Invincible S2 Ep 6 Review
The first episode since Invincible came back from break, which was brutal. Invincible and half the Guardians were drowning in Sequids. Rex watched Dupli-Kate get ripped in half and his hand torn off. And did I mention that Shrinking Rae got eaten alive?!? It was the kind of cliffhanger that was agonizing to wait over. Thankfully, while the carnage does get resolved quickly, it doesn’t rely on a deus ex machina to do so. However, the chaos of the Sequids and the Lizard League was only the start. The rest of the episode deals with relationship troubles and emotional fallout.
After everything that happened, there’s a lot to go around.
A Pyrrhic Victory
Firstly, the episode clarifies that Rex-Splode didn’t get any copout. The Lizard King did shoot him in the head. However, despite most people thinking that a bullet to the head equals certain death, that doesn’t always happen. In this case, the bullet only hit the outer part of Rex’s brain, so he manages to get back and beat the snot out of Lizard King. In addition, despite everyone thinking she was dead, Shrinking Rae also survived, albeit in critical condition.
Meanwhile, Invincible and the Guardians free Rus Livingston from the Sequids, giving them enough time to escape. However, Mark also has to disable the Martian fighters since they’re determined to kill Shapesmith for causing this mess. So, it’s a good mission for everyone. Not until everyone comes home and sees what happened does the mood change, going from joking to somber.
Everyone is affected by the realization of how bad things got for Rex’s group, but the ones that draw focus are Rex and The Immortal. The near-death experience makes Rex introspective and thinking about how he was a jerk to Eve and Kate (and listen to mark about his relationship troubles.) However, it’s The Immortal’s reaction that carries the most weight. Having lived for thousands of years, he’s seen countless people already die. It’s clear that Kate’s death, though, hits him on a deeper level. With him still recovering from Omni-Man killing the original Guardians, he becomes short-tempered, lashing out at Cecil, and then Allen when he shows up. The man needs some help!
Mark and Amber are on the Rocks, Art’s Boyfriend is Back, and Debbie’s Still Raising Oliver
For the large part, this lower-stakes episode gives the show a chance to breathe and focus on the characters that drive the story. More precisely, it’s having to deal with the relationship problems everyone faces.
Firstly, there’s Mark and Amber’s relationship. In separate conversations with different people, they both let out all the issues they’re having with each other. They both love each other and want to make it work. However, they both feel the stress of dating when one is a superhero. Mark’s worried he’s gaslighting Amber like his Dad did with his Mom. And Amber isn’t happy about having to lie to everyone about who Mark is. While both of the people they talk to advise them to keep at it, I don’t think their relationship can last. It’s sad, but not every relationship can work out, even when both parties want it to work out.
As for Art, his boyfriend Rick is back! Last season, he was a victim of D.A. Sinclair turning him into one of his Reanimen. Thanks to the GDA, though, they returned him to normal…or so they say. Given the gaps in his memory and signs of PTSD he’s exhibiting, it’s clear that Rick’s not all there. There are even hints that he might gotten a treatment similar to what Donald got. Regardless, though, it looks like the two are in for a rough time.
The one relationship that seems headed in a positive direction is Deborah with Oliver, AKA Mark’s alien half-brother. Despite being her ex-husband’s new kid, she raises him like her own. And Cecil is trying to respect her wishes to stay away. He gets a freelance nanny for her, but that’s about it.
Mark and Allen Read Nolan’s Books, and it Could Stop the Viltrumites
As stated before, Allen came back to Earth to recruit Mark to help in the war against the Viltrumite Empire. However, with everything going on, Mark can’t afford to leave Earth for the third time in a few months. Thankfully, he gives Allen the next best thing: these old sci-fi books that his Dad wrote. As it turns out, Nolan’s last words to his son weren’t just a way to remember him by. They were an insurance policy.
As Mark and Allen discover, Nolan’s early sci-fi books weren’t just fiction. They were based on his own experiences traveling the universe and serving the Viltrumite Empire. And they all include things, people, and weapons that can kill a Viltrumite! With that kind of intel, the Coalition of Planets could turn the tide against the Viltrumites. Or release something far worse upon them. Either way, it’s a good start.
Too bad even more trouble’s on the horizon .
Guess Who’s Back? Back Again?
There are a number of problems that are on the horizon for Invincible, and the worst part is that he doesn’t even know some of them yet.
Firstly, the Sequids. Despite the Guardians best efforts, one Sequid managed to hitch a ride inside of Rus Livingston’s stomach, and immediately re-possesses him. So, the Sequid invasion of Earth might have only been delayed.
Secondly, the Viltrumites. Having seen how much Nolan’s changed from his time on Earth, the Viltrumites think the planet is a threat to them. They’re not wrong, but it implies that rather than conquer it now, they’ll just flat-out destroy it.
Thirdly, Angstrom Levy is back. After Invincible accidentally fused the Doctor with most alternate versions of himself, the once good doctor’s mind is warped by one counterpart’s hatred for the hero. Now he’s mad, he’s back, and ready to get revenge, even if it was an honest mistake. If you have read the comics, then you know how much of a threat Angstrom is going to be for Mark.
I’m expecting the last two episodes of the season to be absolute mind-blowers after this. From the relationships on the rocks to the looming threats, there are going to be storylines that will carry over into the next season.
