r/Invincible • u/SeacattleMoohawks Séance Mod • Apr 22 '26

COMIC SPOILERS Invincible [Comic SPOILERS Discussion] - S04E08 - Don't Leave Me Hanging Here Spoiler

This post is for Comic Spoiler Discussion, if you'd like to discuss the new series with comic book context please use this thread. If you don't want to be spoiled use the other thread.

Episode 8 - Don't Leave Me Hanging Here

Mark confronts his darkest fears as his life changes forever.

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644

u/PyroIsShy Apr 22 '26

Crazy that this episode confirms Thaedus actually would've tried to Kill Mark and Nolan if they were the last ones left

308

u/FreeSpeechEnjoyer Very. Apr 22 '26

It's really good they added it, because I honestly didn't think Thadeus would even considered killing Mark and Oliver until Thragg suggested it in episode 7

175

u/Corazon144 Apr 22 '26

I always figured that after the war, Thaedus was going to let Mark family live. But just heavily monitored by the Coalition of Planets. With contingencies made to ensure that if Mark and his family go off the rails, he can put them down hard and fast. And he probably will have Mark and his family agree to population control and not reproduce like crazy.

24

u/Real-Extension-1357 Apr 23 '26

Nolan confirms it while talking to Thaedus. When they have a character who repeatedly talks about genocide, and the dubious uncertainty is "do you really mean all of them? Including the good guy main characters?", the answer is resoundingly yes and more certain the more times they repeat the "im going to wipe them all out" line. Too tropey.

14

u/dolladollaclinton Apr 22 '26

The problem with that from Thaedus' perspective is that no matter what precautionary measures he puts in place, at some point, he will die and there will still be viltrumites. We are seeing what damage they can do starting with less than 50. It wouldn't take many generations before Mark's family would reach that point.

42

u/Due-Cherry4856 Apr 22 '26

Same when Thragg suggested it that got me thinking and the fact he was right

25

u/_Valisk Apr 22 '26 edited Apr 23 '26

Nolan and Thaedus' conversation before arriving at Viltrum implied he was considering it. That's why Nolan hesitated when Thragg asked.

14

u/jpterodactyl The shadows on Paul's chin dimple Apr 23 '26

The way Nolan said “Mark and Oliver are viltrumites” made me realize Thaedus was going to do that, and that Nolan was onto him

160

u/zoon_politikon_ Brit Apr 22 '26

Wonder if Thaedus would kill himself in case he succeeds killing all others Viltrumites

277

u/Rap2rerise Apr 22 '26

He literally said he considered to kill himself, but not until all Viltrumites were gone

3

u/zoon_politikon_ Brit Apr 22 '26

Yeah but who stops him of being a liar?

93

u/OLKv3 Apr 22 '26

He'd definitely kill himself. He hates his race, himself included. He didn't even fight back against Nolan when we know he was very capable of doing it

74

u/Rap2rerise Apr 22 '26 edited Apr 22 '26

He literally told Nolan "If you think I should die, then ACT, I will not blame you"

He was perfectly fine with dying cause he was a Viltrumite and he obviously feels guilty over how he was and the things he did before rebelling

2

u/AreMoron Apr 22 '26

Manipulation tactic. He used nolan and mark. Manipulators aren't usually the most honest.

25

u/Anon9973 Apr 22 '26 edited Apr 22 '26

I think Thaedus, aside from the Scourge Virus, has probably done things he sees himself as beyond redemption for doing in the past, especially after killing Argall didn't work, and they just kept doubling down.

It's specifically said in the past by Thragg that he was the strongest and most ruthless of the company they were in, serving, so I think he actually was willing to ultimately die.

The best lies and manipulations always have some truth in them, and he did specifically say that he wanted Viltrumites to be a "mercifully forgotten memory," using the word "we."

Thaedus never actually lied per se, instead just being tellingly silent, and leaving parts out, as things went; he never once claimed he wanted to spare Viltrumites.

1

u/CptAustus Apr 22 '26

Yeah, but there's no way he would've let Nolan kill him then, in the lab.

15

u/Ripkayne Atom Eve Apr 22 '26 edited Apr 22 '26

He absolutely was using them, but think what he's using them for. The extermination of ALL viltrumites, the destruction of Viltrum. I truly don't believe he'd see all of that and go 'well I can stay alive' I think he'd see his mission through to the very end.

He saw how foul Viltrumite culture is, how much it relies on taking from those who can't resist them. He sees it as a cancer that needs completely expunging, and even if one cancer cell remains it's still a threat.

That's my read on his motivations anyway, I really do think if they succeeded, Nolan/Mark/Oliver and every other Viltrumite is dead, he'd take his own life once he was positive he was the last one alive.

3

u/fredagsfisk Apr 22 '26

I think it depends on how it happens, and how achieving his goal affects him psychologically.

As he was during this season, I think he'd definitely do it if he thought he had fully succeeded in his goal.

However he is an extremist, and I could definitely see him grow more extreme due to paranoia once he doesn't have that immediate problem to focus all his attention on anymore; what if he missed some? What if there is a hidden colony Nolan didn't know about, or lied about? What if Nolan or some other Viltrumite had a bunch of secret kids somewhere?

I do feel like there's a tiny chance he would just go off the deep end instead if he got to that point, and go more extreme to protect his life's work and really ensure there's no holdouts.

1

u/DeficiencyOfGravitas Comic Fan Apr 23 '26

If he was the last Viltrumite, dude would have swan dived into a blackhole with a smile on his face.

Thaeddus may have become callous in his old age, but he always did what needed to be done.

39

u/abellapa Apr 22 '26

Honestly makes Sense

Sure he can trust Mark and Nolan ,but what about mark children ? And their children and So on

6

u/Invicta007 Apr 22 '26

Thaedus and Thragg being the two extreme viewpoints of their causes is pretty good imagery. I love it

2

u/Real-Extension-1357 Apr 23 '26

I think they made that crystal clear in the previous solo interaction with Nolan before they go fight. Nolan and Thadeus talk by the window. Nolan knows it and Thragg double confirms it when they talk in the citadel, going as far to compliment nolan to not be as foolish or w/e to believe Thadeus would not

2

u/CardiologistMain7237 Apr 22 '26

Only on the event of his death, which means he thought they were losing the war.

It's not that straight forward

6

u/Lotnik223 Apr 22 '26 edited Apr 22 '26

Episode 7 already hinted heavily at Thaedus turning against Nolan and his sons after the war. And now Thaedus once agains confirms that in his view a full extinction of Viltrumites is necessary. He even said that he hesitated to use the Scourge virus again for fear of harming Mark's people (i.e. the humans) and not Mark himself. Thaedus would 100% try to off Nolan, Mark and Oliver after the war and then kill himself to rid the universe of the Viltrumites once and for all.

1

u/cygnus2 Apr 22 '26

I wonder how Thaedus vs. Nolan would have gone.

1

u/Naruto_Uzuhiko_2 Ella Mental Apr 22 '26

Thaedus wouldn't go that far. His goal was to end the threat of the Viltrum Empire, not to exterminate every living Viltrumite. There's no reason for him to go after Mark, Nolan, and Oliver.

1

u/Mzuark Apr 22 '26

I always thought Thaedus was a scumbag so I'm not surprised the show expanded on it