The Avengers Work Out Some “Trust” Issues [Review]

Nick Fury returns to ask the team “Who Do You Trust?” in the newest episode of The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes!  Click “More” to read our review!

S2, Episode 7: Who Do You Trust?

While celebrating the addition of Ms. Marvel to the Avengers, the Griffin runs amok.  While the rest of the team heads out, Tony is abducted by the Black Widow.  When he comes to, he’s in the company of Nick Fury, Quake, Mockingbird, and the Widow.  He’s shown the Skrull that had been impersonating Madame Viper.  Fury tells Stark how they came into possession of the body and, worse, where communications to this Skrull had come from – S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier and Avengers Mansion.  When the Avengers return to the Mansion, Tony takes the information to the team and reveals that Fury believes Hawkeye to be the infiltrator.  The seeds of paranoia are sown and the members of the team take sides for and against Hawkeye.  Tony leaves saying that he can’t trust anyone and the Avengers are over as far as he’s concerned.  After Black Panther, Iron Man, and Ms. Marvel leave, Captain America takes over as the leader of the Avengers that remain.  Later, Cap goes to report to his Skrull commanders, and the Skrull Queen reveals herself as someone extremely close to the truth of the invasion.

One of the great things about this series is how each episode plays off each other like a real comic book run would.  Things that were done in the past matter now and helps build the overall camaraderie of the team and the members and the mere presence of the Avengers as a group changes the world around them.  While they continue to build episode after episode, the individual parts that make up the series are still accessible to those who may not have seen every episode.  ”Who Do You Trust?” is another great example of this.  It’s nice to have seen each of the 30-some episodes that have led into this one, but if you’ve come along just this week, you’re given the information you need.  There’s an invasion coming.  The bad guys have already infiltrated.  You see how they came about the information.  You see the intended effect.  You know how Tony feels about the Avengers and his current mistrust that’s leading to a potential downfall.  It’s all there for new viewers, but doesn’t take away the effectiveness for loyal viewers that have been there from the get go.

This gives the entire series the feel of how comics were written once upon a time.  Stories were precise and easy to jump into at any time.  While comics have largely moved away from that into more of a four or six part story to collect into trade paperback form, it seems that story editor, and Marvel writer, Christopher Yost knows how best to pull people into his projects and jump on board whenever they want.  He’s proven that with his comic series like Scarlet Spider and he’s doing it in spades with The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes.  Yost gets the characters he’s working with.  He has an understanding that makes them not just accessible, but fun and intriguing.

That being said, take this episode for example.  Every character has a stake in what’s going on.  Ms. Marvel, along with the rest of the team, starts the episode overjoyed that she’s now with them.  You get to see how well she fits with the team and truly how much she loves being an Avenger.  Then, switch that to the sheer horror Tony Stark experiences upon learning about the Skrull invasion and how his team can no longer be trusted.  Between Ms. Marvel’s joy and Stark’s horror, everyone else is caught in between and the Avengers are starting to come apart at the seems over not knowing who they can trust or what to do about this invasion now that relationships are strained beyond a point of seemingly no return.

But with that exploration of how these characters feel, you also get to see each of the Avengers’ personalities shine through.  While the episode is deep with paranoia and ill feelings, there are still moments of genuine character moments that lead to some chuckles.  Having Ms. Marvel take on the Griffin all by herself while the Wasp and Hawkeye shout out joking advice was funny and endearing.  Even the Hulk’s frustration of a meditating Black Panther is handled with a nice level of lighthearted laughs.  These moments aren’t just there to lighten the mood for younger viewers.  They are there to help show that this team is important to each member and shows how well these guys work together.

And now, it appears to be coming down around them.

Without a doubt, the long build up to the Secret Invasion story has paid off.  This episode has an edge to it that reminds the viewers exactly why we love this series as it can mix those happy and friendly moments of lighthearted humor and jabbing between characters with the frustrations of not knowing who is who and what is going on around them.  ”Who Do You Trust?” is one of those episodes that works so darn well with the characters because it took its time to get here and to place these different Avengers in these situations.  No one rushed to this story because it would be “a cool thing to do to keep people entertained or excited”.  It naturally rose to this climatic moment when the Skrulls succeeded in driving away three of the most important, powerful, and intelligent members of the team leaving those who didn’t take off under the direct command of one of the infiltrators.  That’s brilliant storytelling for adults that still can reach out to the younger audience.

That’s a mixture that can be nothing short of excellence.

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