Secret Invasion: The Groundbreaking Marvel Series that Exceeds All Expectations

Summary

Secret Invasion disappoints by isolating the Skrulls from most of the beloved MCU characters and weakening its own protagonist, Nick Fury.

The show fails to capitalize on the potential of including the Avengers DNA subplot, a missed opportunity that could have been a game-changer in a post-credits scene of Avengers: Endgame. This could have paved the way for an intriguing Secret Invasion storyline throughout Phase 4.

Unfortunately, Secret Invasion fell short due to its numerous plot holes and problematic twists, leaving viewers unsatisfied. Additionally, the show underutilized characters and left important questions unanswered. By centering the narrative around Nick Fury, the show limited its scope and creative possibilities.

Secret Invasion, the Nick Fury-led adaptation of the essential Marvel Comics event, has become the worst MCU TV show, raising questions about where it went wrong. The show's strange decisions, including the divisive AI credits scene and the comparatively muted reaction to its massive revelations, contribute to its frustrating experience. Even as it introduces major twists like the Avengers DNA twist, Secret Invasion fails to live up to expectations.

Based on Brian Michael Bendis' 2008 crossover event, Secret Invasion takes place decades after the events of Captain Marvel and brings back Samuel L Jackson's Nick Fury for "one last fight" on Earth. However, this promise is undermined by The Marvels, which features a clearly alive Nick Fury and hints from Jackson himself that the Captain Marvel sequel follows Secret Invasion in the complex MCU timeline. This undermines any real sense of dramatic tension and adds to the disappointments of the show.

Secret Invasion Had HUGE Potential

Bendis' original Secret Invasion comic event was extremely transformative due to its simple yet devastating concept: the possibility that anyone could have been replaced by a Skrull impostor, regardless of their status as a founding Avenger, a top-tier hero, a leader of the Inhumans, or even a Hollywood icon. The intense fear and paranoia that this narrative invoked perfectly suited the vast playground of characters involved. However, the Disney+ adaptation took a contrasting approach by limiting the involvement of Skrulls to only 5% of the existing heroes in the MCU, disregarding the immense potential of the original story.

This decision was supported by an explanation within the universe: it was Nick Fury's personal story. Fury had made a promise to the Skrulls that he would secure a planet for them to live freely in their true forms. Instead, Fury exploited the situation to his advantage, utilizing a group of Skrulls, led by Ben Mendelsohn's Talos, as his personal spies who were seamlessly integrated into the MCU as the key to his every success. In doing so, the MCU Secret Invasion not only discarded its most compelling aspect but also undermined its own hero.

Secret Invasion Should Have Been Bigger

The missed opportunity of the Avengers DNA subplot reveal in Secret Invasion is widely considered to be the most significant downfall of this adaptation. In an alternate universe, this reveal could have been saved for the post-credits scene of Avengers: Endgame, unveiling the shocking truth that Skrulls were responsible for harvesting the DNA. This revelation could have set up a compelling Secret Invasion storyline throughout Phase 4, featuring Skrull replacements and ultimately leading to a full-fledged Avengers movie. It's important to acknowledge that judging something based on what it could have been rather than what it actually is may seem unfair, but in the case of Secret Invasion, it is nearly impossible not to lament the missed opportunities.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has transformed one of the most significant comic book crossovers into a confined and narrow story, excessively focused on Nick Fury. Instead of engaging the audience with the question of "who can you trust?", the narrative revolves solely around Samuel L. Jackson's morally ambiguous Avengers founder. As a result of the MCU's interpretation, the potential grand scale of the storyline is deliberately diminished. Familiar storylines from both the comics and the MCU are recycled, ultimately limiting the impact of the adaptation.

Hydra did infiltration first in The Winter Soldier

The MCU has done unsettled refugees several times

We've seen the post-superheroes "who watches the watchmen" line even more times

The Super-Skrulls are from Fantastic Four

The concept of benevolent outsiders seeking integration versus malevolent ones seeking to destroy humanity is borrowed from the X-Men franchise. However, the execution of this idea in Secret Invasion lacks the anticipated novelty and originality. Even though the creators intended for it to defy conventional expectations, it falls short in delivering a truly groundbreaking adaptation. This issue could have been resolved by transforming Secret Invasion into a multi-project Avengers-level event that interconnects various storylines and leads to a significant crossover.

Secret Invasion Is Full Of Plot-Holes & Issues

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Secret Invasion promised to deliver a gripping and tightly woven story on a smaller scale, akin to The Winter Soldier rather than The Avengers. Unfortunately, upon closer examination, the plot's flaws become impossible to ignore. Gravik's plan to conquer Earth lacks logical coherence, making him appear incompetent. The story relentlessly moves from one twist to the next, resolving them in a way that may create initial excitement but feels empty upon further scrutiny. With the exception of one surprise, everything feels disappointingly predictable.

While the revelations of Rhodey as a Skrull spy and the Avengers DNA twist are explosive, they fail to reach their full potential. The handling of the former is problematic and illogical, as the Skrulls fail to utilize Rhodey's replacement in any significant way. The latter twist feels detached from the overall story, as if it belongs to a larger narrative. Characters like Olivia Colman's Sonya Falsworth and the Skrull Council are underutilized, despite having great potential. Each plot twist raises more questions than it answers, with key characters like Maria Hill, Martin Freeman's Agent Ross, and Rhodey being disregarded for the sake of dramatic shocks. Astonishingly, their superhero allies barely bat an eye at their absence.

Fundamentally,

Secret Invasion Is Overshadowed By Its Own Avengers Problem

was a clever decision, placing Nick Fury at the core of this narrative. However, it now appears functional rather than innovative, merely serving as a tactic to streamline Secret Invasion's scope and budget, rather than a method to heighten intrigue. Additionally, the show has neglected to provide an explanation for Fury's continued presence. Initially, Gravik desired his suffering, then his death (so why not seize any of the numerous opportunities to kill him), and later, we were informed that he was needed alive to obtain the Avengers DNA. Consequently, Fury has transformed into three distinct plot devices within his own story. The final twist leads to the tragic realization that had the Avengers been involved and the secret DNA revealed, Fury's role would have been exponentially more intricate and captivating.

A commonly raised critique of the MCU is its tendency to prioritize maintaining its identity as part of the Marvel universe, often at the expense of originality or embracing the best concepts available. However, Moon Knight stands out as a potential exception, with the possibility that its unconventional approach might lead to a narrative dead-end. In a rare departure, Secret Invasion would have benefited from fully immersing itself as an MCU crossover event, eliminating the need for constant explanations as to why the Avengers are absent.

Initially, the Avengers were excluded because Fury wanted to prevent the Skrulls from replacing any of them. However, it was later revealed that they had unwittingly replaced Rhodey, implying that he was always a subpar Avenger. Additionally, Fury kept them out because he feared their anger upon discovering he had taken their DNA for undisclosed reasons. Eventually, it became clear that Fury believed he alone possessed the ability to save Earth due to his personal history and trauma. Apparently, the hardships he had faced in life provided him with a protective shield that could withstand Extremis, super-strength, and other powerful abilities.

Ultimately, Secret Invasion goes to great lengths to argue that it didn't require the presence of the Avengers, while also attempting to address the plot hole of their absence. However, this effort falls short when Nick Fury's assassination of Maria Hill is broadcast worldwide, the President narrowly escapes death, and the planet teeters on the brink of a global war. These events make one question whether the Avengers simply don't care. In trying to address the Avengers' role, Secret Invasion only magnifies the problem, reminding everyone of what could have been.