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Both Invincible and Severance broke ground when they released 4 and 3 years ago, respectively, and the urge for new content from both show's massive fanbases has been massive, especially for the latter. Invincible fans' long, arduous wait for a second season ended in late 2023 after a 2-year wait, which has become increasingly standard for streaming, especially in the wake of the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike. Invincible's second season faced a rocky reception, as well, partly because of its agonizing mid-season break which lasted for months.
However, season 3 has delivered on returning the series to form; between storylines adapted straight from the comics, such as protagonist Mark Grayson's battle with arch-nemesis Angstrom Levy, alongside fully original additions like the alien warrior Conquest's monologue and character development, the Invincible series has carved a unique identity for itself, straddling the line between a satire like The Boys and a completely serious series like DC's Creature Commandos.
Between the noticeable improvement in animation quality compared to the last season (I mean, impact frames?), creative new additions to the story, and excellent casting/voicework, Invincible's 3rd season will likely go down as a masterclass in continuing a television story without losing viewer's interest.
On the other hand, Severance's 2nd season has been awaited for even longer, as the first season was released in 2022, 3 years before the current season. The series, which also straddles the line between psychological thriller and drama, was critically lauded when it was first released. The second season, however, has faced mixed reviews, with critics labelling the season's writing as 'directionless' and 'meandering', while still praising the acting, casting, and set design.
I myself am not completely caught up this season (Midterms, my nemesis!), but while I am enjoying this season, I can understand some of these criticisms. It feels like some plot lines from the first season have been left hanging (the public and legal reaction to the severance procedure being a major one), and it can be sometimes frustrating to be watching a side character going about their daily routine when there's only 10 episodes to deliver a satisfying story.
However, I also think that the critics are being a little dramatic, and the complaints about the entire story instead of just certain elements are premature considering there's still a massive finale left. If Severance's season 2 finale is anything like its first, it will satisfy many of the viewer's curiosities and likely more.
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