Marvel’s Secret Invasion Season 1 Episode 5 Review

Warning: Secret Invasion spoilers ahead!

We’ve reached penultimate episode territory on Marvel’s Secret Invasion. “Harvest,” season 1 episode 5, hones in on Gravik’s ultimate game plan and brings Sonya Falsworth back into the fold. I could watch an entire Sonya series. Olivia Colman’s presence makes everything better, and she makes some delightful character choices as Sonya. The episode also introduces The Harvest, Fury’s vial of the Avengers’ DNA (collected by the Skrulls post-big battle with Thanos). We also get another appearance from Rick Mason. I’m always down for a good MCU cameo. It makes this vast universe feel more connected.

“Harvest” keeps the momentum established in last week’s episode going, with fantastic performances across the board. Gravik is cemented as a formidable villain in the Marvel universe, if a bit unpredictable and reckless. That recklessness might become his undoing.

---

A Medical Emergency and Culling of the Masses

We open with Nick Fury hovering over an unconscious President Ritson as the latter is wheeled into surgery following Gravik’s attack. Fury whispers into Ritson’s ear that Rhodey can’t be trusted. After the doctors and nurses take Ritson away, Fury listens to a news segment regarding the attack on the president and how an alien saved him.

Meanwhile, Gravik, Pagon, Beto, and the others return to the New Skrullos compound. Gravik orders them to assemble the troops so he can inform them of their next move. Gravik expresses his disappointment that Ritson is still alive. Pagon counters that Gravik let Fury slip through his fingers again. That’s twice now. Why let him live? After all, Fury has access to the Avengers’ DNA (The Harvest), and that’s what Gravik wants. Pagon accuses Gravik of essentially knowing nothing (like Jon Snow) because said DNA wasn’t where Gravik thought it was. It appears there’s distrust among the Skrulls.

Suddenly, Gravik Groots his arm and shoves it through Pagon’s chest, killing him instantly. Beto watches the scene in alarm. Gravik orders his followers to kill Varra for defying his direct order to murder Fury. RIP, Pagon. It doesn’t pay to be Gravik’s right-hand man.

---

Gravik’s Grand Plan

Next, Gravik calls Skrudey (Rhodey + Skrull = Skrudey). He orders Skrudey, whose Skrull impersonator is named Raava, to ensure President Ritson’s survival (the opposite of his original plan to kill the U.S. president). Additionally, he wants Skrudey to inform the press about New Skrullos and show footage on global news outlets. Oh, and the Skrulls? Totally behind the attack on the president and working in concert with the Russians. He also hopes the Russians think the U.S. orchestrated the Moscow bombing. Gravik’s objective is to create a catalyst for World War III. Skrudey is incredulous, but he does as he’s told.

Skrudey and Fury reunite in the hospital. Fury finally acknowledges that his former buddy Rhodey is now a Skrull. Rhodey ensures that Fury will never release this knowledge to the public because he plans to air the footage of Fury, AKA Gravik, killing Maria Hill amid the Moscow bombing.

The president’s and Skrudey’s security detail train their weapons on Fury, who decides it’s best to let it go for now. He departs the hospital.

---

Skrulls Are Among Us

Meanwhile, Derrik, Sonya Falsworth’s SIS boss, watches the news in his office. Sonya barges in, gun raised, and reveals his secret: He’s a Skrull. She shoots Derrik in the hand, which takes on a Skrullish green hue. Gotcha!

Back in New Skrullos, Beto approaches Gravik with his concerns regarding his leader’s drastically modified plan. Skrudey calls Gravik to disclose an update about the president. Ritson is out of surgery and recovering. After the phone call, Beto and the other Skrulls in Gravik’s camp launch an attack against Gravik in tandem. What they don’t account for is Gravik’s Super Skrull abilities.

Suddenly, Gravik sheds his human skin and retaliates. It’s brutal. He hurls Beto through a window in front of Skrull bystanders. Then, he kills Beto. That’s what happens when you defy a massively insecure alien.

---

To Finland

Later, Fury reunites with G’iah in a concealed location. Fury explains that Talos died saving the U.S. president, but G’iah interrupts him, simply stating her father died. That’s it. She had a feeling Talos’ mentality would get him killed, which is why she separated herself from him. Meanwhile, Fury wholeheartedly believes Talos did not lose. G’iah wants her dad’s body so she can give him a proper funeral. Fury urges her to take him to Priscilla, who will know what to do.

Unfortunately, their conversation is cut short when they hear sirens in the distance. Fury divulges he’s bound for Finland before leaving G’iah.

---

Finding the Daltons

Before presumably disposing of Derrik, Sonya asks him where Dr. Rosa Dalton is. In this scene, we see her sniffing around the good doctor’s lab. That’s when Rosa and Victor enter their home to find the intruder. She orders Rosa to grant her access to the latter’s Super Skrull experimentation/research. Then, she leads the pair outside and torches their house.

