Marvel’s Secret Invasion Season 1 Episode 6 Review

Warning: Secret Invasion spoilers ahead!

Marvel’s Secret Invasion draws to a close with the aptly titled “Home.” While I wish this episode was a touch longer and we got an end-credit scene (that’s me being spoiled by Marvel, though), I think the outing wraps up the story in a serviceable way while leaving loose narrative threads to explore in future MCU installments. Sonya Falsworth and G’iah’s partnership especially excites me. I hope we see more of them working together. 

For me, the highlight of this episode is the fight between Gravik and G’iah. I loved watching them exhibit the abilities afforded to them by The Harvest. I could’ve watched them do that all day (Get it?). 

---

Entering the Battlefield

We open with Nick Fury calling Priscilla before his final confrontation with Gravik. She asks him if he’s “coming back.” Fury avoids answering the question, instead wishing her well before hanging up. Then, we see a car drive slowly toward the entrance to New Skrullos. The few guards blocking the gate start firing on it when it doesn’t stop. Thankfully, Fury isn’t in the driver’s seat. While the guards are distracted by the approaching vehicle, Fury shoots them. 

Meanwhile, President Ritson continues his recovery in the hospital. Skrudey (Skrull + Rhodey for the uninitiated) presses Ritson to start a war with Russia by striking the Skrull compound. The admiral, however, urges the president to take a different route. You don’t want to wake that beast. Skrudey insults the admiral before showing Ritson footage of Russian tanks situating themselves on the Finnish and Ukrainian borders. He also gives Ritson a prepared statement for the American people. Skrudey doesn’t have any bias, right? He’s not trying to stir the pot in the Skrulls’ favor! No, not at all (insert sarcastic tone)…

---

Meeting Gravik

Next, Fury meets Gravik in New Skrullos. He follows Gravik’s advice and pops some iodide pills. At the hospital, Skrudey receives a call from Sonya Falsworth warning him about Fury’s mission to kill Ritson. She urges him to move Ritson to another room. Skrudey orders the president’s security to stand guard should Fury strike. Meanwhile, Gravik gives a struggling Fury some alcohol after purposely kicking the latter’s iodide pills down a drain in the floor. They sit for a spell and chat about the old days. Well, more like why Gravik chose this particular identity to adopt. We learn he killed this man on Fury’s orders. He was the first human Gravik murdered. Fury doesn’t seem to recall any of that. Hmm…

Gravik tries to get Fury to apologize for abandoning the Skrulls. I’m unsure if it’s Kingsley Ben-Adir’s compelling performance or Gravik making a sound argument, but I find myself understanding his plight. Not saying the world should burn because Gravik’s mad at Fury, though. That’s not cool. 

---

The Harvest

Fury finally admits his faults and how he failed the Skrulls. He confesses he knew early on that he wouldn’t be able to find them a new home. Fury also discloses the relief he felt while disappearing courtesy of The Blip. He reaches into his pocket, albeit slowly since he’s weak from radiation exposure, and hands The Harvest vial to Gravik. Gravik logs it in his system. We see all the DNA strands in said vial, from Captain Marvel and Thor to the Chitauri and even Thanos himself. 

Next, Sonya confronts Skrudey at the hospital. She trains her gun on his head, revealing she knows he’s a Skrull. Across town, Gravik infuses The Harvest with his Super Skrull DNA while Fury’s in the reactor. After he emerges all powered up, Gravik tries to take a swing at Fury. Naturally, having been ostensibly exposed to the same superpowered DNA, Fury can fight back with ease. Which means…

The real Fury is at the hospital while Gravik has been chatting with G’iah. G’iah transforms back to herself and prepares to battle Gravik once and for all.

---

A Kaleidoscope of Powers

G’iah and Gravik both exhibit the abilities of Groot, Drax, Captain Marvel, Ghost, Frost Beasts, Korg, Mantis, Abomination, Cull Obsidian, Extremis, Ebony Maw, Thanos, and Hulk. At least, that’s what I saw. The seamless switching between powers happens in quick succession. I noticed Captain America’s DNA is in The Harvest, but neither G’iah nor Gravik say, “I could do this all day.” For shame (I kid, I kid). 

Meanwhile, the missile meant to wipe out New Skrullos prepares to strike. At the hospital, Sonya holds Skrudey at gunpoint in front of Ritson while Fury attempts to persuade Ritson to call off the Skrull compound nuking. There are innocent Skrulls still living there. Additionally, he emphasizes that the Russians aren’t preparing for World War III, so the U.S. shouldn’t attack them. 

