Where do you stand in the fight to save Earth from a rogue faction of Skrulls? Who can you trust? Marvel’s Secret Invasion has taken Disney+ by storm to answer those questions. This series adopts a more mature, darker tone than the typical Marvel live-action fare. I don’t believe it’s quite on the level of Andor in the spy-thriller regard, but “Resurrection,” the show’s series premiere, proves it has a lot of potential to get there.
I love the groundedness of Secret Invasion and that there aren’t 1,000 quips per minute. It’s a breath of fresh air. This premiere moves slowly and carefully, ensuring it introduces the right elements to give us the full scope of the story it aims to tell. We don’t get a lot of character development, save an analysis of Fury’s post-Blip behavior, so here’s hoping we dive deeper into our leading players in the coming episodes.
In honor of the show’s debut, here are my five highlights from Secret Invasion‘s first episode.
RELATED: Check out our recap of Secret Invasion Season 1 Episode 1, “Resurrection”
That Ross Reveal
Right out of the gate, Secret Invasion reminds us not to trust everything we see. Yet here I was, convinced I was seeing the real Everett Ross (Martin Freeman) onscreen. Sure, he was struck by a vehicle while that Skrull pursued him through the busy streets of Moscow, but adrenaline does crazy things to our nervous systems. And yeah, a normal human probably wouldn’t have survived a head smack on the side of a building followed by a complete face plant from falling at least six or seven stories. Of course, we know the Skrull impersonating him died shortly thereafter.
Ross’s behavior with Prescod (Richard Dormer) didn’t seem out of the ordinary to me. This indicates just how subtly brilliant the Skrulls are at imitating human mannerisms. Hopefully, we’ll see the genuine Ross at some point in the show.
Fury and Talos’ Relationship
I love the bond between Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) and Talos (Ben Mendelsohn). Jackson and Mendelsohn are such consummate performers that you can feel the three decades of history between their characters. They both have a sense of world-weariness, yet they harbor apparent affection for each other. They trade easygoing wisecracks that never feel too quippy, which is Marvel’s modus operandi. I’d argue how they joke feels more true to life.
“Resurrection” depicts a solid continuation of their previously established relationship and how important Fury and Talos are to each other.
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The Fight Between Talos and Poprishchin
This outing doesn’t boast many action sequences, but I enjoyed the short-lived bout of fisticuffs between Talos and Poprishchin (Uriel Emil). Perhaps it was amusing watching two middle-aged men beat the ever-loving snot out of each other, especially knowing that, in real life, neither would walk away from that unscathed. Fury ending the fight also puts his friendship with Talos to the test and shifts the power balance between them.
Something tells me it’ll culminate in Talos assuming Fury believes he can’t fend for himself. That might create an intriguing conflict and pave the way for more character exploration.
Fury and Sonya’s Repartee
It’s a well-known fact: Olivia Colman makes everything exponentially better. Like Fury and Talos, there’s a ton of unexplored history between our beleaguered former S.H.I.E.L.D. director and Sonya Falsworth, an MI6 agent. Their brief interaction is multifaceted, colored by layered glances and dialogue that hints at their shared past. While there’s not quite as much affection between them as Fury and Talos, there’s at least a modicum of mutual respect.
Of course, Fury knows Sonya will eradicate anyone standing in her way. I don’t doubt she’d try to take out Fury if he pushed the wrong buttons. Those kinds of relationships, those nuances, are fun to watch.
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The Bomb Sequence and Shocking Ending
“Resurrection” methodically builds toward those final moments with Maria Hill (Cobie Smulders) and Gravik (Kingsley Ben-Adir). It plants clues that the Skrulls have been spying on Fury all along, from the little blonde girl with the ball and the Russian man at the bar to the brunette woman kissing her presumed sweetie on a park bench. I love the sequence wherein one of the Skrull couriers seamlessly transforms into each of the aforementioned characters. Again, who can you trust? No one.
Gravik detonating the bomb nonchalantly in front of Fury undoubtedly paints him as a formidable opponent. While we see very little of him in “Resurrection,” we get some exposition chronicling who he was before The Snap — someone who believed Fury could help the Skrulls find a new home. His anger probably drew G’iah (Emilia Clarke) to his cause, too.
I’d be remiss if I left out that ending. Gravik potentially killed Maria Hill, Fury’s loyal, right-hand companion. The episode shows us Fury didn’t actually shoot her; however, the camera lingering on her body without it transforming into a Skrull suggests she’s gone for good. That said, something tells me this won’t be the last time we see her.
RELATED: Movie Review: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
What are your favorite moments or highlights from “Resurrection”? Sound off in the comments below!
Secret Invasion streams new episodes every Wednesday on Disney+.
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What I do: I'm GGA's Managing Editor, a Senior Contributor, and Press Coordinator. I manage, contribute, and coordinate. Sometimes all at once. Joking aside, I oversee day-to-day operations for GGA, write, edit, and assess interview opportunities/press events.
Who I am: Before moving to Los Angeles after studying theater in college, I was born and raised in Amish country, Ohio. No, I am not Amish, even if I sometimes sport a modest bonnet.
Bylines in: Tell-Tale TV, Culturess, Sideshow Collectibles, and inkMend on Medium.
Critic: Rotten Tomatoes, CherryPicks, and the Hollywood Creative Alliance.
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