Disney Plus’s Marvel original series Secret Invasion, Season 1 Episode 2, called “Promises,” explores the story of Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) dealing with the aftermath of the bombings in Moscow during Unity Day. Before that, the episode opens with a flashback to 1997 in Brixton, London, with a young Nick Fury promising Talos’(Ben Mendelsohn) group of Skrull refugees that he will find them a new home. Fury also asks the Skrulls to help him protect the Earth as he and Captain Marvel find a new home for them. Before making the promise, Fury talks with the young Gravik and consoles him following Gravik’s parents’ murder at the hands of the Kree Empire.
In the present day, the aftermath of the bombings on Unity Day occurs, which includes Fury and Talos’ escape, Brogan’s (Ben Peel) capture, Maria Hill’s (Cobie Smulders) death, and Gravik (Kingsley Ben-Adir) and Gi’ah’s escape (Emilia Clarke). Soon, Fury and Talos escape on a train, where Fury furiously learns that millions of Skrulls are living on Earth, not small groups of refugees from Talos as initially promised. The revelation is shocking as that could mean that millions of humans on Earth could be Skrulls, either as leaders, soldiers, officers, engineers, etc. In other words, most of humanity could be Skrulls or Skrull-Human hybrids. Fury is angry, but Talos rebukes the Skrulls’ gradual extermination across the universe and states they needed Earth as their final refuge. Talos even scolds Fury for not finding them home after many years and for using the Skrulls as his “errand boys” and agents. Despite the anger, Talos calms down and attempts to convince Fury that Skrulls and humans can coexist. The answer infuriated Fury, and he responded, “Humans can’t coexist with each other! You’ve been here long enough to know that! We’ve been at war with each other since we could walk upright! There is not enough room or tolerance on this planet for another species!” Fury made that angry statement because he previously told Talos that he and his family, as African Americans, faced mass racism in America during Fury’s childhood, and they did not live happy or comfortable lives. In addition, Fury had to deal with world politics and conflicts as a Director of SHIELD. Having enough, Fury told Talos to leave the train.
Fury then leaves to meet with Maria Hill’s mother, Elizabeth Hill (Juliet Stevenson), at an airfield where Maria’s body is being taken back to America via plane. Despite losing her daughter, Elizabeth encourages Fury to ensure that Maria’s death is not for nothing. The next scene is a news report on America implicated in the bombings in Moscow, which led to anticipation for Russia to declare war on America.
As humans reacted to the bombings in Moscow, the Skrulls made their reaction. Gravik meets the Skrull Council: NATO Secretary General Sergio Caspani (Giampiero Judica), UK Prime Minister Pamela Lawton (Anna Madely), FXN news host Christ Stearns (Christopher McDonald), Councilwoman Shirley Sagar (Seeta Indrani), and Jack Hyuk-Bin (Christopher Goh). The meeting started with Gravik mocking how the council is more like humans than Skrulls in personality and mannerisms. Caspani pointed out that being human is better than being like a dog. Gravik remarks that he likes dogs because they don’t destroy the world, aren’t hypocrites, and don’t lie to each other. The scene is interesting as Gravik’s simple clothing represents his rebellious attitude compared to the rich clothing (suits) the council members wear.
The Skrull Council disapproved of the bombings in Moscow and acts of terror caused by Gravik. Gravik replies, with silent anger, by telling the council in the native Skrull language that Fury promised them a new home, and they never got it. He even tells the Skrull council that Fury abandoned them, and humans cast them aside. Following the speech, Gravik gained the support of the council majority after putting forth his dream that the Skrulls should conquer and make Earth their new home. Gravik solidifies his support by displaying confidence that he has a plan if the Skrulls have to fight the Avengers in his war of conquest. However, the majority face opposition from Caspani and Sagar. However, the council majority force Caspani to submit. The meeting ends with all Skrull council members, except Sagar, pledging their allegiance to Gravik, the newly appointed Skrull General. Later, Sagar calls and warns Talos that Gravik became Skrull General. Talos responds by asking Sagar to set up a meeting between him and Gravik in a public place. Sagar warns Talos that Gravik will kill him, but Talos doesn’t care and just wants to talk with Gravik about the Skrull situation with Gi’ah, Talos’ daughter, as the first topic of discussion.
