REVIEW: ‘Secret Invasion’ Season 1 Fails to Deliver Anything New

Despite the considerable talent leading the charge, Secret Invasion Season 1 was always facing an uphill battle. In part due to superhero fatigue as well as clear signs of strain from the studio itself, the series, loosely based on the popular comic series, Secret Invasion fails to deliver a distinct tone. From visuals that lacked punch due to gray and drab settings to poorly written characters who were made to adhere to plot convenience rather than becoming their own heroes and villains alike, the six-episode series never found its footing. Instead, it became increasingly unsteady as the series continued, resulting in a story that never justified its own existence. It’s IP for IP’s sake, not a shred of personality or artistic vision present. 

Secret Invasion Season 1 was meant to be the Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) show, and it was to a degree. He returns from his work in space following years gone following the blip, a perceived shell of the man close friend and confidant once new. It’s the most the audience has ever learned of this iteration of the character, from getting to know his wife to his friendship with the Skrull Talos (Ben Mendelsohn) and then, in the finale, the fatigue he’d been suffering pre-Thanos and how being turned to dust was a moment of relief for the weary spy. 

There’s a reason why the show’s best moments are ones where Jackson’s Fury is sharing space with friends and loved ones. He and Mendelsohn share a palpable chemistry that delivers some of the series’ only comedy. The same goes for the scenes with Rhodey (Don Cheadle) and Fury, the two and their history infusing their sequences with a livewire energy, even before we learn that this Rhodey is actually a Skrull. The series would’ve been smart to have given Jackson and Olivia Colman’s Sonya more scenes together, as their charm bounces off of one another. 

If the series, directed by Ali Selim, had kept the story close to the chest maybe it would have fared better. It certainly wouldn’t have struggled with developing multiple new characters, such as villain Gravick (Kinglsey Ben-Adir) who becomes more unruly and cartoonish as the series continues. But he, along with the newly introduced G’iah (Emilia Clarke) the daughter of Talos only adds to the often convoluted plot despite the very human character at the center. The creators sought to tell a story that harkened back to classic espionage stories. Maybe they really were inspired by the genre, but Secret Invasion doesn’t come close to possessing that energy.

Dark and violent with plenty of death to surround Fury with and increase his guilt, the series no doubt counted this violence as its tone. But some of the most impactful dramas possess little blood and gore, and some of the most suspenseful stories can be created through dialogue alone. Instead, the series relied on shock value headshots and bloodshed to try and distinguish itself from the pack. If the action itself was directed better maybe it would be more effective. 

It’s all just so uninspired. Fury is an interesting character no doubt but the show doesn’t seem to know what to do with him. They’ll come close to broaching interesting ideas and traits that we’ve yet to see him explore but then they’ll move quickly on to the next major objective — such as Gravick’s want for the Harvest, the DNA of the strongest Avengers — and his growth will be forgotten. The series takes itself seriously to the point of its own detriment and rather than look for character depth and levity it instead gets lost in its own need to bridge stories throughout the MCU. 

Secret Invasion Season 1 might be the worst television series the studio has released so far because it lacks vision. There’s no vibrancy to the show, no passion behind the filmmaking or the performances. Not every superhero story needs to be bursting with color, and there’s plenty of room for the genre to reach beyond the expected tropes — it’s encouraged, even. But Secret Invasion isn’t just gray, it’s lifeless. For someone as lively and bursting with charisma as Jackson, the fact that he couldn’t even bring a spark of energy to this downtrodden series is telling. Secret Invasion is forgettable, and achieves little more than further deepening the lore for the MCU’s ongoing larger story. 

Secret Invasion Season 1 is available now on Disney+