The latter half of Invincible Season 2 is finally here and what already seemed like high stakes in the first half of the season truly pales in comparison with what Mark experiences in the remainder of this season. I caught a lot of slack for my review of the first half of Invincible Season 2 and after watching these final four episodes, my early sentiments have been cemented. That being said, viewing the series now as a whole and looking at the first four episodes in hindsight, that first batch of episodes was only a tease of what was to come this season.
Not only did the first four episodes deliver on setting up the consequences Mark has had to deal with. We also get an even deeper understanding of Mark’s inner and external conflicts as he not only juggles both college and a relationship but also the realization that he now has a brother, the effect that may have on his personal life and superhero life and how that may or may not affect the relationship between his father Omni-Man and his mother, Debbie. These are Peter Parker/Spider-Man level stakes dialed up to 11 and venturing on this journey with Mark has been one hell of a ride.
Now was the wait worth it?? I still say no. It took three years to get this second season and nearly six months to enjoy the full scope of the second season. I still feel that the release format for this season is still the season’s biggest detriment solely because you lose steam along the way and the anticipation of a weekly release following a hiatus of a few months drowns the momentum the season’s first four episodes ended with. I can set that aside and view the season for what it is and as I already stated, it was one intense, emotional, and bloody thrill ride.
Season 2, Part 2 of Invincible picks up immediately after the end of Invincible Season 2, Episode 4 and gets us up to speed on Mark following his encounter with the Viltrumites and General Kregg. As we all know, General Kregg has assigned Mark the task of prepping Earth for the Viltrumite invasion and eventual rule. There is a small time jump to keep in mind that will be addressed in the first couple of episodes setting in motion what’s to come in the final two episodes.
The great thing about these final four episodes is that everyone has an important role to play and everyone is quite literally going through some sort of internal turmoil. This opens the floor for some very deep and compelling interactions and story arcs which weren’t fully developed in the first half of the season. This is presented in the interpersonal relationships between the members of the Guardians of the Globe, the conflict of interests between Mark and the GDA, and Mark’s complicated relationship with Amber. This is also present in Eve’s conflicts as well, following the events on the bridge in the first half of the season. Even Donald has an interesting arc that is sure to wow viewers.
The great thing about Invincible as a whole is the source material that is being adapted and it is something that has made anything and everything that Robert Kirkman has ever written worth the read or in this case worth the watch. The complexity and relatability of these characters give viewers ample room to empathize with the obstacles these characters need to overcome. Invincible is essentially Kirkman’s Spider-Man, right and he’s able to subvert a lot of those tropes or elevate them to new heights due to being a story that is set outside of Marvel’s continuity. Which only works in Invincible’s favor.
I mentioned in my initial review of Invincible Season 2 that the animation has been upped and that the voice cast continues to bring their A-game. Steven Yeun as Mark Grayson/Invincible propels the character to new heights as he delves deep into Mark’s emotional side showcasing a gripping range in his performance and just when you think Yeun has delivered his best, he continues to elevate his performance even more. It’s almost as if Yeun was made for the role of Mark Grayson/Invincible.
Sandra Oh also delivers her season’s best as Debbie Grayson, specifically in this second half. Debbie has a lot to deal with and overcome while also making some life-altering adjustments along the way and Oh captures the gravity of this situation to utter perfection. While Omni-Man’s prominence in this back half of the season has dwindled a bit, the implications of his imprisonment and the ramifications of his actions are an ever-looming presence throughout.
This new batch of episodes also provides some fun meta-commentary and fun easter eggs that are sure to please fans. There are also a few character introductions that will get fans excited for what’s to come in Invincible Season 3. These particular introductions make me personally excited because they will send Mark on a whole new trajectory in terms of what it means for him to be Invincible. As the title card implies throughout the season, Invincible is being broken down piece by piece and it brings Mark’s world crashing down and the result couldn’t have been better.
Looking at Invincible Season 2 as a whole, this season is a massive punch in the gut. The series is packed with hard-hitting action, stellar animation, fun nods to pop culture, source material easter eggs and references, and the blood splatter to make you cringe. The voice acting is spectacular and it seems like the series’ ever-expanding cast are challenging one another in terms of performances. This is pure speculation on my part of course but nothing like a good friendly rivalry to bring out the best of everyone and it is something I think fans of the series and source material will continue to admire.
Sure the arcs being adapted are condensed and compacted and while it may bother some of the die-hard fans of the comic book source material, I think that the series has done a swell job at adapting the introductory parts of the series to lead us into the meat and potatoes of the overall story. There’s a lot to dive into with these final four episodes, specifically the season’s penultimate episode and its season finale, but we can do that once the second season returns to Prime Video on March 14th.
Invincible Season 1 and Invincible Season 2, Part 1 are now streaming on Prime Video.
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