It is the season of brutality and blood on the happiest streamer on earth, Disney+. While, at one point in Marvel history, blood and broken bones were only hinted at by the arrival of heroes like Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) and Daredevil (Charlie Cox), the landscape has changed significantly. The studios’ decision to produce R-rated and TV-MA content has helped boost the streaming platform’s viewership massively.

MCU’s first R-rated project, Deadpool and Wolverine, not only did well in cinemas but also has proven a popular choice on streaming. Similarly, Daredevil: Born Again Season 1 proved a hit for the studio as it didn’t shy away from brutal action sequences, narrative gut punches, and a blood-soaked Matt and Punisher (Jon Bernthal). Now, Born Again Season 2 is keeping the audience on the edge of their seats with new twists and turns in each episode and bringing back some familiar faces like Bullseye (Wilson Bethel) and Jessica Jones (Krysten Ritter). Fans should be gearing up for another gory entry.

The countdown has begun for Jon Bernthal-led The Punisher: One Last Kill, MCU’s Special Presentation, which will take over our screens this May. While all other MCU characters have their power moves, Punisher moves in for a kill, and that makes him very special for fans. There hasn’t been a character like Frank Castle on our screens since the days of Netflix’s The Punisher series, where Bernthal made his debut. There was a contention among fans about the character getting Disney-fied when the news first broke about his MCU entry, but those were put to rest by Bernthal himself and later in Born Again season 1, where Punisher and Daredevil teamed up to take down Kingpin’s (Vincent D’Onofrio) anti-vigilante force. The sequence easily makes up for one of the best fight sequences in the MCU.

What to Expect From ‘The Punisher: One Last Kill’?

More pain and blood. While the details about the new project are scarce, a trailer shows Frank haunted by the ghosts of his past. The gritty tone completely supports his trauma, and it’ll be interesting to see where his story moves next. Punisher returned to the MCU with Born Again, where he was briefly seen helping Matt and being caught by Kingpin. But the trailer sees him as a free man, which could be an indicator that the special takes place before Born Again Season 1. Also, the trailer promised a lot of blood, so fans need not worry about that aspect. The show is written by Bernthal and Reinaldo Marcus Green, the latter of whom also directs.

The Punisher: One Last Kill arrives on Disney+ on May 12. Stay tuned to Collider for more such updates.

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Release Date

May 12, 2026

Director

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Reinaldo Marcus Green

Writers

Reinaldo Marcus Green, Ross Andru, Jon Bernthal, Gerry Conway, John Romita Sr.

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Cast

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  Frank Castle / The Punisher

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  Jason R. Moore

  Curtis Hoyle

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First Minister of Scotland John Swinney declined an invitation from President Donald Trump to attend a White House state banquet.

A spokesperson for the Scottish government told The Independent on Tuesday, April 21, that Swinney, 62, had “politely declined” a seat at the Tuesday, April 28, event as the timing clashed with his campaigning efforts ahead of May’s Holyrood elections in Scotland.

The outlet also reported that a “four-minute phone call” between Trump, 79, and Swinney took place on Monday, April 20, and “it is understood the invitation was the focus of the call.”

A spokesperson for the Scottish National Party also told the outlet, “As the First Minister has said previously, he will continue to engage with the president where it is in Scotland’s interest, but will be clear on the areas where he disagrees with actions of the U.S. administration such as on their actions in Iran.” (Swinney has served as Leader of the Scottish National Party since 2024 following a previous stint between 2000 and 2004.)

Related: King Charles III Invites Trump to U.K. for ‘Unprecedented’ State Visit

King Charles III has invited President Donald Trump to the U.K. for a “historic second state visit.” Donald Trump, 78, was presented with the invitation from the U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, on behalf of King Charles, 76, during a press conference at the White House on Thursday, February 27. Starmer, 62, told Trump that […]

The White House banquet dinner will include King Charles III and Queen Camilla in attendance, staged as part of Charles’ first visit to the U.S. since becoming king in 2022. Buckingham Palace confirmed in March that Charles, 77, and Camilla, 78, were invited by Trump to visit the U.S.

