When Disney+ introduced Secret Invasion, it was poised to be a extra grownup, grittier tackle the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Within the wake of the season finale, Secret Invasion appears extra like a colossal waste of time.
Six episodes is not a big funding, however nonetheless, you count on a payoff after spending that a lot time watching a season of TV.
As an alternative of being closed-ended, the sequence was extra about organising the next tales within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. We watched six episodes and obtained little to no satisfaction with the conclusion.
The very best praise I may give Secret Invasion is that it was completely different from the opposite exhibits we have watched on Disney+ set on this universe, however because it was additionally the most important chore to observe, that is not saying a lot.
I wasn’t the most important fan of She-Hulk, however at the very least the characters developed because the sequence progressed.
Going into Secret Invasion, we have been promised a sprawling story as Nick Fury and Maria Hill obtained their time to shine, stopping the plot of the Skrulls invading Earth.
Secret Invasion Season 1 Episode 1 was comparatively slow-paced, however it did assist arrange the conflicts for the rest of Secret Invasion.
The primary pink flag that the sequence would waste our time got here on the finish of the premiere when Maria Hill was killed off, feeding right into a broader drawback with how the MCU has handled feminine characters.
Maria was part of the franchise for over a decade however was lengthy overdue for a deeper dive, and that ought to have been one in every of Secret Invasion’s brightest spots.
The sequence understandably needed to start out with a splash to get individuals speaking, however it left a bitter style realizing that they elected to kill off a fan-favorite to prop up the character of Nick Fury to get there.
Colbie Smulders is improbable, however it should have been tough for her to listen to her character could be written out of the MCU universe with so little fanfare.
Kingsley Ben-Adir is a good actor, however Gravik is among the blandest villains in MCU historical past.
It is arduous to think about anybody wanting again on Secret Invasion, hoping to revisit Gravik.
Gravik’s mindset was clearly that he needed the people to pay, and it left little or no for Ben-Adir to do in mild of it as a result of the character was so meh.
The worst half was that there ought to have been a battle of epic proportions between Gravik and G’iah, however it fell flat ultimately, like the remainder of the sequence.
Emilia Clarke has confirmed to be a superb actress from Recreation of Thrones alone, however G’iah was written as an impassive younger lady, modified by all the loss she’d endured.
Secret Invasion Season 1 Episode 6 made you marvel if Clarke was informed her character would turn into probably the most highly effective particular person within the MCU.
That’d be a fairly cool factor to be informed if solely G’iah had been well-written.
Certain, there have been some superhero moments, however she might have been utilized to a far nice diploma.
G’iah and Gravik’s closing battle was everywhere, and because it’s virtually the MCU’s coverage that they might die on the finish, there wasn’t a purpose to be invested within the battle within the first place.
Watching Secret Invasion Season 1 Episode 3 proved they have been already toying with the thought of killing G’iah. Why would his demise within the finale come as a shock?
G’iah and Gravik biking by their powers have been well worth the watch, however any good from it was undone by the combat’s sheer lack of logic.
It was over too quickly, and when you concentrate on it, Gravik should not have gone down so simply.
I think about Clarke will return as G’iah in one other MCU story, however hopefully, she will get higher materials.
There was a tease that G’iah would work with Sonya (Olivia Colman) to maintain the world secure, which might be welcome.
Colman was the very best a part of the sequence because the quick-witted operative with a cutthroat angle.
Sonya commanded each room as a result of she understood what was anticipated of her, so if the very best a part of Secret Invasion was how her character was launched and appreciated.
Had Colman and Clarke shared extra display screen time, Secret Invasion would have been the higher for it as a result of, because it stands, it wasn’t a worthwhile present.
Such a stellar solid calls for good materials, however on this story, all of the proof proved it wasn’t suited to the expertise out there.
Samuel L. Jackson was good because the modified Nick Fury, however the materials did not give him what he wanted to indicate his versatility as an actor.
Jackson will subsequent be seen in The Marvels, and from the trailer alone, he appears completely different.
Possibly being away from Earth has helped him, however as Secret Invasion performed out, it appears he was written otherwise for the 2 initiatives.
At its core, Secret Invasion did seize the tone the trailers promised however not the thrills and motion we would count on from a sequence set within the MCU.
As an alternative, it wasted its solid and viewers’ time as a result of, by the top, all the pieces that occurred might have been defined in passing in the beginning of the following section of the MCU.
That is not the standard we count on coming off the success of WandaVision and Loki.
What are your ideas on how the present was executed, TV Fanatics?
Paul Dailly is the Affiliate Editor for TV Fanatic. Observe him on Twitter.
