====== Secret Invasion (TV Series) ======
===== Part 1: The Dossier: An At-a-Glance Summary =====
  *   **Core Identity:** **A Marvel Cinematic Universe espionage thriller that follows a weary [[Nick Fury]] as he uncovers a clandestine invasion of Earth by a radicalized faction of shapeshifting [[Skrulls]], forcing him to confront the consequences of his past promises.**
  *   **Key Takeaways:**
  * **Role in the Universe:** //Secret Invasion// is a cornerstone of the MCU's Phase Five, pivoting away from cosmic spectacle to a grounded, paranoid spy story. It provides a long-overdue character study of [[Nick Fury]], exploring his vulnerabilities and motivations after the events of [[avengers_endgame|Avengers: Endgame]], while establishing a new, volatile political landscape on Earth. [[saber|S.A.B.E.R.]].
  * **Primary Impact:** The series permanently alters the MCU's status quo by killing two long-standing characters ([[Maria Hill]] and [[Talos]]), introducing the immensely powerful concept of the Super-Skrull via "The Harvest," and inciting a global war between humanity and all extraterrestrial species, setting the stage for future conflicts.
  * **Key Incarnations:** Unlike the sprawling, hero-filled 2008 comic book event of the same name, the MCU adaptation is a focused, character-driven narrative. It eschews the mass replacement of superheroes for a more intimate story of political infiltration, centering the conflict on Fury's personal failures and relationships rather than a full-scale superhero war.
===== Part 2: Origin and Evolution =====
==== Production History and Development ====
//Secret Invasion// was officially announced as a television series for the [[disney_plus|Disney+]] streaming service in December 2020 during Disney's Investor Day presentation. Kevin Feige confirmed that Samuel L. Jackson would reprise his role as Nick Fury, with Ben Mendelsohn returning as Talos. The series was positioned as a key "crossover event" for the platform, promising to bring a unique tone to the MCU.
Kyle Bradstreet, known for his work on the similarly toned series //Mr. Robot//, was attached as the head writer, signaling the show's intended direction as a psychological spy thriller. In 2021, the main cast began to fill out with high-profile actors, including Olivia Colman, Emilia Clarke, Kingsley Ben-Adir, and Killian Scott. Ben-Adir was confirmed to be playing the primary antagonist, Gravik.
Filming commenced in London in September 2021 under the working title "Jambalaya," with Ali Selim directing all six episodes. Production spanned across the UK, with locations in Halifax, Leeds, and Huddersfield, before concluding in late April 2022. The series is a major installment in Phase Five of the MCU, bridging narrative gaps for Nick Fury between `[[spider-man_far_from_home|Spider-Man: Far From Home]]` and `[[the_marvels]]`. The series premiered on June 21, 2023, and concluded on July 26, 2023.
==== In-Universe Context and Premise ====
The narrative foundation of //Secret Invasion// is built upon promises made and broken decades apart, establishing a complex and tragic backstory for the Skrull refugees.
=== Earth-199999 (Marvel Cinematic Universe) ===
The story's seeds were planted in the 1995-set film `[[captain_marvel_(film)|Captain Marvel]]`. In that film, a younger [[Nick Fury]] and [[Carol Danvers]] discover that the Skrulls are not warmongering invaders, but rather a race of refugees fleeing genocide at the hands of the [[Kree Empire]]. After helping them escape a Kree attack, Fury makes a solemn promise to Talos and the surviving Skrulls: he and Captain Marvel will find them a new homeworld.
For the next 30 years, this promise went unfulfilled. The post-credits scene of `[[spider-man_far_from_home|Spider-Man: Far From Home]]` revealed that Fury was off-world commanding a massive space station (later identified as S.A.B.E.R.), while Talos and his wife Soren had been impersonating Fury and Maria Hill on Earth. This established that a significant Skrull population was now living secretly on Earth, working for Fury in exchange for his continued help.
//Secret Invasion// picks up in the present day, post-[[the_blip|Blip]]. An entire generation of Skrulls has been born on Earth, knowing it as their only home. A disillusioned and radicalized faction, led by the charismatic and ruthless Gravik, has emerged. They believe Fury's promise was a lie used to exploit their people as a covert intelligence network. Citing humanity's violent nature as proof they are unworthy of the planet, Gravik's faction initiates a series of terrorist acts designed to provoke a war between the United States and Russia, believing that the ensuing nuclear fallout will eradicate humanity and leave Earth ripe for Skrull conquest. The series begins when Maria Hill summons a weary, guilt-ridden Fury back from his self-imposed exile on S.A.B.E.R. to stop the invasion he inadvertently helped create.
