Ms. Marvel, the first Marvel show to headline a Muslim girl, is the franchise’s most critically acclaimed series.

Ms. Marvel, the first Marvel show to headline a Muslim girl, is the franchise’s most critically acclaimed series. When the show first aired in June, it was attacked by one-star reviews, many from “men over the age of 30” that criticized the diversity. But in the weeks since, audiences have embraced the series for representing South Asian American culture and the Muslim community, and it has become one of the highest rated Marvel series. Ms. Marvel tells the story of a Pakistani-American teenager who inherits superpowers and discovers her family’s mystical origins and history, which are tied to real-world events. The show’s depiction of both modern Muslim life along with authentic Indian and Pakistan history has resonated with viewers, and reportedly sparked conversations in South Asian families about their own history, which “Hollywood has rarely visualized.” YPulse’s Representation in Action trend report found 83% of young people say that diversity and inclusion is important to them, and 85% agree “TV shows / movies should make an effort to represent all races.” (NBC, Wired)