Nolan can’t help himself. He’s got a plan that puts not only Mark in danger but possibly the fate of the entire universe, and it all lands in an incredibly powerful mid-season finale.
You know that epic line from last week that left us all hanging. “It’s been a while.” Well, that’s the title of this week’s episode, and boy does it pack all the angst and emo action that’s implied. It’s the big dramatic hook of the whole thing, and it’s the mid-season finale, so we’re talking about a break for a few months after this one. Talk about timing.
Nah, let’s talk about Nolan. Omni-Man is back, and he’s got Mark, our hero Invincible, wrapped up in what’s probably the most awkward father-son reunion ever. The tension is a ticking time bomb, getting more intense every minute. Back on Earth, Mark’s mom Debbie is having her own big moment. She’s finally seeing things clearly, but it’s not all smooth sailing. Her family drama, which is a soap opera spanning galaxies, might just stir up more trouble than she bargained for.
And that’s the heart of the show. The Grayson family drama is what has us all hooked. Sure, there are a few side stories that wander off track. They don’t always hit the mark, and sometimes they feel a bit random. But this week those side plots take a back seat, and that makes this episode, directed by Jason Zurek, one of the best of Season 2. The show’s hitting a high note just as we’re about to take a break.
The Late ’90s Emo Kid’s Playlist
Gabe Hilfer, the music guy for this episode, totally nails it again. He’s the hero we never talk about but absolutely should. The music plays like a late ’90s emo kid’s playlist, starting with a super moody cover of Leonard Cohen’s “Avalanche” by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds.
It’s playing during the flashback of Nolan leaving Earth, and wow does it amp up the feels. The episode actually begins with a sort of ASMR replay of everything Nolan experienced after he left. He’s flying past these wrecked planets and a giant black hole, and that’s where the music comes in, and you just feel his guilt and his sadness.
Then, out of nowhere, there’s this busted up Thraxan ship caught in the event horizon of the black hole. So what does Nolan do? He swoops in to save the day, kind of like he’s still the good guy he used to pretend to be. That’s how he ends up the big boss on Thraxa, a planet of friendly blue bug folks who don’t live very long. Any bond Nolan makes there is temporary.
The Most Awkward Father-Son Reunion Ever
Now the reunion between Nolan and Mark. Talk about drama. Mark’s all mixed up. He goes from hugging his dad to yelling at him, a whole mess of emotions, the kind he’s been trying to ignore all season. But before Mark can storm off, Nolan’s like, wait, hear me out, it’s for the Thraxans.
Then we get the plot twist. Nolan’s got a new family on Thraxa. There’s Andressa, his Thraxan wife, who Mark thinks is just a stand-in for his mom, and there’s their kid, a cute little purple humanoid who will outlive this whole planet. With the Viltrumites chasing Nolan because they’ve learned of his failure, Mark’s suddenly got a whole lot of anger and betrayal to deal with, like, right now.
And that’s not enough, because Nolan drops another bomb on top of it. Mark’s got a half brother he never knew about, and he needs to protect the kid from these bad guys, who are super against Nolan’s mixed species family.
Debbie at the Empty Grave
Back on Earth there’s this scene with Debbie. She’s walking around barefoot, looking all lost and sad, and what’s playing in the background is “Olympus” by Blondshell. Big, big ups to Gabe the music guy for this pick. It’s like Debbie’s doing a walk of shame, but it’s more about her feeling rejected. She’s been kicked out of her support group, the one for superhero spouses, all because she was married to Nolan, who, let’s face it, isn’t winning any husband of the year awards.
Then Debbie goes and visits Nolan’s empty grave. “I never knew you at all, did I? I never even knew you.” That grave literally represents all the lies about who he really is, and it’s a reminder of how much pain she’s in. Remember how Mark said she was called Nolan’s pet? Yeah, that’s got to sting.
In the middle of all this, Art shows up, voiced by Mark Hamill, which is pretty cool. But their chat isn’t as big a deal as what comes next. Debbie meets up with Cecil and tries to give him all of Nolan’s sci-fi books. She’s trying to dump all the weight of Nolan’s secrets and move on. It’s a pretty powerful moment, showing how she’s trying to let go of everything that’s been dragging her down.
Side Dishes That Don’t Match the Main Course
The other parts of the story are kind of like side dishes that don’t quite match up to the main course. Eve is still trying to figure out her superhero gig. She even stops a break-in at the Guardians’ place, which turns into this big public throwdown. Then there’s Amber and William, who just kind of casually drop a mention about Mark not being around.
