The first series from the fifth phase of the Marvel Cinematic Universe is finally set to arrive on Disney+ this summer, and “Secret Invasion” is slightly different from the previous shows, as it feels much more like part of the larger Marvel Cinematic Universe, since it pulls in well-known characters, like Maria Hill, Agent Ross, Talos, James Rhodes (War Machine) and Nick Fury, with lots of references to the Avengers and the Blip.

“Secret Invasion” feels very much like a direct sequel to “Captain Marvel”, but without the title character, instead focusing on the after-effects of having the Skrulls moving to Earth and helping SHIELD. Because as time has gone on, unsurprisingly, not everything has gone smoothly, especially with Nick Fury being gone for five years during the blip.

Many of the Skrulls are no longer happy, just blending in with humans and long for a life on their own planet, being able to walk freely, without disguising their true selves. While many of the Skrulls are happy to continue hiding in plain sight, now a group of rebel Skrulls have begun working to destroy the world, wiping humans off the planet, to take Earth as their own. Kingsley Ben-Adir plays the leader, Gravik, and he is simply fantastic. He has a natural charisma that allows you to emphasise with them, but also, ultimately, you want Nick Fury and the gang to stop him.

If you are a fan of the “Secret Invasion” comic book, it’s best to look at this show as “inspired” by, since it has very little in common with the core storyline.  Instead, this show looks at the “Secret Invasion” more from the human aspect, rather than the idea that any superhero could be a Skrull, though there are some hints of where this story could eventually go in the future.

I was lucky enough to see these two episodes at a special screening event in London and so enjoyed both on the big screen at a cinema. This certainly increased the enjoyment of the show, because, honestly, I forgot I was watching a show, and with the star power involved in the project, it could have easily been a movie, had the second episode not finished on a cliffhanger and instantly, I wanted to know what happened next. Oh, and the first episode also ends on a massive cliffhanger, but I don’t want to get into spoiler territory on that one.

The first two episodes of “Secret Invasion” were fantastic, especially the first one, it’s got that gritty down to earth (pun intended) feel that is more in line with “The Winter Soldier” and playing within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. There is this element of paranoia throughout the show, because you can never truly trust who is who. It’s a unique aspect of the show and will no doubt become more important in the future, because I can’t believe this storyline is going to be fully wrapped up within six episodes.

While the show is dark and gritty, it still finds time to have a few light-hearted moments, that make you connect with the characters. Olivia Colman’s character, MI6 agent, Sonya Falsworth, is a delight, and she steals every scene she is in, with some quirky comedy that shows a brutal side that is a bit unhinged. It’s also great to see Nick Fury getting more screen time and expanding on the character, in a way we’ve not seen before. As Nick Fury is the glue that holds the MCU together, it’s great to see him being a little more vulnerable and shaken after losing to Thanos, but there is an issue with this series is that with the upcoming release of “The Marvels” film in November, is that we know Nick Fury is kinda back to his usual self and is shown on the SABER satellite station above the earth, so it overshadows everything, because you have to assume everything turns out ok in this series.

The first two episodes of “Secret Invasion” are fantastic, and I can’t wait to see where the series goes and how it could set up other issues within the MCU later down the line.  After so many adventures within the multiverse in the past year or so, it’s refreshing to bring everything back down to the ground level, with humans living within an ever-changing world and being desperate to hold onto what it is that makes us special.

Rating – 4.5 Out Of 5.

The first episode of Marvel’s “Secret Invasion” is arriving on Disney+ on Wednesday, 21st June 2023

Are you going to be checking out “Secret Invasion” on Disney+? Let us know on social media!

Roger Palmer

Roger has been a Disney fan since he was a kid and this interest has grown over the years. He has visited Disney Parks around the globe and has a vast collection of Disney movies and collectibles. He is the owner of What's On Disney Plus & DisKingdom. Email: Roger@WhatsOnDisneyPlus.com Twitter: Twitter.com/RogPalmerUK Facebook: Facebook.com/rogpalmeruk

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