'Invincible' Season 4 Has 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, but Is It Really as Good as the Critics Say?

The fourth season of Invincible is still airing on Amazon Prime Video. Critics have raved about it, and it currently holds a perfect 100% fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes, but is it really that good?

This season is proving to be a boon for those who have always found Omni-Man more interesting than Mark – he gets the lion's share of the screen time. However, despite its strengths, the season has its weaknesses.

What Is 'Invincible' Season 4 About?

After a massive invasion and a showdown with Conquest, the planet is slowly recovering. Mark now faces even more ethical dilemmas. He doesn't feel at home among humans – his refusal to kill resulted in millions witnessing his doppelgängers murder Earthlings.

Explaining that these were versions of the hero from parallel universes is nearly impossible. Old enemies and a new villain appear: Dinosaurus, a creature with incredible strength in its enraged form but an ordinary man in human form.

The other characters undergo changes as well: Mark's mother decides to start a new relationship, Eve discovers she is pregnant, and her powers begin to falter, and Oliver reaches out to his older brother.

'Invincible' Season 4 Puts Omni-Man in the Spotlight and Goes Global

In just a few episodes, Nolan comes to terms with the need to confront his people, return to the planets he once tried to destroy, and become a father to his youngest son, Oliver. This character arc is engaging to watch.

Invincible delves into the history of the Viltrum Empire, revealing that a virus wiped out nearly the entire population of their planet. The main villains finally develop coherent motivations, making them more engaging.

In the second half of the season, the stakes are raised again. Grotesque violence increases, and the confrontation between the Alliance and the Viltrumites escalates from isolated skirmishes to a full-blown war.

The showrunners skillfully maintain a balance between battles and personal stories, with neither aspect faltering.

The Only Thing Dragging Down 'Invincible' Season 4 Is the Side Storylines

The heroes are constantly pulled away from the main events to engage in minor squabbles. Whether it's a battle with the inhabitants of Hell, another twist in the mafia story, or anything else, these stories feel like filler.

This slows the pace because it's less engaging to watch street squabbles over districts while a cosmic threat looms over the planet.

Invincible succeeds where many superhero shows fail by striking the right balance between absurdity, groundedness, and genre conventions. Victory always comes at a high price for the heroes, which keeps the tension high – no one has plot armor.

Season 4 does what Invincible does best: it expands the scope while keeping the characters in mind beneath the violence and battle scenes. The space arc works brilliantly: the Viltrumites finally have clear motivations, and Omni-Man has the best arc in the entire series.

What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'Invincible'?

• Invincible has 100% from critics and 87% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.

Where to Watch 'Invincible'?

Invincible is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.