Secret Invasion almost ripped off Call of Duty — and should’ve

Secret Invasion is all about hidden identities and shape-shifting, but after four episodes it still hasn’t really committed to the bit of a shock-and-awe conspiracy thriller. Sure, we’ve gotten a few reveals about politicians secretly being Skrulls, and the U.S. government vaguely blames Nick Fury for Maria Hill’s death, but they could be going so much further.

[Ed. note: The following contains spoilers for Secret Invasion episode 4.]

The show’s fourth episode finds Gravik (Kingsley Ben-Adir) and his men discussing the fact that they are supposed to be speaking Russian during their next operation: an attempt to assassinate the American president. This scene has a strong resemblance to the original, whether that was intentional or not. Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2’s “No Russian” mission.

In the game’s mission, a terrorist leader, Makarov, reminds his men not to speak Russian during a terrorist attack on a Russian airport, in hopes of framing America for the attack and sparking a war. The level was incredibly controversial at the time because it put players in a position to shoot virtual civilians, but it’s also exactly the type of politicking Secret Invasion keeps feinting at then shying away from — it’s a show dealing in half-measures.

The week before last is a good example. Gravik, in his planning stages, may have wanted to accuse the Russians of attacking the president. However, it appears that the mission failed. His team and he speak English frequently throughout the entire operation. Then, as if his cover wasn’t blown enough, He then uses the strange tree-arm power he has, similar to Groot. He also orders his team to kill Talos, instead of the President. It feels like everything has gone wrong.

Gravik can do whatever he wants and blame others for his actions. Even the one good frame job the show has so far, Fury killing Maria Hill, is relegated to blackmail material from Rhodey — who is almost certainly a Skrull.

Four episodes into the series, and it’s clear that this premise is not as exciting as you might think. Secret Invasion can’t quite make good. It’s clear why the comic version of Secret Invasion wouldn’t work in the show, and why Marvel wouldn’t want this series overrun with its most famous superheroes. But that doesn’t mean that Skrulls disguised as heroes shouldn’t be committing assassinations and devious plots all over the world. The show could easily have been about anonymous terrorists rather than refugee aliens.

In a world of familiar characters, the introduction of shape-shifting Skrulls forces you to question your heroes’ motivations. Did That Guy actually do this horrible thing? Or is he just an alien in disguise. What is really the evilness of this villain? It’s all a way to put audiences out of their comfort zone. So while the plot may echo Call of Duty, it’s not embodying the risk of that franchise’s notorious moment.

Modern Warfare 2,’s “No Russian” mission was controversial not because of the crimes depicted in it, but because the game forced players to participate in them. It’s gratuitous but effective, and temporarily washes away the “we’re the good guys” facade that Call of Duty games usually let players sit safely behind. Sure, the mission could have been a cutscene instead, but we definitely wouldn’t be talking about it now if it was.

It may not be safe to enter the interconnected Marvel Universe. Secret Invasion’s reasons for avoiding something shocking seem pernicious and branding-related. It feels like Marvel isn’t willing to sully the image of any of its moneymakers with an atrocity lest they be needed for a spinoff in Phase 9.

I’m not saying that Secret Invasion needs to go full “No Russian” or have Skrull Captain America killing civilians, but I do think the series might have benefited from a minor hero committing a war crime or two — or at least being framed for them.