Secret Invasion: How did Secret Invasion prove the haters right?

After the confirmation that it is now the MCU’s lowest-rated T.V. show, it’s hard not to wonder where Secret Invasion went wrong. A Rotten Tomatoes score of just 57% (and a 13% rating for the finale) means the Nick Fury-led adaptation of the essential Marvel Comics event is officially the worst MCU TV show, despite costing a reported $212m.

Secret Invasion, the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s (MCU) latest Disney+ series, has received mixed reviews from fans and critics alike. Some have praised the show’s suspenseful plot, well-developed characters, and stunning visuals. Others have criticized the show’s slow pacing, lack of action, and underwhelming twists.

Here are some of the specific reasons why people are hating on Secret Invasion:

  • The show is too slow-paced. The first six episodes of Secret Invasion are primarily devoted to setting up the story and introducing the characters. This can be frustrating for some viewers eager to see the Skrulls launch their invasion.
  • The show lacks action. Secret Invasion features only a few brief action sequences, and these sequences are often underwhelming. This is a major disappointment for some fans hoping for a more action-packed Marvel show.
  • The show’s twists are underwhelming. The show’s biggest twist is revealed in the sixth episode and is met with a collective shrug from many viewers. This is a letdown for some fans expecting a more shocking and suspenseful reveal.
  • The show wastes its cast. Secret Invasion features a star-studded cast, but many characters are underused or underdeveloped. This is a missed opportunity, as the performance could have been much better with more focus on its characters.
  • The show is too political. Secret Invasion deals with heavy political themes, such as infiltration and misinformation. This can be off-putting for some viewers looking for a more escapist superhero show.
  • The show’s pacing has been criticized for being uneven, with some episodes feeling slow and others feeling rushed. This has led some viewers to think that the show is not well-edited or that it is not cohesive.
Secret Invasion: How did Secret Invasion prove the haters right?
Samuel L. Jackson in Secret Invasion (2023) | Source: IMDb

1. The A.I. Effect

Secret Invasion has received backlash from fans over the show’s decision to use A.I. in its title sequence.

Fans quickly shared their disappointment over the title sequence depicting the Skrull Invasion of Earth after learning it was created using A.I.

“No way in hell Marvel used A.I. to create the secret invasion intro,” one viewer wrote on Twitter. They even went as far as to add: “This is the worst intro for any T.V. show ever.”

Another viewer added that while using A.I. made sense “on paper,” it was saddening to see artists and animators miss out on a job opportunity.

“I think it’s a shame Marvel studio used ai art for the intro to secret invasion when there are so many talented artists that can perfectly capture the plastic inhuman feel of A.I. art already,” a third person wrote.

2. Secret Invasion’s Finale Was Rushed & Didn’t Matter

Unsurprisingly, we all hated the finale, which made us hate the show even more.

The biggest issue for Secret Invasion’s record-breaking 13% Rotten scoring finale is that it doesn’t matter much. There were very likely revelations that Rhodey has been a Skrull since Captain America: Civil War and the introduction of G’iah as the most powerful Marvel character of all time.

Secret Invasion’s ending reset the show so Nick Fury could be in the right place for The Marvels.

Between those images, Fury was supposed to solve the Skrull issue on Earth, stop a human/alien war, atone for his sins, and become a better man. However, he abandoned the Skrulls in a worse situation than he left them. He was on the brink of a war between humans and aliens, totally unaccountable for his sins and seemingly unrepentant.

Secret Invasion tried slow-building, with cliffhangers at every turn, and an attempt at a Winter Soldier-like anxious tone, which was entirely abandoned as soon as the story shifted into being the Super-Skrull/Avengers D.N.A. story instead.

Secret Invasion: How did Secret Invasion prove the haters right?
Samuel L. Jackson and Cobie Smulders in Secret Invasion (2023) | Source: IMDb

3. Secret Invasion Is Full Of Plotholes

Despite being a compelling idea, Gravik’s plan to take over Earth is illogical in several ways, and he looks incompetent. The plot also hurtles forward from one twist or cliffhanger to the next, resolving them week to week in a way that’s theoretically good for whipping up excitement but feels hollow during rewatching. And bar one twist, Everything’s obvious.

Here are some of the plot holes that were so obvious that they made the fans hate the show:

  • Replaced Humans Would Have Been Exposed To Radiation In New Skrullos

During Secret Invasion, it was revealed that a million Skrulls had assumed human identities and had been living covertly on Earth.

This means that a million human bodies have been kept in stasis while the Skrulls have assumed their lives, and the humans that were replaced by the members of Gravik’s rebellious faction of Skrulls were being held within the confines of New Skrullos.

Situated in an abandoned Russian nuclear plant, these humans would have been exposed to severe amounts of radiation, as confirmed by Gravik when he invited Nick Fury to New Skrullos. This could have lasting repercussions on these humans, but this wasn’t addressed in Secret Invasion.

  • Nick Fury Could Have Ended The Skrull Rebellion By Calling The Avengers

One of the most confusing aspects of Secret Invasion was Nick Fury’s insistence that the Avengers needn’t be called to action. The Skrull rebellion threatened all human life, which would undoubtedly necessitate the intervention of the Avengers.

However, Fury was adamant about facing the Skrull rebellion alone, not even bothering to call his superpowered friends, even after it became clear that one of the Avengers had been replaced by a Skrull.

Marvel Comics Secret Invasion event included most of the Marvel Universe’s heroes battling the Skrulls, but Marvel Studios’ version completely omitted any superhero action, which didn’t make sense.

  • Secret Invasion Never Answered When Rhodey & Everett Ross Were Replaced

The hottest topic of discussion surrounding Secret Invasion is the question of when Skrulls replaced Martin Freeman’s Everett Ross and Rhodey.

Rhodey’s recent MCU appearances include Avengers: Infinity War, Endgame, and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, though Ross appeared more recently in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, but it’s unclear whether either character was a Skrull in these projects.

In addition to these specific criticisms, some viewers have expressed more general dissatisfaction with Secret Invasion. These viewers have complained that the show is too derivative of other Marvel shows, such as Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

They have also complained that the show is not as well-written or well-acted as other Marvel shows. Overall, Secret Invasion is a show that has divided fans and critics alike.

Watch Secret Invasion on:

4. About Secret Invasion

Secret Invasion is an upcoming television show on Disney+. It is based on the Marvel comic of the same name and will be a part of Marvel’s Phase Five.

The show will focus on Nick Fury and the alien race of the Skrulls, who have been infiltrating the Earth for years.

Cast members include Samuel L. Jackson, Don Cheadle, Colbie Smulders, Martin Freeman, Ben Mendelsohn, Olivia Colman, Emilia Clarke, and Kingsley Ben-Adir. It will be released on June 21, 2023.

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