‘Invincible’s Action-Packed Penultimate Chapter Raises the Stakes for an Exhilarating Season 4 Finale

Editor’s note: The below recap contains spoilers for Invincible Season 4 Episode 7.

It’s time for war! That’s what Thaedus has been declaring numerous times in the last few episodes of Invincible. Last week’s episode saw Mark (Steven Yeun) spend two months recovering after his near-death encounter with Conquest (Jeffrey Dean Morgan). While nursing Mark back to health, Nolan (J.K. Simmons) and Oliver (Christian Convery) finally begin to bond, with the latter finally believing that his father has truly changed for the better.

Once reunited with Thaedus (Peter Cullen), Allen (Seth Rogen), Tech Jacket (Zoey Deutch), Telia (Tatiana Maslany), and Battle Beast (Michael Dorn) on Talescria, they are ambushed by Thragg (Lee Pace) and his Viltrumite army. While this battle led to Thragg retreating, it has left Talescria decimated, and Thaedus announces that they must travel to Viltrum. Episode 7, “Don’t Do Anything Rash,” is another shocking and action-packed chapter, as we finally get to see Mark go to Viltrum and learn a little more about its history in the process.

Thragg’s Origins are Revealed in ‘Invincible’ Season 4 Episode 7

The episode begins with a flashback during the reign of Emperor Argall (Frank Welker), with the character finally making his physical debut in the series. After they conquer and enslave an alien planet, their plans to deplete it of resources are thwarted once again when an alien plants an explosive on one of their devices. In a briefing led by Argall, a young Thaedus suggests that Viltrumites have always shown respect towards signs of strength and should let the planet go. Argall and Thragg scoff at the idea.

While meeting in private, Thragg expresses concern to Argall that while Thaedus was once ruthless, his softness could be a potential threat to Viltrum. Once the Argall is left alone, Thaedus sneaks into his chambers and prepares to assassinate him. While announcing Argall’s death to the public, Thragg steps into the role of Grand Regent and orders the Viltrumites to “cut the cancer out.” This leads the Viltrumites to begin killing each other. Thragg solemnly waits on the throne and re-emerges to see the wreckage, telling the survivors, “It is done,” leading a Viltrumite chant declaring, “All is ours.”

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Season 4 is currently airing on Prime Video.

In the present, Thaedus tells Mark, Nolan, Oliver, Allen, Telia, Tech Jacket, Battle Beast, and Space Racer (Winston Duke) tha Thragg has retreated to Viltrum. However, while Thragg has already reached his destination, many of the remaining Viltrumites will not be there for several days. Allen speaks out, pondering the question if killing Thragg will only fuel the Viltrum Empire’s rage even further. Thaedus says that once Thragg is dead, the remaining Viltrumites will die off, one by one. They need to focus on killing Thragg.

Mark records one last video message to Eve, stating that everyone is extremely nervous about fighting Thragg, even Nolan, saying, “This feels different.” He opts not to send the message, proclaiming, “I love you, and I’m coming back.” In the meantime, Oliver, Allen, Tech Jacket, Telia, and Battle Beast attempt to eat, but can’t bring themselves to do so. Battle Beast says that they “must nourish before battle.” They then go around and state what they would like their final meals to be. In another room, Thaedus and Nolan talk, with the latter saying that while he agrees about killing Thragg, he has concerns about whether the end goal is to wipe out all Viltrumites, including Mark and Oliver. Telia announces that they’ve reached Viltrum’s center, and that it’s time to get ready. They formulate a plan to stick together when confronting Thragg; nobody can try to take him on alone. Nolan and Oliver share a hug alongside Mark, while Allen bids farewell to Telia, as they make the trek outside.