Buckingham Palace said, per reporting by USA Today on Tuesday, that the trip “will celebrate the historic connections and the modern bilateral relationship between the United Kingdom and the United States, marking the 250th anniversary of American Independence.”

As for Swinney, the Scottish politician visited Trump at the White House in September 2025 to “discuss a potential deal to exempt Scotch whiskey from U.S. import tariffs,” per reporting by BBC.

One week after the visit, Swinney attended a state banquet at Windsor Castle that honored Trump.

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Just two months prior, in July 2025, Trump had visited Scotland and publicly described Swinney as a “special guy” while formally opening the Trump International Scotland golf course in Aberdeenshire.

A report by Sky News at the time stated that Trump had asked Swinney to stand up and be recognized for his political contributions at the opening ceremony. “John Swinney is a terrific guy – and loves golf and loves the people of this country, and we really appreciate it,” Trump told on-site reporters before directing his praise directly to Swinney.

“You’re really a very special guy. Thank you very much for everything, John,” Trump said.

Folk horror has only recently been recognized as a distinct subgenre, even though some of its most famous works—including Witchfinder General, The Blood on Satan’s Claw, and The Wicker Man—came out in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Many folk horror movies focus on isolated communities that get swept up in dangerous superstitions, while others highlight the darkness in aspects of folk culture, such as music, stories, and rituals. Over the decades, what was once considered a British phenomenon has flourished into a worldwide fascination.

The 2020s, in particular, have seen an explosion of new folk horror movies. It’s hard to say exactly what inspired the trend, but the popularity of Ari Aster‘s Midsommar (2019) and rising interest in folklore seem to be contributing factors. The folk horror movies of the last few years have proven that the genre is more than just pagans and stone circles; from the glacial valleys of Iceland to the ancestral burial grounds of South Korea, the settings of modern folk horror are more diverse than ever.

25

‘Keeper’ (2025)

Image via Neon

On a weekend getaway to celebrate their first anniversary, medical doctor Malcolm (Rossif Sutherland) brings his painter girlfriend Liz (Tatiana Maslany) to his secluded, peaceful cabin in the woods, hoping for peace and relaxation. But, for Liz, an uneasiness seems to follow her everywhere in the house. Soon, she fears something supernatural is stalking her, leading her to suspect Malcolm may have alternative motives for bringing her to the cabin in the first place.

From Osgood Perkins, the wildly unique mind behind The Monkey and Longlegs, Keeper is his slow-burning 2025 mystery folk horror thriller that is booming with bizarre, unsettling terror. It keeps the audience constantly on edge, wondering just what is about to happen, what exactly is haunting the cabin, and just who Malcolm really is. It culminates in a shocking twist and horrifying third act that will have viewers questioning just what they really experienced. —Daniel Boyer

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‘Saloum’ (2021)

Image via Lacmé

Set during a coup in 2003, a group of African mercenaries and the man they’ve been hired to protect seek refuge in a remote region of Senegal. As they hide out at an isolated resort, they start to learn about the spiritual significance of the place as well as their leader’s painful history with the owner of the resort. Soon, a curse breaks free, and everyone at the resort must fight for their lives as they’re swarmed by spirits that kill by sound.

Saloum is a refreshing bit of folk horror that mostly plays as a fantasy adventure mixed with a scary crime thriller. The mythology and folklore related to the surroundings provide an interesting backdrop for a story that touches on the real-life horror of child soldiers in West Africa. The ancient terrors that plague the group throughout the film provide a poignant parallel to the trauma the main character still grapples with as an adult. The pacing of the film is a highlight; viewers are dropped into the action right away and are barely given time to breathe.

23

‘Dark Harvest’ (2023)

Image via MGM

Every year, teenage boys in a small Midwest town must compete in the Run and kill a dangerous creature called Sawtooth Jack before it can reach the church in the center of town. The prize for winning the Run is a one-way ticket out of town, a prize so coveted that the boys would die for it–and many of them do. Most of Dark Harvest takes place on the night of the Run, but a portrait of the town starts to emerge as a place that’s bleak, stagnant, and full of secrets. The shadowy Harvesters Guild that oversees the town may be a bigger threat than Sawtooth Jack.

