After last week, I’m not sure who is more powerful between Omni-Man and the GDA. With seemingly unlimited resources, the Global Defense Agency seems to fear no one, not even a demon from Hell. The fact that they sent Damian Darkblood back home against his will for uncovering the truth and attempting to do the right thing, lets us know that they want to control everything and that they fear Omni-Man more than they let on. They say keep your friends close but your enemies closer, but what about frienemies? We’ve learned how cold Nolan can be as he not only lies on a daily basis but is willing to let people die around him because he’s “On vacation.” Almost everyone is suspicious in some way and has their own agendas, but it’s not completely clear what any of them are. Well, one might be a little less foggy after this episode.
Episode 5: That Actually Hurt
“Paint costs money and you got a long-ass name”
Damn! There are a few other words I exclaimed during and after watching this episode but I’m trying to keep this somewhat clean. When it comes to action, impact, and shock value, it’s hard to top episode 1 but I think it’s safe to say that it has now been dethroned. Comparatively, the action level is the same but what happens and the impact it will have going forward is monumental. This show keeps on surprising me and is not afraid to push its characters to the brink or as we saw in the first few episodes, beat them to a pulp or spill their brains on the floor. One thing to keep an eye on is the title card. It gets increasingly more bloody every episode and is reminiscent of how Wanda’s voice sounded less and less cheerful during the intro of each WandaVision episode. And this episode happens to be a bloodbath for one character. During this episode, we don’t see any fallout from the botched Mars mission however we do get some answers as to why Robot is moving so mysteriously. Also, he showcases some emotions that aren’t very robot-like. We see a familiar face in Titan (Mahershala Ali), the concrete-covered bank robber that became Invincible’s first attempt at stopping crime. Mark is presented with yet another situation where he can offer his assistance and do some good but his father again considers it beneath him to do so. However, now that Mark is a few months into this superhero life he’s beginning to become more confident, gaining notoriety, and make decisions for himself. But we all know that things can change in an instant. There is one thing he still isn’t able to master, his love life. If Amber didn’t dump Mark before, this may be the last strike unless he is willing to divulge his secret, and after this episode, he might not have a choice.
Furthermore, as Mark’s mother, Debbie stumbles upon more clues, it’s only a matter of time before she confronts Nolan about his murderous ways but could that put her life in danger? This episode offers an abundance of layers and that grey area that Cecil champions. It not only gives us more backstory to some seemingly pivotal characters but it humanizes their experiences. So far, this series makes you question who is really a “good guy” and what does it even mean to be one. There are themes of teamwork and family that stand out and were missing previously. And with the arrival of a team of treacherous new villains, this is a bloody ass-kicking episode to remember. One in particular named Battle Beast is an interesting, ferocious, and dope-looking character that seems to have his own agenda, even while following orders. That being said, what is the endgame for Robot, for Titan, for Omni-Man, for Mauler, for Machine Head, for Cecil and the GDA? They all have a taste for blood but for different reasons, but are any of them really that different?
What are your thoughts on this week’s episode? Let us know on Twitter. And be sure to grab a shirt on our merch site. Stay safe and enjoy.
Runtime: 46m
Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Senior Critic. Observing the human race since 1988.
