Secret Invasion's Jaw-Dropping Finale: A Must-Watch Showstopper!

Highlights

Rather than demonstrating the true extent of Gravik's villainous actions, the show tends to rely heavily on exposition, constantly emphasizing the severity of the Skrull threat without truly showcasing it to the viewers.

The deaths of Maria Hill and Talos were major mistakes that had negative effects. Hill's death diminished her importance as a female hero from Phase 1, and Talos' death lacked emotional depth and was not adequately explored in Fury's character development. In theory, Marvel's Secret Invasion had great potential. It was set to adapt one of the comics' most impactful storylines with a generous budget. The star-studded cast including Olivia Coleman, Emilia Clarke, Don Cheadle, and Samuel L. Jackson in supporting roles raised expectations. Alongside these acclaimed actors, the Secret Invasion miniseries aimed to bring the spy-thriller story to life and explore the personal impact of Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame on individual characters in a unique way. However, Secret Invasion ultimately failed to live up to its potential and fell short of becoming a significant project in recent MCU history.

With each release of a new Secret Invasion episode, the anticipation from fans has steadily diminished. The first episode, titled "Resurrection," initially generated excitement and held promise for the rest of the series. It effectively established the world in which these street-level heroes operate, successfully reintroducing Marvel's political spy-thriller genre to fans who craved a departure from the cosmic sagas and interdimensional pandemonium of recent years. However, the buzz surrounding Secret Invasion seemed to fizzle out after the pilot episode. As the series approaches its conclusion with only one episode remaining, it appears that it may ultimately fail to deliver on its initial potential, concluding with a lackluster note.

How has Secret Invasion missed the mark so far?

The tension in Secret Invasion is lacking, which is crucial for a show of this magnitude to thrive. The premise itself presents ample opportunity for dramatic tension: a group of shape-shifting aliens have successfully infiltrated Earth's most influential positions with the intention of transforming the planet into their own and residing amidst the destruction they create. In the comics, the Skrulls embark on this plan driven by a warped belief in manifest destiny. However, the show, serving as a sort of sequel to the events in 2019's Captain Marvel, chooses to depict this group as refugees from a lost planet who have remained stranded on Earth since the 90s, patiently awaiting Fury and Carol Danvers to secure them a new home elsewhere.

The show effectively portrays the intentions of this group separately from their simplistic comic origins, offering them a sympathetic motivation. However, the extensive focus on differentiating Good Skrulls from Bad Skrulls detracts from the more enticing aspects of the show. It is expected that every character aware of the Skrull threat would struggle with profound paranoia. Surprisingly, however, nobody seems particularly concerned that those around them could be Skrulls. There is an odd apathy towards the more terrifying elements of the narrative. While this can be justified to some degree for someone like Fury, who has had substantial experience with Skrulls, there are other characters who should be more alarmed.

Secret Invasion relies heavily on exposition rather than visual demonstration. Characters repeatedly emphasize the devastating threat posed by Gravik (portrayed by Kingsley Ben-Adir), and his Skrull faction, and the potential collapse of society if Gravik succeeds. Unfortunately, viewers are given few glimpses of the true severity of Gravik's threat. The deaths of Maria Hill and Talos, while significant, fail to adequately convey the magnitude of the danger.

The untimely deaths of Hill and Talos were a regrettable decision. Hill's demise in the first episode served as a means to emphasize the new villain's threat and motivate Fury into action. As the sole remaining Phase 1 female hero introduced in The Avengers back in 2012, killing off Hill for the sake of Old Man Fury and a character created solely for this series was a major narrative misstep, especially considering Hill's confirmed appearance in The Marvels this autumn. Her demise should never have occurred in this manner.

Similarly, Talos' death occurred prematurely. His demise at the hands of Gravik in the fourth episode quickly diminished any emotional impact it could have had. While Samuel L. Jackson delivered an outstanding performance in that scene, the ease with which Fury brushes off the loss of his lifelong best friend feels too effortless. Audiences are not witnessing the toll these losses are taking on Fury as he transitions from one partner to another (now collaborating with Olivia Coleman's character following Talos' passing).

How could the finale change the audience's perception of the show?

With only one episode remaining in Secret Invasion, it seems unlikely that the failing spy-thriller can be redeemed. The tension that should have been building throughout the series needs a significant payoff to change the minds of the viewers who have endured the first five episodes. However, Secret Invasion does have some redeeming qualities. The exceptional cast delivers impeccable performances, particularly in the more human moments of the show. Olivia Coleman stands out, injecting much-needed levity into a series that has been dragging since the second episode. The Skrull visual effects are impressive, although they fall short when it comes to the Super Skrulls. Despite these positives, the show seems to have given up on its narrative after the first episode, and these elements are not enough to save it.

The most compelling outcome for the Secret Invasion finale would be for the heroes to lose. In the fifth episode, Fury makes a mysterious phone call, signaling that it is time for someone to intervene. Whether it is Maria Hill or Talos, or even the introduction of fan-favorite Daisy Johnson as a surprise heavy-hitter in the MCU, Fury still needs to face defeat. This does not mean that Gravik should succeed in wiping out humanity through a nuclear war, but he should come close enough that Fury is unable to easily fix the situation within the confines of a 45-minute episode.

Secret Invasion's finale streams Wednesday, July 26.