On 2024 Marvel better come up with something good to re vindicate, this new miniseries called “ECHO” will premiere on Disney+ and Hulu on January 9, and it is causing some what “sensation”, if they are any good, fans are in luck because the studio plans launch several television series, where we will see action, drama and also a lot of violence, I hope so. This miniseries shows us Kingpin and a Daredevil rivalry once again since ECHO actually show up from from Hawkeye and focuses on the character Echo from the Marvel comics. She’s a deaf Native American with an incredible gift, she can copy any move or skill she sees. As always this is my opinion from a regular viewer perspective not from a comic or Marvel expert.
Alaqua Cox plays Echo an actress I haven’t seen much before, went through her IMDB page and found nothing than Hawkeye and ECHO probably I didn’t look enough on top I’m not a Hawk eye fan so this is my first time, on the other side we have to well known actors Vincent D’Onofrio as Wilson Fisk playing Kingpin and Charlie Cox known for his role as Matt Murdock aka Daredevil, well known duo, blast from the past.
I’m the type of viewer that don’t like to spoil things before hand but I got to say I know nothing about the ECHO story just few details that she can basically mimic or learn powers just by watching them? interesting Skrull type?. There is not much that the trailer explains about her story but seems she had a rough time at New York and now is coming back home to Oklahoma trying to embrace her roots and grip some of that power, find a place for herself between her community, I wonder if that’s where her powers comes from if its some kind of powers she inherited from her ancestors?.
After a rough 2023 for Marvels, Disney put their hopes on producers Marion Dayre and Sydney Freeland for this miniseries, from interviews I found online seems like they are looking for that fresh start, a fresh vision focusing on the theme, identity, culture, but I hope they don’t go the woke path trying to propagate “messages”. ECHO begins phase five of the MCU called Marvel Spotlight.
Launching this mini series or any other production on 2023 was not an easy task at all with the Hollywood Strike full force for the most part of the year, the uncertainty of writers, actors, studios it was a mess. Both Disney and producer Marion Dayre had obstacles along the way too keeping the mini series delayed, it was originally planned to be released in the summer of 2023 and then date moved to January, 9,2024, I have seen some trailers and websites saying its the 10th although IMDB says its the 9th. Dayre commented on a podcast “The Writers Panel” how she became the head writer and how hard it was to deal with all the delays and Marvel itself, sounds like Marvel is the Diva type IMO.
To me Alaqua Cox brings authenticity to her role since she have quite the similarities to the ECHO character been both deaf and use a prosthetic leg so this is no joke, me myself I’m deaf on my right ear btw so can only imagine what is to be fully deaf, think about it a deaf super women and a blind agile no fucks given Dare Devil, she have not publicly reveal how she lost her leg, quite interesting she still keep it a secret but that is great in my opinion, everyone has the right for personal life no matter how famous you are.
ECHO went through so many changes during 2023 and one of the was Daredevil, at first it was so fucking weird and different from, IMO; its best version that’s the Netflix version, both now played by Charlie Cox but still quite different from the exterior, there is public reason why? is this a better improve version of Daredevil?. On Netflix version he was younger, probably a less polished version but it does intrigue me how close their stories are and which is the one closer to the comic or is this kind of situation where the same character can have different versions? I will give it a watch to Netflix version in the coming days just to have a familiar image before watching ECHO, probably even watch Hawkeye for some background.
The trailer looks cool and as most Marvel productions it promises a lot of action, there is some excitement behind it and I hope it is one of those side small stories that kick ass and not many knew about, as mention there is also this Daredevil “new version” and obviously cant leave behind Kingpin, big bad ass gangster.
I was giving some though yesterday to Secret Invasion after I found this ratings from Rotten Tomato on Twitter, re post it on Inleo (Here Post) , I understand the MCU have basically spoil many generations since 2008 when the first MCU movie came out, Iron Man; its like they started strong kicking ass with mainstream human super heroes, then move to space exposing other species out of earth, the move into some mystic practices with my LOVELY Scarlett Witch and Dr. Strange so its natural that at some point in time they will give us other type of super hero, a more down to earth mortal like Nick Fury, they guy after all is very smart and can see things coming before others, we also now are aware that many of this skills he develop the time he had all this Skrulls spying on humans, believe it or not that’s how you get wise, going through many experiences good and bad you start building up this library of knowledge of what humans are capable under different situations, that’s why you never finish knowing some one until you have been through multiple situation even better when this situations are one worst than the other, that is who Nick Fury is a very wise, smart guy but human after all, they compare it to other MCU productions that could have exploited better like the Quantum Realm, Eternals I think run out of time just too long of story and recent Marvels, this I can understand it been more of a comedy similar to Thor movies but with still some action.
