Redemption Arc: Secret Invasion Can Right the Worst Wrong of The Avengers

Secret Invasion may have just premiered, but it is already responsible for our hearts skipping a beat at the end of the first episode when Maria Hill unexpectedly died.

If that's not enough, consider that the last thing she saw was her partner and friend Nick Fury shooting at her. Of course, it's later revealed that the Skrull Gravik was disguised as Fury, but Maria died thinking she had been betrayed.

We have yet to see how Nick processes Maria's death (or even if it was her and not another Skrull), but Secret Invasion is now full of possibilities. Fury's reaction after learning of Hill's murder is important on two levels.

First, Maria's death may be just what the doctor ordered for the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. to get back on his feet and start acting like the superspy he is.

The Blip has taken a toll on Fury, and he needs a solid catalyst to overcome his unsteady approach to things.

Second, Nick Fury has been through a lot in the MCU, but he has never really lost anyone close to his heart. Well, he has lost Phil Coulson, who Loki killed in The Avengers, but it's not the same thing.

Phil may have been Nick's trusted ally before Maria, but Fury never truly grieved his death. In fact, he even used it to his own advantage – to bring the Avengers together as a team.

This was one of his coldest moves to date, and fans have never forgiven him for not properly mourning Coulson.

This time around, Hill's murder might affect Nick on a deeper level. After all, it was his fault that she and Talos got involved in this dangerous mission (lacking support) in the first place.

Fury's dismissal of potential threats to Earth post-Blip has directly caused a new global catastrophe, and Maria's death is on his hands.

The Avengers failed to show us a more emotional side to the great Nick Fury, but Secret Invasion has everything it needs to let Fury be vulnerable: he has always been a spy and a leader, but now he can be a human.