Secret Invasion Episode 3: What Happened to G’iah? Will she come back?

Secret Invasion episode 3 appears to kill off G’iah early in the episode. However, Marvel’s spoilers suggest that might not be the case. After Maria Hill died in Secret Invasion episode 1, it seemed unlikely that any other significant character deaths would happen in the show’s build-up.

However, this proved untrue two episodes after Hill’s demise. Talos’ daughter G’iah was shot and killed by Gravik in episode 3 after the MCU villain got evidence that she worked with Talos against his plans.

1. Is G’iah Alive?

G’iah is the daughter of Skrull Talos, who is among the first Skrulls to settle on Earth in the aftermath of “Captain Marvel.” In “Secret Invasion,” G’iah has grown up to be an adult with ideological differences from her father. She is working for Gravik, a rebel Skrull leader who has formed New Skrullos, a paradise for Skrulls planning to take over the Earth secretly.

However, after learning of her mother’s death, G’iah seemingly aligns herself with Tallos and works to spy on Gravik. She gathers intel about Gravik’s plan to create the Super Skrull through experimentation that will grant the aliens superhuman abilities aside from their shapeshifting powers.

In the third episode, titled “Betrayed,” Gravik becomes suspicious of G’iah’s actions and starts testing her. He leaves coordinates to a missile strike which G’iah obtains. She relays the coordinates to Talos and Nicky Fury, who attempt to stop the missiles from detonating and starting another worldwide war.

Talos and Fury succeed in their quest, and they avert the crisis. However, the attack was merely a ruse as Gravik used it to sus out the traitor among the Skrulls. G’iah’s involvement in averting the situation convinces Gravik that she betrayed him. As a result, Gravik shoots her in the chest, seemingly killing G’iah. Moreover, G’iah turns into her Skrull form, seemingly confirming that she is indeed deceased.

G’iah’s death looked seemingly fatal, especially as audiences saw in Secret Invasion episode 1 that a bullet wound could still prove fatal to Skrull even with their enhanced physical abilities.

Many have questioned whether G’iah is genuinely dead, given the somewhat anticlimactic nature of her demise. Marvel itself strongly supports that skepticism, as the MCU has already provided evidence that suggests G’iah isn’t as dead as Secret Invasion episode 3 would like viewers to think.

2. Does Marvel want you to think that G’iah is dead?

G’iah appearing dead serves three purposes – two plot-based and one for a bigger scheme of things. Killing off G’iah means Nick Fury and Talos are still in the same situation after Maria Hill died, a duo against countless forces.

This also encourages audiences to speculate about the mysteries the show has set up surrounding the Skrull base, as G’iah is the one who snoops around it in episode 2.

On a broader level, Secret Invasion is, at its heart, is a spy drama in the MCU, and as such, it makes sense to have it continually surprise audiences with twists and character deaths. Seemingly killing G’iah allows it to accomplish both aspects, as her death early in the episode is a genuine surprise.

Her potential return would no doubt also shock many, as plenty of people may believe G’iah served her purpose in the plot and thus was killed off afterward.

3. Is there a way for G’iah to return in Secret Invasion?

G’iah faking her death either via external means, theoretically by her shapeshifting powers, or solely by simply surviving the gunshot would allow her to return.

As Gravik’s Skrulls are not actively pursuing G’iah after he seemingly killed her, Emilia Clark’s MCU character would be able to access places Fury and Talos would struggle to. Her reappearance best serves the show by giving viewers a unique viewpoint into the events.

The trailer footage shows G’iah among a sea of mysterious devices that could well be the machines that transform her people into Super Skrulls, so this could be when audiences next see her.

While Secret Invasion episode 3 appears to close with G’iah’s death, the trailer footage for the show paints a different picture. In it, Emilia Clarke is shown in scenes that haven’t appeared thus far, which suggests her character’s demise isn’t relatively so permanent.

Admittedly, they could end up being flashbacks or instead follow G’iah’s human counterpart or another Skrull who has replicated G’iah’s human form.

G’iah being revealed to be alive would work alongside her somewhat anticlimactic death. It can be displayed later, showing she knew Gravik was set to turn on her and intended to fake her death so that she could continue to work behind the scenes.

With Maria Hill’s death in Secret Invasion episode 1, killing off two characters with immense potential in an hour and a half would also seem a little much.

4. Is Emilia Clarke Leaving the MCU?

G’iah is first introduced to the Marvel Cinematic Universe in ‘Captain Marvel,’ appearing as a child with actresses Auden L. Ophuls and Harriet L. Ophuls playing the role. Emilia Clarke takes over the role in ‘Secret Invasion,’ portraying an adult G’iah.

Clarke’s portrayal of G’iah comes with a caveat, as her character is a Skrull assuming the identity of a human. Hence, Clarke essentially plays two characters – one Skrull and one human. However, in the first three episodes, we only see the Skrull, G’iah, in her human form.

G’iah’s death at Gravik’s hands seems definitive as the character bites the dust at the end of episode 3. However, promotional material for the series features Clarke’s character in scenes not yet appearing in the first three episodes. As a result, some viewers have speculated that G’iah could be resurrected.

Moreover, with Gravik’s Super Skrull plan in place, there is an easy route to revive G’iah by subjecting her to the experimentation that will make her a Super Skrull. Meanwhile, there is also the option of Clarke appearing as a human whom G’iah had impersonated. Either way, it does not seem Clarke will soon exit the Marvel Cinematic Universe playground.

With three more episodes left in the tank, viewers can certainly expect to see more of Emilia Clarke in ‘Secret Invasion.’ By the time the show wraps, viewers will get a better indication of Clarke’s future in the sprawling MCU.

5. About Secret Invasion

Secret Invasion is an upcoming television show on Disney+. It is based on the Marvel comic of the same name and will be a part of Marvel’s Phase Five.

The show will focus on Nick Fury and the alien race of the Skrulls, who have been infiltrating the Earth for years.

Cast members include Samuel L. Jackson, Don Cheadle, Colbie Smulders, Martin Freeman, Ben Mendelsohn, Olivia Colman, Emilia Clarke, and Kingsley Ben-Adir. It will be released on June 21, 2023.