So its been two or three minutes complaining why this series has such bad ration but for me its fine, its a good watch although at times the story feels crunch but that’s how we humans are, never satisfied. Episode four Ghia becomes a Super Skrull without anyone knowing, this are the things I feel are crunch, the episode is full of disappointment and betray, remember how Gravik gave Talos the last sign of respect on previous episode well on episode four he fucks him up, Skrulls are deep into the US Government but no body knows because it goes all over to the top.
Ghia save her ass by the skin of her teeth after Gravik find out she is the mole within his organization and set her up, she tries to escape but he was lurking around the compound and found her, he didn’t think twice before putting a bullet to her chest but lucky her without anyone knowing turn herself into a Super Skrull to this I have a few complains:
Was it that simple, jump into the machine and no side effects?
Then why Gravik didn’t turn his best soldiers into Super Skrulls and only him?
Shen turns on this machine that takes all that power and no body notice
This are the kind of questions that might trigger hard core fans and critics, yes its TV/Fantasy but you need to have all this details on the table for the more than your average viewer stay satisfied, for others viewers that are not so much into details and let the dopamine do all the work distracting them with Ghia regenerating her glowing chest while quickly showing how she because a Super Skrull in a few flash backs, for this second type of viewers that’s fine.
Disappointment, thats what Fury feels when he finds out his wife Priscila, a Skrull; is talking to Rhodey who is in fact a Skrull working for Gravik, there is no body he can trust at this point, Fury had a suspicion Priscilla had something to do with Gravik while he was gone, after all it was her who brought Gravik to Fury when he lost his parents, she did try to persuade Rhodey not to kill Fury explaining he was not a threat but orders are orders and they both have to follow them.
We did get more details on how Fury and Priscilla end up been married, even how she took her face, Fury really love her for who she was still understanding that he was involve with a shape shifting Skrull that could put in danger his career and agency, now his life. Fury love very much Priscilla and she too, that is why she never stop trying to protect Fury from Gravik and now they coming for her, she doesn’t kill Fury and they both let go and continue to work as a team and a couple but Fury knows he has to put his foot down and go all in if he wants to get Gravik.
More disappointment, this time from both Ghia and her father Talos, who was the original Skrull commander on Earth when they got there, he was suppose to get a home to the million Skrulls that fled with him to Earth but things got complicated and he never found out a way to accomplish that task, they had no infrastructure, no land, they were unknown guests with no rights on the planet, hiding behind a mask and Gravik was the result of all that time when Talos couldn’t get them a place where they could be themself without hiding, Ghia is now a target and ask him what is his plan but Talos plan remain the same, been friends with the humans until they accept them but she is of the same thought as Fury, that’s not going to happen so she call him delusional after hearing how she still truly believes that Humans and Skrulls can live together on Earth.
Fury pays a visit to Rhodey and I guess his plan was to shake him up by bluffing, he probably thought Rhodey would become nervous when he tells him he confirm that there were Skrulls in the Goverment close to the president, like oh shit he discover me but that same as how Ghia became a super Skrull was lame, Rhodey is a shame shifter and unless Fury shoot him or cut him up to prove he got his Skrull ass expose then he would not accept it, on the other hand he is the one that intimidate Fury with footage from Russia when Gravik change into Fury and shoot Maria, got that on video so in case Fury attempts anything against him, well that back fire badly.
Secret Invasion probably would have been best if it was a movie and not a mini series if they were going rush things, comes the best action scene of the entire mini series so far, Gravik’s plan to kill the US president rolls out and Rhodey gets him the president right where he wanted him but they underestimate Fury and Talos, from this scene my complain is why Gravik was the only Super Skrull and IF it was because of lack of DNA samples to mix it with other Skrulls then WHY Gravik or anyone else within the lab project found out that there were missing DNA when Ghia turn herself into a Super Skrull??? see lots of fucking details misssing.