Victor grabs Rosa and threatens to shoot her in the name of Gravik. Thankfully, Sonya steps in and takes him out. She’s a killer, that Sonya.

---

Preparing for a Burial (and a War)

Next, G’iah arrives at Priscilla’s home with Talos in the back of her van. When nobody greets her at the door, G’iah breaks in. She brandishes her weapon while searching for Fury’s wife. Suddenly, Priscilla pops into view, gun also raised and trained on G’iah. G’iah dispels the tension by revealing that Fury sent her because of Talos.

At the hospital, Skrudey briefs a now-conscious Ritson about their next steps. They need to neutralize the Skrull compound in Russia. Additionally, the government also has proof that the Russians are working with the Skrulls. They should attack them first. Ritson understands the gravity of this situation. Staging an attack on Russian soil is asking for another global war. However, Skrudey insists that This Is The Way (said in Din Djarin’s™ voice). A Skrull invasion means human extinction. This is a fight to save humanity.

---

A New Deal

Meanwhile, Gravik calls Fury with a new proposition: If Fury brings him The Harvest, he’ll call the whole thing off. However, if Fury refuses to do this, Gravik will ensure the U.S. government bombs New Skrullos, inciting World War III. When Fury boards a private plane to Finland, he tells Rick Mason (whom we last saw in Black Widow) he would’ve preferred to travel in the Helicarrier. Of course, Rick is still working as an independent contractor/smuggler and, as a former S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, still has a connection with Fury.

---

Going on the Defense

Later, Priscilla helps G’iah give Talos a proper burial. Priscilla recites a Skrull prayer while G’iah lights the pyre. G’iah also offers her father beautiful parting words in Skrullian. Those of us who are Game of Thrones fans collectively had flashbacks to Emilia Clarke speaking Dothraki. The languages sound similar to me. After the ceremony, Priscilla comforts G’iah, who regrets her final words to Talos. We learn that Priscilla knows about the bounty on her head and how she’s been ordered to stay put. Priscilla is choosing to honor that. She’d rather die in her beautiful home than in a dark alley.

Suddenly, Gravik’s forces barge into Priscilla’s house. G’iah and Priscilla defend themselves with the latter’s extensive weapons cache like the badasses they are. Thankfully, they kill all of their attackers. Priscilla isn’t dying today.

---

Photostatic Veil

Fury gets through the airport in Finland by donning the Photostatic Veil (or Widow’s Veil — last seen in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier) to disguise his face. No thanks to Skrudey, Fury’s now an internationally wanted man. Sonya (the new head of SIS) picks him up from the airport. Priscilla and G’iah head to London, where G’iah leaves to embark on the next phase in her effort to stop Gravik.

Two hundred and ninety-four kilometers from the Russian border (roughly 183 miles), Fury and Sonya arrive at a small cemetery. They stand before Colonel Nicholas J. Fury’s grave, AKA his grave. He tells Sonya there are multiple gravesites for him across the globe. Fury also reveals the origins of The Harvest. After the events in Avengers: Endgame, a covert Skrull squad was sent to collect the Avengers’ DNA from their blood spilled on the battlefield. Gravik spearheaded said squad. Fury assumes that’s where he got the idea for Super Skrulls.

---

A Call to Action

Sonya asks why he hasn’t summoned the Avengers. Fury claims this is a personal fight. They also can’t rely on super heroes for everything in life. He blows on a symbol etched into his gravestone. It lights up, with the top of the gravestone lifting to reveal The Harvest vial.

Then, Fury heads into what’s ostensibly a crypt to retrieve a number of supplies: his signature black coat, trademark eye patch, and gun. He calls someone, presumably Gravik, to say, “It’s time. Let’s finish this,” before exiting the crypt. He’s back, baby!

---

Admittedly, this outing feels like the Revitalization of Nick Fury. His transformation throughout this series is evident. His donning of the eye patch and long black coat drives that transformation home. He’s becoming the old Fury we know and love. I feel like Talos’ death motivated him to give this fight everything he has.

There are tender (and fun) character beats in “Harvest.” Priscilla and G’iah’s scenes are simultaneously sweet and badass. They get to be vulnerable and strong in one fell swoop. Their brief arc evolves beautifully. I could watch an entire episode of just Fury and Sonya’s banter. They have such an entertaining dynamic.

Do you think Fury will actually give Gravik The Harvest? Will G’iah try to attack Gravik on her own? Join the conversation alongside other Marvel fans over at Sideshow Social Network or in the Let Your Spoiler Sideshow: MCU Phase Five Facebook Group, and don’t forget to Let Your Geek Sideshow!