SERIES REVIEW – Nick Fury is back, played by the good old Samuel L. Jackson – because who else could say better, “this is my war”? The latest series from Marvel Studios is Secret Invasion, now available on Disney+, based on the popular comic book story. In the series, Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) and his allies, including Everett Ross (Martin Freeman), Maria Hill (Cobie Smulders), and Skrull Talos (Ben Mendelsohn), pursue a mysterious Skrull invasion that threatens the entire world. The first episode of the series debuted on the Disney+ platform on June 21, and it consists of six episodes.

If I were to summarize right at the beginning what the biggest twist of Marvel/Disney+’s latest series is, I would highlight the way Fury fights against the Skrulls’ world domination plans with an eclectic, almost randomly selected assembly of characters. An eyebrow raise, a sudden “well, indeed, they are here too?!” moment, and we are already in a fun little confusion along with many fellow agents and characters. But will this hodgepodge be enough for a big success?

The Skrulls are not what they seem

The first episode of Secret Invasion introduces the main characters and the conflict that forms the backbone of the series. Nick Fury has been working in space with the Skrulls for years, but after an unexpected attack, he returns to Earth to find out who is behind the attack on the Skrulls. Meanwhile, Everett Ross and Maria Hill try to defend Earth from external threats at a secret S.H.I.E.L.D. base, but soon realize that they cannot trust anyone because the Skrulls can transform into anyone. Talos lives a family life in a small town under the name Keller, but when Fury seeks his help, he is forced to confront his past and loyalties.

The first episode of the series holds a lot of excitement and turns for the viewers, who may already know the Skrulls from Captain Marvel (2019). However, the series does not merely continue that story, but places the Skrulls’ role and motivations in a new light. The series does not depict the Skrulls in black-and-white, but shows that there are both good and bad among them, pursuing different goals. Thus, the series offers not only a relatively exciting (though somewhat clichéd) spy thriller and action-adventure, but also a deeper drama dealing with issues of identity, trust, and betrayal.

Say ‘what’ again! I dare ya! I double dare you, motherfucker! Say ‘you are 74 years old’ one more goddamn time!  (Freely after Pulp Fiction)

Here we can see Fury trying to pull himself out of the retirement home back into world-saving action, in an adventure that looks like a mix of “Mission: Impossible” and “Invasion of the Body Snatchers”. Beyond his acting talent, Jackson simply refuses to let the series get lost among the other Disney+ productions.

After all, the greatest appeal of Secret Invasion is undoubtedly Samuel L. Jackson’s performance as Nick Fury. This year, the 74-year-old Jackson has been playing this character in Marvel movies and series for more than fifteen years, but this is the first time he got his own leading role. Jackson brilliantly portrays Fury’s charismatic and tough style, but also shows his more vulnerable side. Fury has lost many friends and colleagues over the years and is unsure of his place in this new world.

Jackson interacts well with the other actors, especially Ben Mendelsohn, with whom they demonstrated excellent on-screen chemistry in “Captain Marvel”. The series also introduces new characters played by Emilia Clarke (“Game of Thrones”), Academy Award-winner Olivia Colman, and Kingsley Ben-Adir, who portrays the leader of the Skrulls’ global domination effort. The story kicks off with Skrulls instigating chaos, which Jackson and SHIELD agents Maria Hill (Cobie Smulders) and Everett Ross (Martin Freeman) attempt to control. Don Cheadle also appears as James Rhodes/War Machine, connecting the series to the broader Avengers universe.

Colman portrays a mysterious S.H.I.E.L.D. agent who does not always agree with Fury but respects him, while Clarke plays a Skrull woman, the embodiment of Talos’s child, who is unafraid to fight for what she believes in. Cheadle reprises his role as James Rhodes/War Machine, an old friend and ally of Fury. The series not only illustrates the Skrulls’ secret invasion but also links other parts of the Marvel universe.

“The Skrull Who Came in From the Cold”

The team’s mission is to identify and stop the Skrull threat, which is sowing seeds of chaos worldwide through acts of terrorism and destabilization. “Secret Invasion” starts off strong with its first episode, effectively pairing the genre of spy thrillers with the shape-shifting Skrulls, evoking 1950s “body snatcher” paranoia. The first two episodes create an atmosphere reminiscent of Cold War-era spy films, where trust is an unknown quantity. This makes the series distinct from other Disney+ Marvel shows, which usually maintain a more light-hearted tone.

The first episode of “Secret Invasion” provides a solid introduction to a story promising many surprises and twists in the future. The pilot sets up the main characters and conflict well, and although the action is not earth-shattering, it is competent and underpinned by the serious, Cold War-evoking visuals. There’s also a deeper (albeit somewhat clichéd) drama at play. There’s no shortage of excellent acting, particularly from Samuel L. Jackson, and the cast is equally impressive. The series has a dark and tense atmosphere but also manages to be humorous and entertaining. All in all, the first episode of “Secret Invasion” provides an exciting start to what promises to be an epic narrative.

-BadSector-