Oliver Gets Hurt in ‘Invincible’ Season 4 Episode 7

Image via Prime Video

Mark is shocked when he sees a ring of corpses surrounding Viltrum, and he is told that this is deliberate; it’s a warning against weakness. What’s even more troubling is that Thragg is already waiting for them, floating within the ring of corpses; he knew about the coming attack. Thragg calls on Kregg (Clancy Brown), Anissa (Shantel VanShanten), Thula (Grey Griffin), and Lucan (Phil LaMarr) to attack the team. Tech Jacket uses a limited supply of syringes full of the Sinlak Beetle compound to fire at the Viltrumites, to make them weaker to physical injury, while Space Racer flies in and lets loose several Ragnars to attack. Space Racer’s helmet is shattered, and he begins to suffocate, only for Tech Jacket to fly in and rescue him.

Nolan confronts Thragg, who then punches down to Viltrum’s surface, telling him to “come home.” Nolan refuses to betray the Coalition, calling Viltrum a tomb and stating that “You’re not my family anymore.” Thragg attempts to find other ways to get Nolan to double-cross Thaedus, including bringing up the safety of Mark and Oliver. In the throne room, Thragg tells Nolan that fighting for Thaedus is fighting for his, Mark’s, and Oliver’s destruction. Nolan stresses that if Thragg agrees to stop the fighting, he will spare him, and he’s willing to go against Thaedus’ orders. Still in denial, Thragg rejects Nolan’s offer, telling him, “A death in any Viltrumite leaves a void in me,” before punching him back up into orbit.

Thragg flies back up into the battle, where Oliver, going against orders, attempts to take him on alone. This goes horribly wrong, with Thragg ripping off Oliver’s jaw and right arm. Mark sees this happen, causing his rage to ignite once more, threatening, “I killed Conquest, I’ll kill you too.” For a moment, everybody, both heroes and Viltrumites, pauses their fighting and stares at Mark. Mark attempts to punch Thragg, but Thragg is resistant to any damage that is thrown at him.

Upon seeing the gravely wounded Oliver, Nolan comes up with an idea, calling upon the team to follow his lead and for Space Racer to fire his Infinity Ray into Viltrumite’s surface. As they begin their descent, both Allen and Tech Jacket are taken out, leaving only Thaedus, Mark, Nolan, and Space Racer embarking on the dangerous trek. Mark, Nolan, and Thaedus attempt to reach the center of Viltrumite in order to pave a path for Space Racer’s blast to reach the core. Their plan is a success, and Viltrum is completely annihilated, leaving nothing but debris.

Thaedus Meets a Grim and Grisly Fate in ‘Invincible’ Season 4 Episode 7

Image via Prime Video

As everyone stops and stares in shock at the remains of Viltrum, Thaedus says that this was the only way to show them the truth: “Viltrumites, your world has been destroyed. Surrender is your only option.” Thragg screams, “I choose death,” flies towards Thaedus, and rips off his head, announcing that Emperor Argall’s death has finally been avenged. Mark orders Allen to find Oliver, while Thragg grabs hold of Nolan and flies off with him.

Mark watches in terror as Thragg ruthlessly beats Nolan, punching a hole through his chest. Mark once again tries to attack, but Thragg grabs him by the head and begins to gouge his eyes out. The other Viltrumites arrive, telling Thragg to finish him off, but he stops short, saying, “We got too few already.” As Mark and Nolan’s bodies float through space, they are found by Telia and the crew. Episode 7 ends weeks later with Mark waking up to find that Allen has now become the interim leader of the Coalition of Planets. Allen leads Mark to a room where a recovering Nolan watches an unconscious Oliver floating in a stasis tank, informing Mark that his brother will be OK. As Allen briefs him about the status of Thragg, Mark realizes that he and the other Viltrumites are heading to Earth.

“Don’t Do Anything Rash” is another outstanding episode, featuring a full-circle moment for Nolan, an exciting battle against the Viltrumites, and an intriguing backstory for Thragg. It’s also one of the fastest-paced episodes of the entire season, almost to an overwhelming degree — but Invincible is no stranger to being intense. As Season 4’s penultimate episode, it successfully sets up dire stakes for what is sure to be an explosive finale.

Release Date

March 26, 2021

Network

Amazon Prime Video

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Pros & Cons

• Nolan’s arc finally comes full circle.
• We finally get to actually see Emperor Argall.
• The episode moves at an extremely fast pace, wasting no time.