Released: 6th February - 13th March 2025
Number of Episodes: 8
Certificate: 18
Where To Watch: Amazon Prime
Created by: Robert Kirkman
Starring: Steven Yeun, Sandra Oh, J.K Simmons, Samantha Eve Wilkins, Walton Goggins, Jason Mantzoukas, Ross Marquand, Grey Griffin, Khary Payton, Sterling K. Brown, Aaron Paul and Kevin Michael Richardon
Debuting in 2021 on the small screen, Robert Kirkman’s Invincible achieved high acclaim for a different take on superheroes. It shows no sign of slowing down as Season 3 takes flight; across eight episodes, the series delivers another excellent package.
Shortly after the second season, Invincible (Steven Yeun) has built up his powers and stepped into a sleek new suit. As Mark Grayson gets stronger, so too do his adversaries and the battles become more deadly than ever before. The big theme of season 3 is morals and ethics; can the characters be fully virtuous while doing what is necessary to confront the Viltrum Empire? This conflict kicks off straight away with a break between Mark and Cecil (Walton Goggins); the latter is the embodiment of the ends justifying the means with many controversial actions in the early going. This is then placed against Mark’s family life; his younger half-brother Oliver (Christian Convery) is growing up quickly, eager to jump into the fight despite his naive attitude. Once again, the series does a brilliant job of showing the cast trying to live normal lives, but constantly being interrupted by powerful threats. In spite of all the colossal dangers, Debbie (Sandra Oh) finds solace with a new partner and the season even finds time for a standalone story. Aaron Paul is cast as PowerPlex and his tale of loss and wrongful blame is another big highlight. Invincible continues to build up the stakes and characters with gusto; it never lets up throughout the season.
The cast has expanded further with the voice acting being both intense and poignant. Steven Yeun is superb in the lead role; in one episode he plays many different versions of Mark, showing some brilliant versatility. The romance that blossoms between Mark and Eve/Atom Eve (Samantha Eve Wilkins) is deep and wholesome; it goes much deeper than previous seasons while adding some extra tension to the fight scenes. The final episodes are filled with gut-wrenching brutality, piling on the threats to both the planet and the lead characters. The guardians of the globe also have their own schism and personal threads that tug on the audience’s heartstrings. Rexplode (Jason Mantzoukas) turns over a new leaf in this season, putting aside his big ego and growing closer to Shrinking Rae (Grey Griffin). Rudy Connors (Ross Marquand) grows in confidence thanks to his bond with Amanda/Monster Girl (Also Grey Griffin). Invincible juggles all of these stories so seamlessly, never becoming imbalanced or incoherent; even the villains have their own personal details woven into the narrative. Without giving anything away, Jeffery Dean Morgan is also great in the season finale.
The colourful presentation of Invincible continues to impress and this time it’s all about an increase in scale. There’s a much greater variety of environments and set pieces including an underground showdown and a fight both in and out of a Viltrum spaceship. To match the devastating force of the villains, episode seven and eight feature some enormous destruction. Entire cities are levelled to the ground at one point and many heroes take some brutal beatings. The speed, kinetic motion and bloodshed have always made Invincible stand out from other properties and the third season really takes things to the next level. The music is equally weighty, striking a perfect balance between action and emotion.
Invincible’s third chapter is a powerhouse production; the story takes on more ambitious themes, the character bonds are stronger than ever and the animation remains at the top of the class. Serving up a thrilling and emotional ride across the eight episodes, it’s simply the best superhero IP in the genre and an absolute must-watch for both fans and newcomers.
Rating: 5/5 Stars (Exceptional)
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