Are these critics on drugs or something as this premiere was great. The series premiere of Secret Invasion was far better than all the critics would have you believe as the show was a welcomed departure from the Marvel trend.
This is how you make a compelling, unique show, Marvel.
Marvel’s Secret Invasion debuted today, and it was easily one of the most creative, unique shows to fall under the MCU banner, let alone Phase 5, as it opened up a whole new genre for Marvel: superhero political and spy thrillers. And, if you couldn’t tell, I loved it.
I really don’t know how these critics are paid the money they are as you’d think this series was yet another bland, uninspiring show to come out of the MCU sludge machine, but She-Hulk was a masterpiece of Marvel fiction.
I’ll get into the show in a second, but I just have to point out how ridiculous it is for the critics on Rotten Tomatoes to give this show a mediocre 67%. This show is a complete buck of the trend of the hacky Marvel sludge as the new elements of political and spy thriller made it a thrill to watch.
Obviously, the MCU has already explored a spy thriller in Captain America: Winter Soldier, but this takes it to a whole new level through the introduction of the Skrulls. For those who don’t know as they (rightfully) couldn’t be bothered to watch Captain Marvel, the Skrulls are an alien race who Nick Fury promised to give a new home after theirs was destroyed.
Though, what makes the Skrulls really neat when it comes to the spy thriller genre is the fact that they can skin change and take the image and mind of another person. And it’s a good thing they can skin change or else they’d look like ridiculously Martian-like copycats with their alien designs.
(Disney/Marvel Studios-Secret Invasion-Official Trailer)
You’d think Marvel, one of the world’s most sophisticated, creative, and imaginative entertainment and filmmaking studios in the world, could make a decent looking CGI alien design, but I guess not.
Anyways, I really like the casting in this show and especially the emphasis on Nick Fury. Samuel L. Jackson may be pushing 75, but he’s still an extremely compelling film superstar and can perform the action stunts required of him to a tee…well, so long as he isn’t kicking deadbeat store owners (Robert De Nero in the Irishman, anyone).
As for the rest of the cast, Martin Freeman, Cobie Smulders, Olivia Coleman, Emilia Clarke, Ben Mendelsohn, and Kingsley Ben-Adir are fantastic actors and actress who can not only rise to the occasion and steal the scenes they are in, but also don’t overshadow the film with their global stardom.
And, that may not seem like a major factor, but the recent “cameo” additions to the MCU (and DC) show that a really well-known actor or actress can overshadow a show for the worse.
(Disney/Marvel Studios-Secret Invasion-Official Trailer)
I won’t spoil the plot or events of this premiere episode aside from the basic premise that Nick Fury, who has spent the last few years in a spaceship for some reason, has come back down to Earth as a small movement in the Skrull population he saved 50+ years ago now is seeking to cause World War III and overthrow those who remain to commandeer the plant for themselves.
Or, in simpler words, these bad Skrulls want the extinction of humanity so they can take Earth for themselves. You know, the same thing that nearly every Marvel villain wants.
Earth must be really popular with these evil aliens.
Anyways, the best part about this plot is how unpredictable (by Marvel standards) it is as unlike the other projects of Phase 4 and Phase 5, this show is actually willing to kill important characters, trick the audience into believing a character is sympathetic when they’re really not, and is not afraid to shy away from the violence of the real world.
Like I said, it’s a refreshing take on an MCU that has been starving for content like this.
Still, one notable complaint I have is how Nick Fury has been labeled and treated by the in-show characters. Despite being one of the most competent and ruthlessly efficient characters in both the lore and the show itself, Fury keeps getting called old, outdated, past his best, out of his prime, etc. by characters friendly and hostile towards him.
It’s super strange considering I don’t think there’s been anything to show Fury has lost a step or has grown soft aside from the fact these characters keep saying Fury “changed after The Blip”. I feel like Fury is softly getting the Luke Skywalker treatment, and I’m really considered for this show if my fears are proven true.
Hasn’t Disney learned that turning beloved, classic heroes into bumbling idiots and verbal punching bags for the “new” heroes to insult is a catastrophic mistake for story building? Nevertheless, given how that has not yet come to pass, I totally recommend this show for any Marvel fan as it’s a brilliant callback to the glory days of the MCU.
I’d give Secret Invasion Episode 1 a 9.2/10.
Images Source: Featured Image: (Disney/Marvel Studios) (Marvel Studios’ Secret Invasion | Official Trailer | Disney+ – YouTube)
In Text Image 1: (Disney/Marvel Studios) (Marvel Studios’ Secret Invasion | Official Trailer | Disney+ – YouTube)
In Text Image 2: (Disney/Marvel Studios) (Marvel Studios’ Secret Invasion | Official Trailer | Disney+ – YouTube)
