One of the main reasons “Secret Invasion” got off to such a rocky start last week was its refusal (or was it just utter indifference?) to properly provide real-world context for newcomers. Yes, it’s fair to expect viewers to have a basic understanding of the Skrulls, their ability to shapeshift, and the threat they potentially pose should one decide to turn against the Skrulls. humanity – which, admittedly, the premiere’s opening scene conveys quite effectively. But how many viewers could reasonably remember who Ben Mendelsohn’s Talos was in ‘Captain Marvel’, quickly figure out that his wife Soren (Sharon Blynn) has apparently died off-screen since we last saw her impersonating for Cobie Smulders’ Maria Hill in the “Spider-Man: Far From Home” post-credits scene, and just follow the many references to a vague “promise” Fury and Talos once made to the Skrulls who have since joined Gravik (Kingsley Ben-Adir) cause?
Well, episode 2 (directed once again by Ali Selim and credited to writer Brian Tucker, who shares “Story by” credit with Brant Englestein) finally realizes that all of this information is actually quite important. We start with a much-needed “Before in the MCU” segment explaining the whole deal with the Skrulls, as established in “Captain Marvel,” and a later scene set in 1995, two years after Carol Danvers flew away. in the cosmos. Here, the digitally aged Nick Fury first encounters young Gravik, a survivor of the Kree/Skrull war who turned this entire species into refugees in need of a new home and, based on his considerable skills at such a young age. , someone Fury could unlock to his full potential. With the banter settled, we learn the promise Fury swore to all Skrulls: that if they help protect Earth from threats, he’ll help them find a new home.
Doesn’t that explain a lot of the actions of Gravik and G’iah (Emilia Clarke) in the premiere? Yeah! Is there a reason this crucial detail had to be withheld until now, leaving viewers in the dark for an entire week? Not really! But, with the fundamentals taken care of late, at least the rest of the episode is free to get things going.