IR TV Review: SECRET INVASION - EPISODE 3 [Marvel/Disney+]
The aspect of consequence versus rhetoric continues to be a continuing theme in "Secret Invasion" with Episode 3. Nick Fury seems unable to come to terms with his own perspective of power undermining what it takes to keep his notion of life together. The story speaks to an existential crisis of sorts that Fury can't come to terms with after the blip. Different circumstances affect different people at different times. The progression here shows a disconnect on Fury's side without showing the bigger context of The Avengers and others. As a result, much of the story here seems circumspect in a way or more incomplete than it should be. Besides the inclusion of Rhodes (Don Cheadle) in a recent episode, Fury is pretty alone except for Talos (Ben Mendelsohn). That relationship and their arguments among each other is what makes the show watchable since it is at the center which is being discussed which is a broken promise.
The issue is that when big life changing elements (one attack is put in play) are in play, Fury is the only one to deal with it (which in the context of Marvel doesn't seem likely). The inclusion of how G'aia (Emilia Clarke) works is a bit interesting but one never gets that sense of power until one scene with Graffik (Kingsley Ben-Amir). With one look, there is that glimpse of darkness the Queen Of The Dragons had in Clarke's eyes. The series needs more of it but it is unsure if that will happen. Graffik comes off a little more one note than he should be...more as a barely grown up child than a tactician. This is shown in a scene with Talos which is nicely done but doesn't quite again set the right stakes. It is apparent that the story is a story of promises broken and history of retrubution repeating itself in a way. But with the except of certain performances (especially Mendelsohn), It hasn't achieved that watercooler essence that Marvel used to engage and deliver. Even "She-Hulk" (with some of its faults) had that aura. Hopefully "Secret Invasion" builds. But if it is moving towards "The Marvels", the balance is not yet well set. C+
By Tim Wassberg