Critics might dismiss Dark Harvest as a teen version of The Purge films, and the film is held back by some hammy acting and a premise that’s hard to swallow. However, the depiction of the nameless town as an isolated, regressive place has some interesting things to say about the urban-rural divide, as well as generational warfare. The supernatural figure of Sawtooth Jack might push the film into fantasy territory, but the folk horror themes ground it in real concerns that make the characters’ predicament relatable.

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‘You Are Not My Mother’ (2021)

Image via Magnet Releasing 

In the Irish horror film You Are Not My Mother, Char is a teenage girl who is already facing plenty of problems well before her mother, Angela, goes missing. Angela clearly has depression, is unable to take care of herself and her daughter, but when she returns from her disappearance, something has changed. More than depressed, she seems possessed, and Char wonders if the person who came back might be something else altogether.

A significant number of horror stories deal with the theme of mental health, creating ambiguity about what is real and what is delusion. Where You Are Not My Mother takes a turn to folk horror is through the introduction of magic and the folklore of changelings. A changeling is a kind of fairy creature that has been sent to the real world as a replacement for someone who was taken. Often, the changeling takes the form of a child, but it can look like an adult as well. When Char suspects that her mother’s behavior might be related to the supernatural, she turns to magic for a possible solution.

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‘The Medium’ (2021)

The South Korean producer of The Medium, Na Hong-jin, directed the hit folk horror film The Wailing in 2016, so it’s no surprise that Na’s follow-up project showed a similar fascination with demon possession and shamanic rituals. The Medium is a mockumentary that takes place in Thailand and follows a local medium who claims to be inhabited by the spirit of a goddess. The spirit must be passed to the next person in line through an elaborate ritual, and the medium claims that her niece has been chosen to host the goddess. However, the plans to transfer the spirit go awry, and the family appears to be cursed for their failure.

The documentary format of the film is part of what makes it successful, conveying realism despite the supernatural occurrences. The Medium is also known for being quite scary; the things that happen to Mink, the niece, are brutal and terrifying. Another thing that makes the story frightening is the idea of inviting a spirit into one’s body. The character of the medium has faith that the spirit is a goddess, but there’s also a chance that she might be inviting in evil spirits that have managed to hide their true nature.

20

‘Candyman’ (2021)

Image via Universal

A sequel to the 1992 slasher classic, director Nia DaCosta’s Candyman also serves as a reboot that brings the franchise into the modern era. In the original film, Candyman was a figure out of an urban legend who had once been a man named Daniel Robitaille, killed for being a Black man in a relationship with a white woman. The 2021 Candyman examines the way that the urban legend has evolved, with the story focusing on a different wronged man depending on the era. Like Robitaille, protagonist Anthony is an artist whose life is still affected by racism more than a hundred years later.

The film examines the effects of gentrification, as the Cabrini-Green public housing project, which served as the focal point for the original film, has been demolished to make way for luxury apartments. Folk horror is usually associated with rural spaces, but urban areas can also be a rich source of folklore and history. An urban legend, such as the one about Candyman, is tied to a specific place, and its impact can still be felt by the people who venture there. The past and present collide in ways that can be fascinating—and terrifying.

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‘Wrong Turn’ (2021)

Image via Constantin Film

Folk horror, with its suggestion that rural isolation can make people a bit twisted, is often in danger of falling into hicksploitation, a subgenre that mocks country folk as ignorant and dangerous. Earlier films in the Wrong Turn series focused on inbred cannibals living in the Appalachians, but the seventh installment, also known as Wrong Turn: The Foundation, offers an interesting twist that’s closer to Midsommar than The Hills Have Eyes. The movie follows a group of hikers on the Appalachian Trail that runs afoul of a remote community called the Foundation.

The Foundation has kept itself separate from society since before the Civil War, and they will do anything to protect their chosen way of life. Periodically, they accept and initiate new members to sustain the community. The film is surprisingly thoughtful in its presentation of the conflict between modernity and tradition as well as the culture clash between so-called civilization and barbarity. An early scene, in which the hikers treat a local man with cruel condescension, reveals that the movie will be flipping the script on the usual hicksploitation tropes—a promising beginning to a strong story.

