The pilot episode of Marvel’s Secret Invasion might have given the show a slow start, but the second episode hits the ball out of the park. Additionally, it establishes the series as one of the darkest and grittiest entries in the MCU. For fans who thought the superhero franchise had crumbled and could not offer anything fresh or exciting, it’s time to think again.
SPOILER WARNING
The latest episode of Secret Invasion shows how dark Marvel is willing to go. The show offers impressive “dark” cinematography, muted tones, and the “spy thriller plus noir” vibe. The series is set in a world which shares several similarities to our real world. On top of that, the characters do not know who to trust. The scene where Gravik (Kingsley Ben-Adir) meets with members of the Skrull Council makes it perfectly clear.
One thing that makes Secret Invasion different from MCU’s previous shows is that there are no superheroes in the series. Yes, we see Don Cheadle appearing as Colonel James Rhodes in the second episode. But he has become a political figure now. And it is unlikely that viewers will see him donning the War Machine suit in the upcoming episodes. Rhodey suggests approaching the Avengers to control Skrulls’ infiltration of Earth. However, Fury points out that this is his battle. This scenario shows that the odds of the Avengers appearing and saving the day in Secret Invasion are almost negligible.
The only people standing between the Earth and the Skrulls are the broken, tormented, battle-scarred leftovers of S.H.I.E.L.D. All the characters, especially Nick Fury, have suffered the drastic consequences of “The Blip” in the show. We should not expect the characters to rise and save the Earth from the bad guys again. No, this is a war that Nick Fury and his allies may lose.
Secret Invasion also tackles several real-world issues, such as xenophobia and people’s growing inability to trust others, making it completely different from previous MCU shows, which were more experimental and explored the emotional sides of the characters to great depths.
The action sequences are pretty good too. Though, we can witness that the good guys (Fury and Talos) have gone rusty. They are failing to get the bad guys and taking big hits from them.
Another thing that sets Secret Invasion apart is its ability to take risks in terms of storytelling, and the final moments of Episode 1 have made this painfully clear. All the abovementioned things have given the show a dark, mature, and realistic feel. Stream the first two episodes of Secret Invasion on Disney+ Hotstar. Stay tuned for more updates.