During the superpower fight, G’iah and Gravik wind up getting all Captain Marvel-y and transporting the battle to the sky. When Gravik starts choking her, G’iah utilizes her Mantis powers to convince him to go to sleep. The showdown culminates in G’iah punching a hole in Gravik’s chest. RIP Gravik. We loved to hate you. 

---

So Long, Skrudey

Meanwhile, Skrudey pulls the gun out of Sonya’s hands while Fury presses Ritson to act quickly and cancel the Skrull strike/impending World War III with Russia. Amid the scuffle, Fury shoots Skrudey in the head. Ritson watches Skrudey transform back into Raava, the Skrull impersonating Rhodey. Back at New Skrullos, G’iah frees all the humans in stasis, including Everett Ross, the real Rhodey, Dr. Dalton, and the UK prime minister. G’iah urges Rhodey to exercise caution while moving because he’s been held captive for a “long time.” Hmm. Surely he hasn’t been there since before Avengers: Endgame? 

Then, Ritson dresses himself and gives a speech to the U.S. regarding the latest developments in Russia. He introduces the Skrulls to the nation and pins the blame on them for all the global attacks. He also moves to legalize a bill designating all “off-world species as enemy combatants.” Oof. Not the way to go, dude. This showcases disconcerting parallels to our own treatment of immigrants, refugees, and anyone deemed “other.” 

---

“I love you, Priscilla.”

Later, Fury returns to Priscilla’s home, stating he loves her and is ready to start their next chapter. However, he’s leaving soon and wants to establish where they are as a couple. Fury tells Priscilla she knows where to find him if she’s ready to forgive him. Meanwhile, Sonya and G’iah finally meet, and it’s just as delightful as you’d imagine. Sonya hopes to begin a partnership with G’iah — sort of a “you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours” situation. G’iah reminds Sonya of what transpired between Fury and Talos and how that unceremoniously ended.

Sonya insists this will be purely professional; no friendship involved whatsoever. G’iah can use Sonya as she likes and vice versa. They can find a way to ensure humans and Skrulls co-exist peacefully on the planet. G’iah seems intrigued. She gets into Sonya’s car to chat more about it. 

---

It’s Gonna Get Ugly

Fury calls Ritson to scold him for his speech. Ritson’s essentially encouraging vigilantes to take the law into their own hands. We see Chris Stearns — well, the Skrull impersonating him — meeting his demise on air. Folks are now even killing humans while mistaking them for Skrulls. Ritson’s vitriol incites hatred, bigotry, and violence from people unwilling to understand Skrulls. Hmm. I wonder what that reminds me of…

Something tells me we’ll see Fury dealing with the repercussions of that speech in The Marvels. 

---

A Trip to Space

Priscilla reunites with Fury before the latter departs for the S.A.B.E.R. space station. Fury reveals he’s about to organize peace talks between the Kree and the Skrulls and would like a Skrull representative on hand. Priscilla offers to do it, although she can’t stay in space forever. She has duties on Earth that need tending to — perhaps more work on uncovering the superhuman gene. Oh, and she’d like to go by her birthname: Varra. Varra transforms into her real self. She and Fury share a kiss. It’s a tender moment, with Fury accepting Varra for who she is. It’s a nice salve to the hate we saw in the previous scene. 

They board the spaceship together as the scene fades to black. There’s no mid or end-credits scene, surprisingly. 

---

Sure, Secret Invasion is about a clandestine Skrull invasion on Earth, but Fury and his relationships are the crux of this miniseries. The development between Fury and Varra, in particular, is beautiful. Samuel L. Jackson’s performance steers this ship, and I’m glad he was finally given a vehicle to put his talents on display. In fact, I think all the performances made this show for me. I hope this series opens more doors for Kingsley Ben-Adir. Olivia Colman is delightful, as always, too. I need Sonya and Valentina Allegra de Fontaine to meet, STAT. 

“Home” leaves the world in a worse state than the start. Despite G’iah killing Gravik and Fury preventing World War III, humans knowing about Skrulls in an official capacity opens a new can of worms, especially with humans killing each other out of paranoia. Plus, Sonya and G’iah are later seen walking into a room full of Skrull impersonation pods. I’ll be curious to see how Marvel develops this narrative from here on out. Additionally, I can’t wait to see how Rhodey’s story is explored now that he’s out of stasis.

Do you think we’ll revisit this storyline in The Marvels? Is peace between the Skrulls and the Kree possible? Is G’iah now the most powerful character in the MCU? 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!