Invincible Season 2 Episode 2: A Rollercoaster Ride of Emotion

Invincible Season 2 Episode 2 showcases the incredible power of animation, as it seamlessly combines visually stunning and entertaining set pieces with an unwavering emotional depth.

Being a relatively new addition to television, Invincible has the advantage of limitless possibilities. Following the intense and heart-wrenching events of the first season, the world is now wide open for exploration. The looming threats of the Viltrumites and the vastness of the cosmos are expertly balanced with Mark's personal struggles as a neighborhood superhero, creating a captivating blend of high stakes and relatable guilt.

The premiere introduced us to the concept of the multiverse, a refreshing escape from the saturation of clichéd toy-box stories. The chilling reality is that our universe is incredibly fortunate to have Mark and Nolan's partnership and their dominant influence across most timelines.

Following last week's suspenseful cliffhanger, Episode 2 artfully delves into Mark's ongoing difficulties as a hero following Cecil's orders, and presents thrilling battles reminiscent of the monster-of-the-week style. These encounters are highly enjoyable, until they catch you off guard and leave you breathless.

Invincible Season 2 Episode 2 begins with a graduation

Mark Grayson, despite having Cecil guiding him and preparing him for intergalactic missions and world-threatening dangers, still has to deal with the everyday struggles of being a teenager. One of these struggles includes juggling his education alongside his responsibilities. In the previous episode, Mark received acceptance into the same university as Amber, indicating the need for him to graduate from high school. Meanwhile, Amber, Eve, and William were enduring the commencement ceremony, featuring Principal Winslow's inspiring speech about pushing boundaries, discovering true strength, and quotes that were anything but Lincoln-esque. However, Mark found himself running late due to the reappearance of Doc Seismic, a deranged villain who aimed to demolish Mount Rushmore.

Having survived falling into a pit of lava, the protagonist emerges with the mission to reclaim the Earth's "stolen flesh" and seek revenge for humanity's offenses against the land. Destroying buildings and structures made of stone, including the Washington Monument, becomes the primary focus. Mark remarks that most buildings are made of stone, to which Doc replies that they will take back everything else. Launching into the air, Doc unleashes shockwaves from his wrists.

The protagonist is not alone in this endeavor. Having gathered an army of magma knights resembling mini-bosses from Super Mario Galaxy's lava planet, they join the battle. Mark fights valiantly, even falling into a pool of lava, raising doubts about his durability. Meanwhile, Doc shatters the Washington Monument like Scratch from Ice Age, causing it to sink into the ground. The protagonist, unable to land a blow on Doc due to his wristbands, takes an unexpected approach. Rocketing up through the monument, he emerges from the top and delivers an uppercut to the madman, ultimately saving the day. Unfortunately, the loss of the monument is lamentable.

Mark offers to retrieve it, but Cecil dismisses him, and just in time, Mark returns to school to receive his high school diploma. Amber inquires about his absence, and Mark describes Doc as an exemplification of the drawbacks of higher education. Furthermore, we discover Mark's complete name to be Markus Sebastian Grayson, leaving us to ponder whether his middle name will play a significant role in a future revelation.

Following that, Winslow addresses the students, urging them to embody boldness and originality. As he speaks, a red-and-black card unveils itself with a slight crack, revealing the original blue design beneath. What does this signify? Has Mark recently battled a deranged seismologist? Or is his newfound colder and darker disposition, stemming from his father's disappearance, merely a facade destined to crumble in due course?

Mark is always on call

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Mark and his friends are discussing their plans for the summer before going to college. Amber excitedly mentions that she will be enjoying swimming pools and sleeping in, but she also mentions that she will be busy working on Katie Giles' state comptroller campaign. William, on the other hand, wants to indulge in a trashy reality show and watch every episode twice.

Amber admits somewhat shyly that she will be working in and around Chicago to assist with the reconstruction efforts, which impresses Mark. The writers cleverly integrate the aftermath of the Omni-Man brawl into the narrative, creating a Metropolis-like atmosphere in the SnyderVerse, only even better. As for Mark, he will be working exclusively for Cecil. When his friends toast with their bottles, he declines, so Eve prepares a Virgin Mai Thai drink for him.

In another part of the USSA, astronauts are engaged in a discussion about how to address the sequid problem. These unfavorable beings, which Mark narrowly escaped from in Season 1, are causing concern. One astronaut suggests deploying Invincible to tackle the issue, but the other is hesitant due to the potential initiation of an interplanetary conflict.

