Secret Invasion Episode 1-2 Early Review

*The following is a spoiler-free of the first 2 episodes of Secret Invasion. The first episode premieres June 21st on Disney Plus.

The Secret Invasion storyline from Marvel comics was an event as the inevitable adaptation of the storyline, whether it’d be a film or a television series, had a lot to live up to. Adapted into a 6-episode limited series, coming soon to Disney+, there is a lot to instill within a short period of time. Based on the 2 episodes that were made available for critics prior to the premiere, it is off to an impressive start, setting the tone right away. Captain America: The Winter Soldier has been held in such high regard by MCU fans for bringing a much darker tone the table akin to a political thriller. Secret Invasion is another thankful departure in tone along the lines of that film but ratchets up that intensity to 11. A conspiracy thriller without the pageantry of superheroes dominating the screen allows it to deliver a more grounded watch that goes down to the grimy underbelly of the spy world behind-the-scenes of a post-Blip world. Where the series truly excels is its strong character moments through its stellar writing and performances, led by Samuel L. Jackson and Ben Mendelsohn.

Featuring plenty of moving pieces beyond Jackson and Mendelsohn, including an impressive supporting cast, Secret Invasion harnesses them all in a balanced way. Across the first two episodes, viewers can expect a roller coaster ride with twists and turns but suffice it to say that it is just the beginning. With the shape-shifting Skrull element automatically comes a sense of tension, not knowing if characters are who they really are therefore who to trust, and the series also taps into that tension right away. Connecting to the events of 2019’s Captain Marvel. a legion of Skrulls have been living on Earth amongst humans, waiting for the new home Nick Fury (Jackson) had promised them. That symbiotic relationship was not going to last as the tipping point appeared to be Fury’s multi-year absence in space. Feeling abandoned by him, many of those slighted Skrulls banded together under a leader named Gavrik (Kingsley Ben-Adir) who had plans to take matters into his own hands, having his sight set on Earth as the new Skrull home. Working in the open, Gavrik and his rebel soldiers attempted to use human nature to their advantage of by igniting tensions between nations through a series of coordinated terrorist attacks.

Called back from space to help, Fury’s absence ruffled some feathers amongst his inner circle thus adding additional tension beneath the surface. After so much time away, it was clear that he was a much different person than when viewers saw him last as the reason for his absence was yet another mystery to be solved. In addition to that, being older presented its own set of challenges for him to maneuver around but seeing a vulnerable Fury, both physically and emotionally, made for a more compelling watch in the midst of the tense story. The first real showcase of Jackson in the MCU, he made the most out of this opportunity and did not miss a beat. Starting off as a feeling out period for Fury as he adjusted to the world he left behind, the first episode introduces all the players and the playing field in a dynamic way. Unsurprisingly, it did not take him much time to get back into the thick of things as his return did not go unnoticed. Being connected to the Skrulls essentially from the start, this mission had that much more meaning to Fury as he took it personally.

Secret Invasion wasn’t just about Fury and is very much a two-parter involving he and Talos (Mendelsohn). Trying to mind the gap within his own race and keep them safe, he became a victim of that growing divide. As far as Talos and his race were concerned, there was more to that story but he and Fury had their own vested interest in preventing the Skrull uprising before it was too late. Unfortunately, they were left catching up with Gavrik. With the nature of the Skrulls, their circle was narrow which gave them little room to navigate as they risked making themselves targets. The tension-filled journey to apprehend Gravik and uncover his master plan led to twists and turns as the odds increasingly stacked against Fury and Talos. However, they found a possible ally along the way in Talos’ daughter G’iah (Emilia Clarke). That dynamic between she and Talos was added yet another dimension to the stakes. Meanwhile, Colonel James “Rhodey” Rhodes (Don Cheadle) was left torn between his allegiance to Fury and as a representative of the US government.

Amongst the edge-of-your-seat tension was fair share of thrills as the first two episodes had room for action set pieces. The production value was there but ultimately, they were a good way to break up a predominantly character-driven story. Though it isn’t afraid to go to some dark places, it may move slower than some would like. The second episode only raised the stakes as the intensity ratcheted up even higher.

As mentioned, the best part of Secret Invasion was Jackson’s performance as Fury. The series was the first true showcase of his abilities. A testament to his range, this Fury showed a more vulnerable side as he held the baggage of his past so tightly over the course of what was a personal mission for him. He also showed his age underneath his gruff exterior. All of those helped inform what was arguably his most compelling turn so far as Fury. Mendelsohn brought some depth to Talos though in a way that was maybe less showy than Jackson, who got more character development in the first two episodes, but he still had his moments. The chemistry between Jackson and Mendelsohn was another highlight. Ben-Adir offers promise, using his screen presence to make Gravik into a menacing villain. The biggest surprise casting was Olivia Colman, however, she was a scene-stealer as Sonya Falsworth who was basically the MI6 equivalent of Nick Fury.

In the end, Secret Invasion sees the MCU leans towards a darker tone and gets gritty with perhaps its boldest project yet. A thrilling change of pace, it paves the way for more darker MCU content.

still courtesy of Marvel Studios

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Keith Noakes

The EIC of the coincidentally-named keithlovesmovies.com. A Canadian who prefers to get out of the cold and into the warmth of a movie theatre.