Even some positives can be taken from the MCU’s worst show, as it makes rewatching the best Captain America movie all the more satisfying. Captain America: The Winter Soldier is widely regarded as one of the best, if not the best, films that the MCU has ever put out. In this critically acclaimed project, Nick Fury finally got a chance to really step into the spotlight.
A decade after Fury’s supporting yet integral role in The Winter Soldier, the character finally got his own solo project with the Disney+ series, Secret Invasion. Unfortunately, Secret Invasion was far from a success, and it can even be argued that it did irreparable damage to Fury’s character. Still, there are some benefits to the show’s existence.
Captain America: The Winter Soldier’s Story Is Made All The Better By Secret Invasion
While Captain America: The Winter Soldier stands entirely on its own, Secret Invasion offers some additional context and a new perspective. Since Fury is just a supporting character in the 2014 film, we don’t get as much insight into the decisions that he makes. Secret Invasion’s story may not be perfect, but it still has its moments.
The biggest Fury moment in The Winter Soldier is undoubtedly when he fakes his own death. It’s a shock to the audience, and it gives Steve further motivation to shut down HYDRA for good. We don’t see too much about Fury’s thought process behind it all, but Secret Invasion indirectly helps to flesh out his intentions by showing he’s willing to take huge gambles.
Up until Secret Invasion, Fury had always been a mysterious presence. Despite his frequent appearances, we didn’t know much about him as a person. Secret Invasion provided so much information about his life, such as his commitment to the Skrulls and the fact that he’s married, that greatly humanized him beyond being the head of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Even Secret Invasion’s Downsides Enhance Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Of course, some would argue that there are very few positives to take from Secret Invasion and that it did more harm to Fury’s character than good. However, even the show’s downsides still manage to make an already amazing project in Captain America: The Winter Soldier look even better.
Both projects were on the more grounded side of the MCU, leaning heavily into the stylings of a spy thriller. It’s hard not to compare the two when they’re in the same genre, and, unfortunately, one is clearly stronger than the other. Still, there is a positive side to Secret Invasion’s weaknesses.
When putting the lazy storytelling and numerous plotholes of Secret Invasion side-by-side with The Winter Soldier, all it does is highlight the film’s strengths. Fury’s first solo MCU project may not have been what fans wanted it to be, but the context it provides about his life is still welcomed, especially when it can enhance a past project.
- Cast
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Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Samuel L. Jackson, Jeremy Renner, Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Edward Norton, Paul Rudd, Tom Holland, Tom Hiddleston, Anthony Mackie, Cobie Smulders, Brie Larson, Chadwick Boseman, Sebastian Stan, Chris Pratt, Dave Bautista, Zoe Saldana, Bradley Cooper, Vin Diesel, Pom Klementieff, Josh Brolin, Karen Gillan, Clark Gregg, Paul Bettany, Don Cheadle, Benedict Cumberbatch, Evangeline Lilly, Simu Liu, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Angelina Jolie, Kit Harington, Salma Hayek, Richard Madden, Barry Keoghan, Gemma Chan, Ma Dong-seok, Brian Tyree Henry, Kumail Nanjiani, Lauren Ridloff, Lia McHugh, Jonathan Majors