The summary below contains plot reveals for Secret Invasion. Please refrain from reading unless you have watched the first and second episodes.

Space and time

In 1995, we started with a montage of Captain Marvel and witnessed a digitally enhanced portrayal of Nick Fury (played by Samuel L Jackson). Then, we fast-forwarded two years to Brixton, London in 1997, where Fury encounters a group of Skrull survivors and reaffirms his commitment to finding them a safe haven. We were introduced to a young Gravik (portrayed by Lucas Persaud), who is still traumatized by the loss of his parents during the final battle against the Kree. Talos (played by Ben Mendelsohn) also urged his fellow Skrulls to trust Fury.

Fury’s statement, “The world is in danger from a new threat,” brought to mind the “There was an idea” monologue from Avengers Assemble. He went on to say, “As you protect my home, Carol Danvers and I will search for a new one for you.”

The statement is ambitious and sincere, but it’s understandable why the Skrulls, who are still in hiding after almost 30 years, may feel dissatisfied.

The aftermath

In the current time, the adult version of Gravik (played by Kingsley Ben-Adir) appeared quite satisfied with the destruction in Vossoyedineniye Square (filmed outside the Piece Hall in Halifax), while Fury glanced at Maria Hill’s body one final time before being forced into a van by Talos.

While on the train, Talos was informed about Fury’s upbringing in segregated Alabama. As is typical with spies, there was a hidden motive behind the sharing of this information. Talos was leading up to a game of Tell Me Something I Don’t Know, similar to the ones he used to play with his mother on train rides. However, Talos was not enthusiastic about participating. He did, however, shock Fury by revealing that there are 1 million Skrulls on Earth. Fury responded with disbelief and advised Talos to leave the train, questioning his sanity.

After a sudden change in attire, Fury’s day took a turn for the worse. He had to witness Hill’s coffin being loaded onto a plane and then justify his actions to her mother. Is that the extent of Juliet Stevenson’s involvement? Merely a brief appearance as a mourning mother? It does highlight Marvel’s influence to be able to recruit an acclaimed stage and screen performer for only a minute and a half. In today’s era of delving into every aspect of characters within a vast universe, it wouldn’t be surprising if a spin-off series featuring Elizabeth Hill is released in 2026.

News of the world

After the Moscow bombing, a brief overview of TV reports globally provided insight into the aftermath. According to the news, Russia is seeking retribution against the US, while the US is alleging that it was a fabricated event. Additionally, the UK prime minister and Nato’s secretary general are undecided on their actions. However, it was revealed that these individuals are part of the Skrull resistance, actively working to create division among humans. Gravik stated that their efforts are only accelerating the inevitable and hinted at a contingency plan in case the Avengers become involved. Could this mean that some members of the Avengers are actually Skrulls in disguise?

Following a rapid decision, Gravik was appointed as the Skrull General. However, the disagreements within the council will likely benefit both Talos and Fury in the future. Shirley Sagar (Seeta Indrani), on the other hand, wasted no time in contacting Talos after the meeting to express her concerns.

Going nuclear

At the abandoned facility, G’iah (Emilia Clarke) began to secretly observe and saw Pagon (Killian Scott) enter a restricted laboratory that housed a potentially dangerous device. Later, when Falsworth (Olivia Colman) interrogated a captured Skrull, they mentioned a machine that could make the Skrulls more powerful. G’iah wonders what this machine is and what she can do to stop it. She later discovered records of DNA samples from Groot, Frost Beast (one of which was killed by Thor on Jotunheim), and Cull Obsidian (one of the Children of Thanos). Does this mean the Skrulls have taken these characters captive and replicated them? Or can the Skrulls mimic their abilities? The fourth record was about Extremis, the technology created by Maya Hansen and Aldrich Killian in Iron Man 3. Could this technology be used by Gravik to make the Skrulls stronger?

We do not require Rhodes for our destination.