Simultaneously, an astronaut named Russ behaves peculiarly. When approached for his input, he abruptly jerks and shifts in his seat before hastily retreating to the bathroom. As his boss enters, Russ becomes increasingly frantic and hysterical, grabbing numerous sheets of toilet paper and collapsing to the ground, inexplicably begging for mercy. While reluctant to take severe action, his boss insists that Russ takes a leave of absence until he regains composure (humorously, Russ grasps his head as the boss exits to ensure his mental state is intact).

Later, in his apartment, Russ is seen clutching onto an uncooked frozen pizza and voraciously devouring the icy dough. The landlord approaches, requesting the rent, but Russ appears utterly perplexed, genuinely oblivious rather than feigning ignorance. As the television airs a tribute commemorating Martian Man, one year after Omni-Man slaughtered the original members of the Guardians of the Globe, Jefferson smiles momentarily... before reverting to his natural form - that of a Martian.

Atom Eve’s powers can’t help everyone

In downtown Chicago, Eve spots a construction crew slowly repairing an apartment building that was demolished by Omni-Man and Mark. The job is swiftly completed, but not everyone is pleased. The workers' boss expresses doubts about the building being up to code, but a nearby parent supports Eve, seeing her as a necessary force to bypass bureaucratic obstacles in the city.

Eve doesn't stop there. Adjacent to the building is a neglected plot of land in a dismal state, filled with rusty and hazardous debris scattered on broken concrete and dead grass. In just a few minutes, Eve transforms it into a stunning community garden, complete with an elegant water fountain and a playground for local children. It's as if a month's worth of labor is accomplished in an instant, and Eve appears content with the outcome - until she receives a call from her mother.

Her father lost his job when Omni-Man destroyed the building he worked in. As a result, he has now started working at Burger Mat. Despite her mother's concerns about money, Eve has the ability to instantly resolve their financial struggles. However, her parents adamantly refuse any assistance, especially if it involves the use of superpowers. Eve demonstrates her abilities by turning an apple into solid gold and suggests that they sell it, but her parents simply throw it away.

Later, Eve revisits her parents and acknowledges that it must be challenging for her father to accept his current circumstances and rely on her powers. There is a fleeting moment when his frown softens and he almost appears to agree, until Eve admonishes him to abandon the outdated notion of being the "man of the house."

Angered for a legitimate reason, he clenches his fist around the crumpled newspaper that displays a distressing article about Eve's creation of the community park. The news is far from positive, as the park's faulty construction led to its collapse and nearly caused multiple fatalities. "Your abilities don't make you a hero, they make you a threat," he harshly reproaches her.

The dynamic between Eve and her parents holds a captivating storyline. It mirrors the internal conflict depicted in Captain America: Civil War following the events in Sokovia, though on a more personal and impactful level. It serves as a reminder that even acts of kindness can have unintended consequences.

Mark and Debbie are still “raw”

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Mark and his mother, despite not having done anything wrong, find themselves in an uneasy situation. As they sip their coffee, worn out and hesitant to speak, Debbie expresses her dissatisfaction with the subpar work of the contractors whom Cecil hired to fix their house. Mark, on the other hand, believes they should be grateful for the assistance, but Debbie holds a grudge against anyone associated with Omni-Man.

In an attempt to mend their strained relationship, Debbie suggests that they take some time off and embark on a dream vacation. She presents it as a graduation gift, speaking with warmth and affection. However, Mark's initial excitement is quickly overshadowed by the weight of his responsibility. While his mother claims it is his last summer as a child, Mark contends that he is now an adult. In response, Debbie insists that being an adult means making one's own decisions, but Mark is seemingly content to follow Cecil's guidance, in light of the consequences that arose when his father chose to follow his own path.

"You're a kind-hearted individual, and no one believes that you'll follow the same path as your father," she reassures, intending to provide comfort without voicing it. Fortunately, Cecil contacts Mark for assistance, leading him to leave Debbie alone at home.

Meanwhile, at Guardians HQ, Immortal persistently subjects the heroes to rigorous training. However, Rex Splode reaches his breaking point. "To hell with this training," he exclaims, to which the Immortal swiftly retorts, "Perhaps if you dedicated more time to training and less to complaining, we could resume our life-saving missions."

He heads for a shower, his body covered in blood and bruises, and suddenly he hears Dupli-Kate's voice. Initially, he mentions his "injured spots in need of dupli-kisses" (disgusting), but she quickly storms out, scolding him for his "inappropriate workplace language." And then comes the real shocker: not only is she dating Immortal, but she's engaging in a sexual rendezvous with him at that very moment.

