^{Credit: Invincible (Amazon Prime Video)}

In its first half, the fourth season of Invincible has déjà vu issues. In the third episode alone, Mark Grayson not only learns that Mister Liu is still alive, but the Flaxans invade Earth for the fourth time. One could argue that this repetition ties into one of the show’s overarching themes. Mark doesn’t want to be like his father, routinely choosing mercy over murder. As we’ve seen throughout Invincible, though, that rarely works out for heroes. Threats keep coming back, forcing Mark to consider something little brother Oliver said last season: “Isn't it responsible to make sure that the bad guys never hurt anyone else?” 

Conversations like these have made Invincible one of the most thematically engaging superhero shows. My problem is that almost every time Mark has been pushed to take another life, it’s been retconned, essentially wiping the blood from his hands. Angstrom Levy came back, as did Conquest, who escapes in the Season 4 premiere. Mark is forced into a tight spot during the season opener, choosing to kill Rus Livingston to avert further tragedy. It’s the first time in the series that Mark kills someone who stays dead. Since Livingston isn’t the most developed character, though, his death doesn’t quite pack the emotional blow it should. 

That said, it is a step towards Mark accepting that not every life can be spared, especially during war. Following a low point in the season (Mark and Darkblood’s MCU-coded discussion about the latter’s retractable helmet as they fall down a not-quite-bottomless pit), Invincible rebounds with Nolan’s long-awaited return to Earth. Nolan and Allen the Alien don’t stick around the planet long, recruiting Mark to join the Coalition in the Viltrumite War. Before departing, we get arguably the most anticipated moment since the Season 1 finale: Nolan confronting Debbie about what he did and said. 

Sandra Oh and J. K. Simmons give their best performances during the entire series, with both deserving Emmy nominations for this scene alone. Simmons brings remorse and vulnerability to the practically invincible Omni-Man, desperately searching for the right words. Following a heartfelt monologue that almost has us emphasizing with Nolan, Debbie reminds us why Nolan doesn’t deserve forgiveness, at least not hers. Nothing can take back the destruction he’s caused, the lives he’s ruined/ended, or that comment about Debbie being his pet. In a season where characters have their heads ripped off and organs pouring out, this is the most gut-wrenching scene to watch. 

Nolan only makes matters worse by saying that Oliver’s mother meant nothing, showing that whatever humanity Nolan has developed is still at war with the cold Viltrumite within. Although Nolan has chosen his children over his heritage, there’s still clearly a part of him who agrees with what the Viltrumites have done. Even when Mark finally chokes the life out of Conquest in one of the season’s bloodiest brawls, Nolan gives the Viltrumite who nearly killed his son a proper burial. There is a post-credits scene that makes it look as if Conquest is going to burst out of his grave, alive and well. This had me yelling at the screen, but my outrage soon turned to laughter as it became apparent that Conquest is indeed dead for good. 

This sets the stage for a standout episode of the season, "Don't Do Anything Rash," where the stakes have never been higher for our heroes or villains. The episode opens with a flashback to Thaedus’ betrayal against Emperor Argall and the Great Purge under the order of their new ruler, Thragg. Much like Vecna in Stranger Things, Thragg doesn’t appear until Season 4 of Invincible. Yet, he doesn’t feel shoehorned into the plot. It’s as if Thragg has always been present, encompassing everything we’ve come to know about the Viltrumites. He’s beyond ruthless, but also self-destructive. Thaedus’ virus practically brought the Viltrumites to extinction, but Thragg’s little civil war wiped out half of his own people first. 

Lee Pace gives a commanding performance as Thragg, the only Viltrumite we wholeheartedly believe could crush Nolan with his bare hands. Even with backup, Nolan can’t defeat Thragg. He can destroy the world that Thragg has strived to revive, however. Along with Mark and Thaedus, Nolan blasts straight through Viltrum, obliterating it from within the core. It’s among the most visually striking segments of the season. Speaking of which, there’s been plenty of discourse on social media about the quality of Invincible’s animation. I’d be lying if I said Invincible was the most stylized or fluidly animated show. While I do wish the animation could be taken a step further, I’m also not going to act like no effort went into this intense imagery, some of which left me nearly speechless. 

If you’re wondering how the season finale could possibly top the penultimate episode in terms of scale and destruction, the answer is it doesn’t. Despite teasing Earth’s genocide, the finale is quieter and more reflective, as the characters deal with the consequences of their actions. Not just those that occurred in space, but back on Earth while Mark was away. After being sidelined for much of the season, Eve drops the bombshell. She was pregnant and, in Mark’s lengthy absence, she had an abortion. It’s a devastating reveal elevated by heartbreaking voice work from Gillian Jacobs and Steven Yeun, who ground the scene in emotional honesty. 

As Mark readjusts to his life on Earth, Nolan questions where he belongs in this universe. He might not have expected to return with a hero’s welcome, but Nolan feels entitled to a second chance. Neither Cecil nor Debbie is ready to trust him again, however. If Nolan doesn’t belong with the Viltrumites or humans, then where? For now, it’s by a healing Oliver’s side. Being a dedicated parent, Debbie reluctantly sets her anger towards Nolan aside for the sake of her son. That doesn’t necessarily mean the pieces of their marriage can still be picked up, but it’s a start. 

The finale does have one too many fake-outs, as Mark envisions Thragg arriving on Earth, brutally killing those he loves most. Yes, these scenes tie into Mark’s PTSD, but by the third dream sequence, it feels cheap. By the fifth, you almost want to fast-forward. The episode does deliver by the end, though, with the revelation that Thragg is indeed on Earth along with the Viltrumites. Yet, they aren’t here to destroy Mark’s home, at least not yet. In a way, Thragg’s plan is far more devious. 

Since Mark and his father took their home, the Viltrumites will build a new one on Earth. They may not immediately dominate it, but just as Nolan laid down roots before showing his true colors, Thragg and his followers will live among the humans, spreading their seeds. The alternative is immediate human extinction, leaving Mark no choice but to comply with Thragg’s terms. Although Mark went to the equivalent of Hell where he met Satan this season, his arrangement with Thragg is a true deal with the devil. For all of the times that Mark has had his body broken, Thragg has broken him in a different way, leaving him unable to punch back. 

As the Viltrumites immerse themselves like an invisible virus, Allen is presented with a literal virus that may solve the galaxy’s larger problem at the ultimate cost. While the finale starts slow, it finishes strong, which can be said about Season 4 as a whole. It might not be the most consistent season of Invincible, especially during the first half. The second half contains so many powerful moments, though, that whatever pacing issues this season had are easy to forgive. Every time it starts to show cracks, Invincible continues to prove that it’s made of something stronger. 

Nick Spake is the Author of Bright & Shiny: A History of Animation at Award Shows Volumes 1, 2, and 3. Available Now!