=== Earth-616 (Prime Comic Universe Inspiration) ===
The source material, the 2008 comic book storyline `[[secret_invasion_(comics)|Secret Invasion]]` written by Brian Michael Bendis, is vastly different in scale and execution. In the comics, the invasion was not the act of a desperate refugee faction but a meticulously planned, quasi-religious conquest by the Skrull Empire, led by Empress Veranke.
The comic storyline was the culmination of years of foreshadowing. Following the destruction of the Skrull throneworld by Galactus, the deeply religious Empress Veranke rose to power, citing a prophecy that Earth was destined to become the new Skrull homeworld. The Skrull Empire spent years perfecting technology that made their agents completely undetectable to telepathy, magic, and even [[Wolverine]]'s heightened senses.
Over this period, they abducted and replaced dozens of key figures in the Marvel Universe, including superheroes like [[Elektra]], [[Black Bolt]], [[Hank Pym]], and [[Spider-Woman]] (who was replaced by Veranke herself). The core theme was paranoia; the heroes discovered the infiltration and immediately turned on one another, unable to trust their oldest friends. The invasion itself was a massive, global military assault, with armies of [[Super-Skrull]] warriors attacking major cities. It was an epic superhero war that involved nearly every character on Earth, from the [[Avengers]] and the [[Fantastic Four]] to the [[thunderbolts|Thunderbolts]]. The MCU series borrows the core concept of shapeshifting infiltrators but transforms the motivation from imperial conquest to a refugee crisis, making the conflict far more personal to Nick Fury.
===== Part 3: In-Depth Analysis: Timeline, Key Turning Points & Aftermath =====
The series unfolds as a tense, six-part narrative, with each episode escalating the stakes and revealing new layers of the conspiracy.
=== Episode-by-Episode Breakdown ===
==== === Resurrection === ====
The series opens with Agent Everett Ross uncovering a Skrull conspiracy before being killed by a rogue agent, who is then killed by Maria Hill. Recognizing the threat, Hill summons Nick Fury back to Earth from S.A.B.E.R. Fury, visibly aged and disillusioned after The Blip, returns to Moscow to reconnect with Talos and Hill. Talos reveals that a million Skrulls are now living on Earth, far more than Fury knew. They learn of a plan by Gravik's faction to obtain a dirty bomb. Fury's attempt to intercept the exchange fails due to his rustiness. Gravik, disguised as Fury, detonates several bombs in a public square, killing hundreds and branding the real Fury a terrorist. In the chaos, Gravik, disguised as a Russian, shoots and kills Maria Hill, who dies in Fury's arms. This shocking death establishes the series' brutal stakes.
==== === Promises === ====
In the aftermath of the Moscow bombing, Fury is a wanted man. Talos reveals that his own daughter, G'iah, has joined Gravik's extremist faction. Flashbacks to 1997 show a younger Fury meeting a newly orphaned Gravik, whose parents were killed during the Kree-Skrull war, and promising to find his people a home. In the present, Gravik solidifies his power on the Skrull Council by executing a dissenter. In London, Fury meets with MI6 agent Sonya Falsworth, an old and sharp-witted acquaintance. The episode concludes with a major revelation: Fury is married, and his wife, Priscilla (who uses the name Varra), is a Skrull.
==== === Betrayed === ====
G'iah secretly feeds intel to Talos about Gravik's plan to attack a UN delegation. Gravik, aware of the mole, tests G'iah's loyalty. She passes by confirming the false intel he fed her. Meanwhile, Priscilla/Varra makes a mysterious phone call, hinting at her own divided loyalties. Fury and Talos learn of Gravik's true plan: to launch a submarine-based missile strike on a UN plane to trigger a war. They manage to avert the strike with help from Sonya Falsworth. However, Gravik's forces ambush the US President's convoy. In the ensuing firefight, Gravik, having now imbued himself with Extremis powers, stabs and kills Talos in front of a horrified Fury. Before escaping, Gravik orders his soldiers to shoot G'iah, whom he has exposed as the traitor. She is seemingly killed.
