Secret Invasion Season 1 Episode 2 Review: Promises

After watching Secret Invasion Season 1 Episode 1, I had many ideas, lots of which weren’t optimistic about this newest chapter within the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Thankfully, Secret Invasion Season 1 Episode 2 crammed in lots of blanks and gave Nick’s return to Earth the aim the sequence must maintain an arc all through a season.

It wasn’t good by any means, however it was an enchancment.

Had Disney+ merged the primary two episodes and minimize out some pointless scenes, it might have been a stellar entry into the world of Secret Invasion.

One of the largest complaints of the MCU has been type over substance for current tasks, and these two episodes, mixed with some tweaks, might have highlighted Marvel’s want to ship extra compelling content material.

We do not desire a sequence that looks like a missed alternative, however “Promises” was the most effective foot ahead to determine the conflicts.

Plenty of context was lacking from Secret Invasion Season 1 Episode 1. Without context, we have been left to fill within the blanks, so the flashbacks to 1995 and Talos’ sentiments about how Nick deserted the Skrulls have been welcome.

Nick: Tell me one thing I do not know in regards to the destruction of Skrullos.
Talos: You know all the things there’s to find out about it, Fury.
Nick: Name of the sport is Tell Me Something I Don’t Know.
Talos: We have been overpowered by the Kree. We held’em off for so long as we might. When we could not maintain’em off any longer, the million of us that have been left, we fled.
Nick : Interesting. Tell me one thing I do not know in regards to the Skrulls that fled. Talos: Um… They’re right here.
Nick: Who’s right here? All of us.
Nick: Wait. Whoa, whoa, whoa! You’re tellin’ me there’s one million Skrulls strolling amongst us proper now? Have you misplaced your reptilian-ass thoughts?
Talos: I despatched out the decision and each Skrull that is not in Emperor Drogge’s colony, they answered.
Nick: You lied to me!
Talos: Hey, we have been being hunted throughout the universe. I had two decisions, I might let my individuals be annihilated or summon’em right here to Earth. What would you could have executed?
Nick: This ain’t about me!
Talos: Oh, proper. But you are effective utilizing us as your spies and your errand boys, lengthy because it’s in your phrases.
Nick: The host will get to set the phrases of the visitation.
Talos: What occurs when the host disappears, huh? ‘Cause you have been gone! And I did not assume you have been coming again, I actually did not. And even while you did come again, there was no speaking to you about something actual. Your boots barely hit Earth. And, “Oh, it’s too heavy here, man. I gotta go up to my space station.” You’ve been up there for years!
Nick: You knew the best way to get in contact with me, Talos, and also you did not since you did not need me to know.
Talos: My hope… My hope is that together with your assist… Skrulls and people can coexist, right here on Earth.
Nick: Human cannot coexist with one another! You’ve been right here lengthy sufficient to know that! We’ve been at battle with one another since we might stroll upright! There will not be sufficient room or tolerance on this planet for an additional species! Matter of reality, neither is that this prepare compartment. I believe that is your cease.

Interestingly, Nick is now being portrayed as this man who’s in a morally gray space as a result of, till now, he is been described as this man who has the most effective pursuits of the Earth at coronary heart.

Hearing that he deserted the Skrulls after vowing to assist them helped clarify the difficult dynamic of his relationship with Talos and why Gravik had it out for him.

The Skrulls have been delivered to Earth to assist people, work as spies, to assist preserve issues operating easily, however someplace alongside the best way, everybody overlooked the operation.

Truthfully, Nick is accountable for the majority of it as a result of how have been the Skrulls alleged to really feel when the person who stated he’d preserve them secure disappeared with no hint?

Had Nick had extra confidantes and other people he might belief, he might have left the Skrulls in higher palms, however for now, it is arduous to not assume that Nick’s actions have been the catalyst for Gravik’s grasp plan.

We’ll get to Gravik in a bit of as a result of we nonetheless have a lot to unpack about Talos’ actions.

Talos knew he needed to do one thing to maintain the Skrulls secure in order that he would sneak all of them onto Earth. If you are ready of energy and know your individuals are dying, why should not you do all the things you’ll be able to to avoid wasting them?

Obviously, Talos saved his emotions about people in examine, however that is additionally why Gravik’s group ostracized him.

