Secret Invasion review: Marvel’s attempt at a spy thriller delivers mixed results

2.5/5

Story: Nick Fury (Samuel L Jackson) returns to Earth to aid friend Talos (Ben Mendelsohn), the leader of the aliens known as the Skrulls, as a renegade Skrull faction plans to conquer Earth. The shape-shifting Skrulls have infiltrated almost every government on the planet, forcing Fury and Talos to work in the shadows.

Review: The premise for Secret Invasion is certainly one that piques interest. And for the most part, the series attempts to offer a dark and gritty tale, with elements of social commentary sprinkled in. However, the series fails to justify why it warrants six episodes to tell a relatively routine story. The entire plot of Secret Invasion could have been told in a taut two-hour feature film. Instead, Marvel and Disney have delivered a hollow TV series, which could be best described as ‘wasted potential’.

The star-studded ensemble of the series do most of the heavy lifting, elevating it beyond its lifeless episodes. The scenes between Samuel L Jackson and Olivia Colman in particular are compelling and speak volumes of their ability. Ben Mendelsohn as the conflicted Skrull leader, Talos, and Kingsley Ben-Adir’s turn as Gravik, the villainous leader of the rogue Skrull faction, also deliver riveting performances. Unlike Talos’ previous appearance in Captain Marvel, Talos has more agency in Secret Invasion and has a thoroughly fleshed-out character arc. But it’s almost ironic that, despite being a sci-fi action spy thriller set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), the series offers its best moments when its characters engage in conversations. While it is a reflection of careful character development, the lack of nail-biting action sequences undermines the quality of the overall series.

An argument could be made that a spy thriller need not always require high-octane action. While it is true in certain cases, for Secret Invasion it is paramount. It is simply because it has incorporated plenty of action and drama into the narrative, albeit rather poorly executed. The gunfights and the explosions lack substance and are disengaging, and it offers very little incentive for the audience to be invested in the outcomes of these sequences. Showrunner Kyle Bradstreet has steered the series clear from the much scrutinised ‘Marvel formula’, with the unnecessary humour toned down in favour of a more relatively grounded story. However, the bland CGI and uninspired set pieces have been retained. 

*SPOILERS AHEAD*

The most underwhelming character is Emilia Clarke’s G'iah. The popular Game of Thrones star plays the role of the daughter of Talos, who works as a double agent embedded within Gravik’s rogue team of Skrulls. Her final transformation into a ‘Super Skrull’ practically makes her one of the most powerful beings in the MCU – with the powers of Captain Marvel, Scarlet Witch, Thanos, and other members of the Avengers. She has effectively become Marvel’s version of the DC character Metamorpho. Her final fight scene with Gravik should have been as seismic as Superman fighting Zod or Captain America battling Iron Man. Instead, it is dull and tedious, and its outcome is painfully predictable.

The series does offer a few bright moments, but its greatest strength is also its weakness. The fact that pivotal characters such as Cobie Smulders’ Maria Hill and Mendelsohn’s Talos were killed off, is a bold choice compared to the Marvel standards. However, their deaths end up being cheap shock value, instead adding depth to the story. This could largely be attributed to poor editing, cinematography, and sound design – factors that play vital roles in enhancing a scene. These deficiencies are in addition to the plot holes littered across the narrative. The most obvious one is that Nick Fury refuses to call the Avengers for backup when the planet is about to be invaded by shape-shifting aliens, who plan to wipe out humanity from existence. Fury does offer an explanation, on more than one occasion, for why he doesn’t inform the Avengers, but it is far from convincing. The final episode is arguably the weakest in the series, not even the threat of World War III is able to force the narrative to heighten the suspense and intrigue. . 

Verdict: Secret Invasion is a hollow six-part mini-series that is bailed out by compelling performances by its lead actors. Despite its immense potential, the series is unable to keep one invested in its characters and storyline. It does offer a relatively grounded and mature story, when compared to other Marvel projects, but lacks the nuance to fulfil its potential. Ultimately, Secret Invasion is a wasted opportunity considering the wealth of talent it had at its disposal.