==== === Beloved === ====
The episode begins by revealing G'iah survived, having secretly used Gravik's Super-Skrull machine to give herself Extremis healing abilities. Fury and his wife Priscilla have a tense confrontation, where it's revealed she was assigned to kill him by Gravik. They ultimately reconcile, choosing their love over their respective missions. The Skrull impersonating [[James Rhodes|James "Rhodey" Rhodes]] manipulates President Ritson, convincing him that Fury and the Skrulls are responsible for the attacks. "Rhodey" shows the President photos of New Skrullos, Gravik's secret compound in a decommissioned Russian nuclear plant. He also reveals a critical piece of information to Fury: Gravik is searching for "The Harvest." G'iah, now allied with Fury, explains that The Harvest is a collection of DNA samples from the Avengers, gathered from the battlefield after the [[Battle of Earth]] by Fury's Skrull operatives. Gravik plans to use it to create an unstoppable Super-Skrull.
==== === Harvest === ====
Fury takes President Ritson to a hospital after the attack, but Skrull forces, led by "Rhodey," infiltrate the building. Fury, using advanced disguise tech, manages to evacuate the President. He then travels to Finland to a private gravesite bearing his own name, which serves as a secret safehouse. There, he retrieves a special coat and The Harvest vial from a hidden compartment. He meets with Sonya Falsworth, who has also tracked him there, and they form an uneasy alliance. Sonya provides him with a "widow's veil" disguise. G'iah and Priscilla/Varra team up to fend off an attack on Fury's home by Gravik's forces. Fury, now fully recommitted to his role as the world's protector, prepares to confront Gravik at New Skrullos, seemingly ready to hand over The Harvest.
==== === Home === ====
In the series finale, Fury arrives at New Skrullos to confront Gravik. In a stunning twist, it's revealed that G'iah has used her shapeshifting abilities to pose as Fury, delivering The Harvest to Gravik as part of a plan. Believing he has won, Gravik uses The Harvest in his machine, empowering both himself and G'iah with the combined powers of dozens of heroes (including [[Captain Marvel]], [[Hulk]], and [[Thanos]]'s army). An epic battle ensues between the two newly-minted Super-Skrulls, with G'iah ultimately killing Gravik. Meanwhile, the real Fury and Sonya Falsworth rescue the real James Rhodes and other captured humans, revealing Rhodey has been a Skrull captive for a significant period. President Ritson, now safe, makes a televised address declaring all extraterrestrial species on Earth as enemy combatants, inciting global panic and violence against Skrulls. G'iah is recruited by Sonya to protect the innocent Skrulls from human extremists. The series ends with Fury returning to S.A.B.E.R., but this time he is joined by his wife, Varra, who will act as a Skrull ambassador in peace talks with the Kree.
=== The Aftermath: A New World Order ===
The conclusion of //Secret Invasion// leaves the MCU in a precarious and hostile state.
  * **Global Alien Hostility:** President Ritson's "Secret Invasion Act" has effectively declared open war on all off-world species, creating a paranoid and dangerous environment. This sets up major political fallout for future projects, particularly `[[captain_america_brave_new_world|Captain America: Brave New World]]`, where Harrison Ford's Thaddeus Ross is now President.
  * **G'iah, The Ultimate Power:** G'iah is now arguably one of the most powerful beings on Earth, possessing a vast array of abilities. Her alliance with the resourceful Sonya Falsworth creates a new, formidable intelligence network dedicated to protecting the Skrulls.
  * **The Armor Wars Catalyst:** The revelation that James Rhodes was a Skrull for an unknown amount of time, with his armor and security clearances compromised, directly sets up the premise for the upcoming film, `[[armor_wars]]`.
  * **Fury's Renewed Purpose:** Nick Fury, having shed his cynicism, returns to S.A.B.E.R. with a new mission and a partner in his wife, indicating a new chapter for both the character and the organization.
===== Part 4: Key Characters & Factions =====
While the series is named for an event, its strength lies in its deep character work and the interplay between its key figures.
==== Protagonists & Allies ====
  * **[[Nick Fury]]:** The series is Fury's story. Portrayed with profound weariness by Samuel L. Jackson, this version of Fury is broken by his experiences during The Blip and burdened by the guilt of his broken promise to the Skrulls. His arc is one of rediscovery, moving from a man in hiding to the strategic mastermind the world needs, all while navigating the complexities of his marriage and his friendships.
