So i just got done watching the latest episode and i am beyond ecstatic. Because something that happened in the comics did not happen here and it all hast to do with Omni man and mark.
In the comics when Mark hugs omni man he essentially forgives nolan for all everything, ask him to come home and is instantly on board for his entire plan even before hearing about his little brother. This, was a bad writing decision imo in comics as it not only rushes omni mans redemption but it also makes mark’s morals out of wack. The dude beat the shit out of you, called your own mom a pet, and killed a lot of people and you just forgave him? Not to mention the fact he just instantly trust him again even though nolan just used lies and deceit to get him there and IS THE FUCKIN KING OF A NEW SPECIES. Like this should be sending off alarm bells in comics marks head and yet it does not. He could be setting up an ambush. Not to mention all the weird stuff with his father instantly getting a new family and all the weird sense of replacement mark must be feeling. Again makes it clear kurkman wanted to redeem omni man but did not do the leg work for it.
Here, mark after the hug wants nothing to do with nolan. He does not trust nolan he tries to get away immediatly and only stays because nolan says the people actually need help. Mark does goes back but he is actually still angry and shows it with all his “fuck yous” which is great to see. Mark sees the new family and fuckin flips out (like most people would if they found out their parent who walked out on them has a new family) and even after seeing his brother he still wants to leave. Nolan keeps asking mark to accept his deal and MARK only accepts because the viltrumites start attacking. But he still does not forgive nolan for what hes done. Again this is all masterfully done I love this change as it still makes Nolan a “bad guy” and does not offer him redemption too soon. Plus, mark is actually a smart character who seems to act like a normal person in this situation.
TLDR: Love that Mark is actually angry at nolan and does not fully forgive him the entire time this episode.
Mark explicitly says in the comic he doesn’t forgive Nolan.
It’s not quite convincing though
Yeah given how they went out of their way to make Nolan’s fight with Mark more brutal in the show, they kind of had to treat the reunion this way. Big actions require big consequences. There needs to be more room between Mark’s anger at his father and Nolan’s redemption. I also think the contrast between Viltrumite culture and human culture needs to be expressed more. We need to feel Nolan’s inner conflict and why he’s so torn about upholding Viltrumite values while also loving the compassion and empathy he learned while pretending to be human.
I couldn’t disagree more. Changes like this downplay the comic’s very real and human emotional complexity.
The comic is still there and isn’t affected by a new take on the story. Both can exist at the same time.
This was literally what I was thinking throughout the episode. The whole buildup of mark constantly trying to prove that he’s not like his dad would have gone to waste, nolan murdered thousands, destroyed the city, beat mark to pulp and most importantly he called his mother a PET, there’s no way mark sees him after all this and instantly forgives him. I was so happy that the makers chose to go in a different direction.
I agree, but I do hope they still go the route the comics did with the Grayson family, just with more fleshing out. I know a lot of people don’t want Nolan and Debbie to get back together, but I think it could actually be an amazing arc (for both of them) if they do but they take their time getting there.
I still wanted Mark to cry. Kinda miffed that we didn’t see that.
He was broken inside and completely hollowed out emotion, you can hear it in his voice. Nolan hurt him and Debbie so much they had to numb themselves.
Then, when Omniman dumps this huge responsibility, and his selfish mistakes onto him, he wants to disassociate and grow numb again, but can’t, since lives were at stake. It’s much more subtle abd heartbreaking imo. .
Nolan questioning why he cares about the thraxans was really great like it rlly brings out how he has changed and his conditioning as a viltrumite
100% agreed! The writing has been amazing in this series!
Yeah I agree but my favorite part of the episode was when kregg showed up he sounds and looks phenomenal and I love when he punched Mark to show that he’s not gonna take disrespect from anyone
I didn’t realize the fucking legend Clancy Brown will be voicing him. This automatically makes him one of my favorite characters in the adaptation.
“Are you feeling it now Mark Grayson…”
I thought Mark’s genuine confusion was incredible. He had no idea what to do, think, or feel. Just pure chaos in a blue and yellow suit.
I also like how Nolan knows his son has been holding back and deep down mark does too. Really just awesome writing.
I feel like Nolan is depressed for most of this episode. He was literally about to kill himself, but protecting this new planet gives his life some purpose. Only when the Viltrumite Empire remind him of his purpose, does he go through the internal conflict more deeply. He still hasn’t reconciled that he prefers protecting less powerful people - compared to expanding the Viltrumite Empire. He doesn’t understand why yet. Mark gave him a full on revelation mid battle. Mark still shouldn’t forgive Nolan, as he hasn’t understood his internal conflict fully.