Review - Invincible Season 3: The Might of Thragg

Following the bloody Invincible War and the grueling confrontation against Conquest, which was considered the series' peak, Mark continues to hold his head high, saving as many people as possible and helping the world however he can, rarely taking a moment to rest.

Something the series handles exceptionally well is the evolution the characters undergo. If we compare the Mark from the start of the show to the one we see now, his growth is remarkable. While there have been very few physical changes beyond new costumes, it is clear how his mindset is shifting and how he is losing part of his innocence.

Moral dilemmas and character development

A central dilemma arises regarding whether or not to kill his enemies: whether it would be wrong or simply better for the world, as it would reduce the chance of another attack. Thus, the series opens the season with moral questions about the ethics of killing and whether he can afford even a brief rest.

Since the series works with several plots parallel to the main story, secondary events are used to flesh out the characters.

With the Sequid invasion, Mark was forced to make a choice. Previously established conflicts were effectively utilized to enhance the unfolding narrative. Because there is such a heavy emotional burden among the characters due to so many tragedies and losses, the heroes must confront their insecurities, fears, traumas, and flaws.

Once again, this is a point the series executes brilliantly: Mark and other characters are psychologically shaken, losing control of their decisions and their sense of ethics. The situations they are forced to experience have changed them, proving that, even in a work of fiction, they remain organic.

This is especially evident in the season finale, where Mark must make another heavy decision, one that will define the upcoming season.

As a season focused on space and villains, much of the story takes place off-planet, including an entire episode dedicated to Allen, Omni-Man, and Telia adventuring through the universe. It is an episode slightly different from the usual pace, yet still quite entertaining. It is clear that this episode serves to make us sympathize with Omni-Man again after his atrocities. This is a fundamental part of the story, marking his redemption arc as he seeks forgiveness from the survivors while accepting that many will never forgive him.

The series carves out moments for each character to have a conversation with him, allowing for both his apologies and their processing of the events. This is an interesting scriptwriting choice.

Debbie, being the one who likely suffered the most, lets her fury out. Once again, the animated series takes the lead, making this moment far more impactful than in the comics. It is uncomfortable to watch her break down before the man who destroyed her life as he attempts to regain her trust. A single comic book page is transformed into an episode segment where she expresses all her rage in a poignant attempt to hurt Nolan.

Oliver also has a moment with his father and needs to vent his grievances. He feels abandoned and rejected, while also dealing with the death of his mother and a sense of isolation. Initially, Nolan pushes him away for fear of destroying another life, which infuriates Oliver. Despite being a young and energetic character, he demonstrates in this moment just how much he needed a father figure.

When Nolan returns to his life, Oliver finally gets the moments he required: playing, discussing his feelings, hunting together, and sharing something special to them both.

Mark, for his part, shows a certain ease in accepting his father back. He believed he had lost him again, so he feels a sense of relief in being able to fight by his side once more.

At this point in the series, the focus shifts almost entirely to the main storyline. There is only a brief spotlight on the Global Guardians and the events in Hell, serving primarily as setup for future plots and building anticipation for upcoming surprises.

This cosmic arc introduces a different atmosphere. New characters are brought into the fold, such as Space Racer, who wields one of the most powerful weapons ever shown. His gun fires a laser capable of piercing any surface with no range limit, damaging any object or being in its path. We also meet Tech Jacket, a young woman wearing extremely advanced technological armor from another civilization.

Past and Future

We are also shown more of the series' lore, including the rise of Grand Regent Thragg, leader of the Viltrumites. In this segment, we explore the culture of this galaxy-dominating species, including a look at Nolan in his youth. He is shown being forced to fight his own parents against his will.

Revisiting the season one finale, it becomes clear how certain pieces fit together: Nolan already carried a sense of unease regarding his mission on Earth. Although brutally fighting his son is a "rite of passage" for his people, he demonstrates hesitation. The scenes almost mirror each other. When Nolan sees his father struck by the virus, he also hesitates for a moment.

Emperor Argall

The series also introduces Emperor Argall, the blood king of the Viltrum Empire. We see a brief glimpse of how he was betrayed and how he ruled his people. To this day, Thragg carries the burden of fulfilling Argall's goals, even keeping his skull as a motivational symbol.

