The Unbelievable Blunders: Unraveling the 12 Most Shocking Plot Holes in Secret Invasion

Summary

Secret Invasion created numerous plot holes and unanswered questions that hurt the overall viewing experience.

The series attracted numerous popular actors, but received backlash due to its weak writing, slow pace, and implausible storyline. The Skrulls' convoluted scheme for global control was unnecessary, and the show neglected significant plot details, leading to fan dissatisfaction.

Marvel Studios' Secret Invasion received mixed reviews and left many unanswered questions. The series, which aired from June 21 to July 26, 2023, was criticized for its divisive storyline and controversial final episode. Despite featuring a talented cast, including Samuel L. Jackson and Emilia Clarke, the writing, pacing, and overall coherence of the plot were called into question. The series introduced plot holes that may need to be addressed in future Marvel Studios projects.

12 Replaced Humans Would Have Been Exposed To Radiation In New Skrullos

During Secret Invasion, it was discovered that a million Skrulls had infiltrated Earth by assuming human identities. As a result, a million human bodies were kept in stasis while the Skrulls took over their lives. The individuals who were replaced by the rebellious faction of Skrulls led by Gravik were held captive in New Skrullos, an underground facility located in an abandoned Russian nuclear plant. It was revealed that these captive humans were exposed to high levels of radiation, as acknowledged by Gravik during his invitation to Nick Fury. The long-term consequences of this radiation exposure on the captive humans were not addressed in the events of Secret Invasion.

11 The Skrulls Could Have Moved To Thanos' Garden Planet

The Skrull rebellion sought to seize control of Earth when Nick Fury and Carol Danvers failed to fulfill their promise of finding a new home for the Skrull refugees in the aftermath of the events in Captain Marvel (2019). The extent of Fury and Danvers' efforts to locate a suitable planet for the Skrulls remains uncertain, although one viable option has already been portrayed in the MCU: Thanos' Garden, as depicted in Avengers: Endgame. With its capacity to support life, absence of dangerous creatures, and awe-inspiring landscape, Thanos' Garden presented a tranquil sanctuary for the Skrulls. Despite having knowledge of this planet's existence, Captain Marvel took no action to relocate the Skrulls there.

10 Gravik & The Rebellion Kept Leaving Dead Skrulls Everywhere

Gravik's plan to claim Earth as a home for the Skrulls was riddled with flaws and overly complicated. One of its major setbacks was Gravik's lack of effort in concealing the Skrull's role in the devastation. His plan revolved around instigating conflict between Russia and the United States, with the hope of provoking World War III. However, as Skrulls disguised themselves as both Americans and Russians, they were killed in battle and exposed in their true alien form. This blatant evidence would have clearly indicated that neither the Americans nor the Russians were responsible for the attacks, but rather an insidious extraterrestrial species.

9 G'iah Is Too Overpowered After Secret Invasion's Finale

In Secret Invasion episode 5, After the Harvest was introduced, a vial containing the collective DNA of numerous MCU characters. Utilizing this serum, Gravik and G'iah transformed themselves into Super Skrulls during Secret Invasion's finale. A colossal CGI battle unfolds, wherein G'iah eliminates Gravik with her newfound abilities, which include powers derived from the likes of the Hulk, Ghost, Mantis, and Captain Marvel. G'iah's astonishing assortment of newfound powers positions her as the most incredibly empowered hero in the MCU. Marvel Studios will need to address this significant advantage in future battles, as her participation would provide an incomprehensible edge to the MCU's heroes.

8 The Skrulls Replacing Rhodey Doesn't Make Sense

One of the major surprises of Secret Invasion occurred when James "Rhodey" Rhodes, also known as War Machine, was unmasked as the Skrull Raava. It remains unclear when Raava began impersonating Rhodey, possibly after the events of Captain America: Civil War. The choice of Rhodey as the Skrull imposter has caused some confusion, as it would have made more strategic sense for the Skrulls to replicate a more prominent member of the Avengers, such as Sam Wilson's Captain America, Natasha Romanoff's Black Widow, or even Nick Fury himself. Though the substitution of Rhodey may seem inconsequential, it will undoubtedly be further explored in Marvel Studios' upcoming Armor Wars.

