Secret Invasion is the ninth TV show to emerge from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and you can watch it today – well, at least, the first episode.
I have quite a bit to say about this show. First, feel free to read the original Secret Invasion comic book crossover (Brian Michael Bendis, Leinil Francis Yu) from 2008. Usually, I discourage viewers from reading the source material for upcoming movies and shows because the novel, manga, or comic book will ruin your enjoyment of the adaptation.
The constant comparisons will prevent you from giving the adaptation a fair shake. But in this case, the comic book and the TV show are too different for that concern to matter. The Secret Invasion comic is a giant crossover event in which shapeshifting aliens known as Skrulls attempt to conquer Earth by replacing key superheroes.
The Skrulls initiate their invasion by attacking everyone that matters, from the Fantastic Four to the Avengers and even the Inhumans. The result is a conflict larger than anything we saw in Avengers: Endgame.
The TV show is a spy thriller that plays out in shadowy alleyways. Think Jason Bourne. Most of the characters in the comic don’t even exist in the MCU yet.
With a much smaller cast and a limited budget, Marvel has scaled the conflict down drastically. They hope to tell a more grounded story in the vein of Captain America: Winter Soldier.
Secondly, this is another six-episode project; previous Marvel series have proven that six episodes cannot tell a well-paced story with three-dimensional characters and a satisfying finale.
I have enjoyed most of the Marvel shows. But even the best among them fall apart at the end because they have too much to do and not enough episodes. Ms. Marvel is one of the best shows I watched last year.
I know most of you hate it. I expected to share your sentiments – I can’t stand teen dramas. But this one won me over. Unfortunately, the ending was disappointing. The same thing applies to Wandavision, another MCU masterpiece. I expect Secret Invasion to encounter similar obstacles.
If the six-episode format has not repelled you, we should discuss the timeline. The show takes place after Endgame. If you watched Captain Marvel, you know that Carol and Fury basically adopted the Skrull refugees and promised to find them a new home.
Well, that was 30 years ago, and apparently, the Skrulls are tired of waiting. A faction of skrull extremists is now working to trigger nuclear conflict between the world’s superpowers. Radiation does not affect them.
They intend to inhabit the Earth once humanity destroys itself. Talos and Fury are working together to stop them. Remember that post-credit scene from Spiderman:
Far From Home? The first episode of Secret Invasion tells you why Fury was in space. So far, we have seen neither hide nor hair of Carol. Although, a character revealed that she abandoned the Skrulls. They took her betrayal personally, hence the current plot to conquer Earth.
The final point of discussion is the reviews, most of which have been mixed. From what I can see, people watch Marvel projects because they are fun. And Secret Invasion is not fun. Supposedly, the show is too heavy.
I disagree. Was I impressed? Not really. The first episode was okay. Not great. Not terrible. Just okay. It was well-made television, and it ended on a solid note. But I would be lying if I said I was waiting anxiously for the next episode.
Did anyone catch that line about Fury working for S.A.B.E.R.? Is that a stand-in for S.W.O.R.D from the comics? But we know from Wandavision that S.W.O.R.D already exists. I think this proves that Secret Invasion takes place in an alternate timeline.
Marvel should do more to bring these puzzle pieces together.
We still don’t know enough about the MCU’s current direction. Hopefully, the next five episodes will change that.
katmic200@gmail.com
Source: The Observer
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