Exclusive: Invincible Creator Uncovers Shocking Secrets Behind Season 2's Mid-Season Hiatus

Highlights

Invincible season 2 will go on hiatus after its fourth episode to give viewers time to process the shocking events that take place.

The mid-season break serves as a strategic measure to enhance the narrative impact and provide a necessary pause for viewers to absorb the story. By aligning the hiatus with the bustling holiday season, the show ensures its visibility and prevents it from getting overlooked, thereby intensifying the impact of the subsequent episodes.

With the announcement of Invincible season 2, creator Robert Kirkman revealed that the series will take a hiatus after its fourth episode. Kirkman explained that this episode will serve as a mid-season finale, allowing fans to digest and reflect on the events that transpire. This approach was previously employed in Kirkman's acclaimed graphic novel adaptation, AMC's The Walking Dead.

Kirkman discussed the process for Invincible season 2 in an interview with Collider. "The production timeline has taken longer than anticipated, but this is a common occurrence with every season of The Walking Dead. From a narrative perspective, it's actually quite interesting to have this pause to reflect on what you've just witnessed. Episode 4 of Season 2 is particularly significant and can be seen as a mid-season finale. So, taking a break at this point seems fitting," Kirkman explained. He then elaborated on why the hiatus is well-timed. "Considering the holiday season around Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's, where people prioritize family time, many shows tend to get overlooked during this period. Taking a pause during this time not only helps with the scheduling logistics but also makes the subsequent episodes more impactful. Once the season begins, viewers will understand what I mean."

After its initial seven-episode season, The Walking Dead would typically take a mid-season break to allow viewers to process the shocking events of the mid-season finale. As the unexpected hit of 2021, Invincible didn't receive much fanfare initially, but its twist ending in the first episode quickly garnered attention. With season 2 highly anticipated, it's important that its execution justifies the decision to split Invincible season 2 into two parts.

While Kirkman may believe that a mid-season hiatus is the right approach, it's worth noting that this contributed to the decline of The Walking Dead. In the later seasons, it often felt like not much of consequence happened until the mid-season finale, leaving the show to rely on filler content. Although Invincible differs from The Walking Dead in genre and subject matter, it's crucial that it doesn't fall into the same pattern of buying time instead of advancing the story.

Fortunately, based on the successful execution of Invincible season 1, fans can have high hopes for even more intense developments in season 2. With numerous storylines unfolding, particularly Mark Grayson gaining victory in fights, this could significantly impact the overall narrative of the series. After considerable anticipation, the creators of the show understand the importance of capitalizing on the current momentum.

The highly anticipated premiere of Invincible season 2 is set for November 3, 2023, exclusively on Amazon Prime Video.

Source: Collider