The road to redemption is never a simple one. It is no simple task to turn a new leaf, and even after a person has learned the error of their ways, they have no control over how the rest of the world sees them. When it comes to television, Hollywood loves a good redemption story, but some of its greatest comebacks are more complex than audiences give credit for. Invincible is the perfect example of this war, as its earliest villain is working to redeem himself, but his mission isn’t going all that great. Invincible is making Omni-Man work for forgiveness and clapping back at one of the most frustrating tropes in anime along the way.
As the fallout from Invincible season four settles, audiences are feeling more conflicted over Omni-Man than ever before. When the TV series began, season one made it very easy to hate the rogue superhero. The sheer scale of his sins made Omni-Man unforgivable, and the brutal treatment he gave Mark left audiences sick. However, over the course of the show, Invincible has reeled back the hero.
Omni-Man looking straight ahead with bloodshot eyes in Invincible
Despite his intense Viltrumite programming, Omni-Man is finally pushing back against his mission to take over Earth once challenged by his son. Mark’s brave stand not only put Omni-Man’s hypocrisy center stage, but it made the hero rethink his commitment to the Viltrumite cause. As Invincible season two carried on, Omni-Man got to experience the sharp sting of remorse, and this guilt had prompted the brutal antagonist to become an anti-hero of sorts.
As you can imagine, fans are not taking Omni-Man’s change of heart well. His ruthless actions in season one made Omni-Man the most hated man on television, and his redemption story is only just starting. This slow pace is refreshing for anime audiences, given how the medium often speed runs redemption arcs. Plenty of anime hits have transformed its villains into heroes as everyone from Vegeta to Nico Robin has run through this crash course. The brief arcs made fans wonder how in the world these villains were forgiven so fast, but not all anime follow this trope. Modern series like My Hero Academia took their time with redemption arcs as characters like Endeavor and Katsuki Bakugo went through the wringer to find forgiveness.
Why Invincible Season 5 Could Be When People Finally Start To Forgive Omni-Man
Invincible is taking a very different path with its redemption story than anime fans are used to. Omni-Man’s journey is slow-going, but progress is being made. When Invincible season five debuts in 2027, fans should expect the Viltrumite to make major steps forward with his family as he begins to earn their forgiveness.
Mark has the most trauma to process when it comes to Omni-Man, but his father will prove himself with his actions in season five. As he takes in a new family and foregoes his brutal desire to conquer Earth, Omni-Man will finally put his money where his mouth is when Invincible returns. But when it comes to the public, the former hero has a lot to do if he wants to earn the people’s good graces.
8/10
Release Date
March 26, 2021
Network
Amazon Prime Video
