Mind-Blowing Betrayals Revealed: Marvel's Secret Invasion Unveils Shocking Truths

Summary

The Skrull storyline in Secret Invasion fell short of delivering a fulfilling resolution, despite initial promises. Regrettably, the Skrulls continue to find themselves stranded and displaced on Earth, while Nick Fury's actions contradict the reassurances he had given, resulting in unresolved plot threads.

The concept of "trust no one" and possible major Skrull revelations in the show proved to be unnecessary. The main emphasis was on Nick Fury and a small group of characters, and the surprises and revelations lacked a substantial impact. Additionally, the significance of Maria Hill's death was ultimately rendered inconsequential.

In conclusion, Secret Invasion demonstrated that Disney+ shows hold less importance in the overall Marvel Cinematic Universe compared to movies. The majority of the shows' storylines do not significantly influence the overarching narrative.

The Secret Invasion event in the MCU was a monumental disappointment. Despite its $200 million budget, it fell short of expectations and left viewers dissatisfied. The miniseries aimed to be a game-changer, but it became evident that it failed miserably. Poor viewership and dismal Rotten Tomatoes ratings clearly highlighted its shortcomings. Regrettably, this debacle can be attributed to the deceitful nature of the show.

One of the most damaging falsehoods that Secret Invasion unintentionally exposed was the notion that Disney+ shows hold equal importance to Marvel movies. While there is some interconnectedness in terms of storylines and character introductions, Marvel must acknowledge that their audience on Disney+ is considerably smaller than the masses who flock to cinemas for the movies. Consequently, any crucial information conveyed solely on the small screen must be reiterated when these characters transition to the big screen. This begs the question:

Loki has been completely removed from the MCU movies and is considered "dead" in the mainline MCU.

Hawkeye's "Ronin comeuppance" resulted in him being in a similar situation as Endgame left him.

Sam Wilson's transformation into Captain America occurred in the conclusion of Endgame. He grappled with the weight of the responsibility in F&TWS before fully embracing his role as the new Captain America. These shows are not essential for understanding the progression of the overall plot. Even significant revelations like the existence of Hulk's son from Sakaar in She-Hulk are unlikely to receive further explanation in future Marvel productions. WandaVision may be an exception, although its significance was somewhat diminished by Elizabeth Olsen explaining it to Sam Raimi prior to his involvement in Doctor Strange 2, without having watched the show. While there are some interconnected storylines, it is possible to watch the MCU movies without the shows and not miss out on much. The cyclical nature of Secret Invasion, with Nick Fury's conclusion aligning perfectly with his role in The Marvels, follows this same pattern.

The Lie: Secret Invasion Would Wrap Up The Skrull Story

The Reality:

: The Skrull story seemed to take a backseat after Carol Danvers ventured into space vowing to find a new home for the Skrull refugees, with Nick Fury supporting her. Despite a clever but ultimately insignificant appearance by Talos and Soren in Spider-Man: Far From Home, Captain Marvel's notable absence gave the impression that the full Skrull narrative would unfold in Captain Marvel 2, set after the initial movie but before Iron Man. However, this assumption was proven wrong when it was announced that Danvers would make her return in The Marvels, and Secret Invasion was introduced instead. As a result, this highly anticipated Disney+ miniseries event was expected to tie up loose ends and provide a satisfying conclusion for Talos and his people. Surprisingly, this turned out not to be the case.

As previously mentioned, the conclusion of Secret Invasion essentially returns Nick Fury's storyline to its original state prior to the commencement of the event. However, there is one notable change - Fury is now accompanied by his Skrull wife, Priscilla, who is residing with him on SABRE's space station. When examining the significant plot developments in Secret Invasion, the apparent reset becomes even more evident:

Initially, the Skrull find themselves stranded on Earth, despite the assurances of Fury and Captain Marvel regarding protection and a new home. Ultimately, by the conclusion, the Skrull remain trapped on Earth, experiencing dissatisfaction and homelessness.