Look at it from their perspective: They have been excommunicated and never handled like residents.

They have been in search of somebody to guide them, and it is arduous to imagine they’d observe somebody who was pro-humans when the people have been anti-aliens.

It’s arduous to be aggravated with Talos’ actions as a result of he did what anybody who cared about his individuals would have executed. It was a troublesome name, and he needed to make it.

Nick’s self-righteous sentiments about Talos’ choice got here out of nowhere, however despite the fact that Nick is misguided, he did make some feedback that made sense.

Gravik: Long earlier than we arrived on this planet, they have been destined to eat themselves. So, for anybody flinching on the considered harmless deaths, let me guarantee you, we’re solely hastening the inevitable.
Sergio: And what occurs if the Avengers return?
Gravik: You do not assume I thought of that? Put your religion in me. And I promise, your loyalty shall be repaid.

It’s arduous to get a superb learn on Nick as a result of his actions aren’t synonymous together with his views, and even the closing scene of him assembly his spouse, who’s a Skrull, got here out of nowhere.

It makes you assume Nick is placing on a entrance in entrance of the opposite Skrulls to cover the very fact he is married to at least one.

It additionally makes me wonder if Nick’s views on the Skrulls will change as Secret Invasion Season 1 progresses. He can solely accomplish that a lot, operating from the mess he is created.

Going into Secret Invasion, I did not count on this stage of depth for Nick. He’s somebody we have recognized on this universe for years, so props to the creatives for locating new methods to develop the character.

I’m frightened about how far Nick will push Talos as a result of there’s all the time that likelihood he might return to the Skrulls, even individuals like Gravik.

Granted, Gravik would most likely have him put down with no second thought.

The flashbacks gave us perception into Gravik’s views on the human race. As a younger Skrull, his life was perpetually modified by the genocide on Kree.

Fleeing to Earth, he most likely thought it might be a secure haven for individuals like him.

Despite his previous being rooted in ache, it is apparent Gravik was all the time meant to be a villain. His actions are cutthroat, and he is aware of what’s anticipated of him to guide his individuals to achieve their mission for world domination.

The revelations in regards to the world leaders being Skrulls wasn’t a shock as a result of how else would these individuals nonetheless reside on Earth in the event that they posed this massive of a risk to the human race’s existence?

While Gravik is a strong villain up to now, he is making some silly choices, which might return to chunk him within the butt as Secret Invasion Season 1 continues.

Allowing Shirley to go away the key assembly was foolish, so I assume he knew she’d name Talos and fill him in about all the things.

Gravik has it out for Talos due to their distinctly completely different viewpoints of how Skrulls ought to immerse themselves into the world.

That’s why I will not be shocked when Gravik does one thing to hurt G’iah. He has to know Talos’ daughter is merely a spy, inflicting issues for his operation.

G’iah is not even a superb spy. She’s sneaking into locations she might get caught and making unilateral choices that may most likely be traced again to her simply.

I’m nonetheless not offered on the character as a result of there is a full lack of emotion, however I’m starting to grasp the intent right here.

The husband-and-wife scientists working collectively to usher in a brand new sort of Skrull is attention-grabbing for a lot of causes as a result of, if Nick and the opposite people within the loop know the weaknesses of the alien race, would not it’s enjoyable to change up their weaknesses?

The easter eggs to among the different heroes within the MCU have been welcomed when G’iah was on the pc, however it might have additionally been the right scene for Gravik to concede that she’s a spy.

Which brings me to Sonya. Olivia Colman is killing it right here, and I can not wait to see what Sonya brings to the desk as this human vs. Skrulls battle will get underway.

Indeed, Sonya and Nick now have a vested curiosity in working collectively. I had a sense Sonya can be revealed as a Skrull, however that may’t be the case, or she would not have bolted via the escape hatch of the butcher retailer.

There’s loads of potential with a sequence like Secret Invasion, and hopefully, the sequence will attain its full potential rapidly as a result of the great is beginning to outweigh the unhealthy.

What are your ideas on these Nick bombshells?

Do you blame him for the present state of the world?

What are your ideas on Gravik’s grasp plan?

Hit the feedback.

Catch new episodes on Wednesdays on Disney+.

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