The Best Part of ‘Invincible’ Is Hiding in Plain Sight

1 month ago 10

When we sit down to watch a superhero piece of media, our immediate focus is, of course, on the superhero. Not only because they are the protagonist but also because they are typically given eye-catching scenes where they save the day or defeat the villain. In this vein, Season 3 of Invincible has already delivered thrilling action scenes showcasing the heroes' powers and bravery. Watching Mark (Steven Yeun) grow into his abilities in training and fighting Cecil's (Walton Goggins) reanimen has certainly caught our attention in a similar way to how Omni-Man's (J.K. Simmons) murdering of The Guardians in Season 1 did.

However, a superhero's greatest power is often the people they have around to support them through the battles, which is certainly true of Invincible in many ways, not only of Mark but the show itself. While Invincible may focus on superheroes, it's the non-powered characters who truly elevate the show’s greatness. Their lack of power gives their actions more stakes and emotional weight, but they are forced to use dubious morality to achieve their goals. We consistently see how they have to live with the consequences of superheroes’ actions whilst still having a massive role to play in their lives, teaching or directing them to various ends.

Non-Powered Humans in 'Invincible' Are Often Forced to Extremes in Order to Be Heard

Due to their lack of powers, we often see humans relying on determination and commitment to one way of thinking so they can leave impressions on superheroes and the world around them. Characters like Cecil and Donald (Chris Diamantopolus) are pushed to extremes to keep people safe or stay in control. Cecil's implanting of the deafening device in Mark’s brain was undoubtedly ethically wrong, but equally, Mark's rage and brutality on display in that scene proves why Cecil must do something so nefarious in order to have even a slight chance against Mark. As Omni-Man said himself in the finale of Season 1, "Where I Really Come From,": "Look what they need to mimic a fraction of our power." He may have been talking about engineering at that moment, but forcing oneself to go beyond typical moral boundaries is also true of humans.

Furthermore, Donald allows himself to be brought back from death over and over again without his memories, letting his future selves forget they ever died. This kind of self-deceit shows a willingness to sacrifice his own bodily autonomy if it means protecting others. Even when he discovers the truth, his selflessness is what keeps him committed to the GDA's mission of defending Earth at all costs. Whilst superheroes can achieve acts of impact without much of a struggle, these types of actions of humans show how committed they are to their ideology, such as Cecil and Donald's commitment to utilitarianism, and provide the audience with a deeper relationship to them, resulting in how complex someone like Cecil is or how sympathetic Donald is.

Atom Eve's (Gillian Jacobs) parents show another side of the ways humans, in their lack of power, feel forced to extremes to make their point, namely, Eve's dad (Fred Tatasciore). Once again, whilst his constant berating of Eve and her noble intentions are rude, bordering on abuse, and overtly sexist at times, there is an understanding that he does care for his daughter, and much of his actions are fueled by the insecurity that he is no longer the most powerful in the house, or "man of the house" as he would most likely put it, anymore. The feeling of powerlessness pushes humans to extreme actions, whether it is rational or not.

Mark Grayson (Steven Yeun) in his blue and black super-suit in Invincible Season 3.

Debbie Grayson holding Oliver to protect him from Angstrom Levy in Invincible

Furthermore, the lives of non-powered people show us the human cost of superheroes’ battles. William’s (Andrew Rannells) boyfriend, Rick (Jonathan Groff), lives with heart pain and intense trauma because of what DA Sinclair (Ezra Miller) did to him, and it is this suffering that makes Mark so angry that Cecil employs him. If it was a superhero who got hurt but healed just fine afterward, Mark's anger might not have been so great, as the suffering would have been lessened. When this anger leads to Mark's fight with Cecil and his temporary beat down, the personal nature of the conflict to Mark makes the stakes of him winning or losing far higher.

Similarly, Debbie’s (Sandra Oh) emotional journey in Season 2 and her healing arc with her new boyfriend has been one of the best parts of the show, because we also get to see how important someone like Debbie is to the entire world. Without her and her teaching of Omni-Man, Mark, and now Oliver (Christian Convery), the world could end, as she teaches them the most important part of being a hero: love. Additionally, Debbie's importance gives Mark some of his most significant battles. For example, when Angstrom Levy (Sterling K. Brown) attacks her in Season 2, or when Mark catches the drone that was spying on him and his family, the threat posed to her is the main source of stakes and fear at that moment for Mark and the audience, and even led to a transformative moment for Mark and his powers when he killed Angstrom.

No doubt that Mark's journey is the thing that ties everything together, specifically his battle for Earth against the Viltrumite Empire, but without the non-powered individuals, Invincible would not be the high-stakes, thrilling show we know today. Human characters with significance have to go to extreme lengths to have any impact on the world around them. Sometimes, this can be understandable, such as in Cecil and Donald's actions, but it can also lead to irrational approaches like Atom Eve's dad. Even on a contextual level, seeing the fragility of humans makes us aware of the superhero's power and makes us feel the desperate need for protection and the helplessness felt when attacked, with Rick living with the scars of his suffering. In the end, it's got to be Debbie, who is the clearest example of what the non-powered humans add to the show. Her kindness and love not only leave a huge impact on the most powerful heroes, but provide the stakes for some of the most significant battles in Invincible.

Episodes of Invincible are released weekly on Prime Video.