This article contains spoilers for Secret Invasion
The finale of Marvel’s Secret Invasion has confirmed the darkest theory about Rhodey (Don Cheadle) and the events of Avengers: Endgame. It has been revealed that the real Rhodey has been replaced by a shape-shifting Skrull impostor since 2016’s Captain America: Civil War! Yes, that’s true!
And this revelation means that the real Rhodey missed not only the Battle of Wakanda in Avengers: Infinity War but also the five-year Blip that followed. Additionally, the real Rhodey must have also missed the events of Avengers: Endgame, including the death of his best friend, Tony Stark.
How did Secret Invasion explain the theory?
In the series, when Talos’ daughter Gi’ah frees the humans that are held captive and replace them with Skrulls, the original War Machine aka Rhodey is spotted wearing a hospital gown. Having suffered a spinal injury in the 2016 incident in Captain America: Civil War, Rhodey is seen in leg braces due to the inactivity in his legs. Hence, the show suggests that the Avenger was actually replaced by a Skrull 9 years ago who has been impersonating him all this time.
This is a dark and tragic twist for Rhodey because it seems that he will now have to come to terms with the fact that he missed so much of his life, including the death of his best friend, Tony Stark. It is also a major revelation for the MCU fanatics, as it raises questions about how many other Skrull impostors are still out there.
Regardless of it all, the confirmation of this tragic twist has made Rhodey’s future in the MCU incredibly compelling. It will be interesting to see how Rhodey reacts to the news that he has missed so much of his life, and how he will deal with the death of his best friend.
But how did Nick Fury not recognize a Skrull all these years?
What many reviewers were surprised with was how could Nick Fury not know the truth about Rhodey being a Skrull until the events of the series Secret Invasion itself. This is particularly surprising given Fury’s history with the Skrulls. After all, he has had more Skrull experience than any other human on Earth. Is the five-year Blip to be blamed for all of this?
Maybe but maybe not. Because Rhodey has been a Skull for around 9 years, which means it did give Fury a few years to figure it all out. Hence, it is all the more difficult for fans to wrap their head around this super surprising revelation.
This news is a major turning point for the MCU, and it will be interesting to see how it is addressed in future projects. It is possible that this will lead to a larger storyline about the Skrulls, or it could simply be a one-off event. What the future holds for Rhodey and the MCU? Only time will tell.
Source: Screen Rant
