Invincible – It’s Not That Simple review S2 E6

It’s Not That Simple could apply to several facets of this episode of Invincible.

The challenges of maintaining a relationship as a hero. Fighting to help save the world as a superhero. Surrogate parenting an alien and trying to find a trustworthy, capable babysitter. Or just fighting to determine how to live your life.

That Invincible can legitimately attach those questions to multiple characters is a testament to the quality of the storytelling and there’s no stopping it anytime soon.

Last week’s cliffhanger was a doozy. Invincible, Atom Eve and half the Guardians of the Globe were battling a sequid invasion force en route to Earth. Back planet side, Rex, Shrinking Rae and Dupli-Kate were in the middle of a deadly battle with The Lizard Legion.

King Lizard had Rex at gunpoint last episode and before the opening title popped up, Rex got popped in the head. That wasn’t enough to kill him. Maybe the adrenaline spike kept him going or just the need to get payback on the guy who killed his friends, Rex went off pummeling LK seemingly to death. Security arrives way too late to be of much help. At least they’re on hand to help Rae emerge from Komodo Dragon — badly damaged but at least still alive.

And Rex? Well…he seems surprisingly lucid for a guy with a gunshot wound spurting from his head. Right up until he passes out after dropping “Invincible.”

On the spaceship, the Guardians +2 managed to hold off the invasion and rescue the captured astronaut. This was a nice sequence to show how smoothly Mark can function with the Guardians as he finally earned Immortal’s trust.

Shapesmith had some key moments in this scene as well. The main culprit — inadvertently — for the whole sequid invasion, Shapesmith got to make good by serving as a shield and really showcasing his powers. This episode showed how formidable a shapeshifter truly would be in combat, which is rare.

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The trip back home quickly took a dark turn with the team learning what befall their friends. Thankfully the team gets some time to actually grieve Kate’s death with Immortal understandably taking it the hardest.

Debbie had a few surprises for Mark — namely a…name for his brother. Oliver, like Debbie’s father. Oliver is already walking and starting to pick up a few words. His alien genealogy is making him both a quick learner and grower. But there is the issue of caring for a baby what with Mark in college and Debbie just recently getting back to work.

Cecil offers to put Oliver up so his scientists can keep a close eye on him, but Debbie shuts that suggestion down quick. It’s not like she doesn’t have experience raising a half-Viltrumites already. Cecil backs down, but does try and provide some nannies through his agency. Debbie doesn’t have time to go with Cecil’s charade, but does take a liking to April (Calista Flockhart).

Mark and Amber find reconnecting…challenging. The only thing harder than being a superhero in a relationship is being in a relationship with a superhero. It’s been tough for both of them and they’re at a crossroads. Is it worth fighting for something good even if it’s not proving to be best for them?

Both seek out guidance to help talk it out. That’s a low-key positive message. People are willing to be there and offer advice for those who seek it. Amber goes to Eve while Mark goes to Art and Rex, who is harboring some serious regret for how he treated the women in his life.

Even better, while there is the foreshadowing of Eve having deeper feelings for Mark, there’s no goofy love triangle. She’s legitimately being a friend to Amber in this somewhat weird scenario.

Relationship challenges are also playing out with William and Rick, who isn’t quite sure how he so dramatically recovered from his serious injuries. Donald now has suspicions since he is pretty sure he knows what Cecil did for Rick.

Art did have a copy of Nolan’s old sci-fi books, which Mark thinks might detail ways to defeat the Viltrumites. Sneaky. Good thing Allen just so happened to be coming to Earth to chat about his conversation with Thadeus. Allen is perfectly used on the show. He brings just the right amount of good-natured humor without the raw honesty of Rex.

Nolan is in a prison cell yet Gen. Kregg offers him a chance to rejoin the Viltrumite Army. Nolan’s reluctance just paints a larger target on Earth. Back on that third planet from the sun, the astronaut is cleaning up his place but didn’t realize he’d brought home an unintended souvenir — a sequid that quickly overpowers and seizes control of him again. He really shouldn’t have spent that time cleaning.

In the post credit, Angstrom Levy returns. He’s been incredibly deformed, but he seems ready to visit an old friend. Hope Mark isn’t busy cleaning.

It’s Not That Simple wrapped (?) the sequid invasion, explored the next steps for Mark and Amber while establishing some big changes in store for the Guardians. This was another very engaging episode that covered a lot in a little less than an hour.

Rating: 9 out of 10

Photo Credit: Amazon