REVIEW: ‘Invincible’ Season 4 Is More Than Just A Superhero Show

Invincible Season 4 was the season of Invincible that both comic book fans and show-only fans have been waiting for, building to the major, climactic battle that the show had been obviously building up to for years. There was so much pressure to get this season right, and the show exceeded expectations. 

In Invincible Season 4, Mark (Steven Yeun) has recovered physically from his battle with Conquest. But mentally, that’s another story. He has to come to grips with the choice to kill – and whether or not it’s ever acceptable – while also dealing with a world that no longer trusts him. Meanwhile, Nolan (J.K. Simmons) is on a mission to earn his redemption by helping Allen learn how to defeat his fellow Viltrumites. Father and son don’t know it, but they’re both on a collision course with a force they can’t possibly be prepared to face.

The main arc for Mark in Invincible Season 4 is about the psychological weight of being a hero, making choices that range from bad to worse, and living with the consequences. As Mark has grown increasingly stronger over the course of the show, it hasn’t made his life any easier. In fact, it’s only put him in more situations where he has to carry the weight of that power.

Invincible Season 4 reminds us that being a hero kind of sucks.

Steven Yeun does a brilliant job of portraying that weight in his voice work. Mark sounds older, more tired, and defeated, even when he’s succeeding. He’s no longer an idealistic child setting out to be a hero, but someone who understands how every decision he makes can have unintended consequences.

But this isn’t a show that embraces cynicism the way The Boys does (sadly, this is the last time these two shows will air at the same time, as they’ve always offered such an interesting contrast in their attitudes towards the superhero genre). Mark struggles with his responsibilities because he believes he can be better. The show never shies away from realistic consequences and it doesn’t allow Mark to take the easy way out. As a result, we get a surprisingly thoughtful display in Invincible Season 4 of what PTSD might look like for someone with superpowers. And it’s as terrifying as it is relatable.

There’s always been a certain formula to executing a proper season of television. Giving viewers a satisfying build-up and conclusion to the season’s story arc, while tying in the larger stories that span multiple seasons and setting up arcs for the future, is a lot to juggle. For those who’ve just watched the series, there are some moments during this season that a general viewer won’t understand the future significance of just yet. But all of those moments also felt like they merged seamlessly with the current story, rather than sticking out.

Mark, Nolan, and our favs face the biggest threat they’ve ever dealt with.

There is a lot of this kind of setup in the first four episodes of Invincible Season 4, some of which pay off at the end of the season. But there are others that won’t pay off for years. The final four episodes are where we get the spectacle everyone has been anticipating. And it didn’t disappoint. The climactic battle is not only shockingly violent, but it also pushes the show’s narrative in an unexpected direction.

If there’s one low point of the season, it’s Episode 4. Many people online have referred to it as a “Filler Episode” and complained that an eight-episode season is too short to afford filler. But, it would be more accurate to refer to this episode of Invincible Season 4 as a “Breather Episode,” which too many shows are afraid to include these days. Breather episodes serve a very important purpose in the emotional pacing of a season.

This is an incredibly heavy and emotional season of television. We start off with Mark struggling with his decision to kill Conquest (not knowing that Cecil saved him), and Nolan dealing with nothing but hate and distrust as he tries to redeem himself. And everything only gets darker from there. Episode 4 serves as a more comedic story, separate from the main arc, that gives the audience a moment to exhale and get ready for the coming intensity. These kinds of episodes have been used to great effect on some iconic series.

Invincible Season 4 tackles a thoughtful portrayal of PTSD and a more realistic path to redemption.

For example, Buffy the Vampire Slayer had the hilarious “Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered” episode in Season 2, right before the incredibly dark shift of Angel losing his soul. Angel had the episode “Smile Time” in Season 5, featuring Angel being turned into a Muppet, right before the heartbreaking death of a fan-favourite character, the very next episode. Another example would be Supernatural, where this approach is used in nearly every season right before a late-season gut punch.

Another complaint some have expressed is that the animation has been subpar, and that many fans blame the expensive celebrity voice cast for the lack of animation funds. This criticism is misplaced. Yes, there are definitely sequences of lazy animation, such as reusing background face models in certain scenes or models actually blinking out of existence. But that can be chalked up to the quick turnaround of these seasons more than any lack of budget. And when they do focus on the animation, such as in the climactic battle of Episode 7, it’s truly something to behold.

As for the voice acting, this has always been a strength of the series. But with the heavier themes and character struggles in Invincible Season 4, it’s really been an opportunity for these performances to shine. Particular praise should be given to Sandra Oh, who is once again the MVP of the season as Debbie. The raw emotion of her performance in Episode 6 instantly brings tears to the eye. Every fan of the series should check out the behind-the-scenes clip of her in the studio recording this scene. It’s an absolute masterclass in emotional voice work.

Sandra Oh’s voicework in Invincible Season 4 is a masterclass in the art.

Everyone loves a good redemption arc. There’s something intensely psychologically satisfying about seeing a villain turn everything around and help the hero. Probably because, deep down, we all think about the things we’ve done that we feel guilty for, and seeing someone else be redeemed gives us that cathartic feeling that maybe we can be too.

However, you have to admit that in most media, these redemption arcs all feel a little too easy. Sure, the villain committed genocide, beat up our hero, kicked puppies, but one punch to the bigger, badder villain and all is forgiven!

Invincible is not that kind of story. So it’s both satisfying and miserable to watch as Nolan tries so hard all season to redeem himself for his past crimes… and for the most part, no one lets him get away with it. Sure, they’ll accept his help. But they still treat him like the pariah he deserves to be. Because at the end of the day, you can’t erase bad things with good things. Ethics are not math. And people don’t owe you forgiveness just because you’ve changed.

Whether or not this season marks a peak for the series remains to be seen. The future will tell.

This is the devastating truth that often leads people seeking redemption to give up and return to their old ways. What makes Nolan an exceptional character is that he doesn’t give up. He doesn’t try to force anyone to forgive him, and he is obviously suffering from his ostracization. He just shows up and keeps trying his best. That’s noble, even if it won’t lead him to the acceptance and forgiveness he desires.

Invincible Season 4 represented the logical end of the story set up from the beginning of the show. But it only represents the halfway point of the story told by the comics. Generally, among fans, this is the point where the series was said to peak. From this point on, the story will go in some unexpected directions. And some of those directions have been very divisive [in the comics].

The writers of the series haven’t shied away from changing or omitting bits of the story that haven’t aged well, but there are half a dozen plot points coming up in the next couple of seasons that are going to be intensely controversial if they are adapted directly. It’s possible that fans look back at Invincible Season 4 as when the series peaked, and that it was all downhill from here. But the writers and producers of Invincible are definitely going to have their work cut out for them if they want to make future seasons as satisfying as Season 4.

Still, what a wild ride it’s been. And if Invincible Season 4 is the peak of the show, what a peak it is.

Invincible Season 4 is streaming now, exclusively on Prime Video.