Marvel is again with — maybe — essentially the most somber Disney+ sequence thus far.
Secret Invasion sees the return of Samuel L. Jackson’s Nick Fury and Ben Mendelsohn’s Talos, together with new solid members like Olivia Colman and Emilia Clarke. The sequence sheds gentle on the Skrulls, a shapeshifting alien race launched 2019’s Captain Marvel.
Comedian followers could discover Secret Invasion is a departure from the story of the identical identify. That story additionally handled Skrulls covertly spying on Earthlings by taking the type of people and dealing to overhaul the planet. Nonetheless, it was an even bigger and far flashier occasion which featured just about each Avenger on the roster.
The Disney+ sequence nonetheless seems to have these world-ending (or at the least world-altering) stakes, however is a relatively extra private and grounded story. Except you depend Talos along with his shapeshifting skills and James Rhodes sans Struggle Machine swimsuit, there’s nary a superhero in sight within the present’s first two episodes.
Nick Fury will get the main target in Secret Invasion
Nick Fury has been noticeably absent from the Multiverse Saga up to now. Different tasks like Captain Marvel gave audiences some perception in depth into the character, however Secret Invasion takes it even additional. After the blip, Fury is a shell of his former self. He has extra doubts and fears than we’ve ever seen from the stoic chief. The sequence facilities his wrestle to beat his trauma — and to maintain the lid on a Skrull insurgency earlier than it’s too late.
Secret Invasion bears on commonality with its supply materials: the continued hook of “who’s a Skrull?”. Viewers are stored on their toes and suspicious of everybody. Issues have modified because the ending of Captain Marvel, which noticed Skrulls arrive on earth and combine into human society. Whereas refugee Skrulls noticed Earth as a spot of hope and chance, guarantees from Fury nonetheless haven’t come to fruition many years later.
Regardless of this clarification, it’s admittedly jarring and disappointing to see the Skrulls – subverted as harmless refugees and never the anticipated villains in Captain Marvel – modified to be extra combative for the sake of comedian accuracy. Some followers may need wished this, however Marvel Studios performs quick and unfastened with which parts of the comedian continuity they stick to anyway. Due to that, it’s onerous to inform who they’re attempting to make joyful right here.
A couple of disappointments up to now
It’s additionally shocking Marvel Studios went the mini-series route for such a significant comics occasion. Certainly, this might have been fertile floor for a full movie. Sure, the idea of this present works for a sequence, and the writers handle to finish the primary two episodes in an fascinating place. Nonetheless, Secret Invasion comes throughout as an image stretched to 5 episodes versus a realized sequence.
Secret Invasion additionally makes a drained, predictable writing selection within the opening episode. With out giving it away, it’s an affordable “twist” that serves because the catalyst for some subsequent occasions inside the sequence. This might – and ought to – have had extra groundwork laid prematurely to make it really feel much less hackneyed. Because it stands, it simply feels lazy.
Secret Invasion delivers issues some Marvel followers have wished for some time. It’s gritty, darkish, and (principally) devoid of quips. The difficulty up to now is the primary two episodes don’t present a robust hook to rope audiences in past the preliminary idea. I’m intrigued, however not notably invested. That’s an issue for a venture that expects viewers to tune into week after week.
Disclosure: Disney has supplied media with the primary two episodes of Secret Invasion, and due to this fact this evaluate is predicated fully on the primary third of this six-episode sequence and is due to this fact not meant to be taken as consultant of the present as a complete.