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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u/EliotWaugh420 Nov 24 '23 edited Nov 24 '23

Viltrumites fight scenes feel so different. And I only noticed* after Nolan says it, It’s not about the power, is the killing intent. When Mark finally flips the switch, you can see it.

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u/mylegsweat Nov 24 '23

I love when Nolan had a brain spasm and just grabs Marks throat. Questioning himself and his wiring!!

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u/PWBryan Nov 24 '23

Going from talking about his regrets to strangling Mark on a dime makes him much creepier

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u/viper459 Nov 24 '23

yeah someone on this writing team has actually had an abusive dad becuase fuck me, that shit is way too accurate

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u/[deleted] Nov 24 '23

[deleted]

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u/Theprincerivera Nov 24 '23

I mean he’s fighting like MANY YEARS of imperialistic superiority programming. It’s a wonder he has a conscious at all.

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u/Ghoti76 Nov 25 '23

yeah exactly, makes me truly realize that there's no mark without nolan. The existence of a human viltrumite who is ethical, altruistic and moral, doesn't exist was only made possible because of nolan being who he is. Implying either there is something inherently good in nolan moreso than the average viltrumite, or that there is something uniquely endearing and special about humans on earth insomuch that implies viltrumites aren't anymore inherently evil than humans and they are just a product of a culture of extreme fascist propaganda based on superiority

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u/TenmaSama Nov 25 '23

This episode was also about Deborah realizing she ist strong and a good influence on Mark (but probably also Nolan). Having such strong parents makes Mark truly [INVINCIBLE].

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u/AlarmingAffect0 "Dude, I saw it on Reddit" Nov 26 '23

[ blood splatter ]

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u/modsareuselessfucks Dec 13 '23

No it’s cracks now

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u/Theprincerivera Nov 25 '23

Well before the purge they were good!

Makes me wonder about Nolan’s backstory. Maybe he used to be a good boy but was radicalized. DONT SPOIL I’m anime only :(

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u/Ghoti76 Nov 25 '23

dont worry im show only too, haven't read any comic

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u/viper459 Nov 24 '23

classic abuser shit. So much so we have an acronym for it, DARVO. Deny, attack, and reverse victim and offender. He manipulatively puts mark into a situation where mark is the bad guy for not accepting his "redemption", and then also makes mark's engagement with him a vital part of saving this entire species.

Nolan had a lot of different choices he could have made there, including turning himself in, fleeing somewhere far away, going to earth to explain shit, etc. etc. Instead he chose to lie, manipulate, and continue to abuse.

I'm with mark. fuck him.

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u/Lucas_Steinwalker Nov 24 '23

Mark is definitely kinder than I am to help the bug people and care that one of them is his brother

Nolan so clearly created this situation as a manipulation.

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u/Redditer51 Nov 24 '23

I'm surprised Mark didn't punch him. But I also understand why he hugged him, even though I was disappointed he did. He has a lot of complicated emotions towards Nolan, for sure.

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u/sonicmerlin Nov 24 '23

I think Mark surprised himself too. He clearly wanted to punch Nolan, and Nolan was expecting a fistfight.

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u/Lucas_Steinwalker Nov 24 '23

I understand the initial hug more than him not busting a hole through the wall and getting the fuck out once he discovered that his dad’s big play was to make him feel responsible for the life of his insect ass half brother that he cheated on his mom to sire while he’s trying to play the pity card after what went down on S1E8. Fuck him.

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u/azeTrom Nov 25 '23

Mark probably doesn't have much experience recognizing abuse tactics....like he gets it somewhat but not fully here.

Plus he stuck around mostly to save the lives his father basically ruined from his actions, and fought with his dad because there was no other way to save them.

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u/viper459 Nov 25 '23

the universe's strongest abuser trained in thousands of years of fascist abuse vs. the universe's most naive 18 year old, its a miracle he has the instincts to end up at "fuck you" at all tbh

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u/azeTrom Nov 25 '23

Yeah Nolan really went out and had a kid when he knew it would cause the deaths of everyone on the planet....the writers do a good job of showing us what's going on in Nolan's twisted head, including the very real pain he's struggling with.

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u/AlarmingAffect0 "Dude, I saw it on Reddit" Nov 26 '23

Dude almost dived into a Black Hole. Then a bunch of insect aliens sang T.I.M.E. to him.

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u/SEND-MARS-ROVER-PICS Nov 27 '23

Yo, just finsihed watching the episode today and...

I don't think Nolan actually says sorry, or really apologizes at all. He just talks about how difficult it's all been for him, and how much he's struggled to move on with his life.

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u/RealReevee Nov 28 '23

Obviously Nolan is a monster and the story agrees with that. I think the story is trying to be subversive with "what if the monster has a family who loves him and he loves back?" It's the "Hitler had a dog" subversion.

I feel for Nolan too when watching this, at the very least he put himself into exile and developed a conscience. Doesn't excuse his crimes and yet I feel for him in a way.

I will say I didn't like from the last episode How Green Ghost's husband reacted to Debbie. Not saying it was unrealistic that he may hold her partially responsible irrationally and can't get over that on a dime, I was just rooting for him to not make that mistake. I don't think Debbie did anything wrong and in fact as (I forget his name but he's the white guy she shared a drink with, I think the costume designer guy) mentioned that if anything she saved the earth by raising mark right. That's since we know of so many other realities where mark joins his Dad.

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u/DM-Oz Dec 02 '23

I honestly dont know what Olga was thinking recomending that help group to Debbie.

"Yeah, im sure being surrounded by the family of the people that your husband murdered will be great for you"

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u/TatumTopFye Nov 25 '23

I see that you, too, had a parent with borderline personality disorder!

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u/AlarmingAffect0 "Dude, I saw it on Reddit" Nov 26 '23

That's right I heard that story over and over again…