The following contains spoilers from Secret Invasion, Season 1, Episode 2, "Promises," now streaming on Disney+.
As Secret Invasion rolls on, it's safe to say the Marvel Cinematic Universe is on a slow boil. Samuel L. Jackson's Nick Fury is slowly learning how his plan to offer some Skrulls refuge has backfired. He had no clue extremists would secretly place themselves on Earth, intent on asserting themselves in influential positions and taking over.
Admittedly, Fury's partly to blame because he appropriated their talents and created his own spy task force. It left some bitter, encouraging Gravik to take the council over. However, while many would assume this is a threat Fury can call The Avengers in to help with, a major clue suggests Gravik already has someone working within Earth's Mightiest Heroes.
Gravik Has Prepared for The Avengers
It's teased when the sinister Gravik meets the Skrull upper-echelon. They discuss politics and why bombing Moscow, creating a power tussle with America, is bad for business. He makes it clear, though, he's going to lead his shape-shifting species forward.
When asked about potential retaliation from The Avengers, a calm and confident Gravik admits it's already taken care of. It's a startling declaration because even Thanos feared The Avengers. Gravik, though, seems to have a contingency plan, hinting he's got a plant inside the heroic camp. And if that is true, it doesn't bode well for the fate of the planet.
Secret Invasion's Inside Man Could Change the MCU
Now, the Secret Invasion comics revealed many shocking double agents. Elektra was a Skrull, as well as others deep inside The Avengers. Notable ones included Reed Richards and Hank Pym, helping the Skrulls push their plan into motion quicker. It doubled down on how proactive they were even before Civil War.
This TV series copies that same energy after initially being a self-contained story. Seeing as the Skrulls have people heading up NATO and the British government, it'd stand to reason they sought to control within The Avengers' ranks, too. This way, Gravik could receive information and seed out misinformation regarding the powerhouse unit. It'd reinforce how smart he is and how he's evolved since coming to Earth in 1997, watching how The Avengers fought threats like the Chitauri and Thanos' army off.
As for who could be a spy, James Rhodes, aka War Machine, does seem to fit the bill. He claims to have had intel years ago on the Skrulls, which stuns Fury. Yet, Rhodey was relatively inactive and didn't push the US government to truly act. Given he pushed the Sokovia Accords to splinter The Avengers and is now firing Fury, he's definitely operating quite shadily. It'd be a powerful subversion from the comics, giving the aliens control of a powerful military with deadly weapons in one fell swoop. And ultimately, it'd confirm Marvel Studios knows how to adapt to the big-screen narrative, making Gravik's movement something not even The Avengers could prepare for.
Secret Invasion debuts new episodes Wednesdays on Disney+.