Since Argall utilized a merciless leadership style, it created friction among his followers, leading to the first traitor of his kind: In this season, we finally see how Thaedus began his rebellion against the empire and killed Argall.

Invincible vs. Conquest

We also witness another clash between Invincible and Conquest, once again delivered with shocking intensity. While it was not quite as impactful as their first fight at the end of the previous season, it still possessed immense potential. The conclusion was, in my opinion, the most agonizing moment of the series, causing significant discomfort.

The direction of the scene was masterfully crafted to convey that feeling. Had the scene relied solely on a proper soundtrack without voice acting, it might have been even more striking.

Thragg, the Antagonist

Another pivotal moment of the season occurred in the penultimate episode, which provided our first real look at the primary antagonist, Thragg. His strength terrified everyone. From the very first blow Invincible received, his superiority was undeniable. It was so overwhelming that everyone considered fleeing because, even united, they were no match for him. The series makes the power gap crystal clear through the way he strikes Nolan, resists Mark, and outpaces everyone in speed.

Despite being far stronger than anyone there, Thragg is considered to have lost since his planet was destroyed. However, he is already planning his next move: staying on Earth and using humans to repopulate his species, leaving Mark with the decision of whether to cooperate.

Given that defeating the Viltrumites is currently impossible, Mark finds himself in a suffocating position: accept the presence of his greatest enemy on Earth or face him knowing there is zero chance of victory.

The show exercises a bit of autonomy and takes risks by altering certain segments from the comics. In this season, one of the most notable changes was Debbie’s dialogue with Nolan during their first meeting after the tragedy. She experiences a deeply dramatic moment and loses control of her emotions during an intense confrontation. It was a moment beautifully adapted for animation.

Interestingly, there was a change to the character Tech Jacket, who was a male character in the comics but is a young woman in the animation. I noticed many people complained about this alteration, but it had no significant impact on the story or important events, so it is not bothersome. The same applies to Amber, who is blonde in the comics and brunette in the show. Since these factors do not change the narrative, they do not cause any conflict.

On the other hand, a change that annoys many comic book fans lies in the animation details. At times, the series displays excessive simplicity, and scenes that should convey high expressiveness lose their punch due to the production style. Not every moment requires a high level of detail, but specific scenes need more depth in character models, strength, and facial expressions.

Thragg, for example, is shown devastated and in tears in the comics after losing his planet. In the animation, however, his facial expression feels almost hollow, as if tears are simply falling while his eyebrows are merely curved. Another example is found in certain fights where the simplicity of the movements becomes obvious.

Production Cost Reductions

The animators have previously commented on the need to reduce costs in some areas to raise the quality in others. The first fight between Invincible and Conquest was excellent, featuring the best animation in the entire series, spanning nearly a full episode with very fluid movements.

However, I felt this season lacked a moment as landmark as that one. Even with another fight against Conquest and the confrontation with Thragg, it felt like the final episode was missing something since it focused more on dialogue and ended up being less impactful.

Now that Viltrumites have infiltrated Earth, will Mark be able to keep his cool? He was already quite traumatized upon returning to the planet, even suffering from chaotic visions of his colleagues and family being killed.

This leads us to believe the next saga will once again be centered on Earth. Additionally, there is the Scourge Virus, which could eliminate the Viltrumite threat but also puts Nolan and Mark at risk. It is up to Allen to decide what to do with such a heavy responsibility.

In the subplots, we are still following the conflicts in Hell, where a major threat emerges: a lava warrior, nearly immortal and seeking war. We also need to discover the whereabouts of Monster Girl and Robot, who traveled to another region of space where time passes much faster due to relativity. Thus, a few days there could equal decades on Earth... so, at what age will they return?

Pros

- Great script and adaptation

- Moments of high intensity

- Resolution of character conflicts

- Reveal of the past lore

Cons

- The animation could have been more polished

- The final episode could have been better and more exciting

With more battles on the horizon, Mark will need to be strong and smart to handle everything. This season brought many surprises and a great adaptation. The quality of the series remains high, with only a few moments where the animation falls short.

Nevertheless, it succeeds in captivating the audience and maintaining curiosity about new dangers and bloody adventures. It is very much worth continuing to watch, especially for those who have grown fond of the Invincible universe.

Rating: 8 out of 10.

Until next time!