Fury's broken promise is exposed in Secret Invasion as it is revealed that he utilized the Skrulls' abilities to safeguard Earth. Eventually, Sonya Falsworth convinces the Skrulls to defend Earth, openly stating her intention to employ G'iah and her kind.

Initially, the Skrulls choose to remain hidden, fearing that revealing their true selves would result in persecution. However, as their presence on Earth is discovered, they become the target of a relentless pursuit, forcing them to once again retreat into secrecy.

In Secret Invasion, there is a subplot indicating that Fury will face consequences for his actions against the Skrulls. However, towards the end, the Skrull rebels disappear and Fury escapes without confronting Gravik in the final battle. He justifies this by claiming that his past traumas make him better equipped to protect Earth than the Avengers. However, instead of proving his point, Fury enlists the help of G'iah to carry out his plans, undermining his bold claims as an Avenger.

The events in the story lack lasting impact. Even Fury's apparent murder of Maria Hill, which makes him a wanted man, is never reversed. However, in The Marvels, it is revealed that Fury can return to Earth without consequences and even casually visit Kamala Khan's house. At the conclusion of Secret Invasion, the main unanswered questions revolve around Rhodey's potential Skrull identity (which may only be resolved in Armor Wars) and the unknown intentions of G'iah, with no clear follow-up.

The Lie: Secret Invasion Said "Trust No-One"

The rest of the situation remains mostly unchanged, as director Ali Selim acknowledges that Marvel Studios informed him that regardless of the events that unfold in Secret Invasion, Fury must ultimately return to space. This clarification illuminates why Fury abandons the Skrulls in an even more undesirable predicament than when he initially encountered them at the commencement of Secret Invasion, further strengthening the notion that Disney+ Marvel shows serve, at least in part, to reinforce the timeline of the "mainline" movies.

Similar to the Marvel Comics rendition of Secret Invasion, the captivating aspect of the Skrull invasion lay in the fact that any character within the Marvel Universe could potentially be uncovered as an alien imposter. This chronicle in the comics unveiled that numerous esteemed heroes (and even villains) had been cunningly replaced by Skrull infiltrators, instilling a genuine sense of unease that Secret Invasion skillfully capitalized on. There was even a promotional trailer that echoed the sentiment of "trust no one"...

The Reality:

The focus of Secret Invasion was intentionally narrowed down to Nick Fury and a small group of close allies. This included the introduction of new characters like Emilia Clarke's G'iah and Olivia Colman's Sonya Falsworth. As a result, the concept of "anyone could be a Skrull" became somewhat redundant. Ultimately, the reveals during the storyline didn't have a significant impact, except for the Skrull Raava replacing James Rhodes.

Agent Ross, played by Martin Freeman, was the first character to be exposed, but his inclusion in the story felt forced as his active SHIELD status clashed with his previous involvement in Wakanda within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He transitioned from being a former CIA agent and Deputy Task Force Commander for the Joint Counter Terrorist Centre to inexplicably becoming fully affiliated with SHIELD for the sake of the plot twist.

The Skrull council introduced fresh characters who showcased the concept of Skrulls assuming influential roles, but they lacked familiarity. Eventually, they conveniently disappeared from the narrative once their true identities were unveiled.

Priscilla Fury was a newly introduced character in Secret Invasion, and Fury was aware of her Skrull identity from the beginning.

Apart from that, there were no significant instances where Skrulls were exposed. The Avengers deliberately remained unaware of Secret Invasion, as it was believed that their replacement by Skrulls would be advantageous for the Skrulls to obtain their powers (which was proven impossible later when it was revealed that Fury had taken their DNA and ultimately transferred their powers). Other speculations suggesting that Fury, Maria Hill, or any other individual could be Skrulls, adding to the belief that Skrulls could infiltrate anyone, ultimately led nowhere.

