Season three came out, and it’s been well worth the year-long wait. Based on the graphic novels from my favorite author, Robert Kirkman, I can say it’s already exceeded my expectations.
“Invincible” aired the first three episodes of the new season on Feb. 7, with five more episodes to be released. The animated superhero series follows Mark Grayson (Steven Yeun) as he tries to live up to his expectations as one of Earth’s best superheroes under the alias “Invincible.”
Mark starts training with his father, whose portrayal is shattered in an amazing sequence in the first episode. In the second season, Mark copes with family-related struggles as he has to deal with his father’s absence and the discovery of a kid brother, Oliver.
The season starts with a minor time skip — yet again — as Mark undergoes rigorous training to become strong enough to protect himself and the world. The world building is just as spectacular, with a lot going on in a way that makes perfect sense of the fictional universe.
Dropping the first three episodes all at once was an amazing move, and I appreciate Prime Video’s decision to listen to the fans on preferred release schedules. The window between season releases has also gotten shorter, as there’s only been a year’s wait for the new season of “Invincible.”
Despite the shorter window, the new season’s animation was absolutely breathtaking. One thing I noticed is that scenes with less action tend to have more noticeable shortcuts in the animation, but I’m not complaining considering the quick release schedule and the depth provided by the fight scenes.
The story also stayed true to the comics, and the animation team put noticeable effort into the lining of the episodes. I am pleased that Kirkman has stuck with the animation team. The storytelling that’s been modified is pristine and makes sense for a television audience.
Going into the episodes, this season reflects a serious turning point for Mark, as he begins to run into a series of issues with the Global Defense Agency (GDA), or rather, Cecil Steadman (Walton Goggins), its director. Cecil has an amazing backstory that I was worried wouldn’t get its emotional impact carried into the show, but the sequence was so impactful it made me rewind.
The season also delves into Mark’s human side. It was hard to watch him try and resolve his lingering issues with Eve (Wendy Allyn) and their relationship. It’s easy to point out whenever one of them says something they shouldn’t have, or that they should just resolve their fights, but that realism is what I love about their story. Despite living up to the show title and being truly “invincible,” Mark still has to learn how to be human, whether it’s with his girlfriend, mom or brother.
One more thing that solidifies season three as a perfect addition to the series is the dynamic between Mark and Oliver. There were some amazingly written scenes in episode three that reference season one, drawing awesome parallels between the brothers and their father. The way the show handled Oliver’s struggles to gain humanity and empathy had me worried about his future, as I can only hope he learns how to live up to everyone’s expectations the same way Mark is trying to — one day at a time.
This is only the start of a great show series. Season three has lived up to everything so far, and I will absolutely be tuning in every Thursday to catch up with Mark as he takes on the role of “Invincible.”
