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invincible - this must come as a shock review - mark
Television

Invincible – This Must Come as a Shock review S2 E5

Jeffrey Lyles , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

This Must Come as a Shock marked Invincible’s long-awaited return after a very lengthy break. Ironically, it was the previous episode that was title It’s Been a While. 

The delay didn’t affect any of the show’s quality. This episode featured the stellar mix of excellent character interaction, humor, drama and violent action that’s been Invincible’s calling card.

After recovering from his battle with the Viltrumites, Mark stays on Thraxa to help the citizens rebuild their world. There’s still much to do when Andressa asks a favor — take his half-brother back to Earth with him before she dies. The Thraxa race’s life cycles are much faster than humans or Viltrumites. Before the baby could start talking, another generation would pass. Mark can’t deny that logic and he’s grown attached to the little guy anyway.

Debbie takes the news better than expected considering she just learned her husband got an alien pregnant. And Mark now has his very purple half-brother sitting on the kitchen floor. Mark was away for two months so he’s got to put some things back in order namely his relationship with Amber.

Invincible consistently manages to avoid portraying Amber as a burden. Fair or not, the superhero’s love interest typically can’t be as demanding as people in a regular relationship without coming off like a jerk. The writers have found that perfect middle ground where Amber can share her life and elicit viewer sympathy while Mark is literally all over the world…and galaxy.

The signs are getting clearer that their relationship can’t last long term. Comic fans know what’s in store for Mark. Still, it’s no rush as the slower pace with Amber is showing the mature consequences of a superhero in a relationship.

It seemed unfair for Mark to join in with others piling on Nolan. It’s not like he abandoned the Thraxa people. He was carted off on a Viltrumite stretcher.

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Cecil knows everything going on with Mark thanks to some “light surveillance.” He wasn’t thrilled Mark ran off especially since the Guardians almost got beaten by a Skeletor-stand-in. The flashback of that battle was very well done particularly Black Sampson seeing Shapesmith’s true identity.

This comes to a head when a ship from Mars is en route to Mars. Shapesmith comes clean and explains his origin. It’s the part where the sequids are coming to take over the minds and bodies of everyone on Earth that’s got the Guardians most concerned. This is a big mission, and probably more than the current Guardians roster can handle.

Rex gets a rare heartfelt moment where he helps Eve get over her prolonged pity party. He is a no-filter jerk, but Rex does have his moments. Maybe almost too nice a moment?

Cecil recruits Mark on the mission. Debbie’s used to the routine, but Mark’s immediate departure so soon again is weighing on Amber. Mark might be a great boyfriend when he’s present, but is that often enough? Again, the script is doing a fantastic job of not assigning blame to Mark or Amber. What’s happening is playing out very organically.

With his own version of a pep talk, Rex heads out the shuttle and informs Dupli-Kate and Shrinking Rae he’s in charge. And he basically announcer’s jinxes himself by saying there’s no way two major calamities could be playing out at the same time. Cue the Lizard League. With Rex, Rae and a literal army of Dupli-Kates, Rex is as overconfident as ever.

This doesn’t last long as the League’s bruiser mauls all of Kate’s duplicates and the prime one. Rae takes out Salamander but can’t survive being ingested by Komodo Dragon. Rex takes out KD and Iguana, but forgets about King Lizard (Scoot McNairy), who holds a gun to his head.

Meanwhile in space, the Guardians are finding the sequids very inhospitable hosts. They’re a wave of millions and the Guardians are struggling to stop them even with Eve and Invincible’s help.

Naturally, there’s a post-credit scene. This one features Allen, who isn’t dead. And he’s gotten swole in recovery. Turns out Thadeus wasn’t trying to kill him — he thought his body would resist the urge to die and get stronger in a life-or-death situation. Thadeus is hopeful that now Allen can fight Viltrumites and find Mark, who might be the key to winning the war.

This Must Come as a Shock resumed Invincible’s second season strongly with some very emotional beats culminating in two big cliffhangers.

Rating: 9 out of 10

Phot Credit: Amazon Studios

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