Marvel’s Secret Invasion’s Shocking Ending Catches Everyone Off Guard By Killing A Fan-Favorite Character
Not having a heavy marketing campaign like other Marvel Movies released earlier this year such as Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania or Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3, Secret Invasion is another TV mini-series by the studio that has been flying under the radar a bit. However, it is still a highly-anticipated series for hardcore Marvel fans, which will have a crucial role in the MCU current phase. Releasing its first episode, “Resurrection”, on June 21 this year, Secret Invasion follows Nick Fury's footsteps as the former S.H.I.E.L.D. executive returns to Earth after spending years in outer space, to face a new dangerous threat that involves the Skrulls, a shape-shifting alien species that aided Fury and Captain Marvel in the past.
Right after its release on Disney+, Episode 1 of the mini-series caused a huge stir in the Marvel community, with the shocking ending that it brings. The episode introduces to us the looming presence of the rebel Skrull faction on Earth, while also featuring an important character’s death that got fans raging all over the world.
#1. About Marvel’s Secret Invasion.
Source: Marvel Studios
Adapting the events of the 2008 titular comic book crossover written by Brian Michael Bendis, Secret Invasion focuses on a more ground-level setting, which sees Samuel L. Jackson’s Nick Fury returning to Earth after spending a good long while in space to investigate a Skrull conspiracy to secretly gain control of Earth using their shape-shifting ability. Some familiar faces, such as Cobie Smouder’s Maria Hill, Don Cheadle’s James Rhodes, and Martin Freeman’s Everett Ross also appear in the film to aid Fury on his mission. The series’ opening is revealed to be generated by AI, which receives backlash from a faction of fans.
The first episode starts with the assassination of Ross, who turns out to be a Skrull in disguise, and Nick’s Fury return from space after trying to complete the SABER to protect Earth from external threats. The former agent has never been the same after the events of the Blip, and it’s shown clearly in his worn-out look and somewhat unstable emotion. The episode continues to see multiple integral characters to be included, including James Rhodes, Talos, and the rebel faction’s leader Gravik.
#2. Secret Invasion kills off a favorite character right from the start.
Source: Marvel Studios
The first episode doesn’t have many notable moments, until the end, that is. The final scene shocks us all, showing the fan-favorite Maria Hill getting critically shot in the stomach by the main villain Gravik, who was impersonating Nick Fury at the time. Fans were devastated to see Hill lying face-up on the ground in a pool of blood, seemingly dead. The episode ends right after that, so the agent’s fate remains unsure, but the wound looks too severe to be cured quickly.
#3. Fans aren’t happy with the character’s death.
Source: Marvel Studios
Of course, the shocking scene draws out a lot of reactions from Marvel fans on social media sites, but most of them are negative ones. Maria Hill has been one of Marvel’s most anticipated side characters, who, even after 10 years in the MCU, still hasn’t gotten the spotlight she deserves. Mostly serves as Nick Fury's trusty ally and reliable right-hand woman, the audience was expecting Hill to finally have a more prominent role in a more grounded series, only to have her fatally shot in the first episode.
“I won’t believe that Maria Hill is dead until the entire season is over.” Said the Twitter user Prince Zuko, which pretty much sums up the audience’s love for the character, and their outrage for Marvel to just kill her off like that.
#4. Is Maria Hill really dead in Secret Invasion?
Source: Marvel Studios
With the episode ending in a cliffhanger, it’s still unsure if Hill is dead or alive after getting shot. However, this is a pattern we have seen before in Marvel. In Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Nick Fury himself faked his own death after getting shot multiple times in the abdomen by the corrupted S.H.I.E.L.D. agents. He was revealed to be alive afterward, having faked his death to free himself from Hydra’s control, and made a return later to confront Alexander Pierce and his organization.
The same thing could happen with Maria Hill, as an attempt of the agent to make the Skrulls avert their gazes from her, so she can operate from the shadows just like Fury did. Of course, if this is the case, we won’t be seeing her again until the final episodes. Besides, killing Hill so early in the game is such a waste, since she still has a lot of potential to be explored, and it’s unlike Marvel to just kill off such a promising character like that.
Do you think Maria Hill is really dead in Secret Invasion? What do you think about the first episode so far? Share your thoughts in the comment.