18

‘In the Earth’ (2021)

Image via Neon

Director Ben Wheatley (The Meg 2: The Trench) is practically a veteran of the folk horror genre, having made Kill List and A Field in England prior to 2021’s pandemic-themed In the Earth. Although the virus is only tangential to the plot, the social-distancing-induced isolation enhances the film’s sense of alienation. In the movie, a scientist and a park scout venture into a dangerous forest to look for a researcher who has disappeared. They find that both the researcher and her ex-husband have gone mad trying to communicate with an ancient woodland spirit.

Like Wheatley’s A Field in England, In the Earth is a surreal, psychedelic journey that will leave many viewers scratching their heads. However, the film’s eco-horror elements will resonate with viewers concerned about climate change. The message seems to be that there are some forces—whether natural or supernatural—that should be left alone. One character attempts to use science and technology to unravel the mysteries of the world, while another uses occult rituals. In the end, both approaches are shown to be misguided.

17

‘Moloch’ (2022)

Image via XYZ Films

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In the Dutch horror-fantasy movie Moloch, Betriek and her young daughter move into her parents’ house after her husband dies. However, the place where Betriek grew up is unsettling rather than comforting. The house is on the edge of a peat bog where archaeologists have been digging up the bodies of several women who were apparently killed in a ritual sacrifice. Even worse, the women are all discovered to be Betriek’s ancestors.

Folk horror is often about the ways that cycles repeat themselves, especially the cycle of death and rebirth. This is why human sacrifice has become a reliable folk horror trope, with villagers spilling blood in exchange for a bountiful harvest. But sacrifice can also be a powerful symbol of generational trauma. The older generations perpetuate harmful practices that the younger generations try–and often fail–to reject. Betriek in Moloch finds herself caught up in this same terrifying cycle.

16

‘She Will’ (2021)

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She Will is a fresh take on the witch subgenre that deserves much more attention than it’s gotten. In the film, Veronica Ghent (Alice Krige) is an aging film star who goes on a retreat in Scotland to recover from a mastectomy. Veronica and her nurse Desi, discover that the retreat is located in a region where countless women were once burned as witches, and the land is now contaminated by the ashes. Veronica and Desi both experience nightmares that connect their personal traumas with the historical persecution of women.

Krige gives a powerful performance as a woman marked by childhood abuse and grappling with her lost youth. She Will, at times, feels more like a drama than a horror movie, but the moody, Gothic atmosphere delivers enough dread to interest horror fans. The barren, wooded landscape is beautifully filmed to emphasize the way that places create a connection between the past and the present, which is an enduring theme in folk horror movies.

Many people may recognize the name Greta Gerwig as the brilliant mind behind the 2023 Barbie movie, or back in 2019, the beautiful Little Women adaptation, but before this, Gerwig actually made her name in the indie sphere as an actor. She’s a phenomenal director, but her acting roles are often overlooked, which is a surprise considering her notable contributions to the subgenre mumblecore, including the utterly raw and slice-of-life story of Frances Ha. Here, Gerwig would find her niche as the charming, awkward, and quirky everyday woman who is navigating the mundane realities of life, leading one of her most forgotten films in 2012, Lola Versus, alongside For All Mankind‘s Joel Kinnaman.

Greta Gerwig Roots Out the Messy Charm of Everyday Life in ‘Lola Versus’

In Lola Versus, Gerwig plays the titular character who just got dumped by her seemingly perfect boyfriend, Luke (Joel Kinnaman), three weeks before their wedding. In the devastating wake of their abrupt break-up, she attempts to reorganize her life through a myriad of casual flings while working on her dissertation. She goes through this limbo period with the support of her best friends, the zany Alice (Zoe Lister-Jones) and the ever-reliable Henry (Hamish Linklater), but like many romantic comedies, realizes that finding self-love via others may not be the best approach.

