Invincible (4×05) Give Us a Moment Review

*For our review of the last episode of Invincible, click here.

After the inevitable reunion at the end of the last episode, the title of this week’s episode of Invincible just makes sense. And with a war on their doorstep, it could only last a moment.

Not nearly enough to even attempt to repair the amount of physical and emotional damage Nolan/Omni-Man has inflicted on his own family, and the rest of the world, for that matter, he sure gave it a try. Showing a more empathetic side, he at least had enough self-awareness to acknowledge all that he has done. However, he still can’t quite grasp the right way to do it. Either way, any healing or forgiveness is going to take a lot of time, that’s not including the vital question of whether or not those closest to him actually believe that he has changed from the kind of man that they remember him to be. Giving the characters a moment to process what has happened and what is about to happen, that of course came with a lot to unpack, with much of the outcome of that still to be determined, but this drama is pushed aside for the most part in favor of taking the fight back to space. Whatever Mark, Oliver, or Debbie may think about the former Grayson family matriarch, or whatever Eve felt about the news she had been holding on to, that was more important.

However, before the story could go back to space, Mark and Nolan had some business to attend to on Earth. The latter would take the forefront here as his redemption tour began with notable characters he has wronged in the past. Mark is still a work in progress, but the one he wronged the most in Debbie proved to be its own challenge. That being said, lost in all of this was Oliver, a kid who he abandoned altogether. Idolizing Nolan for much of his young life, those feelings changed over time, wanting to carve out his own identity while looking up to his older adoptive brother. Deprived of a childhood on Thraxan, Earth was his home and Debbie and Mark were his family. As Mark was called upon to fight for Earth and assist the war effort against the Viltrumites, Oliver, perhaps out of impulsiveness and a bit of naivety, was going to join the effort and there was no stopping him. Like Mark, his motivation was no more than protecting the planet. Circumstances for which she was not a stranger to, Debbie could do no more but let her two sons go, hoping they would look out for one another, and Eve, did not want to add any more stress to the situation. Meanwhile, a reunion with Art was just as uncomfortable to watch as he was. After having moved on from Nolan, he simply looked to bide his time until he left.

Drama aside, there was still one more item on the checklist before space and that was to recruit Tech Jacket, but that didn’t take too much convincing, appealing to their sense of adventure. Above all else, as the new crew headed back to space to the Coalition, it was time to see the new group dynamic played out. While the unresolved tension between Nolan and his children took over much of the ship, it has plenty of room for them to have their space. Regardless of their feelings for one another, they could only keep their distance for so long as an immediate conflict thrust them, Allen and Tech Jacket included, into action. Attacked by a group of Viltrumites, including Conquest, our heroes seemed to have the upper hand, until the Viltrumites brough in reinforcements. Splitting the group along predictable lines, the Graysons would be brought together as Oliver’s wellbeing became the primary concern, as he became a predictable target. Similarly, the resurgence of Conquest came at an already emotionally-charged time, one that would play into the currently damaged family dynamic. Mark, taking things a bit further, emotion drove him, over reason and his own safety. Second guessing his decisions in not taking care of problems while he had the chance, he wasn’t going to make that mistake again. Little did he know, it would come at a cost.

Coming fast and furious, it made for an exciting watch, but this was only the beginning as far as the action was concerned. Leaving them behind for the sake of the mission, the Graysons, Allen, and Tech Jacket would have to fend for themselves and find their own way back. How they go about it and how it connects to the imminent war remains to be seen, but it will be interesting to watch. With only three episodes left, maybe they’ll be an actual war this season. The original cast of Steven Yeun, Sandra Oh, and J.K. Simmons all deliver phenomenal performances, while Christian Convery and Seth Rogen also contribute with strong work here as Oliver and Allen.

still courtesy of Prime Video

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Keith Noakes

The EIC of the coincidentally-named keithlovesmovies.com. A Canadian who prefers to get out of the cold and into the warmth of a movie theatre.