‘Secret Invasion’ Series Review – Disappointing Series Disguises Its Shortcomings Until It Is Too Late

Like the Skrulls the series centers around, the shortcomings of Secret Invasion remain disguised in its early episodes. However, it slowly becomes clear that it is more of the same from Marvel. Despite featuring an intriguing premise and talented cast, the series suffers from the pacing issues and underdeveloped characterization that has plagued the majority of Marvel’s Disney + series.

Beginning with a strong start, the series takes its time to build tension and focus on character development. As the season progresses, the plot continues to move at a slow pace while the run times begin to decrease as well. This leads to a time crunch as there seems to be an urgent need to conclude everything in the finale. This frustrating issue has become more prevalent with each passing MCU series. 

The most exasperating aspect of Secret Invasion is the underutilization of its premise. A spy thriller starring Nick Fury facing an alien threat is the potential setup for something great. Combining the espionage elements of Fury’s backstory with the paranoia and panic associated with the Skrull threat should be the recipe for a compelling and riveting conflict. 

The series could’ve been built on this idea that Fury can no longer trust those around him. However, the showrunners instead chose to go the traditional route of superpowers and fight sequences. Rather than focusing on the subtle conflict that the first episodes develop, the writers decide to conclude with another large-scale superpowered smackdown, leaving the series’ first and second halves feeling mismatched. 

This issue is best demonstrated by the fact that the resolution of the main conflict completely undermines its central message. Throughout the series, Fury claims that he is the only one who can save the day and that this conflict is personal to him. However, his presence becomes inconsequential as he is not even the one to defeat Gravik in the end. Hints of a bitter rivalry are present in early episodes but disappear, creating a villain that has a screen presence but is vastly underdeveloped. It is difficult to establish the protagonist as a superhero when he rarely comes face-to-face with the antagonist. 

The series does feature some interesting plot ideas sprinkled throughout such as the recurring pattern of followers losing faith in their leaders which intertwines the destinies of Fury, Talos, and Gravik. This central idea ties these character arcs together and would have been interesting to explore further. The writers introduce interesting plot points but do not expand upon them.

The series has strong elements as well such as its talented cast, who manage to elevate but not quite overcome the shortcomings of the material. With Nick Fury in the spotlight, the series allows Samuel L Jackson to showcase a different side of Fury, placing his relationship with his wife front and center. While this was an unexpected development, it effectively shows the audience a more vulnerable side of Fury and gives some insight into the sacrifices he makes for the life he leads. 

Ben Mendhelson’s performance as a conflicted and troubled Talos is another consistent highlight, as the character serves as a moral compass set in his beliefs despite the world in chaos around him. The series shines when it devotes the time to focus on the characters as the character interactions between Fury and Talos are fascinating. The audience is allowed to see how their bond has evolved over the years, how their perceptions of the world have changed, and how they have been affected by the events of Endgame and beyond. 

One of the more consistent aspects of the series is the cinematography and color grading. Featuring one creative force for the entire series allows director Ali Selim to deliver a consistent vision and style, showcasing a darker side of the MCU through a bleaker color palette and grounded use of the camera work. While for some this may have felt dull, it matches the tone of the series well and it is great to see some experimentation with the visual style.

The end of the series also raises some interesting questions about the future of the MCU. The short montage in the aftermath of the President’s speech lays the foundation for an intriguing threat that should have been front and center of the series. It will be interesting whether Marvel chooses to take advantage of the ramifications of the conflict moving forward. 

Perhaps the most frustratingly formulaic entry in the MCU, Secret Invasion starts strong before leaning too heavily into the tropes of the genre. Despite promises of something refreshing, the series delivers more of the same. It features its share of cameos and references to satisfy long-term fans of the MCU, but general audiences will find less to enjoy in one of Marvel’s weakest series.

Secret Invasion is currently available to stream on Disney+.

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