Like most of Gerwig’s characters, Lola is instinctively likable the moment you lay eyes on her, which is why the movie works. Her goofy smile, quiet wit, and fumbling interactions sum up her charm throughout the film, a regular woman you would meet in passing or identify with. As such, when Lola makes impulsive, questionable, and sometimes selfish decisions on her journey for autonomy and casual fun, it is difficult to judge her, and we find ourselves empathizing. Gerwig represents Lola in a way that can only be described as painfully human, filled with the messiness of acting out of a place of hurt and clouded by one’s own misery.

Sharing the screen is Kinnaman’s performance as the ex-fiancé who is a stand-in for the villain in every girl’s story — the guy who dumped her because he was confused and wanted to explore before committing — has the same slice-of-life nature as Gerwig’s performance. You want to hate Luke for it, but Kinnaman makes him just as messy and human as Lola. Kinnaman renders Luke sincere in his confusion, justified in his frustrations, and charming whenever the opportunity allows. What makes their run-ins refreshing is that they never indulge in too many clichés and have surprisingly grounded interactions of two exes trying to navigate the fallout. It creates the backbone of the film, allowing Lola’s main journey to make more of an impact.

‘Lola Versus’ Combines Slice-of-Life Relationship Drama With Comedy

That’s not to say the film is just jam-packed with poor decisions, as comedy and situational irony are littered around every corner of this truly millennial rendition of New York. From the “esoteric” artsy scene of aspiring theater majors to the sheer drama of bumping into your ex-boyfriend at your new boyfriend’s gig, there are relatable but hyperbolic versions of everyday encounters with humorous punchlines at the end. We also get a hilarious appearance from Ebon Moss-Bachrach (The Bear), who plays one of Lola’s rebounds with unnervingly wide eyes, an incubator, and rollerblades. It’s one of Lola’s strange decisions that earns a brilliant payoff — for the audience at least.

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When playing pretend gets complicated.

Orbiting Lola’s storm is an equally charming and comedic cast, who provide refreshing takes on romantic comedy clichés. Alice is the supportive best friend who helps Lola break out of her shell while delivering comedic gems with a wry and sarcastic laugh. Meanwhile, Henry embodies the friend who may have been right for Lola all along, but by the end of the film, these two tropes get a subtle twist that feels more in line with the reality painted. But the standouts are the infrequent appearances of Lola’s parents, played charmingly by Debra Winger and Bill Pullman, who are people you’d dream of having in your corner as they approach her breakup with comfort and goofy wit.

Lola Versus doesn’t play out a story we haven’t seen before, but its cast gives the romantic comedy a normalcy that is rendered as fresh and comforting. With narrative beats that every millennial will recognize and Gerwig’s idiosyncratic performance as the driving force, it’s a film to cozy up to, especially if you’re a fan of the filmmaker. Before she ever hit big shots with high-grossing films, Gerwig appreciated the novelties of everyday adult life, capturing the beauty in the messiness all around us.

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Lola Versus

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Release Date

April 24, 2012

Runtime

87 minutes

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Director

Daryl Wein

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Farmer Wants a Wife sparked several romantic connections — but which couples are still dating and who has broken up?

Based on a British series of the same name, Farmer Wants a Wife premiered on The CW in 2008. It didn’t return for another season until Fox announced a reboot in 2023, with Allen Foster, Ryan Black, Hunter Grayson and Landon Heaton becoming the newest group of eligible single farmers.

Season 2 aired in 2024 with Brandon Rogers, Mitchell Kolinsky, Nathan Smothers and Ty Ferrell looking for love, while season 3 introduced Us to John Sansone, Jay Woods, Matt Warren and Colton Hendricks as they searched for The One.

Jennifer Nettles hosted the first two seasons in America before Kimberly Williams-Paisley was brought in for season 3. While most couples broke up in the months after filming the show, some lasted longer.

Scroll down to find out whether your favorite Farmer Wants a Wife couple is still together:

Allen Foster and Khelsi Stone

Days after the season 1 finale aired in 2023, Allen Foster confirmed his split from Khelsi Stone, writing via Instagram, “What an incredible journey and opportunity this has been! I came into this with an open mind and open heart!”

He continued: “Farmer Wants a Wife didn’t end how I’d [hoped] as far as a relationship, however, I have gained friendships and had opportunities that will last a lifetime!”

