One of the best superhero television series, Invincible, is set to return this week for its third season. Things are complicated as ever for Mark. He has deep father issues, problems maintaining a serious romantic relationship, a new younger half brother to help raise, and the threat of an Earth alien invasion. That’s all even before the new episodes begin.
The series continues to explore compelling themes of what it means to be a superhero. The overarching story deals with accountability, and that even the best intentioned people have moments of weakness and lack of control. Our protagonist isn’t always captured in the best light even exposing his hypocrisies when it comes to other people. The dark tone is unsanitized resulting in deeper impact and reflection.
An intriguing aspect is the juxtaposition of Mark’s current state to that of season one. Before, he was the one learning the superhero ropes under the guidance of his father. Now he serves as the strong male presence for Oliver. Invincible is still fairly green and doesn’t have the years of experience Omni-Man had. Yet he must still find a way to connect with a someone that has both generational and cultural differences and point his brother towards the right way.
Over the years, the show has spent time building a fabulous superhero world filled with colorful personalities. Sure many of them are nods to classic characters, but Invincible manages to put its own touches to make them unique. You feel invested with the cast and the deeper dives provide insightful origin stories as well as a desire for some of them to find a semblance of normalcy considering their profession. Rexplode in particular follows his redemptive arc, and although he’s still an a-hole, he’s our a-hole with a heart of gold.
Most impressive is the series’ ability to make you empathize with anyone. It can take two hired goons that have barely received any screen time, and craft an engaging, yet heartbreaking story. That kind of commitment to the characters, whether big or small, exhibits the meticulous care in crafting the world.
The action sequences are great and exciting. They move fluidly at a good pace and allow the more dramatic moments time to breathe. Plus, there is the grandeur and suspense you would expect from comic books. The violence can be overt and graphic at times, but that isn’t unexpected at this point.
One of the main drawbacks of the season revolves around the bigger role of Oliver. There are plenty of film and television shows that have been unable to introduce a child into the main narrative without making him come off as annoying. Unfortunately, Invincible follows the same path. Oliver’s actions and dialog are to reflect his inexperience and naïveté, but he comes off obnoxious and simple minded. Nor does he receive any consequences. In addition, the violence can already be unsettling, but when he is involved, it’s jarring. It’s a tricky case adapting the character for television, even for an adult centered series, and Oliver doesn’t quite hit the mark.
Overall, season three of Invincible continues to deliver exciting action, compelling exploration of the hardships of being a superhero, and meticulous world building filled with colorful characters you’re invested in.
Invincible season three premieres Thursday, February 6, on Prime Video.
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