7 Nick Fury Could Have Ended The Skrull Rebellion By Calling The Avengers

One of the most puzzling aspects of Secret Invasion was Nick Fury's unwavering belief that the Avengers should not be called upon for assistance. Despite the imminent threat posed by the Skrull rebellion, which posed a danger to all humanity, Fury stubbornly insisted on confronting the uprising alone. He made no effort to reach out to his superhuman allies, even after it became apparent that a Skrull had infiltrated the Avengers' ranks. In Marvel Comics' Secret Invasion event, countless heroes from the Marvel Universe banded together to combat the Skrulls. Marvel Studios, however, curiously chose to entirely omit any portrayal of superhero action in their rendition, a decision that left fans perplexed.

6 Gravik's Plan Was Far Too Complicated

5 Aliens Are Already Living Peacefully On Earth, So Why Can't The Skrulls?

The Secret Invasion suffered from a glaring plot hole regarding the Skrull rebellion's strategy for world domination. In their quest to control the Earth, Gravik and his warriors cleverly disguised themselves as American terrorists and later as Russian soldiers. Their convoluted plan involved inciting nuclear warfare, leading to the eradication of humanity and the subsequent rise of the Skrulls as the dominant species. However, this elaborate scheme could have been simplified if the Skrulls had fully utilized their shape-shifting abilities. By transforming into individuals capable of effortlessly triggering nuclear strikes, they could have easily achieved their objectives. Additionally, Rhodes had multiple opportunities to assassinate President Ritson, which could have further destabilized the rebellion. Nevertheless, the Skrull rebellion persisted with their convoluted plan and ultimately suffered defeat.

In Secret Invasion, everyone assumed that society would reject an alien species, forcing the Skrulls to either rebel or leave Earth. However, there are already extraterrestrials living harmoniously among humanity. After Asgard's destruction, Thor and his fellow Asgardians found a new home on Earth called New Asgard, which has become a popular tourist destination. Additionally, She-Hulk: Attorney at Law showcased how humans readily accepted the existence of shape-shifting Light Elves. Considering the celebration of heroes like Thor and the Guardians, there is no valid reason why another alien race wouldn't be welcome to peacefully reside on Earth.

4 Captain Marvel Couldn't Find A Single Suitable World In Thirty Years

Captain Marvel, set in 1995, introduced the Skrulls to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and brought them to Earth for the first time. The movie ended with the promise that Fury and Danvers would find the Skrulls a new home. However, when Secret Invasion took place in 2025, thirty years later, it was revealed that no progress had been made in fulfilling that promise. While Fury may have found the task difficult and had hidden intentions for keeping the Skrulls on Earth, it is expected that Captain Marvel would have discovered a secure world for the Skrulls during her absence. The details of her activities and achievements in those thirty years must be addressed in The Marvels, set to release in 2023.

3 Maria Hill & Talos' Secret Invasion Deaths Are Meaningless

The shocking death of Cobie Smulders' Maria Hill in episode 1 of Secret Invasion left audiences reeling. It seemed like the perfect catalyst for revenge from the former Director of SHIELD. Additionally, the murder of Ben Mendelsohn's Talos in episode 4 added to the emotional stakes. The stage was set for an epic showdown between Nick Fury and Gravik. Unfortunately, the final battle took a different turn with G'iah facing off against Gravik, leaving unresolved the deaths of Talos and, most notably, Maria Hill. These deaths ultimately held no meaning or resolution.

2 Some Of The Harvest's DNA Samples Don't Add Up

1 Secret Invasion Never Answered When Rhodey & Everett Ross Were Replaced

After the final battle in Avengers: Endgame, Nick Fury disclosed that DNA samples had been gathered and combined to create the Harvest. The finale of Secret Invasion unveiled the individuals whose DNA had been incorporated, but some of the samples seemed illogical. As Iron Man snapped away Thanos, his army, and all remaining traces of them, it means that the DNA of the Mad Titan, his Black Order, the Outriders, and the Chitauri wouldn't have been accessible. Furthermore, characters like Ghost and Abomination, who weren't even present during the Battle of Earth, were included in the DNA samples solely to resonate with the audience rather than serving a coherent story.

The question on everyone's mind regarding Secret Invasion is when Martin Freeman's Everett Ross and Rhodey were secretly replaced by Skrulls. Rhodey has made recent appearances in major MCU films like Avengers: Infinity War, Endgame, and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, while Ross was last seen in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. However, it remains unclear whether either character was actually a Skrull during these projects. Fans hoped that Secret Invasion would finally provide answers, but unfortunately, that didn't happen. This missed opportunity is undoubtedly one of Secret Invasion's biggest flaws, as it could have delved into the emotional impact of the Skrulls' infiltration in a much more profound way.