r/Invincible • u/mwthecool Omni-Mod • Nov 24 '23

Invincible [Episode Discussion] - S02E04 - It's Been a While EPISODE DISCUSSION

Episode 4 - It's Been a While!

Mark answers the call to save an alien species, but the mission has unexpected personal consequences.

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802

u/Front-Review1388 Nov 24 '23

What a episode. Holy crap. How does a single episode manage to redeem Nolan? It was powerful when he cried for the Thraxan massacre, and him protecting Mark was touching. Mark embracing his Viltrum side by fighting to kill was badass. The animation also looks better here.

10/10 yet again.

149

u/Iorith Nov 24 '23

I don't see him as redeemed, but absolutely on his way.

His inability to admit what he did was wrong, his lashing out at Mark for his own emotional disruption, shows he isn't redeemed. He's still figuring out what the hell he is and wants to be vs what he's always been.

16

u/finnjakefionnacake Nov 24 '23

i think the scale of what he has done means that the only real redemption here would be in sacrifice/dying to do the right thing. any less than that is like saying hitler is redeemable. yes i invoked godwin's law but pretty sure it works in this situation lol.

41

u/Lucifer_Crowe Nov 24 '23

Hitler wasn't brainwashed growing up as far as I'm aware

Nolan is literally fighting his programming

19

u/Iorith Nov 24 '23

Exactly this. He needs to be able to recognize that the Viltrum mindset was wrong on it's own merits, and fight against it because it's wrong, not out of his own benefit. So far, he's resisted due to his loved ones and people he feels responsible for.

It's a good step, but not enough for me to say it's redemption.

27

u/Lucifer_Crowe Nov 24 '23

I think in some way Nolan also got sucked in by sunk cost

He seemed annoyed that it was time to take down the Guardians and almost seemed content with Mark not having powers

But obviously once he'd done it he couldn't back down or then he'd killed his "friends" for nothing.

I think he's a really interesting character, and especially fun because he doesn't hold back when it counts.

I think he's going to realise that he wants to be Omni-Man. Protecting the innocent.

In some sense Mark inspires him, but he also needs Mark to learn to be the best of himself and his Viltrumite strength

14

u/Iorith Nov 24 '23

This is where I hope it's going as well. He decides he wants to be a hero, just like his son.

14

u/Megapiefan Nov 24 '23

ooh if they do a mirror of the first episode where mark says “i want to be just like you” to omniman that would be a great moment

3

u/[deleted] Nov 27 '23

[deleted]

1

u/Lucifer_Crowe Nov 27 '23

I mean it's already started

His 'programming' tells him it's wrong but he wants to be more like Mark (just without the holding back)

11

u/finnjakefionnacake Nov 24 '23

yes but i think we're beyond that. too many innocent people had to die for him to be de-programmed. this is still the journey he's on, sure, but i don't know if "redemption" is the right word.

15

u/Lucifer_Crowe Nov 24 '23

If he's able to become someone that can use his gifts for good I'm down

He can never undo what he's done but he can prevent further harm

3

u/finnjakefionnacake Nov 24 '23

and what is debbie supposed to say to that? or the families and loves ones of the thousands of people he killed?

12

u/PeaWordly4381 Nov 24 '23

Victims of the crimes and their families don't matter to Redditors. You must be new here.

5

u/finnjakefionnacake Nov 25 '23

i'm learning that, lol. this is like silco all over again. complicated but evil man does terrible things but because he has a soft spot for his child all is forgiven lol

4

u/Big_Daymo Nov 29 '23

Vader is probably the most egregious example. He oppresses the galaxy for 20 years but people act like he returned to being good old Anakin for his last moments after killing Palpatine. No, Vader/Anakin was a horrible person. But don't tell that to PrequelMemes.

3

u/PeaWordly4381 Nov 25 '23

I think you have Silco confused with some other character. He was never forgiven or redeemed.

3

u/finnjakefionnacake Nov 25 '23

Oh i know lol. I'm talking about the audience reception to him.

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2

u/UpstairsSnow7 Nov 30 '23

Truth. At least this is a post about a fictional TV show because it's repulsive seeing it in posts about actual people and events. But the same mentality carries over when they start blithely talking about "collateral damage," it's fucking gross.

13

u/Lucifer_Crowe Nov 24 '23

Doesn't necessarily have to be on Earth

And it doesn't mean he deserves forgiveness

2

u/Doublehfoo Dec 04 '23

This is what I’m saying lmao. How can Nolan be redeemed? Did people watch what he did last season? Just the train sequence alone was unforgivably evil and heinous.

1

u/Mana_Croissant Nov 24 '23

I am sure they won’t be able to say anything if rest of the Viltrumites come and kill them because they don’t accept Nolan’s help

1

u/finnjakefionnacake Nov 25 '23

i mean i have no idea what is actually gonna happen so i don't know if this is spoiler. i have no idea if nolan plans on helping earth right now.

1

u/AkhilArtha Dec 05 '23

He doesn't need to be a hero on earth though.

1

u/Doublehfoo Dec 04 '23

How can you possibly believe that after the atrocities he’s committed? The train sequence alone was some despicably evil shit. Not to mention beating your own son within an inch of his life.

1

u/Lucifer_Crowe Dec 04 '23

"he can never undo what he's done."

If someone as strong as Nolan came along and started fighting for justice I would not be the one standing in his way

1

u/Doublehfoo Dec 04 '23

Neither would I, but that doesn’t make him redeemed

1

u/bigC_94 Donald Ferguson Nov 29 '23

Hitler wasn't brainwashed specifically, but the social & economic conditions in Germany post WW1 pretty much ensured that some form of a "Hitler" was going to come to power there regardless. Germany lost a portion of their land which was significant to their economic production in the Treaty of Versailles as well as having to pay the equivalent today of 33 Billion in reparations. This combined with the effects of the Great Depression a decade later caused Germany's economy to tank and many people blamed their loss in the War on the left-wing and Jewish leaders. It was similar to the current social climate of the US today except much more inflated. This gave rise to several right wing, conservative parties and Hitler took advantage of the moment. He was definitely a particular evil, but he was also a product of the socioeconomic & political environment post WW1