Invincible’s Most Divisive Episode Ever Raises Questions About The Show’s Future

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I’ve been a huge fan of Invincible since it started, and it’s been amazing to watch! It really blew everyone away with its first three seasons – seriously, they all got over 90% on Rotten Tomatoes. I was a little worried about season 4, but it’s still fantastic! Critics are loving it with a perfect 100% score, and even audiences give it an 87% rating. It’s great to see the show continuing to deliver!

The fourth episode, “Hurm,” hasn’t been as well-received as previous ones. It centers on Mark Grayson (Steven Yeun) traveling to Hell to join forces with Damien Darkblood (Clancy Brown) and protect Earth from the incredibly powerful villain, Volcanikka (Indira Varma). This episode notably adapts a storyline from the comic books that creator Robert Kirkman had previously cut.

Viewers have been reacting strongly online to the latest episode of Invincible. Specifically, episode 4 of season 4 currently has a 6.9/10 rating on IMDb, which is the lowest score the series has ever received – even lower than the 7.2 given to an episode in season 2. This particular episode is proving quite divisive among fans, and there are several reasons why opinions are so split.

Why Viewers Don’t Like Invincible Season 4, Episode 4

Many viewers are finding the story in Invincible season 4, episode 4 to be a problem. Sending Mark to Hell removes him from the main storyline and all the other characters, feeling like an unnecessary detour – similar to a side quest in a video game that, while potentially interesting, doesn’t really advance the core plot.

Many viewers on IMDb have called this episode a “filler” – one that doesn’t really advance the main story. While not all of these reviews are harshly critical, even positive ones acknowledge a dip in the show’s usual quality. Filler episodes can work well if done right, but most viewers didn’t feel that happened here.

The timing of this side story doesn’t work well with the main plot. With Allen the Alien and Omni-Man traveling to Earth to bring Mark into the Viltrumite War, fans were expecting a reunion between father and son. Instead, the show pauses that storyline to send Mark to Hell, which feels out of place.

It’s fine that the episode took its time building towards the larger Viltrumite War storyline, but the pacing felt a little off. Aside from its important themes – like Mark regaining his original suit – the episode might have resonated more with viewers if it had aired earlier in the season, or even in a different season altogether.

The storyline focused on Hell didn’t resonate with many viewers and didn’t justify changing the original comic book. While fans were excited to see a new Invincible story after a long wait, reviews often expressed disappointment that the comic was fragmented or that the changes didn’t improve the narrative.

Will Damien’s Story Still Continue After Invincible Season 4, Episode 4’s Low Ratings?

Look, even with a show as amazing as Invincible, not every episode is going to be a perfect hit with everyone, and that’s totally okay. The good news is, Prime Video is already making Season 5 – and honestly, I can’t see them stopping there unless something really unexpected happens. That said, I wouldn’t be surprised if the showrunners take some of the fan reactions into account when they’re planning future seasons.

The fourth episode of Invincible season 4 left viewers with Damien on Earth and hinted that Satan might arrive soon. This strongly suggests the show is beginning a brand new story arc, which will likely play out over the next few seasons.

However, after the show responds to this criticism, will things change? The creators, Kirkman and Simon Racioppa, might decide to move away from this particular storyline to maintain the high level of quality Invincible is known for. While that would mean acknowledging the initial approach didn’t fully work, it could also demonstrate they’re willing to address viewer concerns and improve the show.

The surprisingly low rating for Invincible season 4, episode 4 probably means Kirkman and Racioppa will carefully re-examine how this storyline unfolds, and when key moments should happen. If they can successfully build this subplot into something fans love, despite the initial negative reaction, it would be a real achievement.

It’s a difficult undertaking, but Invincible might be the show to pull it off. If the storyline proves too challenging, the creators could always choose to drop it or make it shorter, preventing potentially negative reviews down the line.

Will Invincible Avoid More Original, Non-Comic Storylines Now?

The mixed response to episode 4 of Invincible season 4 might lead to the show developing more storylines that aren’t directly based on the original comic books. While the series has always made small changes from the source material, this episode marked the first time it significantly diverged from the comics’ plot.

The show hasn’t really explored a long-term story arc before, except for the character of Ka-Hor, an Egyptian emperor who briefly controlled Riley in an earlier part of this episode. Ka-Hor was mostly used for comedic effect in past seasons, feeling like an unimportant detail added to the show’s universe that wouldn’t become a major plot point.

Finally, “Hurm” allowed Ka-Hor to escape with Riley, hinting that this storyline might be explored more fully in the future. A full episode focusing on Mark and Ka-Hor now seems like a real possibility. Given the negative reaction to Damien’s return, revisiting this storyline could be a smart move.

It would be a shame if Invincible stopped telling new, original stories. These storylines allow the show to stand apart from the original comic book. However, that’s also why some viewers aren’t enjoying the “Hurm” episode. If enough people dislike the show changing from the comics, the creators might be less likely to experiment with similar episodes in the future.

Invincible is facing a challenge because of a particularly controversial episode. Continuing storylines for certain characters or introducing new, original tales risks alienating viewers and leading to more episodes people dislike. However, abandoning potential plans at the first sign of trouble could prevent the series from reaching its full narrative potential.

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2026-03-31 01:50