Secret Invasion is the first Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) Disney+ series of 2023 and it might be one of the best yet. After several series with Egyptian gods and superpowers in 2022, we’re back to exploring the more grounded and gritty part of the MCU. While each of the shows in 2022 introduced a new hero into the MCU, Secret Invasion shines the spotlight on existing characters like Samuel L. Jackson’s Nick Fury and others.

Skrulls Attack!

Kingsley Ben-Adir as Rebel Skrull leader Gravik in Marvel Studios’ Secret Invasion, exclusively on Disney+. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. © 2022 MARVEL.

It’s great to see Samuel L. Jackson in a prominent role again in the MCU with Secret Invasion. As Nick Fury, he didn’t really get much to do in the MCU after 2019’s Captain Marvel, but this series changes that. As a legendary veteran actor, he brings the most layered performance of Nick Fury to Secret Invasion. In the movies, he’s pretty much focused on being this distant secret agent man who can do anything. In Secret Invasion, we learn more about him as a character, including his having lived through a time when Americans were still segregated according to the colour of their skin. Yes, just like 2021’s The Falcon And The Winter Soldier, Secret Invasion isn’t afraid to explore mature and controversial subject matter, such as racism (both in human skin colour terms and in terms of wider xenophobia when involving the Skrulls), the often-inhumane treatment of refugees and more. Also, Nick Fury in Secret Invasion feels like he’s actually human, with flaws and regrets that haunt him, which makes him a more interesting character.

Even after only having watched two episodes of Secret Invasion, there is plenty of political intrigue, thrilling espionage, conspiracies and emotions. It has a lot of tension with a grounded and gritty tone that evokes the more realistic vibe of 2014’s Captain America The Winter Soldier and 2021’s The Falcon And The Winter Soldier. Best of all, the narrative twists can be unexpected and shocking at times, leaving you wanting more at the end of each episode. Speaking of that, the ending of the first episode of Secret Invasion will probably be one of the most controversial ones yet for an MCU Disney+ series, but it will also quickly establish how high the stakes are in Secret Invasion, and believe me, they are.

(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.

Despite being different from the comic book version of Secret Invasion, the sense of paranoia is still there. However, the biggest change is that the MCU version of Secret Invasion doesn’t waste time in establishing who the main antagonists are early on. Therefore, the core mystery isn’t who the bad guys are, but instead, it’s Nick Fury scrambling to figure out what exactly they’re planning to do before it’s too late. Some characters are greyer than others, which makes for some great performances from the supporting cast of characters and that’s what you want in a spy thriller like this. These include new ones such as Olivia Colman’s Sonya Falsworth and Emilia Clarke as G’iah, as well as returning characters like Ben Mendelsohn’s Talos and Don Cheadle’s Rhodey.

There are six planned episodes for Secret Invasion, and the first two episodes are both more than 50 minutes long, which means that you’re getting plenty of meat with each episode. The rest of the episodes in Secret Invasion will likely be around the same length as well. This is especially so because some people complained about how short the sitcom-length episodes in She-Hulk and even Ms Marvel were. It doesn’t seem like Secret Invasion will feel rushed like those shows did.

Old Man Nick Fury

(L-R): Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury and Ben Mendelsohn as Talos in Marvel Studios’ SECRET INVASION, exclusively on Disney+. Photo by Des Willie. © 2023 MARVEL.

More than anything, Secret Invasion is essentially the solo series that Samuel L. Jackson’s Nick Fury deserves after all these years of working mostly behind the scenes in the MCU. The setup in the first two episodes is amazing; now all Secret Invasion has to do is to stick the landing and so far, it looks very much capable of doing that too.

FINAL SCORE: 80/100

We received an early screener of the first two episodes of Marvel’s Secret Invasion courtesy of Disney+ Hotstar Malaysia. Marvel’s Secret Invasion is slated to premiere on Disney+ Hotstar on 21 June 2023.