  * **[[Talos]]:** As the leader of the peaceful Skrull faction, Talos (Ben Mendelsohn) is the heart of the series. He is a man caught between his loyalty to his old friend Fury and his duty to his people. His desperation and ultimate faith in a peaceful solution make his brutal murder at the hands of Gravik a pivotal and tragic turning point in the narrative.
  * **[[G'iah]]:** Emilia Clarke's G'iah undergoes the most significant transformation. Initially a disillusioned radical in Gravik's camp, her love for her father, Talos, pulls her back from the brink. She evolves into a cunning double agent and, by the end, becomes the inheritor of The Harvest's power, positioning her as a major new player in the MCU.
  * **[[Sonya Falsworth]]:** A breakout character played with delightful menace by Olivia Colman. Sonya is the Director-General of MI6 and represents a pragmatic, ruthless approach to global security. While her methods are often brutal, she is not a villain, ultimately aligning with Fury to stop Gravik and later with G'iah to manage the fallout, establishing herself as a formidable political operator.
==== Antagonists: The Skrull Resistance ====
  * **[[Gravik]]:** The primary antagonist, played by Kingsley Ben-Adir, is a product of Fury's failure. Orphaned during the Kree-Skrull war and raised on a promise of a new home that never materialized, Gravik's rage is understandable, even if his methods are monstrous. He is a charismatic leader who weaponizes the pain of his people to justify a genocidal campaign against humanity. His goal is not just a home, but vengeance.
==== Key Factions & Organizations ====
  * **The Skrull Resistance Council:** Gravik's inner circle of disillusioned Skrulls who have infiltrated high levels of human government and media. They form the command structure for the hostile invasion.
  * **[[S.A.B.E.R.]]:** Fury's orbital defense station, staffed by both humans and allied Skrulls. It represents Fury's attempt to protect Earth on a cosmic scale, but also the physical and emotional distance he created from the problems on the ground.
  * **[[MI6]]:** The British intelligence agency, represented by Sonya Falsworth, which operates with a degree of autonomy and ruthlessness that often puts it at odds with, or in a competitive alliance with, American agencies.
===== Part 5: Critical Concepts & Revelations =====
The series introduces several game-changing pieces of lore into the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
==== The Super-Skrull Program ====
=== Earth-616 (Prime Comic Universe) ===
In the comics, the Super-Skrull is a singular, iconic character named Kl'rt. He was a decorated Skrull soldier who was artificially augmented by the Skrull Emperor to possess the combined powers of the [[Fantastic Four]]: the super-stretchiness of Mister Fantastic, the invisibility and force fields of the Invisible Woman, the pyro-kinesis of the Human Torch, and the superhuman strength and rock-like hide of The Thing. Later comics introduced entire armies of Super-Skrulls, each with a different combination of powers copied from Earth's heroes.
=== Marvel Cinematic Universe ===
The MCU introduces the concept via a machine built by Skrull scientists under Gravik's command. Initially, it imbues subjects with a curated set of powers from specific alien DNA samples they have acquired:
  * **[[Extremis]]:** A volatile regenerative and pyrotechnic ability first seen in `[[iron_man_3]]`.
  * **[[Groot]] DNA:** Providing elasticity and woody appendages.
  * **Frost Beast DNA:** Allowing for cryo-kinetic abilities, sourced from Jotunheim (see `[[thor]]`).
  * **Cull Obsidian DNA:** Granting superhuman strength and durability from one of [[Thanos]]'s children.
This program culminates with the use of The Harvest, transforming both Gravik and G'iah into the ultimate Super-Skrulls, with a vast and not-yet-fully-defined powerset drawn from nearly every participant of the [[Battle of Earth]].
==== The Harvest ====
This is perhaps the most significant retcon and lore addition from the series. The Harvest is a vial containing a potent cocktail of DNA from the universe's most powerful heroes. Nick Fury reveals he had his Skrull operatives, disguised as emergency workers, secretly collect blood samples from the ground at the site of the Battle of Earth in `[[avengers_endgame|Avengers: Endgame]]`. He considered it a last-resort deterrent, the ultimate ace up his sleeve, but in Gravik's hands, it became the key to creating a god-like being.
==== Major Character Deaths ====
//Secret Invasion// distinguished itself from other MCU projects with its willingness to kill off established characters permanently.