Gravik did manage get very close to kill the president but if it wasn’t for Talos and Fury the US President would be toast, the car flips upside down and there was no anyone else than Talos break the bullet proof glass, the US President was locked up inside, pass out, but Talos was hit that’s why he lost his human face.
Whit all the shooting Gravik manage to shape shift into one of the US Soldiers and got close to Talos, this was in purpose because he probably felt that if he could not kill the US President at least he will cut for good the ties between Fury and Skrulls by killing Talos, he could have kill him before, even on last episode but I feel Gravik respected Talos very much but it was time to demonstrate the others who is in charge now, consider Skrulls fighting for him will see his failure as weakness as any other soldier would, with his super powers Gravik had the chance to wipe out the entire field of soldiers if he wanted but he didn’t because he want it too look like it was the Russians so a War could start between humans and not with Skrulls.
Fury tries to stop Gravik but he miss twice, same as Talos to Gravik there was an attachment from Fury to Gravik so he probably didn’t want him dead the first time he shoot him and then got close shooting him in the face, from Gravik face that piss him off like really? kill me? I mean he killed Fury’s best friend Talos, Gravik regenerates and gets away, Fury had to leave behind Talos since he got the US President inside his car, fight between US Soldiers and Skrull kept going and the episode end, at least they should have waited for the fight to be over or Skrulls surrender so they both get out of there because when Skrulls are hurt or killed they loose their human face meaning soldiers find out they were Skrulls but no body said anything until Talos was shoot, were the rest of Gravik army just regular humans? more missing details.
Even though Secret Invasion is fine for me I think MCU fans not like me, I’m more of an average viewer who appreciate entertainment but MCU fans who come from the comics might need more details about the story and don’t feel its rush because from my perspective that’s the only problem of the story, again an average viewer opinion; episode four is the pinnacle of missing details, things that happen or didn’t happen without a reason, but at least I have to say I enjoy the first half when Fury and Talos get their pride slap by their most love ones, Priscilla who was probably on Gravik’s side until it was proven she was not because Fury’s life was on the line if he decided love over his life and Ghia calls his father delusional after he explain her he was still firm on the plan to coexist with humans. Until that point the episode felt like a solid 7/10 but then starts to fall with some none sense like Fury trying to scare Rhodey with revealing he is a Skrull and then Gravik been the only Super Skrull because to be honest I though there were going to be a fucking bunch of them wiping the entire field but I get his intentions was to make it look like it was the Russians but then again why reveal his powers? that was a very childish move from him as a “General” it was that plus his respect to Talos and Fury make him look like he still the same kid that use to work for them.
The only reason this episode remains as a 7/10 for me is because the shooting part safe it, the way Talos was there to rescue the president, how the soldier got spoke when he saw Talos changing back to his natural look and Fury had to intervene all that in the middle of the shooting safe this episode if not could have easily fall into a 6/10. I feel we will continue to watch all this MCU content because its from our times, anyone 30 years old and higher but I think for newer generations is not appealing anymore and thats why they are about to reboot many of this productions to keep milking the cow.
Compare to other Marvel TV Series Secret Invasion in my opinion is not bad as people might think but for sure not its best work, there is not much action until now, its more about an espionage TV Series and probably the way it should be because besides Skrulls on this story there are no super heroes with powers or a suit and I think that’s the way it was intended just humans against the infiltrated Skrulls from Gravik.
Episode three is just that, start to unveil the traitors on both sides from the Gravik camp and the more divided humans group leading Nick Fury but just way too divided between MI6, US Government, after all Skrulls is probably the main reason humans are so divided, its the result of many years work dividing to conquer that was exactly what Gravik was looking for and he is now Skrull General after getting the full support from the Skrulls counsel after showing he does have what it got to make Earth the home they were looking for and convincing them that it wont be achieve by been friends with humans but by making them go against each other at war while Skrulls just watch humans become extinct, it will be very hard for Nick Fury to stop this plan but he has Talos on his side and I think this war wont be won by force but by out smart the enemy.
