Prime Video's Invincible has proven itself one of the best superhero shows in the universe, and season 3 continues to show why it deserves such praise. The new season focuses heavily on Mark's personal life; from nurturing his fast-growing brother Oliver to balancing saving the planet with his personal relationships, he's a busy guy.
This is a spoiler-free review of the third season, so read without worry. We have only seen the first six episodes of the eight-episode season.
Invincible season 3 starts off pretty much where season 2 left off. After being warned by the Viltrumite Empire that they will return to monitor his progress preparing Earth for their takeover, Mark Grayson undergoes a difficult training regime. He's stronger and faster than ever.
The new season balances tons of storylines; more than ever before, and that's really saying something. If it weren't for the recaps at the start of each episode, I'd struggle to remember certain arcs. The narrative takes time to breathe for more intimate, character-focused moments, but in the larger stories — such as the Viltrumite war and Mark's complications on Earth — the plot progresses at a breakneck speed.
This season contains some of my favorite moments from the series so far. For a show so sprawling, one that includes outer space drama and time travel and dragons, Invincible manages to stay grounded with realistic emotion. Everything that Mark endures, no matter how crazy, has a very real psychological impact on him.
But it’s not just Mark’s fighting skills; it’s the moral implications of situations that have the most significant impact. The show truly shines when it digs into morally ambiguous situations. For instance, Mark is now responsible for his younger brother Oliver, who grows at a hugely accelerated rate due to his Thraxan blood. Naturally, immature Oliver is very keen to use his vast abilities, much to Mark's dismay.
Mark's relationships are the beating heart of the show. Obviously, I won't spoil things, but I really enjoyed seeing how Mark balances his love life with being a superhero. The show has portrayed love and relationships brilliantly from season 1. And it's not just Mark; many characters going through personal struggles, all of them unique. These moments make the heroes relatable. They might be superheroes, but they're also humans with very human problems.
One aspect of this season that I particularly enjoyed was the its of origin stories. It gives a wide range of characters the opportunity to shine, providing us with a ton of insights into their personalities and motivations. Sometimes that makes us empathize with them, sometimes the opposite.
Invincible season 3 introduces new characters and develops existing ones!
Season 3 brings back some characters fans will be happy to see. Most notably, fan-favorite Battle Beast makes his triumphant and epic return to action.
Of all the new characters, Powerplex was my favorite. He's voiced masterfully by Aaron Paul (I managed to put Jesse Pinkman out of my head instantly). He's intense and unhinged, but has reasons for what he does.
Invincible sticks to its signature style. I think there might well be more blood in season 3 than any other season. Like Prime Video's other superhero show, The Boys, it embraces brutality. The show won't shy away from killing anyone. The shock factor is always present. And yet there's plenty of comedy. The comedic beats come from not only the characters, but the filmmakers themselves. Invincible is very self-aware, which is something I really love about it.
Verdict
All of this is to say, Invincible season 3 is terrific. It's such a fun show to watch. While the plot is pretty predictable, it never fails to deliver. Every episode leaves me craving more.
And yes, Invincible has taken a note from the MCU: There are mini post-credit scenes. You'll simply have to watch the next episode...and end up binging the show all in a day.
Grade: A
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