Tune In Or Tune Out: ‘Secret Invasion’ Has Franchise-Building For The Fans, Strong Cast For The Rest
Secret Invasion, the 6-part miniseries streamable on Disney+, is the ninth television series in the Marvel Cinematic Universe which shares continuity with the films and other series – and it feels like it. This particular semi-self-contained narrative follows Nick Fury (played by the always fun to watch Samuel L. Jackson) and his Skrull (i.e. shapeshifting alien) ally Talos (played by Ben Mendelsohn) as they try to expose the bad, rebel Skrulls’ plot to take over the Earth as their new home.
While there are flashbacks and a good bit of expository dialogue (which is quick, and avoids being overwhelming or clumsy), watching a refresher of previous Marvel fare wouldn’t hurt. The Skrull were first introduced in Captain Marvel, in which they lose their home planet and Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel and Nick Fury promise to help them find a new one. Then, there’s a post credit scene in Spider-Man: Far from Home that reveals Nick Fury has been off world for an undisclosed amount of time and that Talos and his wife, Soren, have been standing in for him and Fury’s underling Maria Hill (Cobie Smulders, who also appears in Secret Invasion). And, if you want to be thorough, you can go back to Black Panther to see the introduction of Everett Ross (Martin Freeman) – who makes a brief appearance at the beginning of Invasion – or even Captain America: Civil War and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever in which Ross also appears. (And if you’re a real nerd, you can read the 2008 Secret Invasion Marvel Comics). The level of world building and coherence that Invasion is a part of is admirable and a lot of fun if you’re a fan of the franchise. If you’re less committed, the series still makes sense on its own and is an entertaining conspiracy thriller, though a previous connection to the characters and keeping up with the franchise is one of the main draws.
Meet Nick and Talos
Samuel L. Jackson and Ben Mendelsohn (reprising his role from Captain Marvel) head an all star cast including the likes of Don Cheadle, Olivia Coleman and Emilia Clarke. The chemistry between Jackson and the others is honestly enough to make the series entertaining, and if you’re a Nick Fury fan, this series is a good spotlight on the wisdom, strategic genius, and damaged relationships that have come out of Fury’s long career.
The vehicle for these characters, then, is a relatively standard Marvel, conspiracy thriller. It has a good mix of politics and action; it’s equally entertaining watching Fury and James Rhodes (a.k.a. War Machine, played by Don Cheadle) share a drink – with the underlying tension having the sky high stakes of World War III or alien invasion – as it is seeing cars flip over and blow up. Techy gadgets like contact lens-sized spy cams also help remind you you’re watching a superhero franchise (if the aliens weren't enough). Head writer and creator Kyle Bradstreet’s previous work as writer and executive producer on USA’s Mr. Robot (2015-2019), a hacker-centered drama thriller, is fitting, though the tone stays in lock-step with this strand of Marvel fare (think Captain America: Winter Soldier or other Disney+ series, Falcon and the Winter Soldier) – some glib humor, but more subdued and a little darker than the more fantastical stuff.
The series is plays out its genre well; the plot keeps moving, the stakes keep getting upped, and the conflict – a rebel faction of the Skrull trying to play humans against each other in order to win Earth as their new home – stays clear amidst political plottings and several different players who aren’t always up front. The stakes are immediate (invasion, war, Talos’s daughter, G’iah, being involved in the mess), the special effects are clean, and while there’s nothing super unique about the action choreography or directing (Ali Selim directs), it’s nice to look at and not afraid to be a bit cinematic or grotesque.
Was it Tune In or Tune Out?
However, with the whole Skrull witch-hunt being pushed right from the beginning – the opening monologue asks, “What if the ones closest to us, the ones we trusted our whole lives, were someone else entirely? What if they weren’t even human?” – there’s a bit to be desired in terms of really digging in. The threat is almost too omnipresent to leave any real surprises (though there is one pretty good twist – no spoilers). The underlying philosophical conflict is interesting – rebel leader Gravik’s (Kingsley Ben-Adir) “might makes right” vs Talos’s “right makes right” vs G’iah’s “what will get results?”. But even this is only examined in a couple scenes. Main antagonist Gravik, then, is not shown in his full depth. He’s the classic angry, charismatic rebel leader, and the brutality of his reign is made very clear, but his need for a home is a complex problem and his pain is something that could have been further explored. Emilia Clarke is also great in her role as G’iah, but she is given little opportunity to be more than her father’s daughter or her leader’s follower. Character death’s are likewise quick, almost callous, and could use more time for the audience to sit with them.
What does carry the series, though, is the cast. As mentioned before, it’s fun to see Samuel L. Jackson’s Nick Fury get his own vehicle to shine, along with seeing Don Cheadle get to flex his acting chops more than in his previous Marvel appearances. Charlayne Woodard (in a role that wasn’t introduced in previous Marvel projects and won’t be spoiled here) is also a strong actress, and while her screen time isn’t extensive, there is ample tension by the climax of her character’s arc. Olivia Coleman, playing Sonya Falsworth, SIS agent and frenemy of Fury, is an absolute delight as she tortures and kills all with a glib, posh accent and oversized purse. More time with these characters (perhaps in future projects?) would not be a bad thing.
Who will like it?
Ultimately, if you’re a fan, you’re a fan, and if you’re not, it’s still an entertaining series (and low commitment at 6 episodes). Secret Invasion is the last in a long line of intricately connected projects that Marvel is known, loved, and hated for. It’s nothing mind-blowing, but it has some interesting characters, a few good twists, and tells a clean story. If you love Nick Fury or any of the names in the leading cast, you probably wouldn’t regret a watch. And if you’re one of the hearty fans that are still committed to keeping up with the Marvel franchise, by all means, go for it and more power to you.
While they were released weekly, all 6 episodes of Secret Invasion (which range in runtime from 35 to 60 minutes) can now be streamed on Disney+.
