Warning! This article contains spoilers for Invincible season 3.
Invincibleseason 3 is taking a character that many were not overly fond of and changing this perception, just as season 2 did with Rex Splode.Invincibleseason 3’s storyis taking a turn many may not have expected via the introduction of a central clash of ideologies between Mark and another major character. As a result,Invincibleseason 3’s main villain- at least as far as the three-episode premiere is concerned - will be equally shocking to audiences unfamiliar with the source material.
That said,Invincibleseason 3 is delving as much into the gray area as the show always has. Be it Omni-Man’s redemption that was teased inInvincibleseason 2’s endingor the inclusion of a character like Titan,Invinciblehas always explored characters that do not simply fall under the black-and-white banner of incorruptible good or inherently evil. In this vein, one ofInvincibleseason 3’s “villains"stands out, with the show content to redeem parts of their character while still keeping them in the gray area, just as was the case with Rex Splode in its predecessor.
Cecil Stedman’s Backstory In Invincible Season 3 Makes The Character Way More Human
Gone Is The Cold Director Of The Global Defense Agency
The character in question is Cecil Stedman, the director of the Global Defense Agency. InInvincible’s first two seasons, Cecil was shown to be cold, hardened, and very no-nonsense, but his intentions were always the protection of Earth and its citizens. Although this did make Cecil come across as a morally correct protector, it also meant audiences could not get a complete grasp on whether they actively liked Cecil.Invincibleseason 3 takes this to a whole new level by throwing in a clash of ideologies between him and Mark, which just so happened to lead to the exploration of Cecil’s backstory.
Cecil and Mark’s disagreement stems from the former wanting to reform and use murderers and criminals like D.A. Sinclair and Darkwing to protect Earth at all costs, yet Mark feels that this moral line should not be crossed.
Invincibleseason 3’s three-episode premiereshowed Cecil as an agent of the GDA, working to protect Earth. As it turns out, Cecil was once in Mark’s position; he disagreed with the GDA reforming murderous, evil criminals to help the people of Earth, going as far as to get himself imprisoned by shooting two previous criminals. Cecil’s time in prison saw him excel in being able to reform and control these kinds of people, eventually leading him to become the GDA’s director we know fromInvincibleseasons 1, 2, and 3.
Via this backstory, Cecil immediately becomes much more human. Despite his cold, ruthless tendencies remaining fully intact,Invincibleseason 3 gives more reasoning as to why that side of him exists. Cecil has been through a lot, which audiences see play out in the new season. Now, his reasons for protecting Earth are at the forefront, allowing him to seem less like a calculating, stubborn government official, and more like a fully fleshed-out character.
It’s Amazing That Invincible Has Made It Okay To Root For Cecil & Rex Splode
Two Characters Have Completely Turned Around
Thanks toInvincibleseason 3’s exploration of Cecil’s past, the show has instantly made it much easier to root for him. Even the conflict between him and Mark highlighted inInvincibleseason 3’s first three episodes is complex for the audience, as they now may find themselves unsure of whose side to be on.Both make good points and both are now fully realized characters, and it is amazing thatInvinciblehas been able to turn Cecil into exactly this, just as the show did with Rex Splode.
Invincible Season 2’s Most Unlikely Character Redemption Makes Those Major Deaths Even Sadder
Invincible season 2 is giving one character a surprising redemption arc, but episode 5 has just flipped everything on its head in a sad way.
When Rex was introduced, he was an arrogant, obnoxious guy who audiences could easily root against. He did awful things to those around him and was never a superheroInvinciblefans tended to support.Invincibleseason 2 changed that entirely via Rex’s fight with the Lizard League and new outlook on life after these events, making him someone audiences can root for going forward. Cecil’s story inInvincibleseason 3 has proven to do exactly the same, and it should only be commended how the show can turn two unlikable characters into heroes in their own right.