Colonel James Rhodes, also known as “Rhodey” and played by Don Cheadle, has been a consistent character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe since his debut in Iron Man. In the first film, he was portrayed by Terrence Howard. Rhodes has developed a strong trust in Nick Fury over the years. However, the events that occurred in Moscow in episode one were devastating – a series of explosions that resulted in the death of at least 2,000 people. Additionally, Agent Hill has been killed and the United States’ allies now support Russia. Despite being humiliated during a hearing, I find it hard to believe that Rhodes took pleasure in firing Fury.

The atmosphere at the restaurant was amazing. It was just as enjoyable to watch Jackson and Colman spar in the first episode, but it was also a delight to see Jackson and Cheadle, a talented actor who hasn’t been given enough opportunities in his Marvel role, go head to head. Their banter included topics such as race, history, anger, aliens, friendship, and confidence (“I’m Nick Fury. Even when I’m out, I’m in”). It’s likely that this won’t be the last time they cross paths in the series. I predict that Rhodey will apologize for his actions and hopefully, he will also have a chance to put on his suit.

A trip to the butchers

Colman remained the life of the party, bringing a cheerful energy to the episode and administering a harmful substance to the Skrull’s behind during her interrogation. She is relentless and aggressive, yet also appears to be a fun companion for a night out. What an impressive woman!

However, Gravik is known to be merciless and aggressive, with no sense of humor. G’iah will need to improve her ability to conceal her emotions if she wants to avoid a similar fate in the forest.

Mrs Fury

Hello there, Mrs. Fury! How long has this been happening? (Surely Fury did not disclose the truth to Cap back in The Winter Soldier when he showed up at his apartment claiming his wife kicked him out?!) It is lovely to finally meet you, Priscilla (played by Charlayne Woodard). It is no surprise that Nick has been so eager to assist the Skrulls – they are, quite literally, family. And when he promised to find them a permanent home, did he mean a beautiful Bauhaus-style house like his own? However, I am not sure about the color-coordinated books. Could this newfound domestic happiness be the reason for Fury’s recent lack of intensity? Perhaps he did not experience a crisis of faith caused by the Snap – he simply discovered the joys of cozy nights in, watching Grand Designs, and kissing to the tunes of Otis Redding.

Overall

This episode was fast-paced and engaging. I liked it even more than the slow start of the previous episode. Secret Invasion has a certain level of excellence that is lacking in many of Marvel’s recent works. The storyline is well-developed and there are real villains, danger, and high stakes, unlike She-Hulk. Let’s keep going.

Notes and observations

• I enjoy seeing Christopher McDonald in any role, although I am always reminded of his character Shooter McGavin and end up watching his top moments on YouTube. “He spends more time in the sand than David Hasselhoff!”

• It’s great to see Seeta Indrani, who plays Shirley Sagar, appearing alongside Chris Stean from McDonald’s as part of the undercover Skrull group. She is most recognized by viewers in the UK for her role as WPC Norika Datta in The Bill from 1989 to 1998.

• I really admire Fury’s wardrobe in this series. His combination of a peacoat and beanie was fashionable, but his suit and fedora on the train were especially sophisticated. Jackson has previously mentioned having a clause in his contract for keeping any clothing worn by his characters in a film. I am curious if he still has that clause and, if so, what items he kept from this series.

• I am curious as to how Rhodey managed to secure the luxurious Berners Tavern for himself on such short notice. When I went there for breakfast, I had to make reservations months in advance and it was very crowded.

• Unfortunately, I made two careless errors in my previous recap from last week. I mistakenly stated that Erin Kellyman is from Nottingham, when in fact she is from Tamworth in Staffordshire. It was also revealed in a post-credits scene that Fury was actually Talos in disguise throughout Spider-Man: Far from Home, which changes his timeline slightly. I apologize for these mistakes and would like to thank commenter Annnndy for bringing them to my attention. As a form of punishment, I will be watching a double-feature of Thor: The Dark World and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.

What were your thoughts on episode two? What direction would you like to see the series take? Share your opinions in the comments section below.

Source: theguardian.com