‘Secret Invasion’ Recap: ‘Resurrection’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

(L-R): Cobie Smulders as Maria Hill and Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury in Marvel Studios' SECRET INVASION, exclusively on Disney+. Photo by Des Willie. © 2023 MARVEL.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the Series Premiere of ‘Secret Invasion’.
​
One thing that hardcore fans of comics can agree upon, is that Marvel does a fine job of translating and adapting classic comic storylines into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Which allowed for the Infinity Saga to wow us through and through. By giving us all the big moments, we always wanted to see on the big screen and by offering up new spins on classic comic stories. And now, as Phase Four of this iconic film/television franchise continues along, the time has come for another wildly popular and iconic comic series to come to life in the MCU, courtesy of the latest Disney+ MCU, release… Secret Invasion, which just so happened to debut on the network yesterday, to much curiosity.
​
Simply because, this was quite the powerhouse and epic series when it debuted in print about the same time that the MCU kicked off, and well… the curiosity in question comes from the fact that fans have been eager to know how this adaptation would play out in the MCU. After all, the Avengers were still in play in the comics, and they’re disbanded essentially in the MCU. Not to mention, there are characters in the printed story, that have yet to debut in the MCU. Well as it turns out, in order to bring this to fruition without Tony Stark in play… the brain trust at Marvel decided the best way to handle this story, would be to convert it into a grandiose spy drama. One gritty and dark and that featured echoes of The Winter Soldier, and that made ‘Resurrection’ quite the powerful, intelligent, and moving, and at times… terrifying tale.

Feats that this episode accomplished by bringing Nick Fury home from S.A.B.R.E., simply because things were going awry with the Skrulls. In fact, they were getting downright dangerous, and who better to help with this than Nick Fury? Which brought forth quite the opening chapter to this tale, one that was calculated and careful and oddly emotional. Since the plot to harm humanity, forced Nick to really ponder upon his past and his actions and that added real depth to this story. Since we don’t think about the impact that constant fighting has upon the human psyche, not to mention… the story also offers up a fascinating view from the Skrull perspective. Specifically, how not having a home created desperation and disdain for humanity, the kind born out of empty promises and that… set the stage for a bleak spy story.

One that saw the Skrull working hard to bring forth a dirty bomb. So that they could destabilize governments and swoop in and take control. Forcing Fury and Hill, and Talos to race against the clock and learn all they can as only spies would, only to be foiled along the way in a devastating manner. Wherein a hero fell, and where the bad guys won and that… brought forth one stunning premiere. One that truly upped the stakes for the MCU, since now the planet is in a different kind of jeopardy, and vulnerable thanks to the fact that so few have on eyes on this, and of course… this deeply invested us. After all, we simply have to know if Nick Fury can find his tough nature once again and rise to the occasion at a time when the world’s heroes are scattered to the winds or gone forever. 

But while the plot alone could have carried this story from beginning to end, as could the show’s unique commentary regarding how we view immigrants in the modern world, what truly makes it so engaging and moving, is the acting present here. Because everyone in this story turns some magnificent performances, with Samuel L. Jackson leading the charge by giving us a flawed Fury who is clearly working through some pain, and he is complemented nicely by Ben Mendelshon’s reinvention of Talos at a different stage in his life. And of course, Cobie Smulders reminds us of her brilliance as Maria Hill and even Emilia Clarke, a newcomer to the world of the MCU, holds her own here, quite well. And really, all of these elements make this an incredibly worthwhile watch, one that offers action, adventure, commentary and sets the stage for another incredible adaptation of a classic Marvel story. Except this time around, it may be far darker than its printed counterpart. Until next time.

---

Powered by JustWatch