Invincible goes to Midnight City

Mark is sent to Midnight City, a perpetually dark dome tinted crimson. It has become a virtual wasteland since the Midnight Magician's curse in 2002, resembling a summer on the dark side of the moon. Surprisingly, Cecil has received reports of Darkwing's presence there, despite Omni-Man's brutal murder of him in Season 1.

This location is undeniably captivating, adorned with skeletons hanging from tall smokestacks and boasting architectural designs reminiscent of Gotham's hauntingly beautiful skyscrapers in Batman: The Animated Series. On top of a building, Mark encounters a punk whose appearance resembles one of Bill Paxton's goonies from The Terminator, desperately crying out for assistance. The new Darkwing introduces himself, expressing his determination to prevent individuals like Mark from causing harm to innocent people ever again.

Invincible swoops in and intercepts him, only to discover that this is Night Boy, Darkwing’s "assistant" (they avoid using the term "sidekick" as it is demeaning). Night Boy has taken on his master's role after his demise, but it becomes evident that he has lost his sanity. While Mark briefs Cecil, Darkwing II utters, "You hear them too... the voices."

He subsequently refuses to cooperate, swiftly leaping in and out of billowing portals and holding his ground against Mark in a physical altercation. As Invincible remarks, "I felt that blow... but it didn't inflict any pain." Subsequently, Darkwing II seizes Mark and hurls him into the "Shadow-Verse," a cryptic grey void inhabited by "sinister entities... ravenous entities."

“I hope you enjoy it, because you’re not getting out of here. I’m protecting the world from Omni-Man’s son,” he informs him, something that irritates Mark. “Don’t call me that,” he retorts, and before Darkwing II can return to reality, Mark seizes his arm and threatens to unleash him to whatever monster lurks in the shadows. Darkwing II believes it's a bluff, but Mark is no longer afraid to resort to extreme measures. “You have no idea what I am capable of,” he asserts.

Darkwing II eventually surrenders and accompanies them back to Midnight City, before Mark knocks him unconscious. Cecil instructs him to return to headquarters and abruptly ends the call... because Debbie has just burst in, and she has an issue to discuss with her son’s new boss. She doesn't want him to become a lackey for Cecil after what happened to Nolan, but Cecil assures her that he is gradually reintegrating Mark and looking out for him wherever he goes. "At least he follows orders," he adds, quickly realizing the hurt caused by his words.

He offers his apologies and assures her that he will take care of Mark, but her attention is diverted and unsettled by an unexpected sight: Donald, Cecil's trusted associate who had appeared to perish at the hands of Omni-Man in the previous season. Cecil escorts her out of the room, leaving Donald bewildered in the lobby. "I wonder what that was all about," he mutters to himself.

Mark goes to Paris (sort of) and Atlantis

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Amber is on a mission to gain support for her chosen candidate for state comptroller. Unexpectedly, Mark appears and plans a surprise lunch for her. Amber humorously points out that while local politics may not be the most exciting, it doesn't mean she's the only one making a difference in the world. As they take flight, they eventually land on top of the Eiffel Tower... in Las Vegas. Mark playfully reminds her that he can't fly her fast enough without causing her skin to rip off, since they only have an hour for lunch. When she removes her blindfold, she realizes the unique location they've arrived at.

Sitting only briefly, Cecil promptly calls on Mark once again. However, Amber understands the situation. She is dating a superhero and realizes that this is all part of the package. "Go save the world, Invincible," she declares, and Mark gives her a kiss before flying her back home. It is truly refreshing to see a love interest who is not merely a constant source of emotional burden for a hero like Invincible. Amber is fully supportive of whatever he does because the fate of the entire planet often rests in his hands.

On a rainy cliffside, Mark meets up with Cecil. He has been informed that the Atlanteans are still harboring resentment over Omni-Man's killing of Aquarus and subsequent disappearance "like a fart in a hurricane". As tradition dictates, Mark is now expected to marry the late Guardian's widow as a means of atonement in his father's absence. Meanwhile, Donald deploys the Guardians to confront the Lizard League, where they encounter "the Shapesmith", also known as Russ in a new superhero disguise. Despite being swiftly knocked aside, Russ and the others engage in battle against the various villains.

A ship emerges from the water, carrying Mark to the seafloor for an audience with Queen Aquaria (hilariously voiced by Tatiana Maslany). "Welcome, son of the one who defeated my husband," she greets him, as Mark pleads with her to reconsider the wedding. However, it turns out that the Atlanteans had long abolished that "barbaric custom," and Aquaria has been ruling over Atlantis for decades with no need for a king.

