Secret Invasion

In the wake of CGI-saturated, cosmic movies like Ant-Man 3 and Guardians 3, Disney+’s Secret Invasion is a welcome blast of serious, grounded MCU fare.

Based on what I’ve seen of Secret Invasion at the time of writing this review, it’s a stylish thriller perfect for fans of Marvel’s spy stories.

Points to Secret Invasion for not just offering an explanation, but showing that this particular story doesn’t need any superheroes to keep us intrigued.

This latest Disney+ series showcases the best writing and performances in a Marvel project since “WandaVision.”

For now, “Secret Invasion” looks very much like its own beast, a genuine serial story within the lumbering Marvel apparatus.

The series isn't perfect - there are moments that are a little slow going in the first episodes as we head into the heart of the series. But if Secret Invasion continues the dynamic it's built from its beginning, we could be looking at another spectacular series right when Marvel needs it most.

As one of the MCU’s most mature projects to date, Secret Invasion is a riveting, tense drama that gifts its actors with weighty material and encourages its audience to look beyond the sheen of superheroism.

Marvel buffs will be able to collect their fair share of Easter eggs, but this one can be enjoyed by a PG-13-suitable crowd that prefers action (this one is pretty violent, though) with a relatable plot that doesn’t require you to watch all in the MCU canon to understand what is going on. In supporting roles, Kingsley Ben-Adir stands out in this promising leap forward for Phase 5 of the MCU.

Even though it has some glaring flaws, Secret Invasion has plenty of potential for a rather ironic reason: the Skrulls.

Secret Invasion is a welcome and solid return for the MCU’s lesser-used gritty espionage template, even if its first two episodes lack the sense of fear that it really needs.