  * **[[Maria Hill]]:** Cobie Smulders' character, a staple of the MCU since 2012's //The Avengers//, is shockingly killed in the first episode. Her death serves as the primary catalyst for Fury's emotional arc and immediately establishes that no one is safe.
  * **[[Talos]]:** Ben Mendelsohn's fan-favorite character is murdered in the fourth episode. His death is the final straw for his daughter G'iah and represents the death of the dream of peaceful coexistence, paving the way for a more violent conflict.
==== The "Rhodey" Revelation ====
The reveal that James "Rhodey" Rhodes, a.k.a. [[War Machine]], had been replaced by a Skrull named Raava sent shockwaves through the fandom. When rescued, the real Rhodey is wearing a hospital gown, leading to intense speculation about when the switch occurred. While the show remains ambiguous, director Ali Selim has suggested the switch happened after the events of `[[captain_america_civil_war|Captain America: Civil War]]`, implying that the Rhodey seen in `[[avengers_infinity_war|Avengers: Infinity War]]` and `[[avengers_endgame|Avengers: Endgame]]` may have been an impostor. This long-term infiltration has massive implications for the character and the security of Stark technology.
===== Part 6: Reception and Legacy =====
==== Critical and Audience Reception ====
//Secret Invasion// received a mixed reception, becoming one of the most divisive MCU projects. Critics and audiences were polarized.
  * **Praise:** The performances of Samuel L. Jackson, Ben Mendelsohn, and Olivia Colman were widely acclaimed. Many praised the series' mature, dark, and grounded tone, which felt like a refreshing departure from the typical MCU formula. The focus on dialogue-heavy scenes of espionage and political maneuvering was seen as a bold creative choice.
  * **Criticism:** Common criticisms were aimed at the pacing, which some found too slow, and a screenplay that didn't always capitalize on its compelling premise. The finale was particularly controversial, with some viewers feeling that the CGI-heavy Super-Skrull fight betrayed the show's grounded tone. The deaths of Maria Hill and Talos were also divisive, with some finding them impactful and others feeling they were unearned. The series also drew criticism for its use of AI-generated art in its opening credit sequence.
==== Future of the Skrulls in the MCU ====
The legacy of //Secret Invasion// will be defined by how its dramatic changes to the status quo are addressed in future projects. President Ritson's declaration of war on all aliens creates a powder keg on Earth. The existence of an incredibly powerful and benevolent Skrull, G'iah, operating in the shadows with Sonya Falsworth, creates a new clandestine power dynamic. The series directly sets the stage for the `[[armor_wars]]` film and creates a volatile political backdrop for `[[captain_america_brave_new_world|Captain America: Brave New World]]`. The ultimate fate of the million Skrulls remaining on Earth remains one of the MCU's most pressing unresolved plotlines.
===== See Also =====
  * [[nick_fury]]
  * [[skrulls]]
  * [[secret_invasion_(comics)]]
  * [[captain_marvel_(film)]]
  * [[talos]]
  * [[saber|S.A.B.E.R.]]
  * [[maria_hill]]
===== Notes and Trivia =====
((The show's unsettling, shapeshifting opening credits were generated using artificial intelligence, which caused significant controversy upon its reveal, especially in light of the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes where AI was a major point of contention.))
((Director Ali Selim stated in interviews that his personal belief for the "Rhodey was a Skrull" timeline is that the switch occurred after his injury in `[[captain_america_civil_war|Captain America: Civil War]]`. However, this has not been officially confirmed on-screen.))
((//Secret Invasion// marks the first MCU Disney+ series to not feature a post-credits scene in its final episode.))
((The comic book version of //Secret Invasion// was created by writer Brian Michael Bendis and artist Leinil Francis Yu. It was a massive crossover event that impacted almost every Marvel title in 2008.))
((Sonya Falsworth is likely a descendant of James Montgomery Falsworth, a member of the Howling Commandos known as Union Jack in `[[captain_america_the_first_avenger|Captain America: The First Avenger]]`, connecting her character to the MCU's deep history.))
((The final confrontation between G'iah and Gravik features a rapid succession of power usages. Eagle-eyed fans have identified abilities from characters like Captain Marvel, Drax, Korg, Mantis, Ghost, Thor, Hulk, and many others, confirming the vast scope of The Harvest.))