WARNING: This article contains spoilers for Secret Invasion. The latest episode of the show introduced a major twist in the MCU, but it received a negative response from fans. Secret Invasion revolves around Nick Fury's discovery that shape-shifting Skrulls have been infiltrating Earth and assuming the identities of important figures. These aliens have been a familiar threat in the MCU, but Secret Invasion intensifies the danger they pose.
What makes the show particularly unsettling is the fact that anyone could be a Skrull, even beloved characters from the MCU. In the first episode, the audience learns that Everett Ross (played by Martin Freeman), a long-standing character in the MCU, is actually a secret Skrull. However, this revelation is just the beginning of the dramatic twists that Secret Invasion has in store.
Who was revealed to be a Skrull?
In the latest installment of Secret Invasion, it was revealed that James “Rhodey” Rhodes (Don Cheadle) has been a Skrull for an unknown period of time. Cheadle has been a part of the MCU since 2010, making his debut as Rhodey in Iron Man 2. Since then, Rhodey has become a respected and important character in the MCU. This is precisely why Kevin Feige chose him for the Skrull reveal in Secret Invasion.
In an interview with Marvel, Feige explained that they wanted a character that would be unexpected as a Skrull. He also mentioned that Don was enthusiastic about portraying this other side of Rhodey and revealing that he had been replaced by a Skrull. However, this twist has not been well received by fans.
Why are fans let down by this reveal?
Fans have harbored suspicions about Rhodey since his debut in Secret Invasion. Throughout the show's first episode, there have been numerous indications that Rhodey has been behaving strangely. One notable clue was when he casually referred to Nick Fury as 'Nick' before dismissing him from his position as head of S.A.B.E.R. In Captain Marvel, we saw Fury strongly object to being addressed by his first name, making it highly unlikely that Rhodey would disrespect him in such a manner. Over the past few days, fans have accused Marvel of excessively emphasizing Rhodey's Skrull persona. The inclusion of such obvious hints has diminished the surprise of Rhodey's reveal, as fans anticipated this so-called twist for weeks.
Viewers are also disturbed by the fact that we don't know how long Rhodey has actually been a Skrull. However, Kevin Feige has hinted at the possibility that this beloved MCU character hasn't been himself for quite some time. In the same interview, Feige stated that fans will "understand exactly how long he's been a Skrull for." Additionally, he mentioned that they like the idea of fans revisiting Rhodey's previous appearances and realizing that it wasn't really him. As fans may recall, Rhodey briefly appeared in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Despite the brevity of his appearance, Rhodey exhibited suspicious behavior during his interaction with Sam Wilson. Feige's recent statement seems to confirm what fans suspected all along – that Rhodey was never himself during his involvement in the 2021 series.
Fans are expressing concern about the possibility of Rhodey's Skrull identity existing prior to the current revelation. Feige admitted that when they initially pitched the concept to Don, it was still in its early stages, suggesting that Rhodey could have turned into a Skrull at any point during his appearances in the MCU. This is troubling for fans, as Rhodey played significant roles in highly regarded Marvel films such as Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame. If it is ultimately revealed that Rhodey was actually a Skrull during these moments, it would greatly disappoint audiences. Many fans have already taken to social media to express their concerns, fearing that this twist in Secret Invasion could ruin their beloved MCU memories.
Additionally, fans have criticized the timing of Rhodey's Skrull reveal. Secret Invasion has struggled to attract a large audience, as evidenced by the recent figures showing that the first episode only garnered 994,000 viewers. This makes it the second least-watched Marvel TV series, just above the disappointing premiere of Ms. Marvel. Despite the show's substantial $212 million budget, it has failed to captivate a dedicated audience. Secret Invasion has faced various criticisms, such as its use of AI and its questionable treatment of female characters, exemplified by the backlash following Maria Hill's sudden death in the first episode. Some fans believe that this twist would have had a stronger impact if it had occurred closer to the events of Avengers: Endgame. Many viewers agree that the Multiverse storyline has overcomplicated the MCU, resulting in a loss of interest in Marvel. This likely explains why Rhodey's Skrull reveal did not achieve the desired shock value.
The dramatic reveal of Secret Invasion has been affected by the growing trend of 'Marvel fatigue'. In recent years, Marvel has faced criticism for continuously releasing low-quality content, causing fans to struggle to keep up with their constant stream of releases. As a result, Secret Invasion has not been able to capture a large audience. Despite the intriguing development of Rhodey's Skrull reveal, the audience's recent reactions indicate that Marvel needs to make significant improvements for the rest of its fifth phase. Watch Secret Invasion on Disney+ now, with new episodes releasing weekly.
