Mind-Blowing Easter Eggs and Hidden References in Secret Invasion Episode 6!

Spoilers Ahead: Secret Invasion Episode 6, titled "Home," concludes the Disney Plus limited series with an explosive finale. The long-awaited clash between Gravik and Nick Fury reaches its climax as Fury seeks to put an end to the Skrull rebel leader once and for all. With a countdown in place, Fury races against time to prevent President Ritson from attacking Russia while Gravik's ultimate goal is the destruction of humanity. Amidst the tension, numerous Easter eggs are cleverly revealed.

In line with previous episodes, "Home" primarily pays homage to the wider Marvel Cinematic Universe rather than delving into Marvel comic book Easter eggs. However, the finale takes this to another level, with an abundance of callbacks crammed into a single sequence. Such an amalgamation of character references may make it challenging for viewers to catch them all.

A Very Different Shot Of Nick Fury

Fans have long observed that trailers for Marvel Cinematic Universe projects often include unused footage or scenes that don't make it into the final product. These omissions can occur due to editing decisions or because certain shots are deliberately included to mislead viewers and avoid spoilers. This latter approach is the case for Secret Invasion.

In the Secret Invasion trailer, there is a particular sequence where Nick Fury confidently enters the buildings of New Skrullos in good health. However, this portrayal is in direct contrast to how he actually appears during his confrontation with Gravik in the series. In reality, G’iah, disguised as a radiation-affected Nick Fury in New Skrullos, stumbles, trembles, and coughs her way towards this encounter. This drastically different presentation of Nick Fury serves to build a unique kind of tension for the audience, therefore it makes perfect sense that it wasn't revealed in the trailer.

The Harvest Includes More MCU Characters Than Just The Avengers

Gravik analyzes the harvested DNA from the Harvest and confirms that it contains DNA from some of the Avengers. The computer goes through the labeling process, listing all the DNA present in the Harvest. Notable Avengers such as Captain America, Hulk, Thor, Valkyrie, Korg, the Winter Soldier, and Captain Marvel are among those identified. Additionally, DNA from members of the Guardians of the Galaxy, including Gamora, Drax, and Mantis, is also included. Surprisingly, there are several other DNA samples from various MCU characters included in the Harvest.

In episode 5, Nick Fury discusses the Harvest and gives the impression that only Avengers were targeted for DNA collection by his team of Skrull spies following the Battle for Earth. However, this is not the case. The DNA analysis reveals that along with Avengers, the collected DNA also includes that of Cull Obsidian, Frost Beast, and Flora Colossus, which the Skrulls already had access to. Furthermore, DNA from several other MCU characters is also part of the Harvest.

The Harvest includes Corvus Glaive, Thanos, Outrider, Proxima Midnight, Ebony Maw, and Chitauri. These characters make sense to be included since they were also present during the Battle for Earth, albeit fighting against the Avengers. Interestingly, two additional characters, Ghost and Abomination, who were never explicitly mentioned in the battle, are also included in the Harvest. Ghost, also known as Ava Starr, is a young woman whose DNA was modified during a fatal experiment that claimed her parents' lives. Previously employed as an assassin by SHIELD, they attempted to stabilize her phasing abilities. The audience last saw Ghost evading authorities in Ant-Man and the Wasp. The Pym family temporarily stabilized her with energy from the Quantum Realm, but she hasn't been seen since they vanished during the Blip. However, she is expected to make an appearance in the upcoming Thunderbolts movie.

Abomination, conversely, has been held in custody ever since the incidents portrayed in The Incredible Hulk. Emil Blonsky was last witnessed in She-Hulk: Attorney At Law, and it is evidently stated that magic was utilized to liberate him from custody on several occasions, even enabling him to participate in an illegal cage match depicted in Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings. Neither the Abomination nor Ghost have ever been referenced as being recruited to join the battle against Thanos and his forces. Nonetheless, owing to their affiliation with government agencies, it is plausible that their genetic material might have already been stored somewhere, granting Fury the means to incorporate it into his concoction of super-DNA.

Abilities Used In Gravik And G’iah’s Fight

Inside the machine for Super Skrull creation, Gravik and G’iah intertwine as Gravik triggers the utilization of DNA from the Harvest. This enables G’iah to gain the advantage and ultimately slay him. Throughout their battle, their shapeshifting prowess becomes evident as they showcase their respective abilities.

The characters not only switch between their human and Skrull forms, but their limbs and skin patterns also transform to replicate the powers gained from the DNA in the Harvest. Examples include Abomination's altered skin, Hulk's changed arm, Drax's modified arm, Mantis' transformed antennae, Korg's modified limbs, the Frost Beast's icy abilities, and the glowing effect of Extremis. While the series does not fully explore all the Black Widow references made, it does deliver on the mentions of Captain Marvel, as both G'iah and Gravik emit a Carol Danvers-like glow when utilizing her abilities to fly or harness energy.

Additionally, Gravik demonstrates telekinetic powers akin to Ebony Maw while also incorporating the abilities of several others. This results in partial skin changes for Gravik, whereas G'iah, who utilizes Ava Starr's phasing abilities, retains her human appearance, implying a human DNA connection.

James Rhodes In A Hospital Gown

When G’iah sets free the humans imprisoned in New Skrullos, James Rhodes and Everett Ross are awakened. Ross notices that Rhodes appears more tired and unstable compared to the others, raising questions about how long he has been captive. Rhodes' appearance further supports this, as he is seen wearing a hospital gown when being led out of the fracking pod and into a car. This suggests that Rhodes may have been taken by the Skrulls while he was still in the hospital, possibly after his surgery to repair his spinal injury from a fall during Captain America: Civil War. If this is true, then it means that the James Rhodes who aided the remaining Avengers during the Blip and fought against Thanos might have been a Skrull. This presents a plot hole regarding Gravik's lack of access to the Avengers' DNA and makes the farewell between Tony Stark and James Rhodes even more poignant.

“One-Term President Stuff”

President Ritson's decision to declare a full-scale war against extraterrestrial beings on Earth certainly raises concerns, not just for Nick Fury but for others as well. Sonya Falsworth sees this as an opportunity to align herself with G'iah, who is believed to be the most powerful entity on the planet. Moreover, this decision does not sit well with those who have already embraced the presence of Asgardians and Skrulls on Earth.

Fury's response to Ritson's speech hints at the idea that the President is seeking a second term in office, and also provides an explanation as to why he is not portrayed as President in Thunderbolts. Instead, the character of President Thaddeus Ross, played by Harrison Ford, assumes that role in the Thunderbolts storyline.

Peace Talks With The Kree

During their conversation, Nick Fury discloses to Varra that his departure from Earth is not just a personal choice, but rather a mission for peace. He reveals his involvement in peace negotiations with the Kree, which is likely the purpose of his presence in space in The Marvels, where another Kree member is expected to be the main antagonist.

The Kree, who previously invaded and seized control of the Skrull homeworld, are known to have convinced Carol Danvers of her non-human identity and are perceived as a more hostile force compared to the Skrulls. The Kree have made appearances in other parts of the MCU such as the Guardians of the Galaxy films, and they have also served as antagonists in Agents of SHIELD, although the exact placement of this series within the current MCU timeline remains a topic of debate.

Secret Invasion is available to stream on Disney Plus.