Yeah, yeah. I get it. I’m sorry; it’s not cool to like the MCU anymore. But to be quite frank, if I’m the only idiot standing by it, so be it. These stories were made for me before they got popular and will always be, long after every “fan” has turned their back on it. And what Marvel Studios is doing with SECRET INVASION is no exception. While many have already decided to hate the show for a number of factors unrelated to it (AI intros, waning popularity of the franchise post-pandemic, etc.) I’ve been enjoying the ride. And BETRAYED was arguably more fun for me than the previous two episodes.
For one, Fury and Talos’s relationship continues to be a shining highlight in this series. Their banter in this episode, particularly Talos’s stance at Skrulls being used to get Fury ahead in his career and how that essentially adds up to a thankless existence for them, is incredibly valid and sympathetic. Add to that excellent chemistry between Ben Mendelsohn and Samuel L. Jackson, and you have the makings of a buddy spy dramedy that just works to hold my attention.
This was a particularly tense episode involving a lot of ALIAS/24-type stakes. And the tension admittedly built up regardless of how ludicrous the situation got. And if such a thing is completely acceptable for MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE, then I don’t see why it can’t be perfectly acceptable for a comic book show, folks.
The whole thing ends up resulting in a fairly big ending that emphasizes the stakes of a show like this and how different it feels from many other properties within this franchise.
So lose faith if you must in the MCU. As long as shows like SECRET INVASION continue to hold my attention and entertain me to the degree that I continue to anticipate episodes every Tuesday night at 11:50 pm PST, then I suppose I’ll happily go down with the ship.
Episode 3 of SECRET INVASION is now streaming on Disney+.