But what is the new rule? Aquaria explains it's a "trial by combat" against the Death-Dweller, and a cute little seahorse-like creature emerges from a pit. However, things aren't as simple as they seem. This small creature is just a part of an enormous monster with crab claws and sharp teeth, and it viciously attacks Mark.

Mark informs Cecil of the situation and the GDA forces offer assistance by launching underwater rockets at the Death-Dweller. The unintended consequence of this action is that it releases the monster from its chains. As Mark ascends towards the surface, he witnesses the monstrous entity ruthlessly killing Atlanteans in the arena, reducing them to fish paste. Determined to save those who only sought justice for his father's actions, Mark defies Cecil's orders and decides to rescue the queen.

With an immense display of power, Mark delivers a forceful punch that fractures the chest of the Death-Dweller. He then relentlessly attacks the creature with a series of strikes, and propels the remaining chained pillar back into the pit, dragging the monster down with it. However, reminiscent of the Balrog in Lord of the Rings, the Death-Dweller swiftly wraps its tail around Mark and drags him into the depths as well.

Thankfully, Mark not only survives, but Atlantis considers it a fair exchange for his bravery. Cecil instructs Donald to transfer the recording of the Death-Dweller fight to the GDA's research apartment, but Donald questions why Debbie appeared so "distressed" upon seeing him. Cecil responds politely, yet dismissively, and as Donald walks away, he gives him a wary glance – something incredibly peculiar is occurring (we actually already know the answer, and you can discover it here if you wish to spoil it for yourself).

Debbie needs help

Debbie returns to work, only to have her day marred by a series of unfortunate events. Initially, she encounters a stubborn mailbox on her front lawn, followed by witnessing an abusive boyfriend belittling his partner and silencing her whenever she attempts to express herself. Frustrated by the situation, she confronts the boyfriend, defensively asserting that the woman is not his possession. Fortunately, before the situation escalates further, her colleague intervenes and advises her to take the remainder of the day off.

Seeking solace, Debbie seeks refuge at home and pours herself a much-needed glass of wine. However, her frustration reaches its peak when she realizes that the persistent cupboard door still refuses to close properly. It becomes the proverbial last straw, causing her to repeatedly slam the door until it eventually breaks off its hinges. Exhausted and overwhelmed, she collapses onto the tiled floor amidst shattered glass, spilled wine, and tears streaming down her face. Her anguish intensifies further upon seeing Mark enter the room, still bearing the physical remnants of his recent altercation, blood dripping from his nose and fresh cuts and tears visible on his attire.

Nolan encountered this sight multiple times after long missions. The scene highlights a heartbreaking parallel: even though her husband has abandoned her, her solace comes from a superhero's embrace. As Mark kneels down, she hesitates to seek comfort from her own son, and this small gesture deeply affects Mark. Sandra Oh's exceptional voice performance adds to the tender yet distressing nature of this moment.

Before the episode concludes, the Lizard League regroups following their defeat by the Guardians. The esteemed Supreme Lizard addresses his devoted followers, vowing to rise again despite disregarding social media criticism. Abruptly, he is shot in the head. The returning villain declares that King Lizard will be the one to revive and transform the organization before the episode concludes with credits.

There’s a post-credits scene too, so make sure you stick around.

Invincible Season 2 Episode 2 review score: 4/5

Invincible Season 2's second episode is filled with a variety of elements, such as boss fights, side characters, and a somber storyline. Despite this, every scene is successful in delivering a blend of humor, excitement, and emotional impact.

You can now watch Episodes 1-2 of Invincible Season 2 on Prime Video by signing up here. Take a look at our additional coverage below.

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Editor's P/S

Invincible Season 2 Episode 2: A Thrilling Blend of Action and Emotion

Invincible Season 2 Episode 2 delivers a thrilling blend of action and emotion, leaving fans on the edge of their seats. The episode showcases the incredible power of animation, combining visually stunning set pieces with an unwavering emotional depth. The story delves into Mark's ongoing difficulties as a hero following Cecil's orders, presenting thrilling battles reminiscent of the monster-of-the-week style. These encounters are highly enjoyable, until they catch you off guard and leave you breathless.

The episode also explores Mark's personal struggles as a teenager, including juggling his education alongside his responsibilities as a superhero. The relatable portrayal of Mark's challenges adds depth to his character and makes him even more endearing to fans. Overall, Invincible Season 2 Episode 2 is a rollercoaster ride of emotion that earns a solid 4/5 review score.