How Ms. Marvel Time Travels At The End Of Episode 4

Warning! SPOILERS for Ms. Marvel episode 4 ahead.

After episode 2 introduced visions of Kamala’s great-grandmother Aisha, Ms. Marvel episode 4’s ending seemed to show Kamala time-traveling back to the past when Aisha first disappeared. Ms. Marvel episode 4 brought Kamala (Iman Vellani) and her mother Muneeba (Zenobia Schroff) to Karachi, Pakistan, pressured by Muneeba’s mother and Kamala’s grandmother, Sana (Samina Ahmed), who had the same train vision Kamala did at the end of Ms. Marvel episode 3. While Muneeba believed the reason for their trip to Karachi to be just visiting family, it proved to be the perfect occasion for Kamala to learn more about the bracelet and its powers granted in Ms. Marvel episode 1.

Kamala’s visions started in Ms. Marvel episode 2 and provided some insights into her family’s connection to the bangle, but when Kamala asked Sana about Aisha (Mehwish Hayat), her grandmother was hesitant to share what she knew. Ms. Marvel episode 4 provided a much-needed talk between Sana and Kamala, with Sana confirming their family’s connection to the Djinn powers evoked by the bangle. During the conversation, she also assuaged Kamala's fears by reminding her that what was important was that the last time those powers were used it was for good, as they saved toddler Sana and reunited her with her father. That night and that train were the same ones from the vision that both Sana and Kamala had at the end of Ms. Marvel episode 3, making Kamala’s presumed time-travel at the end of episode 4 crucial to understanding Kamala’s powers and Aisha’s disappearance.

The time travel was triggered by Najma’s (Nimra Bucha) weapon hitting the bangle, causing a surge of explosive energy. However, rather than it being true time travel to 1947, Kamala simply stepped into the train vision she started to have in Ms. Marvel episode 3. While her previous visions have only provided glimpses into the past and lasted a few seconds, Ms. Marvel episode 4's vision let Kamala interact with her surroundings as if she had truly been transported back in time. Although it could be an option, time travel was never hinted at as one of Kamala's or her great-grandmother Aisha's powers. Instead, the "trail of stars" that brought Sana back to her father describes Ms. Marvel's crystalline energy-based powers that the bangle unlocked in her.

Kamala Khan Ms Marvel Bangle Time Travel

Kamala being transported into the vision rather than back in time is also supported by how her surroundings faded when Najma's weapon hit the bangle. All of Kamala's previous visions had her vision fading and showing her first an unrecognizable figure, then her great-grandmother Aisha, and then the train for Karachi, and in all those instances, the vision's margins were faded. Before Kamala's supposed time travel in Ms. Marvel episode 4, all her surroundings ripped up as Kamala entered the vision, rather than the vision merging into reality as previous ones did.

Another hint that Kamala actually entered into her vision came from what she learned from the Red Daggers’ Waleed (Farhan Akhtar), who not only explained to her how Aisha and the Djinn ClanDestines came from another realm but also translated her bangle’s inscription as “What you seek is seeking you.” The insight Kamala got from Waleed also matched what her grandmother Sana had suggested, that Kamala needed to go to Karachi to understand what the bangle was trying to tell her. Kamala's trip to Karachi certainly provided more information on what the ClanDestines want from her and how helping them will destroy the world. It still hasn't solved the mystery of Aisha's disappearance, however, or the message Aisha and the bangle are trying to convey to Kamala.

More insight into Kamala's powers' origin will be revealed in Ms. Marvel episode 5. As Kamala was transported to 1947’s India during the Partition at the end of Ms. Marvel episode 4, more could be learned about the reasons behind Aisha’s disappearance. Whatever Kamala’s trip might reveal, Ms. Marvel episode 5 will indeed explore the fateful night when Aisha disappeared, hopefully shedding light on Aisha’s complete story and, concurrently, Kamala’s family’s story.

Next: Ms. Marvel Episode 4 MCU Easter Eggs & References

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