This article contains spoilers for Invincible season 3 and the comic books, and also contains mention of abuse and sexual assault.
Invincibleseason 3, episode 6 briefly sees the return of Amber, with one change to her comic book storyline potentially proving a controversial plot point will not happen in the show. Amber was a much more important part ofInvincible’s cast of charactersin the first two seasons of the show than she has been in season 3 thus far. This certainly makes sense, given the break-up between her and Mark last season and the renewed focus onMark and Eve’s relationship inInvincibleseason 3.
Nonetheless, Amber briefly appeared inInvincibleseason 3, episode 6 as she and her new boyfriend joined Eve, Mark, William, and Rick for a game of bowling. AfterInvincibleseason 2’s ending, it is nice for the show to highlight to us how Mark and Amber can remain friends, begging the question of whether the latter will have more appearances in the future, such as duringInvincibleseason 4or beyond. However, Amber’s appearance in season 3 indicates her future may not contain a controversial story from the source material should the character return.
Amber Dating “Kyle” In Invincible Season 3 Makes A Controversial Story Unlikely
Amber’s Relationship Life Has Taken A Different Turn
InInvincibleseason 3, episode 6, Amber returned alongside Kyle, a new guy she is dating. Kyle and Mark immediately hit it off by speaking about Seance Dog, an in-universe comic book, diffusing any potential tension and rendering the triple date a success. Although it is unclear if Amber or Kyle will return inInvincible’s future, especially with the show hurtling into darker territory regarding Mark’s fight against his many villains, this scene indicates that one of Amber’s plot lines from the comic books will not be adapted in the Prime Video show.
All 8 Villains Invincible Season 3 Has Already Set Up
Season 2 of Invincible has sown the seeds for many villains to appear, from recurring faces to terrifying new threats; Mark can’t get comfortable yet.
In the comics, Amber’s next boyfriend after her break-up with Mark is someone named Gary. Gary seems okay at first, shown to be protective and loving toward Amber. Amber then returns and reveals to Mark that Gary is abusive. This prompts Mark to threaten Gary to stay away from Amber, with the man seemingly complying. In one of Amber’s lastInvinciblecomic book appearances, she tells Mark that Gary has changed and that she is giving him another chance.
The introduction of Kyle, as opposed to Gary, is enough to imply this, essentially removing the entire controversial storyline of abuse from Amber’s future…
AfterInvincibleseason 3, episode 6, it seems this storyline is being dropped for Prime Video’s show. The introduction of Kyle, as opposed to Gary, is enough to imply this, essentially removing the entire controversial storyline of abuse from Amber’s future. While future seasons could adapt this and Kyle could simply take Gary’s place in the storyline, it is admittedly unlikely after whatInvincibleseason 3, episode 6 showed of Amber’s new life.
Why Invincible Is Right To Avoid Amber’s Controversial Comic Story
The Storyline May Be Too Bleak For Only A Supporting Character
AfterInvincibleseason 3, episode 6, I cannot deny that the show is making the correct choice in avoiding Amber’s controversial relationship with Gary. For one, Amber has already been through a lot of trauma. Her relationship with Mark inInvincible’s first two seasons was not the smoothest, even ending with her being threatened by an all-powerful Viltrumite like Anissa. Amber has not been the most belovedInvinciblecharacter generally, but I always felt for her, and the break-up scene between her and Mark was suitably harrowing and made both characters all the more sympathetic.
ForInvincibleto take a storyline that ended as tearfully as it did and throw Amber into an outright abusive relationship would simply seem gratuitous, especially given the fact it has no real bearing on Mark’s storyline in the comics outside of his threat to Gary. For this reason,Invincibleis better off removing Gary’s abuse of Amber and giving her a happy ending with Kyle. Moreover,Invincibleis about, well, Invincible. As I alluded to, Amber’s path diverged from Mark’s last season, so the two being simply friends with no obstacles from now on is much less problematic.
Invincible Already Has Another Controversial Story Coming Up (& It’s Harder To Avoid)
Invincible Has A Dark Future Ahead
Perhaps the main reason whyInvincibleis best to remove Amber’s abusive relationship with Gary is that another similar situation will take place in the future that is admittedly more difficult to avoid. The situation in question surrounds Mark and Anissa, the aforementioned Viltrumite who threatened Amber and fought Mark inInvincibleseason 2. In theInvinciblecomics, Anissa later returns to Earth wishing to carry on the Viltrumite lineage but is unwilling to sire an offspring with humans, thus attempting to seduce Mark into having children with her.
Anissa’s season 2 appearance teased Conquest’s arrival, a villain expected inInvincibleseason 3’s final few episodes.
Mark endlessly refuses, leading Anissa to forcefully overpower and sexually assault him before insisting that she will do so as many times as she wishes to secure Viltrum’s future. Given that this is such a vitally dark point in Mark’s future, it seems as though Prime Video’sInvinciblecannot avoid this storyline. Therefore, adding another abusive storyline to the show via Amber would only increase that feeling of gratuitousness. As a result,Invincibleremoving Amber’s controversial storyline is for the best, if only to give one character a happier ending than a lot of her peers will face in the future.