Hunter Grayson and Meghan Baker

Hunter Grayson and Meghan Baker ended the first season together but have since called it quits.

“I’ve never in my life had to make a break up post before so bear with me,” she wrote via Facebook in 2024. “Break ups are hard enough without having to post about them but I guess this is what I get for signing up for this wild adventure. God only knows who he has in store for my life. I know that He put me on #farmerwantsawife for a reason. Thank you all for following along on ‘our’ journey. Please remember we are both human and sometimes things just don’t work out, but we wish each other the best!”

Landon Heaton and Ashley Larea

Ashley Larea broke her silence about her split from Landon Heaton right after their finale aired in 2023.

“After the show stopped filming, the pressure of things beyond my control took a toll and ultimately we decided to go our separate ways,” she wrote via Instagram while Heaton cited “unforeseen circumstances” as the reason for their split, adding, “I know what I was looking for going into this, but wasn’t sure what I’d find.”

He continued, “What I found was an amazing raw connection with a fantastic person. Following the final days of filming, due to unforeseen circumstances, I needed to be home with my family, and then life got busy. Ashley and I made the decision to go our separate way in January 2023, in an effort to adjust back to ‘normal life.’”

Ryan Black and Haley Ramirez

Ryan Black and Haley Ramirez parted ways during the season 1 finale, which aired in 2023.

Brandon Rogers and Grace Girard

During the season 2 reunion in 2024, Brandon Rogers and Grace Girard revealed they were no longer together.

Mitchell Kolinsky and Sydney Errera

The pair were one of the few lasting connections on the show during season 2, but their happy ending didn’t last forever. In October 2025, Mitchell Kolinsky raised eyebrows when eagle-eyed fans noticed he no longer followed Sydney Errera on social media. Errera confirmed in February 2026 that she and Kolinsky had split “over two months ago” after being together for two years.

“I can confidently say that Mitchell and I gave our relationship 110 percent, more than I’ve ever given anything in my life,” Errera shared via TikTok. “I just recently moved back to Nashville because I really like it here and I want to give it another shot. Mitchell and I are on good terms, we’re friendly, and there’s no bad blood between us. I obviously still have love for him, he still has love for me, and hopefully we can just move forward nicely.”

Nathan Smothers and Taylor BeDell

Nathan Smothers and Taylor BeDell remained together almost a year after the season 2 reunion aired in 2024. Their romance has since fizzled out according to their social media.

Colton Hendricks and Zoë Green

Zoë Green and Colton Hendricks’ split was confirmed in the days after the season 3 finale aired on Fox in 2025.

Jay Woods and Grace Clark

Jay Woods cited a lack of chemistry for his and Grace Clark’s offscreen split after filming season 3.

John Sansone and Claire Dirette

John Sansone and Claire Dirette confirmed their split in August 2025 after they found love on the show.

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“This was a mutual decision based on private challenges, and had nothing to do with any reposts. While I’ll always appreciate and respect the time we shared together, I feel it’s best to move forward separately,” he wrote via Instagram. “While our relationship was public, I wish for this chapter to remain as private as possible. Thank you for your kindness and support.”

Dirette reshared Sansone’s announcement via her Instagram Story and wrote, “I ain’t reading all that but ditto.”

Matt Warren and Chelsi Davis

Season 3 stars Matt Warren and Chelsi Davis were still together up until summer 2025 but are no longer a couple.

Editor’s note: The below recap contains spoilers for Invincible Season 4 Episode 8.

Mark Grayson (Steven Yeun) has gone through a lot over the course of Invincible Season 4. He’s nearly died two different times during the Viltrumite War, gone to Hell, killed Rus Livingston (Ben Schwartz) and Conquest (Jeffrey Dean Morgan), and reunited with his father Nolan (J.K. Simmons) — just to name a few. In the Season 4 finale, “Don’t Leave Me Hanging Here,” Mark returns to Earth with more emotional baggage than ever before, but as a potential threat rises, his paranoia worsens. While previous Invincible finales have been jam-packed with action and spectacle, Season 4’s conclusion takes a more somber approach.

