WARNING: This article contains spoilers for Secret Invasion.
Secret Invasion has faced significant criticism from the start. The show received backlash when it was revealed that Marvel had utilized AI to design Secret Invasion's title sequence, which was seen as a direct insult to the creative industry. Despite its promising setup, fans were ultimately let down by Secret Invasion's finale, resulting in a wave of negative feedback.
As of now, Secret Invasion's final episode holds the unfortunate title of being the lowest-rated MCU TV episode to date. The finale currently stands at a dismal 13% on Rotten Tomatoes, a shockingly low score even when compared to Marvel's recent disappointments. Viewers attribute the failure of the finale to its extremely poor pacing, asserting that the show feels excessively hurried. This has reignited discussions about a perceived decline in Marvel's overall quality.
Why did the series feel so rushed?
When Secret Invasion premiered, fans anticipated hour-long episodes based on the first two episodes. The first episode ran for 55 minutes, and the second episode for 58 minutes. However, from then on, the episodes progressively became shorter, leading to a significant decline in the show's overall quality.
Disappointingly, Secret Invasion's finale concluded within a brief 38-minute timeframe, causing fans to attribute its failure to this short duration. Since the airing of the finale, fans have expressed their frustrations on social media, arguing that 38 minutes were insufficient to properly wrap up the series. Consequently, the finale feels incredibly rushed, leaving fans with numerous unanswered questions and glaring inconsistencies in the plot.
The show's entire premise built up to the fight against Gravik, the Skrull leader. However, due to the finale's short running time, this highly anticipated fight scene only lasted around 6 minutes, greatly aggravating fans. The rushed fight scene has led audiences to argue that the show's payoff was non-existent. Ultimately, fans are frustrated with the lack of effort put into handling Secret Invasion. The finale failed to hold any significance, highlighting the show's rushed narrative and poor pacing.
Before the release of Secret Invasion's first episode, fans eagerly anticipated Nick Fury's return to the screen. The initial hype surrounding the show had audiences eagerly counting down the days until its release. Based on the esteemed 2008 Marvel Comics of the same name, Secret Invasion was set to focus on significant MCU characters like agent Maria Hill and boasted a star-studded cast including Emilia Clarke, Olivia Coleman, and Kingsley Ben-Adir - making it hard not to love. However, since the release of the show's finale, audiences agree that Secret Invasion squandered its fantastic cast due to rushed plotlines and poor writing. From the beginning, Secret Invasion disappointingly eliminates a beloved MCU character with the sudden death of Maria Hill in the first episode.
Why are fans disappointed by Secret Invasion’s finale?
Fans are asserting that the final episode of the show fell short of expectations, leaving Secret Invasion as a disappointment. The rushed pace of the finale is being criticized, with audiences claiming that it undermined the importance of the episode. Furthermore, some viewers found the anticipated fight scene to be dull and lacking depth.
Even the show's main twist, Rhodey's revelation as a Skrull, has faced backlash. Audiences argue that this weakened the beloved character and tarnished his past contributions to the MCU, such as his involvement in Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. Ultimately, viewers feel that the entire premise of the show was pointless and did not bring anything significant to the MCU.
The finale of Secret Invasion disappointed fans by not including a post-credit scene, despite its short 38-minute run time. Many believe that this missed opportunity could have been used to set up Marvel's upcoming movie, The Marvels. The poorly received finale has reopened discussions about past controversies surrounding Marvel. One key criticism has been the visual effects, particularly during the fight scene in the finale. Fans argue that the CGI was of poor quality, which is concerning considering the high budget of $212 million allocated to Secret Invasion. Marvel has faced previous criticism for its visual effects, with even Taika Waititi, the director of Thor: Love and Thunder, poking fun at the company's weak CGI. This criticism also highlights the ongoing debate about Marvel's treatment of their VFX artists and the apparent rush to produce content.
Marvel's excessive production of hastily made content has garnered a significant amount of negative feedback, ultimately driving fans away from the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). This trend is further exemplified by Secret Invasion. Nonetheless, the influx of new MCU content shows no signs of slowing down. Loki Season 2, the latest Disney+ series from Marvel, is set to debut in October 2023. However, given the immensely positive response to the show's first season, fans are eager for it to avoid the same pitfalls as Secret Invasion. Stream Secret Invasion on Disney+.