Secret Invasion makes grand promises - but can it keep them?

It wouldn’t be hyperbole to say that the MCU has grown bigger than anyone could have imagined.

Some would argue the franchise, spanning 20-plus films and 8 streaming series, is too unwieldy for its own good. And it would be hard to argue against it. If you dropped off when Chris Evans still was Captain America, you basically need a Wikipedia article – or a nerdy friend – to help out with any future installment.

At the same time, that complexity and texture is kind of the point. Marvel Comics span decades of stories and timelines. You’re not expected to know all of them to enjoy the latest one. If you do, it adds to the experience, but it’s not a requirement.

So, when Samuel L. Jackson returns as Nick Fury from a long self-imposed sabbatical turned exile, you’re not required to know why or where he went. You know he’s Sam Jackson and Nick Fury, and that’s enough. It relies on our collective knowledge of archetypes and the acceptance that, sometimes, motivation can compensate for backstory.

But that’s not the world waiting for Fury. Instead, it’s a world that survived Thanos, lost Tony Stark, and stepped into the cosmic in the span of a decade. Superheroes are no longer a wonder. They’re a part of a new kind of society, one that never played with others. One that is now is lost in the midst of a conflict that has grown from big to unimaginable.

In the first two episodes screened for critics (out of six in total), Secret Invasion dives right into that dichotomy. It doesn’t take long to realize that Fury, once the infallible father figure of the Avengers, has lost a step. His swagger is still there, and you wouldn’t want to cross him in a fight, but something feels off. The blip did something.

Fury’s absence has left a hole in the world. Promises and relationships were broken. As Fury begins to pick up the pieces, he realizes that not everything can be mended once it’s gone. Only this time, the cost may become too great for him to carry.

Despite immense implications, Secret Invasion is decidedly low-key and grounded in presentation. It riffs from classic spy thrillers like The Spy Who Came In From the Cold and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, serving up a mixture of Cold War paranoia combined with shape-shifters and aliens.

At worst, it all could turn very campy, very fast. That it doesn’t is a testament to Jackson’s magnetic presence and understanding of his character. For years, Fury was the man behind the curtain. The guy everyone turned to fix things. After Thanos, he’s left doubting his purpose in a galaxy of gods and monsters.

It’s a terrific combination of elements that feels fresh despite the decidedly worn ground it treads. Old parts, new model so to speak.

Add to that a gleefully chaotic performance from the superlative Olivia Coleman, and Secret Invasion feels more refined and, dare I say it, mature than Marvel has in years. They’ve always delivered the goods within the confines of a strict brand. But it’s here that it finally feels like they’re stepping out of a comfort zone or two.

With just four episodes left, it remains to be seen just how far Secret Invasion dares to go. There’s always a risk that it will still succumb to the rigor of Marvel’s form. If the end is another setup for another film without a proper conclusion, it will make the strong first half that much lesser in context.

But if it sticks the landing and delivers the meditative thriller the first two hours promise, Secret Invasion has the potential to rival Andor as the smart and provocative genre subversion of the year.

Secret Invasion begins on Disney Plus on June 21st.