Secret Invasion is the latest MCU TV series to hit Disney Plus.Secret Invasion is based on an event in the Marvel Comics of the same name. There have been various versions of Secret Invasion, but the central plot of the comics revolves around the shape-shifting aliens known as the Skrulls trying to take over Earth. Characters that fans thought were humans, are instead revealed to have been Skrulls the whole time.
Many of these Skrull disguises were in the form of superheroes and political leaders, but it is unlikely that will happen in this Marvel Cinematic Universe show, which seems more like a political spy thriller instead. There were six returning MCU characters in episode one of Secret Invasion.
Spoilers ahead for episode one of Secret Invasion!
6 Agent Ross
Everett K. Ross returns for the intro to this episode. Once again, Agent Ross is played by Martin Freeman and his appearance in the show is minimal. It begins with him stalking through the streets of Russia, trying to meet up with a fellow agent who has some urgent news. It turns out that Agent Ross was a Skrull, or at least he was a Skrull here.
His first appearance was in Captain America: Civil War, an MCU film that saw the divide between Stark and Rogers. His biggest role was in Black Panther, and he had a small cameo in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever which was his last appearance. So, the big question is whether Agent Ross was a Skrull the whole time. If he wasn’t, then where is the real Agent Ross?
5 Talos
Talos is a Skrull who tricked Marvel fans when he appeared in Captain Marvel for the first time. Traditionally, Skrulls have been shapeshifting villains throughout the comics, but Captain Marvel played against expectations. It was a fresh idea to have a friendly Skrull faction, led by Talos. This loyal group of Skrulls became allies to humanity thanks to the efforts of the titular Captain Marvel and Nick Fury in the '90s.
His last appearance was in Spider-Man: Far From Home as part of the post-credits scene wherein he played Nick Fury before quickly reverting to his green complexion. In Secret Invasion, he gives chase to the Skrull version of Agent Ross before he kills himself by jumping off of a roof. Agent Hill arrives on the scene and then Talos reverts to his human identity, Agent Keller.
4 Maria Hill
Maria Hill has had a small role in the MCU since her first appearance in The Avengers. As minor as her role as a S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent has been, Cobie Smulders fans always appreciate the cameo. Her last appearance was also technically in Spider-Man: Far From Home but she was a Skrull working with Talos. The last time the real Agent Hill appeared must have been in Avengers: Endgame.
Sadly, it looks like this may be the end of Agent Hill. In the finale of this episode, she gets shot by a Skrull version of Nick Fury. It looks like she dies, but one never knows if anyone will truly die in the MCU. There are certainly ways to bring Agent Hill back, but for now, this may be it for a character that has been with the MCU since the original Avengers.
3
Nick Fury has been a part of the MCU since the very beginning with Iron Man circa 2008. He was added in as a post-credits scene wherein he tried to recruit Tony Stark to join his team. Behind the scenes, Nick Fury has built what would become a global effort to protect humanity through superheroes. Samuel L. Jackson has killed it in this iconic role of Nick Fury.
After Captain America: The Winter Soldier, his roles in these movies have been diminished but he still pops up from time to time. Spider-Man: Far From Home was his last appearance, and he was aboard the in-progress S.A.B.E.R. Space station. He has been hiding out there on vacation from Earth, for unknown reasons.
2 Rhodey
Don Cheadle returns for a brief cameo as Rhodey in Secret Invasion. Among the returning cast, Rhodey’s is the shortest. He appears in a hallway scene wherein he is following President Ritson and explaining the situation about Nick Fury coming back down to Earth. The U.S. President has rarely come up in the MCU, so this seems like a big deal to include him. This is especially true since he is played by famous actor Dermot Mulroney.
Those that have watched Scream 6 may remember him most recently from that movie as the lead detective investigating the Ghost Face Killer’s murders. Since Rhodey and President Ritson were established together, it seems likely that Rhodey will return. He may even dawn the War Machine suit which he hasn’t done in a while. Prior to this, Rhodey did appear in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier and like Nick Fury, his first appearance was in Iron Man, although he was played by Terrence Howard.
1 G'iah
G'iah is technically both a new character and a returning one. She was a child in Captain Marvel and had a small role as Talos’ daughter. Now, she returns in Secret Invasion and is now played by Emilia Clarke who most fans will recognize as Daenerys Targaryen from the beloved Game of Thrones series
G'iah is part of the anti-human effort of Skrulls who want to take the planet over. This resistance is tired of living in the shadows and wants to have a home again. They are led by a new character, Gravik, who seems hellbent on destroying humanity. G'iah seems like her opinion wavers once she meets up with her dad again although this could have been a ploy. Was G'iah trying to trick Talos and will she be a villain throughout Secret Invasion?
Secret Invasion is streaming new episodes every Wednesday on Disney Plus.