Back when Gravik was chosen as Skrull General there was a few of them that were not too sure of his methods, Skrulls are a pacific species and those who had to fled their home know how bad war could turn out for them, if they loose to humans it could be game over, at the end I think that’s going to be the card that make Nick win this war against Gravik, show other Skrulls how wrong is Gravik at fighting humans instead of living together in peace with the option to stay on Earth or find another planet to claim.
Initially Gravik plan was to infiltrate humans thing that he did perfectly at taking hostage the Captain in charge of a submarine with missiles probably powerful enough to do a lot of damage or at least enough as Nick said to start World War III, with the help of Talos he was able to stop the launch, Talos is a bit against killing people specially Skrulls but this time he was the one pulling the trigger when the Skrull rebel mention his daughter what brings to mind if he knows/suspects G’iah is providing information to Talos then Gravik must too.
Sonya is helping Nick too, they might not be from the same agency or country but its on their best interest win this war against Skrulls, she is aware of whats going on even a few steps against Nick with the intel that she has but is aware that at times they might need to exchange intel to move forward not like Rhodey who thinks Nick needs to stay out of all this situation.
Talos is just too good of a guy but his feelings were hurt on episode two after he had to revile Nick there were a million Skrulls on Earth, he never lied about it to never told Nick, what he did make clear is that Nick would not be promoted or successful as he was at S.H.I.E.L.D if he didn’t have Talos and his network of Skrull spies working with him probably the reason why he was always always miles away up front, I can only imagine how Fury had the agency itself infiltrated because the feeling has always been that Fury is a fucking ghost, a ninja that no body else knows how he is many steps ahead before things happen and now Talos reminds him of this but most important Talos shows Fury he is his true friend, despite him been a Skrull or Human he is his friend before any difference but he wanted to feel special too or at least equal and made Fury beg him for help just a bit to make it fun.
Talos had this meeting with Gravik where they were playing a lot of mind games, I think Gravik has some respect for Talos as he was probably the original Skrull General at Earth when they arrive also Talos was there when Fury brought in Gravik to work for him but from this meeting things definitely going to change, Gravik show Talos how many Skrulls are with him when every single one on that room shape shift into Gravik, this is a way to show Talos who rules now and his last sign of respect to him, Talos was lucky Gravik didn’t kill him on the spot.
Skrulls can regenerate but I think its not instant although before Talos goes he stab Gravik on his hand and left but after Gravik pull his hand from the knife instead of taking it off, spliting his hand in too and then instantly regenerate with his hand glowing like generating energy or fire, sign that he already mutate results of their experiments for Super Skrulls with the machine that appears on this post cover.
Gravik has convince a big part of the Skrulls community on Earth including having the Skrull Counsel on his side either by force or not so this probably puts him in the same position as when Fury had his private Skrull Spies Network, so for sure no body is ahead of him, probably he might not be as sharp as Fury because he is young and lack the same experience, eventually his finds out Ghia was working with her father Talos, after some of the Skrulls got caught in Russia he know someone was feeding information and it was just a matter to use the right bait to get the traitor, the plan to launch the missiles on the submarine was that, the bait to lure out the traitor, he probably did trust Ghia at first but for sure always had that suspicion that she might betray him. When Ghia tries to leave camp he was there waiting for her, he was probably had people monitoring her all day, Gravik shoot Ghia and she falls to the ground, I don’t think she is dead but she makes that sound when they shape shift after falling meaning at least she is knock out.
Last but I think most important I think, its that Fury wife who is a Skrull, who told to his face that she has nothing to do with Gravik is now looking for him and potentially have to do with Gravik plans. She was the one who brought Gravik to Fury back in the day so she probably have some attachment to him since she took him over, probably consider him a son and consider she is a Skrull after all, even though she got involve with Fury they are not the same species, blood calls blood.
I feel like Secret Invasion is going to ramp up a lot after episode three, Gravik powers and machine has been openly shown and the entire Super Skrulls concept will bring that super power side characteristic of Marvel content but so far I think the lack of action and fantasy that super heroes bring in is what people were expecting this was going to be about, I remember making an article when the trailer came out and so far I dont see it as false advertisement or like it oversold what this series was going to be, probably viewers felt this had to be a longer series and not just a mini series so there was more time to develop the story but all this was about is Fury spies network and how it started, even Gravik I think is a plus because he is also the result of what Fury did before the blip.
