Prime Video’s Invincible Will Change Genres In Season 5

The most recent season of Invincible has shown that the superhero series isn’t content with staying confined to one genre, but by the time season 5 arrives, the show will return to its humble beginnings. Invincible has always thrived on subverting expectations. Early entries in the series depicted the beginning of Mark’s superhero journey, while later seasons explored how far he has come since he discovered his father was a villain.

In Invincible season 4, the series shifted away from its more grounded superhero roots and turned into a full-on space opera, with Mark facing his biggest foe in an all-out war. Season 5, however, will move away from the main conflict presented in its predecessor and return to Earth. The story shift in Invincible season 5 is, of course, expected, but that doesn’t mean it will take anything away from how far Mark has come in his superhero journey.

Robert Kirkman’s comic books shed some light on what’s next for Invincible in the show’s upcoming season. The fifth installment in the series is the calm before the storm, and that could seem like a disadvantage for the series. However, returning to the superhero genre presents Prime Video’s animated hit with an opportunity to showcase what it does best.

Invincible Season 5 Will Switch Back To Being A Superhero Series

While Invincible has increasingly expanded into a science-fiction epic filled with universe-threatening villains, the upcoming installment of the show could represent a return to the series’ superhero roots. After spending significant time in the series’ fourth season exploring the wider universe and pushing Invincible into conflicts far beyond Earth, the show is expected to refocus on what made it stand out in the first place: exploring the complicated reality of being a young superhero.

At the end of Invincible season 4, Mark entered into an uncomfortable truce with Grand Regent Thragg, where he agreed to let the Viltrumites stay on Earth in exchange for peace. Now that Invincible’s greatest enemy is on his home planet, Mark has no choice but to stay there and go back to the business of being Earth’s foremost superhero.

A return to the superhero genre does not mean Invincible will abandon its science-fiction or anime-like scenes; it is merely a point in Mark’s journey where he can apply all he’s learned. Rather than simply being about creating bigger battles — which were fun to watch, of course — the upcoming season will prove that the show’s greatest strength has always been its ability to reinvent itself and focus on its characters.

After expanding into a sprawling cosmic adventure, season 5 will bring the series full circle by returning to the superhero storytelling that started it all, while using everything Mark has experienced to create a much more mature and complex take on the genre. Invincible season 5 will see Mark fighting familiar Invincible villains like Dinosaurus while also trying to help some antagonists turn over a new leaf, showcasing his maturity and his growth as a hero.

Invincible’s Return To Familiar Ground Is A Double-Edged Sword

After spending much of its fourth season focusing on the battle between the Viltrumites and the Coalition of Planets, a return to a more traditional superhero-focused narrative could bring back the elements that made Invincible so popular. However, it also risks making the show feel less ambitious. The space battles in season 4 truly were epic.

The villainous Viltrumites are now comfortably biding their time on Earth, and it’s almost impossible to imagine Mark facing antagonists in the next season who are as powerful and interesting as the conquering alien species. Still, Invincible has always been at its best when it focuses on Mark as a regular superhero, taking the familiar idea of a young hero discovering his powers and turning it into something far more layered.

Invincible season 5 is unlikely to have as big a scope as its predecessor, but that doesn’t mean the show will be less engaging or creative. It’s actually a great time for the superhero series to focus on characters like Rick, who didn’t have enough screen time in the show’s previous season, as well as on Deb and Nolan’s relationship. Conflict isn’t everything, after all. Audiences watch for the characters, too.

Release Date

March 26, 2021

Network

Amazon Prime Video

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