Invincible Season 2’s Most Unlikely Character Redemption Makes Those Major Deaths Even Sadder

Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Invincible season 2, episode 5!

Invincible season 2, part 2 is giving one unlikely character a drastic redemption arc, with this narrative choice making those deaths even sadder. Despite Invincible being a pretty bloody show, a surprising lack of main characters have died throughout the first two seasons so far, with the deaths mostly being relegated to nameless goons and Viltrumites. However, two major deaths just took place in Invincible season 2, episode 5, and while they are sad enough on their own, the redemption of this unlikely character has caused this tragic moment to be even more grim.

Invincible season 2, part 2 is finally here, with the highly anticipated continuation of Amazon Prime Video’s beloved animated adaptation of the superhero comic of the same name finally being released. Invincible season 2, part 2 picks up right where Invincible season 2, part 1 ended, with episode 5 focusing on the titular superhero’s return from Thraxa while the Guardians of the Globe prepare for the inevitable Sequid invasion. The episode’s main two storylines aren’t even the show’s saddest, as a last-minute story introduction has completely changed everything for a character in the middle of his redemption arc.

Invincible Season 2 Continues Its Rex Splode Redemption Arc

Invincible season 2 has surprisingly been giving Rex Splode a redemption arc, and season 2, episode 5 continues this. Although Rex Splode was previously portrayed as a slacker, the season 2, part 2 premiere gives the loud-mouthed superhero a much more active role in the Guardians of the Globe, with him admitting that his moves to help the team are uncharacteristic. Rex is even the one who comes up with the idea to reach out to Eve for help. Not only is asking for help not typical of Rex, but it also requires him to reach out to an ex.

When Rex Splode is asking Atom Eve to help the Guardians, the character shows a surprising amount of vulnerability, with him being open to Eve in a way that the show hasn’t revealed before. Although Rex does have the ulterior motive of getting Eve to help fight off the parasitic Sequids, his encouraging words show that he is growing as a person. Although Rex Splode can still be a jerk at times, Invincible season 2 is clearly trying to redeem him, which only makes what happens at the end of episode 5 all the more tragic.

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The Real Reason Invincible Was Making You Feel Sorry For Rex Splode

Rex Splode gets to lead Dupli-Kate and Shrinking Rae on a mission at the end of episode 5, revealing the real reason that Invincible was trying to make the audience feel sorry for him. While fighting the Lizard League, things go horribly wrong, with Shrinking Rae getting eaten and Dupli-Kate having all of her clones killed. Although Rex seems to live through the encounter, he loses his hand, showing that he is feeling physical as well as emotional pain throughout the battle.

Killing off Kate and Rae would have been sad enough, but doing it off the back of Rex’s character development makes this moment hit even harder. Invincible viewers have just begun to sympathize with Rex, with these feelings magnifying Rex’s anguish at the deaths of his teammates. Using season 2 to highlight Rex’s capabilities as a leader and his true love for his teammates makes the moment feel so much more genuine, with the deaths during the Lizard League battle being some of Invincible‘s saddest so far.

What Happens To Rex Splode In The Invincible Comics?

Invincible season 2, episode 5 ends with one member of the Lizard League holding a gun to Rex’s head, with the episode cutting to credits before Rex’s fate is revealed. In the Invincible comics, Rex is actually shot, and while he lives, it puts him out of commission for a while. Rex takes some time off from the Guardians of the Globe to recover physically and mentally, as the deaths of his teammates do take a toll on him (although the blow is softened by the return of Dupli-Kate).

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Rex eventually rejoins the team, with his next big storyline being part of the Invincible War arc. Upon alternate versions of Invincible arriving to Earth, Rex suits up to help fight them off. During a fight with one of the evil Invincibles, Rex decides to stop him, even though it means he will die. Rex charges up his own skeleton and explodes, killing the evil Invincible and himself in the process. This concludes Rex Splode’s redemption arc, with this tragic moment most likely happening in Invincible season 3.

Invincible

Based on the comic book character by Robert Kirkman, Invincible follows Mark Grayson,  a seventeen-year-old who leads a seemingly average life save for the fact that he lives behind the shadow of his superhero father, Omni-Man. Mark goes on to develop superhuman abilities, but he must also learn that his father’s legacy isn’t as glitzy and glamorous as he’s been led to believe.

Cast

Mark Hamill , Gillian Jacobs , Jon Hamm , Mae Whitman , Steven Yeun , Walton Goggins , Ezra Miller , Jonathan Groff , Sandra Oh , Djimon Hounsou , Khary Payton , Seth Rogen , Jeffrey Donovan , Sonequa Martin-Green , Mahershala Ali , Malese Jow , J. K. Simmons , Clancy Brown , Zazie Beetz , Zachary Quinto , Jason Mantzoukas , Nicole Byer

Release Date

March 26, 2021

Seasons

2

Network

amazon prime video

Showrunner

Simon Racioppa