Welcome back to the blog readers. Secret Invasion has finally premiered and I cannot wait to discuss the first episode with you all. Like many, I have been excited for this series from its star-studded cast to its engaging premise. We were promised Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014) vibes, so were the cats at Marvel able to deliver those? Phase Five on Disney+ has officially kicked off, so let us dive into Secret Invasion's first episode, directed by Ali Selim from a screenplay by Kyle Bradstreet and Brian Tucker.
NOTE: I will be using spoilers for my thoughts, so DO NOT read ahead if you have not seen the episode.
I love a good political thriller film/series. For example, I am a sucker for the Has Fallen (2013-19 with a possible fourth film?) series with Gerard Butler. Especially when they add an element of espionage thriller, they can be so much fun. That is exactly how I felt watching this episode of Secret Invasion. This was brilliant, and one of the best things Marvel has put on Disney+ so far. Also this is my first Marvel series that I am doing episode reviews on so the bar has been set pretty high.
From the chilling opening with Everett Ross, we were told that this would be different from anything Marvel has put out yet. And that is exactly what we got. It starts with Ross going to meet a former S.H.I.E.L.D. operative named Prescod who claims the Skrulls have infiltrated Earth and that the recent attacks were their doing. He claims another one will happen in Moscow and Ross seems shuggish. Prescod then attacks Ross, who kills him and is chased by a Russian man. They are cornered by Maria Hill and the man reveals himself as Talos, which leads Hill to shoot Ross, revealing Ross as a Skrull impostor. There were so many twists and turns in this opening 10 minutes alone, which left me on the edge of my seat the whole time. What a way to set the mood, by making one of the most beloved MCU characters vulnerable and raising the stakes for every other character.
Samuel L. Jackson portrays Nick Fury in such a way that is more grounded and down-to-earth than anything we have seen him in before. He seems weary and worn down, and it can be disheartening. Sonya Falsworth says the quiet part out loud, that the Blip changed him. And we can see it. He walks with a limp, like he has lost purpose. And the only thing that brought him back to Earth was the death of Soren and the impersonation of Ross. He wanted to forget about everything and now he cannot, knowing the Earth is under attack from Skrulls he thought were his allies.
I was first exposed to Emilia Clarke in Terminator Genisys (2015) and she was somewhat good as Sarah Connor in a film full of misses. I really fell in love with her last year when I watched Game of Thrones (2011-19), a show I think is good, not great. (I know, get your pitchforks ready.) In Secret Invasion, she plays the estranged daughter of Talos, G'iah. I personally believe that she is the highlight of the episode, with her aggression and rage standing out to me. Emotions that were hinted at in Game of Thrones but never given an opportunity to rise up and take center stage. I cannot wait to see more of her character.
There is not much action in this first episode, but that is the whole point. The story always has to take priority in a series such as this, and it absolutely does. From the aforementioned opening scene, we are intrigued at the idea of Skrulls kidnapping and impersonating world leaders and our favorite characters, and how we can be perceived when we are no longer in the prime of our life. The process in which the former is done is absolutely brutal and terrifying as well. A person is kidnapped by the Skrulls and forced to watch one take their appearance, and then hooked up to a machine that puts them in a comatose state. At that point, the Skrull takes their mind. It is terrifying.
There are not too many references to the greater MCU in the first episode, but it is clear that the events of the past have triggered the events we currently are witnessing. Nick Fury's failure to find the Skrulls a home has led to some of them defecting and deciding to take matters into their own hands. That is the type of shit that is Martin Scorsese-level cinema right there, if the story is handled well. And I believe that we are heading in the right direction after this first episode.
I also want to talk about the ending of the episode, and how it will send shockwaves throughout the entire MCU. Using intel from G'iah, Fury, Hill and Talos attempt to stop that previously mentioned attack on Moscow during a festival. It turns out the Skrulls were one step ahead of the crew and Gravik, played to brilliance by Kingsley Ben-Adir, sets off the bombs, disguises himself as Fury, and kills Hill as Fury and Talos are forced to leave her. This decision absolutely shocked me, and proved that nobody in this series is safe. I haven't felt this way in a series since Game of Thrones, and that is saying something.
"Resurrection" is a brilliant opening for what I am anticipating to be an equally brilliant series. I cannot wait to see what else these guys have in store for us. I will see you all for the next episode.
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