Secret Invasion Episode 5 Brings a Black Widow Character Back to the MCU
An unexpected character returned to the MCU in Secret Invasion, but he wasn’t the hero many viewers hoped would return. Secret Invasion Episode 5, “Harvest,” dropped yesterday, bringing the Phase 5 series one step closer to the epic showdown between Samuel L. Jackson‘s Nick Fury and Kingsley Ben-Adir‘s Gravik, the shapeshifting leader of the Skrull resistance. While Episode 5 was quieter than previous high-intensity episodes, some major steps forward were made. An unsuspecting character is back in the MCU after first appearing in 2021’s Black Widow alongside Natasha Romanoff from Scarlett Johansson, but it was not what viewers expected.
Secret Invasion Episode 5 saw Gravik further the plans of the Skrull rebellion, attempting to convince US President Ritson to launch missiles on Russian soil and incite World War III. Striking a deal with Fury, who he believes will do anything to save Skrulls and innocent humans, Gravik demands “The Harvest,” a collection of the combined DNA of all the superheroes who fought during Avengers: Endgame. Having hidden the Harvest in Finland, Fury travels north with the help of a resourceful character, who previously appeared in Phase 4 Black Widow.
Black Widow’s Cameo in Secret Invasion Explained: Who is Rick Mason?
OT Fagbenle of The Handmaid’s Tale and The First Lady fame made his debut as Rick Mason in the MCU’s Black Widow and made his reappearance helping Fury in Secret Invasion Episode 5. Based on Rick Mason from the comics, aka the Agent, Fagbenle’s character is an ex-soldier turned international smuggler, providing a variety of services to black market traffickers and militaries around the world. While Natasha Romanoff was working for S.H.I.E.L.D., she rescued Mason from prison in Cambodia, allowing her to turn to him for help after the events of Captain America: Civil War, as she owed her a debt of gratitude.
In Black Widow, Mason helped Romanoff secure a hideout, a vehicle, a helicopter, and even a Quinjet after destroying the Red Room with her surrogate family. Showing his resourcefulness, Mason is an interesting supporting character to introduce, even if he wasn’t expected to return to the MCU. Secret Invasion episode 5 changed all that though, as he reappeared to help Fury get to Finland and contribute to the war against Gravik, once again proving his worth by providing Fury with a private jet. While Fagbenle’s return makes solid connections to the wider MCU, this wasn’t the cameo many had hoped for in Secret Invasion.
Rick Mason’s Cameo Worsens Quake’s Exclusion from Secret Invasion
Before Secret Invasion premiered, many suspected the series would be the perfect opportunity to tie into Marvel Television’s Agents of SHIELD. The hope was that Chloe Bennet could reprise her beloved role of Daisy Johnson, aka Quake, an Inhuman member of Coulson’s S.H.I.E.L.D. team. During a recent interview with ScreenRant, Chloe Bennet denied the rumors of a return of Quake in Secret Invasion, stating that, while she is open to returning, she “has not been told anything about it”. While many wanted Quake to return, Rick Mason was seemingly for the best, leaving the prospect of seeing any Agents of SHIELD characters in Secret Invasion even less likely.
