5. Ms. Marvel (Disney+: 2022)
Ms. Marvelis a superhero origin story that isn’t really concerned about superhero-ing. That occasionally resulted in a bit of confusion for viewers, but the upside was a show that’s more about family, belonging, and the notion of home. Not only did it give the sort of Muslim representation that’s rarely seen on television—nuanced and showing Islam as something joyful—it also examined the India-Pakistan Partition and its long-lasting effects, which are rarely talked about in pop culture. This was a show about Kamala Khan (perfectly portrayed by the charming Iman Vellani) trying to unearth her past so she could forge her future, and doing that within a beautiful and supportive community. And it was also perfectly cast. There wasn’t a weak link among the actors. Simply put, Ms. Marvel is a lot of fun and has the best soundtrack of any Marvel outing we’ve seen so far. [Sarah Shaffi]
