Prime Video’s Invincible is one of those shows that knows how to tell an engaging and entertaining story. Shows like these must go further with storytelling, animation, and nuance to justify their existence in today’s comic book adaptation media era. Based on Robert Kirman, Cory Walker, and Rythe Ottley’s comic book series, its presence was made known by entertainingly introducing the ultra-violent world to audiences. Season two, part one, had to expand by showcasing that this show is more than a stereotypical superhero program.
To do that, Invincible had to focus more on its characters, intriguing plot points, and intelligent and witty comedy while being something more than anything Marvel or DC could do. We’re at part two of season two, and Invincible continues to improve by elevating the overarching story, character developments, and in-depth narrative. Consequently, those points allow the show to be more than worth watching and open the door to immersing fully.
The last time we saw Mark Grayson (Steven Yeun), aka Invincible, and his father, Nolan Grayson (J.K. Simmons) Omni-Man, they were just molly-wopped by three Viltrumites on the planet Thraxa after being reunited. The two put up a good fight, and Mark was spared with an order given from one of the Viltrumites to prepare Earth for their eventual arrival. Nolan was taken away, and we got an action-packed episode that left us with a serious cliffhanger.
A factor that makes this second half of the season exceptional is that the show further explores the psychological toll of being a superhero in this world. The writing leads into that notion in several ways and doesn’t make it seem ham-fisted. For example, specific plot points in the show demonstrate that the series is not afraid to kill off certain characters. It utilized this tactic to keep me guessing and reminded me that not every character has plot armor. The writing team’s talent doesn’t stop; it takes the show beyond.
One of the driving points of Invincible and many other superhero shows is balancing a regular life and being a cape crusader. Part two of season two goes back to the well and explores that dynamic more than before. There are several moments in the show when Mark and the other superheroes confront the hard fact that this life isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. The show has no problems bringing that idea to the forefront of the story and uses creative ways to explore that.
Case in point, The Immortal (Ross Marquand) faces a hard truth that shakes up his world and makes him reevaluate his position as a member of the Guardians of the Globe. It’s an interesting detour in the show’s character development and does not cause a hiccup in its flow. Most of this makes Invincible sound more serious than it is, but that’s not the case.
The show finds a nice balance between comedy and drama, making Invincible enjoyable to watch and not too heavy to digest. Characters like Rex Splode (Jason Mantzoukas) and Allen the Alien (Seth Rogen) do some of the heavy lifting in the humor department. Other times, the dialogue and action between other characters pick up the comedy’s left parts, which also works.
The only gripe I would have is that some of the animation takes a step back for the last four episodes of the season. The previous four episodes showed high-quality animation that promised a refreshing look at the series. However, the second part of season two seems to lack that quality. There are instances when the characters’ movements are limited throughout the episodes. It’s not at an amateur level, but it is unavoidable. The only reason it gets a pass is that the showrunners make light of such a clever and funny observation within the show’s context.
Prime Video’s Invincible continues to grow as a show. The series is constantly evolving and gets better with every episode. The writing is a clear example of the writers adapting from the comic while trying new things to keep the program entertaining. Invincible is a case of engaging storytelling while keeping the attention of adult audiences like myself. Hopefully, this is just the beginning of what they can do.