Marvel’s ‘Secret Invasion’ Episode 1 Review: Can Nick Fury defeat the Skrulls? The odds don’t seem so good
Contains spoilers for 'Secret Invasion' Episode 1
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Nick Fury is back on Earth in the first episode of Marvel’s ‘Secret Invasion’. He’s been called by Talos, a Skrull, and Agent Maria Hill who have located an extinction-level threat from the rebel Skrull alliance. Fury came face to face with the Skrull species in ‘Captain Marvel’ when he met Talos for the first time. Since then, the two have worked in tandem to meet each other’s needs. Fury promised Talos a refuge for Skrulls while Talos covers for Fury on Earth in his absence. However, in 'Secret Invasion', a few members of the Talos' species are not happy with Fury’s ignorance and failure to provide them with a home to live in.
Gravik, a leader of the Skrull rebel alliance has made a name for himself by giving Skrulls a cause to fight for: a home. He’s gathered all the wandering Skrulls in a remote part of Russia and given them a place to live. Skrulls can shapeshift and take any human’s form and Nick Fury correctly mentions, “Who can you trust?” Even though Talos, a former Skrull general is an ally, can Nick Fury beat an army of shape-shifting Skrulls? A lot has changed since he returned. Talos’ wife Soren is dead, Rhodey (Don Cheadle) is now a sacred advisor to the President of the United States of America, and the Avengers are done for. For now, the road to victory is doomed for Fury.
Gravik is too powerful
Gravik has assembled a community of Skrulls in an unknown part of Russia. He’s made a home in an abandoned nuclear facility in Russia knowing well that radioactivity doesn’t hurt Skrulls. He’s allowed the Skrulls the choice to join the fight against humans if they wish. Anyone who agrees is declared a warrior and is allowed to take a human form specific to them while the other Skrulls can also co-exist within the same facility. They are given the food of their planet, which is grown on Earth for them. G’iah (Emilia Clarke), Talos’ daughter, is on the side of the rebels.
The rebel leader, Gravik, has the allegiance of all his warriors and is an expert shapeshifter. When the Skrull rebels decide to blow up a square in Moscow, Gravik distracts Fury with his shapeshifting skills and even ends up killing Agent Hill while disguised as Nick Fury. Gravik intends to start a war between America and Russia, which would accelerate the start of a world war that he would then benefit from. Fury is shaken when he sees Maria shot and realizes that he’s more alone than ever. He also realizes that he needs a team as Gravik’s army is only getting stronger.
What can Nick Fury do to stop Gravik?
The first episode, titled ‘Resurrection’, is simply to bring Fury back from exile and throw him into the abyss of another world extinction. Previously, he had help from the Avengers but in ‘Secret Invasion’, so far the only ray of hope comes from Sonya (Olivia Colman), a British MI6 agent and longtime ally of Fury who “celebrates a scorched-Earth policy” and would rather end the entire Skrull species instead of reasoning with them and finding them a home.
Talos is a Skrull and his true allegiance might shift in the latter half of the season. In the first episode, he’s with Fury and even convinces her daughter G’iah to come to the bright side. But will he be influenced by Gravik and join their cause?
The first episode of ‘Secret Invasion’ is currently streaming on Disney+.
