiery red that we’re so used to. Warily, she asks why it’s “so red” and her new friend scoffs at her about Americans whitewashing Chinese food. At lunch with her friend, Kamala sweats profusely as she goes through a particularly spicy serving of pani puri. These are the food that populate the everyday lives of Pakistanis. The redness of our Hot n Sour soups is not something we give another thought to so, needless to say, it’s refreshing to see our cuisine through the eyes of a Marvel superhero visiting Pakistan for the first time.
4. The Actors
Audiences were given a teaser of Fawad Khan’s character in this episode
As Ms. Marvel is progressing, we’re getting to see more of our industry’s faces in the series. In the third episode, we got to see the evolution of Nimra Bucha’s character and Mahwish Hayat made a brief appearance as well. In episode four, we’re finally getting to see Samina Ahmed as Nani, who we’ve getting glimpses of during Kamala’s brief video calls with her. Needless to say, the veteran actress is doing a brilliant job. Samina is equal parts quirky and wise as Nani, and we can’t imagine anyone else playing the role.
Farhan Akhtar also made a cameo as the head of the mysterious Red Daggers. It’s quite thrilling to see the Bollywood actor within a Pakistani setting and the performance speaks to versatility in his craft. Predictably, it is Fawad Khan who stole the show even though his appearance was but a brief shot of a picture of him as Kamala’s great-grandfather. Netizens have been going crazy over this little teaser and we’re equally excited to see him return to the screen after so many years. Ms. Marvel has a truly diverse cast and we love that our actors are getting the recognition they deserve.
