The next entry in the bloated lineup of MCU content has dropped in the form of Secret Invasion, an espionage thriller attempting to bring something new to the franchise. Samuel L. Jackson's Nick Fury takes the lead role for the first time in an MCU project, tasked with putting a stop to the Skrulls who have infiltrated all corners of the globe.
The series kicked off on such a high, it was shaping up to be the best TV show in the MCU. The darker spy thriller vibes were prominent from the opening scene, and the slower pace of the first episode gave ample time for the tension to build towards an explosive climax. A compelling narrative is teased very early on, and it's set up in a way that makes you want the next episode ASAP. This continues through the second episode - the tension is ramped up significantly, the story becomes much clearer and there's some big revelations that boost the storytelling potential of the series. At this point, it had me well and truly hooked and eager to find out where things were heading. Then the third episode hit, and it became abundantly clear this series could be in trouble. By the end of this episode, it felt like we were only 30% of the way through the natural progression of the story. The slower pace was working really well with building tension, and it gave the impression that there'd be maybe another six or so episodes to go. The worries settled in upon realising this was the halfway point... and the episodes were only getting shorter.
Unfortunately, the season nosedived into the realm of mediocrity after that halfway point. Too many potentially cool storylines were being breezed through in favour of rushing the season to a close. If they'd let these narratives breathe and stretch them out, it could have been just as rewarding as the first few episodes. Because of the whole "too much to do and too little time" conundrum, certain characters like Olivia Colman's Sonya are barely featured, and the main arc feels rushed. Then there's the climax, which is entirely inconsequential and confusing when considering this is part of a wider universe that couldn't possibly feel any more disconnected than right now. If anything, this series went from being a much-anticipated, pivotal entry in the franchise to simply being a bridge to set up characters and stories that will play a role in future projects. It lacks substance and feels like MCU homework, like "you need to watch this to understand how ____ factors in to other projects". Despite loving the spy thriller atmosphere of the early episodes, the lack of payoff puts a stain on them that's hard to overlook.
As for the positives - the dialogue is this series' saving grace. The conversations between the characters, whether they be arguments or deep heart-to-hearts, are some of the most real and riveting in the MCU. Almost every episode has a key scene of just two characters/actors going back and forth and really giving it their all. These scenes are very well written and brilliantly acted, and each one became the best and most memorable moment of its respective episode. Regardless of whether there was an action sequence or big reveal, it's those smaller character moments that stood out the most - a true testament to the talent of the writers. Otherwise, the action was solid - there was clearly a decent chunk of the budget put towards making the action look good and it pays off. Despite the narrative woes and lacklustre tension, the various gunfights that occur throughout are at least fun to watch and add to the entertainment factor.
Speaking of the visuals, there is some de-ageing tech (or deepfake tech) used on one specific character that's honestly one of the best examples I've seen. Granted, the scenes don't involve any crazy action - it's usually just the character sitting and talking - but it's so clean that they could say they used a time machine and I'd believe them.
In taking on the lead role, Samuel L. Jackson shows why he's still one of the greats in the business. He's better than he's ever been as Nick Fury, and that stems from the character having a lot more to do. There's a strong emotional arc tied to the character this time around, and Jackson nails every beat. Those brilliant bouts of dialogue that were touched on - he's a part of nearly all of them. So much of the series rests on his shoulders, and he delivers. Alongside him is Ben Mendelsohn returning as Talos, another classy actor who once again shines in every scene. His best scenes are those in which he's able to flex his acting chops opposite Emilia Clarke's G'iah. Emilia Clarke is good, but her potential isn't capitalised on as she's not featured all that much. Speaking of not being featured, Olivia Colman is without a doubt the best new addition to the MCU. Her character is a burst of charisma that never failed to impress and garner great laughs. The only downside is that she might only have 15 minutes of screen time across the entire series, a truly criminal decision.
Lastly, Kingsley Ben-Adir plays a great, although narrow-sighted, villain who lends himself to some very riveting scenes. He won't be one of the MCU's most memorable villains in the long run, but he's a strong addition to the cast who elevates most scenes he's a part of.
In the end, Secret Invasion dropping the ball only throws more fuel into the fire that is the dwindling MCU. It has gone from being a franchise where every film was a successive episode, to a mess of storylines and characters that don't look like they'll ever intersect in a meaningful way. This series tries to do something refreshing by adopting the feel of an espionage thriller, and it's admittedly very successful at first. But then it nosedives in quality, to the point where the last few episodes went from immediate watches to "I'll get to it maybe tomorrow". It's a shame that the narrative couldn't deliver a thrilling conclusion, especially considering the dialogue and performances are just so good the whole way through. That being said, it's enjoyable, but not a rewarding or fulfilling entry in the end.
6.1/10
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