Mark Returns to Earth in the ‘Invincible’ Season 4 Finale

Season 4’s finale opens with Thragg’s (Lee Pace) Viltrumite ship hovering above Earth, with the Grand Regent sending the remaining Viltrumites down to attack a city by creating tidal waves and destroying buildings. It turns out this was all just Mark’s nightmare, and he’s frozen in fear while Nolan attempts to talk to him about Thragg, admitting, “We don’t even know if he’s there.” Zoe/Tech Jacket (Zoey Deutch) asks about a potential plan for their return to Earth, but Mark and Nolan ignore her. Back on Talescria, Allen (Seth Rogen) is adjusting to his new role as leader of the Coalition of Planets. Telia (Tatiana Maslany) attempts to ease his nerves, telling him that Thaedus (Peter Cullen) believed in him and so does she. She then walks Allen out for his inauguration, asking if his speech is ready. (It isn’t.)

At the dining room table, Zoe once more tries talking to Mark and Nolan, but they don’t listen; even a sarcastic comment about letting the Viltrumites win doesn’t move the needle. The silence breaks when the captain announces that they are approaching Earth, much to Zoe’s annoyance. As Nolan attempts to come up with a strategy, Mark flies off to surveil his hometown, only to find that everything seems normal. When Mark returns home, Debbie (Sandra Oh) tearfully greets him. As he tells her about Oliver (Christian Convery), he has a hallucination of Thragg ripping her head off. Mark leaves to check on Eve and tells Debbie that Nolan is outside. Debbie finds Nolan floating several feet above the ground and berates him for letting Oliver go to space with him and Mark. Nolan attempts to calm Debbie by telling her how proud he is of Mark and Oliver, but she doesn’t relent. “Stop treating me like you don’t know me. You have always believed in rehabilitation and second chances. You knew. Please let me show you who I am now,” Debbie responds by saying, “I don’t know where you’re sleeping tonight, but it’s not here.”

Zoe returns to her space station, where she finds her father, Ed (Bobby Moynihan), asleep at the computer. When she wakes him up, she notices that he was so worried about her, he didn’t shower or change his clothes. Mark visits Eve (Gillian Jacobs), who tearfully greets him. She begins to tell him that her powers have returned, but she’s been so busy helping her parents and with school that she hasn’t been taking care of herself. She’s also put Invinicible Inc. on pause.

At GDA headquarters, Cecil (Walton Goggins) and Donald (Chris Diamantopoulos) are having D.A. Sinclair (Eric Bauza) test a portal that could bring Robot (Ross Marquand/Zachary Quinto) and Monster Girl (Grey Griffin/Kevin Michael Richardson) home. The portal proves to be unsuccessful, unleashing a tentacled monster into the laboratory that grabs Sinclair. Cecil then reveals that this was the second attempt at bringing Robot and Monster Girl back that has failed, and they can’t do tests anymore. They’re going to have to find their own way home.

Eve Reveals the Truth to Mark in the ‘Invincible’ Season 4 Finale

Image via Prime Video

Allen is overwhelmed in his efforts to talk with the other members of the Coalition of Planets. He tries to tell them that finding the surviving Viltrumites will take time, leading them to respond with, “We don’t appreciate your flippantness.” The Coalition claims that Thaedus was a “Viltrumite in name only” and asks whether Allan truly trusted Mark and Nolan or was simply using them, but Allen doesn’t want to partake in a genocide that could lead to more deaths.

Mark and Eve visit William (Brandon Scott James) and Rick (Luke Macfarlane) at the Upstate University campus. Mark has another panic attack, where he hallucinates Anissa (Shantel VanSanten) murdering students. The episode then cuts to Debbie venting to Paul (Cliff Curtis) at her office, revealing that they broke up some months ago. Debbie is upset about not being able to see Oliver, telling Paul that she was always there for Mark whenever he was injured. In bed, Eve finally tells Mark that she knows why her powers stopped working. Before she can reveal the reason, Mark has another hallucination, this time of Thragg killing Eve. After calming Mark down, Eve finally admits that she learned she was pregnant shortly before he left Earth. Knowing she would not be able to care for a child on her own, she had an abortion. Mark cries, apologizes for leaving Eve, and insists that he should have been there for her.