The Lie: Secret Invasion Would Be Nick Fury's Last Stand

Regrettably for Secret Invasion, the major Skrull revelation has been completely debunked. After the finale hinted that Rhodey had been a Skrull since Civil War, fans strongly opposed this idea, deeming it highly improbable and disrespectful to Don Cheadle's MCU journey. This is one drawback of retroactive continuity, as it must genuinely align with established facts. Although there was a slight suggestion in Falcon & The Winter Soldier that Rhodey might be an imposter, the notion that he was not himself in Infinity War and Endgame requires quite a stretch of the imagination to accept. Astute plot twists unveil what you may have overlooked, whereas they do not cheaply declare that everything you knew was a deception without any substantial evidence.

The marketing campaign for Secret Invasion heavily emphasized that it would serve as Nick Fury's ultimate display of prowess, a final opportunity for the mastermind behind the MCU and the Avengers Initiative to demonstrate he still possesses the same uncompromising determination that propelled him through the ranks of SHIELD. The notion of a "last stand" inherently alludes to a definitive conclusion, fueling speculation that Samuel L Jackson may bid farewell to his iconic eyepatch.

The Reality:

Before the commencement of Secret Invasion, Marvel had already spoiled Nick Fury's comeback in The Marvels. In the middle of the season, Marvel released the second trailer for The Marvels, which revealed that Fury would play a significant supporting role and even featured him on the poster. Alongside Ms Marvel, Monica Rambeau, and Captain Marvel, Fury will be actively involved in investigating the sudden connection between their powers and bringing them together. Additionally, while dealing with the Kree threat posed by Zawe Ashton's Dar-Benn, Fury will also navigate the aftermath of Secret Invasion's promise of a peace treaty with the Kree.

Generally speaking, the anticipation surrounding the culmination of Nick Fury's narrative in a grand finale was woefully misdirected. Instead, Fury will persist within the confines of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, unfazed by recent events, stationed anew aboard the SABRE spaceship, and having forsaken the Skrulls yet again.

The Lie: Maria Hill's Death Was IMPORTANT

The most heart-wrenching deception presented by Secret Invasion occurred at the conclusion of episode 1, as Cobie Smulders' character, Maria Hill, met her demise. This shocking turn of events generated a significant amount of speculation regarding her potential return. However, it soon became evident that her death held significance for Nick Fury's narrative and served as the impetus for his quest for vengeance. Director Ali Selim acknowledged this by stating that her demise "provides a deeply personal motivation for Fury, which would not have propelled the story forward if it were more abstract or disconnected from him. Making it personal was a crucial aspect of delving into this tale." Given this perspective, it is almost justifiable that Maria Hill was utilized as a mere plot device. Almost.

The Reality:

However, Maria Hill's death had no impact on the outcome of Secret Invasion, did it? Fury stated that her death fueled his vengeful mission and emphasized in the second to last episode that his personal experiences, including the trauma of losing Hill, uniquely prepared him to defeat Gravik. Cleverly leveraging his identity and past, Fury dismissed the notion that the Avengers were the best choice to confront the Super-Skrull, dismissing the idea that Earth could rely solely on superheroes for protection. Yet, at the start of the finale, Fury appeared to have conveniently forgotten everything he had previously declared.

During the final battle of Secret Invasion, G'iah confronted Gravik after revealing her true identity as Nick Fury. As Gravik activated the Super-Skrull machine, both G'iah and Gravik gained the combined abilities of the Avengers DNA, leading to a comically intense showdown that involved a lot of flexing. G'iah drew strength from her own personal trauma, using it to defeat Gravik, who had killed her parents. This turn of events caused Maria Hill's role to become irrelevant, as Gravik's punishment for her murder was now rendered pointless with G'iah's involvement. Furthermore, G'iah's emergence as Earth's most formidable superhero contradicted Fury's belief that heroes were unnecessary for protecting the planet. It was a remarkable twist that seemed almost unbelievable.