Invincible Season 2 expands the world and characters set up in the first season but cannot leave the same impact as its previous season.
The season follows Invincible as he continues to attempt to balance being a hero and a regular teenager, all the while dealing with the problems caused by his father, Omni-man.
The first season of Invincible is one of the best modern super hero projects, both reinforcing aspects of the genre and deconstructing them.
“Your powers don’t make you a hero, they make you dangerous”
Image credit: Variety.com
Amazon separated season two into two parts, consisting of four episodes per part. The first part runs in November 2023, and the second part runs from March to April 2024.
Separating the season was a confusing choice. All the episodes were completed when season two started airing. By doing it this way, some fans didn’t even know the show was back in March. The three-month wait to see what happens was less exciting and more irritating.
Nonetheless, the show continues to build on its lore and world. Introducing more aliens than you can shake a fist at, a host of returning characters and a few surprises along the way.
The multi-verse is the big selling point of this season. The new big bad, Angstrom Levy, can travel to any world he chooses, sadly he isn’t as large a presence as Omni-man. Only make a sizeable appearance in the first and last episodes.
Moving away from a more straightforward story harms the show in certain areas. There is often too much going on and too many characters to get fully invested in.
The tension of Invincible’s first season was one of its best elements. Never knowing what Omni-man would do next kept watching it weekly exciting. However, this season hasn’t had the same draw each week, the only exception being episode seven to episode eight.
“So arrogant, just like your father”
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Season 2 of Invincible is about setting up future seasons. There is a lot to come so devoting a whole season to set up is great. But, don’t worry over the top action and lovable characters remain.
Nothing compares to Omni-man and Invincible’s clash at the end of the first season, that’s not to say there aren’t any good fights in this season. All of the fights against other Viltrumites and the massacre that is the Lizard League fight were real highlights.
There is a noticeable increase in animation quality this time around. The combination of an increased budget and a longer time to work on this season is most likely the reason. This bump in animation makes the show really pop, making it feel like a comic book in motion.
The action is obviously a highlight, but some of the best moments of the season are just characters talking to each other, one-on-one. Marks conversations with Debbie about Nolan/Omni-man, or Nolan and Mark talking about what happened back on Earth. Moments like these make the characters feel real and helps the audience relate to them.
The voice acting remains great, Steven Yeun as Mark and Sandra Oh as Debbie are the real standouts. Both of them are great a portraying a wide range of emotions, especially Yeun.
The soundtrack in this season is also great, songs like Karma Police by Radiohead and Baby Drummer by Bad Nerves adding to the scenes they are used in, reflecting Marks feelings.
“I thought you were stronger”
Image credit: Techradar.com
Invincible season two doesn’t reach the same heights as its first season, however it builds out the story and sets up the oncoming storm that will be the third season.
This season is about breaking down who Mark is and who Mark wants to be. Will he be his own man? Or will he be his Dad? The hook is fantastic but sadly the answer is not given.
It can’t be understated how important Invincible is to adult animation. It’s a mature look at what superheros are, and it’s very refreshing in a time so overstuffed with Marvel and DC characters.
I’m looking forward to seeing where they go next and I can’t recommend this season enough if you have watched the first season, it’s well worth your time.
Featured image credit: Escapistmagazine.com