New Invincible Episode Bounces Back From Record Low Rating to Near-Perfect Score

Invincible came flying back from its all-time record low IMDb rating.

Season 4 of Robert Kirkman’s graphic, animated series has generally been well-received thus far. The first three seasons boasted extremely high Rotten Tomatoes scores, all scoring between 98% and 100%. However, the latest season’s score on IMDb was less than what fans have come to expect, with episode 4 receiving a measly 6.7.

The most recent episode of Invincible, “Give Us a Moment,” holds a near-perfect IMDb rating of 9.8. Early reviews on the site are praising the newest addition as possibly the best of the season, marking a big turnaround from what fans were describing as possibly the worst of the show’s history.

In episode 5, Omni-Man returns to talk to his former wife Debbie, in what has become a very long-awaited conversation. They hadn’t spoken since the end of the first season, and Sandra Oh had even teased about this interaction, stating that “it has to happen.” The outcome of this fight left Debbie with a bloody hand, telling Omni-Man to get out of her house, “and never come back.”

Given the way this turned out, and how happy Debbie seemed to be, especially during the calm before the storm moment where she, Mark, Atom Eve, Oliver, and Paul all shared a meal together, it seems unlikely that the pair will ever get back together. For the show moving forward, this reinforces and creates new character dynamics.

Episode 4, “Hurm,” sent Mark on a side-quest through Hell. It featured Hell as a location for the first time, and it has been described as a bit of a breather from the rest of the season. It highlighted Damien Darkblood, a demon detective, through the group’s battle against Volcanikka, a powerful lava warrior.

This episode, for now, seems like a standalone detour, which some fans found less engaging. It has been described by The Ringer as “halt[ing] the season’s momentum.” Episode 5, on the other hand, has gained the approval of fans, as it’s being widely praised as a major return to its successful formula.

Towards the conclusion of “Give Us a Moment,” Invincible gets his rematch with Conquest. It’s a classic, brutal fight, much in line with the show’s style thus far, as Oliver is nearly killed. As they near the end of the fight, with Invincible seemingly winning and surviving (his guts no longer intact), it suggests that once recovered, the Viltrumite war will continue to rage on.

The sharp swing between these two episodes highlights what has long made Invincible the popular show that it is: its ability to deliver on a violent, graphic formula, through rich characters and powerful stories. If this rebound is any indication, it could suggest that season 4’s biggest moments may still be ahead.

Invincible season 4 is currently streaming on Prime Video, with new episodes dropping weekly.