Nolan visits the crater where he attacked Mark during the climax of the Season 1 finale. Cecil arrives, but keeps his distance from Nolan, adding, “I’ll never not be afraid of you.” Nolan apologizes to Cecil and tries to reassure him by telling him that they won the war against the Viltrumites. Upon learning that 40 Viltrumites are still in hiding, Cecil is frustrated, telling Nolan that they didn’t win at all. Nolan tells Cecil that he has a crew setting up a warning system for incoming Viltrumites that will be ready in two weeks. Cecil says that the wait will be too long, telling Nolan to “Get the fuck off my planet.” Back on Earth, Eve wakes up to see that Mark is still awake and wracked with guilt. He tells her that they didn’t truly beat the Viltrumites; all they did was give them nothing to lose after the destruction of their planet. Mark stresses that even if the Viltrumites don’t come to Earth, he will inevitably have to leave again. Eve’s aware of the risk and promises Mark that they’ll get through this together.

Thragg Makes a Proposal to Mark in the ‘Invincible’ Season 4 Finale

Image via Prime Video

The following morning, as Nolan prepares to leave Earth to be with Oliver, Debbie announces that she is going with him: “What kind of parent would I be if I didn’t go?” She also reluctantly permits Nolan to carry her up to the ship. Immediately after their departure, Donald visits the Grayson home, telling Mark that Cecil wants to talk. As their ship departs, Nolan offers to show Debbie the view of Earth, which she reacts to in awe; Nolan considers putting a hand on her shoulder, but stops himself. At Cecil’s office, Mark is debriefed about the status of the Viltrumites and has another panic attack, envisioning Thragg killing Cecil, before breaking down, asking if they have somebody that he can talk to about his PTSD. He returns to an empty home, where Eve shows up and encourages him to go on a flight — not to scope for crime or stop supervillains, but simply to clear his head.

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As Mark flies through the sky, he begins envisioning Thragg — except this time, it isn’t a hallucination. Thragg isn’t here to fight; instead, he offers a proposal to Mark: allow the Viltrumites to live on Earth, posing as regular humans, so they can begin to rebuild their race. In return, they will not interfere, influence, affect, or aid in any human affairs. Any intervention will lead to the destruction of every living thing on the planet. An angry Mark hesitates, ready to say no, but ultimately accepts the terms of Thragg’s proposal. Thragg leaves by telling Mark, “The universe is strange. You’ve become our savior, willing or not. You have saved the lives of every being on your planet. You will not hear from me again.” Episode 8 concludes with an exasperated Mark muttering, “What have I done?”

A post-credits scene sees Telia handing Allen one last message from Thaedus, which was recorded for his eye only. Thaedus begins his message by telling Allen that he has earned his place as the leader of the Coalition. He then instructs Allen to go to his labs, revealing an upgraded version of the Skurge Virus that Thadeus says must be unleashed on all remaining Viltrumites, even if it kills Mark and Oliver.

The Invincible Season 4 finale is obviously a change of pace from what fans have come to expect. While Season 1 ended with Mark and Nolan’s fatal fight, Season 2 revolved around Mark seemingly killing Angstrom Levy (Sterling K. Brown) in a multiverse-hopping battle, and Season 3 saw the arrival of Conquest. By contrast, Season 4’s big battle is simply a conversation — an intense one, with no blood drawn outside of Mark’s hallucinations. Debbie and Eve’s arcs are excellent; although the former’s breakup with Paul feels abrupt, Eve’s storyline tackles abortion with more maturity than most TV series are capable of. Invincible Season 4 has delivered a lot of action and movement, so it makes sense that the finale slows things down. It may not be explosive, but “Don’t Leave Me Hanging Here” cements this season as the show’s best installment yet.

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Release Date

March 26, 2021

Network

Amazon Prime Video

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Franchise(s)

Invincible

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Pros & Cons

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• Episode 8 focuses on the aftermath, instead of just jumping into another big battle.
• Eve and Debbie’s storylines are excellent, especially with where they end up.
• Thragg’s arrival is a great cliffhanger that doesn’t feel cheap.

• Why does Invincible Season 4 gotta do Paul like that?