IR TV Review: SECRET INVASION - EPISODE 2 [Marvel/Disney+]
The progression through the idea of what "Secret Invasion" needs to become rests on the shoulders of Nick Fury and the sense of what he has traded versus his perspective on life. Like everyone in certain ways, the blip has an effective existential crisis at play. This is a much different Nick Fury. We see a split side of him which was perhaps not as visible in "The Avengers" or "Captain Marvel". Episode 2 of "Secret Invasion" speaks to certain promises made and opportunities lost. This is as much a tale of refugees as it is about mismanagement of expectation. Samuel L. Jackson plays Fury in a more wounded way but with enough ego to go around.
An interesting interaction later in the episode with Colonel Rhodes/War Machine (Don Cheadle) plays to this but the conversation is well written with a modern dynamic and perspective that places their Marvel journey in an interesting context. Disappointment of self and preservation is a bigger theme as we see some different power grabs moving in a certain directions. The Skrulls have a different progression but it reflects interestingly in the same mistakes that Fury might have made...and yet they are continuing to make them.
Emilia Clarke as G'iah is an interesting character because she is both connected and disconnected and the way Clarke is playing it shows a subconcious (or at least subliminal) perspective moving her maybe in a different direction than those she is following. The key is that anyone can be anybody here (in a way) which is an interesting reflection of what terrorism in certain ways versus the context of freedom fighters can mean depending on which side is making a move. Olivia Colman continues to be an interesting contradiction (although welcome) to the mix bringing her unique timing and humor as an MI6 agent with more info than she is revealing up her sleeve. Fury has that as well but it is clear that he is stumbling which might either be his path to redemption or his ultimate sacrifice or betrayal (again depending on his own perception of the situation). B
By Tim Wassberg