Then the Mauler twins, who survived all burnt and stuff. Actually, it’s the Mauler twin. It’s singular, it’s just the one, but you know what I’m talking about. The one who survived is all burnt on one side, and he makes another clone of himself. This new clone is all fresh and unburnt, but he’s got this moment where he’s like, I’m not the original. It’s kind of sad.
But honestly, the whole clone saga isn’t grabbing the spotlight much. It’s like last season with Robot’s story. It’s interesting, but it’s adrift out there, and it comes in and out of the main action. They even tie up the whole clone thing in a neat little bow by the end of the credits, or at least the mid-credits scene.
Donald, and the Agent Coulson of It All
The clone story sort of reflects another subplot that’s actually pretty deep. Donald’s going through this big identity crisis. He’s starting to wonder if he’s even human, or alive, especially since Nolan offed him last season. He manages to get into the surveillance videos and sees for himself when he gave up his life, or died, so to speak. “It’s been an honor, sir.” “Who are you talking to?”
This is a bit from the comics, but they make it a really key part of the show. It’s a slow burn, and a really interesting one. It’s kind of like Marvel’s Agent Coulson story, for those of you who remember that, but with its own little twist. It dives into how Nolan’s actions have affected people like Donald, who’s having a similar identity crisis to Debbie and Mark. Plus it gives us a peek into how far Cecil will go to keep his secrets and get everyone to toe the line.
Earth isn’t exactly the chill spot we’d hoped it would be, and Mark’s got his work cut out for him protecting it.
The Viltrumites Crash Into Thraxa
And Nolan, it looks like he’s trying to turn over a new leaf too. But then, bam, these Viltrumites show up. They come crashing into Thraxa and we’re thrown into one of those brutal signature battles. I’m talking all out blood and guts, and yeah, someone literally loses their jaw.
In the middle of all this chaos, Mark gets a moment to talk with Andressa, Nolan’s wife, and it’s like he’s seeing his dad from a whole new perspective. But things don’t exactly end on a high note. A Viltrumite tracks down Mark and almost kills him before Nolan shows up and finishes the job.
Mark and Nolan rush to face the final two Viltrumites, and Nolan tells Mark he has to stop playing around and try to kill them, because they’re trying to kill him. “She’s trying to kill you, Mark. If you’re not trying to kill her, you’re going to die.”
Mark finally lets loose, and he’s like a Gohan stand-in for this wannabe Dragon Ball Saiyan fight on an alien planet. Until Nolan is jumped by the guy he thought he’d killed before. It’s a whole thing. Nolan gets captured and hauled back to Viltrum, and they’re all set to execute him.
Meanwhile this tough as nails General Kregg, voiced by Clancy Brown, tells Mark he’s got to step into his dad’s shoes and prep Earth for an invasion. “You can kill a few humans to convince them to capitulate, or we will kill millions if we arrive to find you or your planet still defiant against us. We will check on your progress soon.”
That’s family pressure for you.
Read My Books, Mark
But here’s the kicker. Before all that goes down, Nolan hits Mark with some deep advice, kind of cryptic, like he’s begging him to remember the good things he did. His work, his deeds, his books. “Read my books, Mark.”
Either Nolan’s just being nostalgic about his work, or he stashed some secret tips on beating Viltrum in those books. The show leaves us guessing. Unless, of course, you pick up the comic books, and then you know for sure. I, for one, do.
Then there’s Debbie, dropping a box of Nolan’s books on the sidewalk. Maybe she’s accidentally tossing out the key to saving Earth. But one thing’s for sure. She’s moving on from Nolan, letting go of the guy she thought he was. Just as Nolan starts to change for the better, she’s ready to leave that part of her life behind. And man, isn’t that just the definition of tragic.
The Verdict
Invincible Season 2 Episode 4, “It’s Been a While,” lands at a solid 8 out of 10 on the Know-It-All Index.
A strong mid-season finale minimizes the time spent on meandering subplots and really does focus most on that drama, at least the things that work. A returning Omni-Man throws Mark’s emotional healing into disarray, while Debbie finally learns to move on, though she may have chosen to do so at the worst possible time. A deft balance of gore and story. In other words, the Invincible formula.
What do you think? Have you read the comics? If not, they’re worth picking up, mainly because this season does feel a little more abridged than Season 1 felt for me. Have you noticed? Do you care, or are you enjoying the show as is? The conversation lives in the comments on the video above.
