REVIEW: Invincible, Season 1 Episode Six 'You Look Kinda Dead'

 REVIEW: Invincible, Season 1 Episode Six 'You Look Kinda Dead'

Our hero Mark Grayson (Steven Yeun) was in a bad place where we last left him. Mark had been left badly beaten by his fight with Machine Head, and not quite as 'Invincible' as his superhero name would lead you to believe. He's still very much as capable of being bruised and battered as any other hero; he's not Superman, he's simply Mark. 

He's back in action this week, after making a full recovery for what is being explained as a 'traffic accident' for those who don't know Invincible's identity. This week he's tasked with taking down DA Sinclair (Ezra Miller), who believes in transcending humans beyond their limitations and turning them into machines. It's not the most original plot, as the Cyborg creations that Sinclair makes are essentially just the Cybermen from Doctor Who (he even refers to their emotions being removed), but they make for a decent foil for Mark. They prove quite a tricky opponent for him to overcome in his Invincible guise, which creates some decent stakes.

I find the non-superhero elements more interesting in this episode, particularly Mark and William (Andrew Rannells). This is the episode where somebody close to Mark first works out he's Invincible, as William comes to the realisation after witnessing him fight Sinclair's cyborg creations, and it gives them a fun new dynamic. William effectively becomes the over-eager and enthusiastic thorn in Mark's side, who upon discovering the truth wants the full Invincible treatment. He's the excitable puppy with a bone, only not content with one bone he wants a dozen, as he asks Mark to take him flying, and is desperate to try on the suit. It means that this decision serves two purposes - to add some levity to proceedings, and give Mark someone to talk to outside his parents and the other heroes who know his identity.

It also does something with William that I haven't seen superhero shows or films do a great deal of before this point, and that's make him gay. Usually characters in these superhero properties tend to be heterosexual for some strange reason, so I'm glad for LGTBQ folk that they are finally getting represented in one of these shows. It's very subtly woven into the story too, with odd hints that Rick (Jonathan Groff) is William's boyfriend before it's confirmed later on. William's character is not defined by it, it's just treated as a normal and everyday thing, which is how it should be.

Atom Eve (Gillian Jacobs) makes her own life-changing decision this week, as she decides to move on from her old life of fighting alien invasions, and concentrate her attention on natural disasters instead. They really play the dramatic weight of this scene, as we witness her parents' reactions to her decision. Her mother seems a little more amenable with the prospect of Eve making this decision than her father (Fred Tatasciore), who's naturally worried for his daughter constantly putting her life on the line. It feels like a typical sibling relationship with their parents, as they fight for independence and insist that they be allowed to make their own choices. I also imagine this is probably what it's like for parents of people who decide to leave home and join the army, because it's that same principle of somebody flinging themselves into a dangerous situation and fighting for a better tomorrow. She's someone striving to make a change, by utilising their own skillset.

If only Debbie Grayson (Sandra Oh) had her own powers she could use, for she finally gets confirmation here that her husband Nolan (J.K. Simmons) did kill the Guardians Of The Globe. She takes his suit to superhero tailor Art (Mark Hamill), who analyses it and finds traces of the Guardians having been left behind. It's truly excellent stuff, as Debbie finds herself in complete denial, trying to find other reasons like the possibility that the other Guardians fought him first to justify her husband's actions. She's found herself in this impossible situation where the person she thought was her soul mate is a serial killer, and it's powerful stuff. 

She is a bit stupid though, to tell him direct at the end of the episode that she knows he murdered the Guardians of the Globe. Telling a serial killer that you know they are a serial killer is never going to be a wise move. This is an aspect of the screenplay I really can't buy, as it just seems totally illogical, and you'd think she'd have more sense than to basically tell him that she's aware of what he did. She's putting herself in danger for no good reason. 

Overall, 'You Look Kinda Dead' is not quite as strong as previous episodes in the season, but it's still an enjoyable watch. It provides some great character development for Mark's best friend William, and some electrifying scenes regarding Debbie's confirmation of her husband's murders, but the screenplay is muddled with a lack of originality and some questionable character motivations. Debbie really should have had more tact than to confront Nolan like that.

What are your thoughts on Invincible's sixth episode? Let me know in the comments section.