As we approach the end of Marvel's Secret Invasion, more and more viewers wonder if the show was always meant to be so limited in scope. We know it was reshot to hell and back, and the plans never were to make it a close adaptation of the famous comic book event, yet this entire Skrull conspiracy – supposedly far-reaching and world-threatening – ultimately feels like a bunch of terrorists playing dress-up. With only one episode left, one can see why Nick Fury refuses to call in his superhero friends.
Nonetheless, 'Harvest' might be the strongest episode so far. We'd already made the effort to accept the series' nature, flaws and all, and within those parameters, the fifth chapter is an entertaining one which didn't make us roll our eyes too hard. There's no scene here as head-scratching as Gravik murdering Talos among soldiers who have no reaction whatsoever to that, nor the villain getting shot in the head. In fact, the beats of action in episode 5 are surprisingly solid and bloody. As for the character work, Emilia Clarke finally finds something half-compelling to work with.