In London, Nick Fury meets with Colonel James “Rhodey” Rhodes (Don Cheadle) following Rhodes’ meeting with Europe’s leaders regarding America’s alleged bomb attack. Rhodes tells Fury that most of America’s allies are siding with Russia after the bomb attack killed 2,000 confirmed people and probably triple more once they clear the debris. The colonel even says the bombing event might trigger World War III between America and Russia. In return, Fury tells Rhodes of the Skrull threat on Earth. Rhodes is scared and is thinking about calling in the Avengers, but Fury says the Skrulls can just shapeshift into the Avengers and pin crimes on them. Therefore, Fury cannot ask the Avengers for help and has to end the Skrull situation himself. The meeting ends with Rhodes discharging Fury from his service. Thus, Fury is alone in his war against the Skrulls.
The short episode continues in an MI6 base disguised as a butcher shop, where high-ranking MI6 Agent Sonya Falsworth (Olivia Colman) interrogates and tortures Skrull Warrior Brogan. Due to the torture and pain, Brogan tells Falsworth that Gravik plans to build a machine that will strengthen the Skrulls with the help of a possible Skrull-disguised scientist couple, the Daltons. In New Skrullos, Gi’ah learns that Gavik’s built machine will enhance the Skrulls by using alien DNA from hosts such as Groot (Groot’s Branches) and Cull Obsidian (Obsidian’s amputated hand). Soon, Gravik, Gi’ah, Beto (Samuel Adewunmi), and Pagon (Kilian Scott) head to the butcher shop. During the attack, Falsworth escapes in the torture room’s escape hatch. After saving Brogan, the group discovered that Brogan talked, and it led to the authorities raiding a Skrull safehouse. Furious at Brogan’s betrayal and risking the lives of Skrulls for his well-being, Gravik executed Brogan in the woods.
Following the butcher shop incident, Fury heads home and meets his wife, Priscilla Fury (Charlayne Woodard). Priscilla is the Skrull Varra, who was the Skrull who introduced a young Gravik to Fury in 1997 in Brixton, London. The episode ends with Nick and Varra embracing as confirmed husband and wife.
Nick Fury, Husband to the Skrull Varra (Priscilla Fury)
In Secret Invasion, Director Ali Selim and writers Brant Englestein and Brian Tucker created a fascinating second episode in the new Marvel Cinematic Universe TV series. The second episode makes the Skrull situation on Earth more fascinating because Fury’s involvement is not just protecting Earth but protecting his family. In the past, Nick Fury married Skrull Varra, who later took on Priscilla Fury as her human identity. The revelation that Fury married a Skrull is fascinating as he shows his seriousness in protecting his wife’s people since they can be considered family to the former Director of SHIELD.
Another success of the episode was the revelation from Talos of how every single Skrull across the Galaxy, millions of Skrulls, lived on Earth for many years. So many years that they managed to gain influence in humanity’s governments with the Skrull Council consisting of NATO Secretary General Sergio Caspani, UK Prime Minister Pamela Lawton, Councilwoman Shirley Sagar, and Jack Hyuk-Bin. All members have a powerful influence on Earth due to their roles. Since millions of Skrulls live on Earth, one would question how many humans are Skrulls. The stakes of the Skrull situation became intense because Fury scolds Talos for bringing all Skrull kind to Earth, a world filled with conflicts, discrimination, and otherworldly threats. Fury, who faced discrimination for being African American in his youth, worries that if humanity discovers the existence of Skrulls, there might be war, discrimination, and conflict that would create an Among Us type of World War on Earth: who is a Skrull or not? Considering humanity’s many prejudices, the Skrull threat will be an enough excuse to execute their radical prejudiced beliefs. In addition, not all Skrulls are angels (good), so having every Skrull live on Earth is pure chaos, especially for an alien invasion in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Rating: 9/10