In the stunning opening of its fourth episode, WandaVision established the true horror of the Blip. While Spider-Man: Far from Home had introduced the concept rather comedically, it wasn’t until “We Interrupt This Program” that we really got a sense of just how chaotic the ramifications of the Avengers’ plan were. In episode five, we also got some hints about how they might already be shaping the future.
The Chaos of the Blip
The dramatic and horrifying cold open saw Monica Rambeau brought back from nonexistence. While we knew this was the reality of the events of Avengers: Endgame, it was unclear until this moment just how it manifested. Neutrons, atoms, and cells reconfigure after being snapped out of existence. Not only is it a truly cool and impactful moment but the chaos it established also answered one of the MCU’s biggest questions: How can Secret Invasion happen when we know exactly where every hero and core character has been for the last decade?
What Is Secret Invasion?
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Secret Invasion is a fan fave comics arc. It centers on the reveal that major heroes have been replaced by the shapeshifting aliens known as Skrulls. While it never made into the movies, we did recently learn that the arc would be heading to Disney+ as a TV series. But until WandaVision, we didn’t really know what that would look like. After the chaos of the Blip, things are starting to fit together. If half of the population went missing and just randomly showed up again… how would anyone know if it was really them?
For years, we’ve been theorizing who might actually be a Skrull, but the Blip offers up a new angle. Rather than retconning beloved characters to have been shapeshifters all this time, the MCU could now introduce the threat post-Blip. In the original comics, the people that the Skrulls impersonate are imprisoned.
So what if, after the Blip, in the chaos of the returning humans, a rogue group of the alien race decided to take on the form of some of Marvel’s most famous characters? There are a LOT of options, including Shuri, T’Challa, Doctor Strange, Hank Pym, Bucky, Sam, Star-Lord, Groot, Drax, Mantis, Ned, and even Nick Fury. Any of those characters would make a great cover for the Skrulls, especially post the events of Endgame.
Did Maria Rambeau Know This Might Happen?
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From the action of episode four, it seems like Maria Rambeau was aware of the possible threat. We learn that she made sure S.W.O.R.D. grounded every agent who returned post the Blip. Could Maria have known the return could have seen S.W.O.R.D.’s shapeshifting allies turn foe? Maybe she was worried that the Blip might change people and give them powers? Or maybe Maria Rambeau didn’t actually ground S.W.O.R.D. at all?
Is Director Hayward a Skrull?
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In episode five, we spend a fair amount of time with Director Hayward. While he was introduced in the previous chapter as an ally, here we start to realize that he’s actually, as Darcy put it, “a dick.” Not only does Hayward not seem fully briefed on the Avengers’ history, but he doesn’t have any empathy for Wanda and immediately sees her as a weapon. We see a great example when Jimmy Woo attempts to explain her story and Hayward cuts him off with what can only be called an abridged Wikipedia version. So why wouldn’t the Director of S.W.O.R.D. know this stuff? Well, what if he isn’t actually the director of S.W.O.R.D.?
We know that the Skrulls are fully aware of the existence of S.W.O.R.D. and that S.W.O.R.D. is aware of the existence of Skrulls. In the ’90s Captain Marvel timeline, Skrulls were our allies. At the end of Spider-Man: Far from Home, it was revealed they’ve been in our world working alongside Nick Fury ever since. But in the comics they were antagonists, and it doesn’t seem too wild to suggest that they might want a little more power than serving Nick Fury.
So what if Director Hayward is actually a Skrull who has installed himself at the head of S.W.O.R.D.? That would explain his lack of MCU knowledge. It would also explain grounding all the space flights. Maybe he doesn’t want S.W.O.R.D. to know what his Skrulls are up to? Plus, in the wake of Maria Rambeau’s death, he wasn’t the best choice, but “the only choice,” which sounds suspicious to us.
How Could This All Lead into Secret Invasion?
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There’s also the fact that Hayward’s first thought when it came to Wanda was to kill her. It’s an extreme measure. But if you’re a Skrull who sees her as a threat to your potential invasion, it’s a strategic one. And that invasion will be key to the future of the MCU TV shows. Especially if we think of Secret Invasion as the Avengers (2012) of Marvel Studios TV. With each of the upcoming series introducing potential Skrull threats, those could then come to a head whenever Secret Invasion hits. It’d be a nice way of assembling the series, and could unite the disparate but very much there members of the Young Avengers. As Darcy said, it’s a working theory… but we think it’s a solid one.
Basically, keep your eyes peeled because after the Blip anyone could be a Skrull. Even your fave hero might be hiding a shapeshifting green secret…
Header Image: Disney+
