Warning: The following contains spoilers for Invincible Season 2 Episode 7, “I’m Not Going Anywhere,” now streaming on Prime Video
Invincible season 2 has been emotionally rooted in the ways the show’s characters confront trauma, with the latest example focusing on the truth behind Donald’s death in season 1 and subsequent resurrection. As teased in previous episodes, Donald is no longer strictly human. After being killed in the line of duty at the end of season 1, Donald was restored through the use of robotics. However, this turns out to be far from the first time this has happened, with Donald estimating he’s roughly 98% cyborg at this point.
Although this truth has been largely played for horror and tragedy so far, the latest episode of Invincible uses this turn to further expand Donald as a character. It speaks to one of the underlying themes of the superhero series, while also giving Donald a chance to overcome the inherent trauma that comes from such a revelation. Here’s how Donald has been restored following his death, and just how many times Donald has actually died in the world of Invincible.
After discovering he’s a robotic replication, Invincible further pulls the rug out from under Donald when he learns his death at the hands of Omni-Man was far from his first fatality in the line of duty. After confronting Cecil about his robotic rebirth, Cecil allows Donald to access a collection of secret files. These videos highlight Donald’s other deaths, such as being crushed by a giant monster or being caught in an explosion while attempting to save lives. It turns out that within the timeline of Invincible, Donald has died thirty-nine times.
This revelation plays into Invincible‘s overall approach to injuries and the danger of living in a superhero universe. The revelations surrounding Donald’s fate highlight just how true this is As a regular human in a world where people can be easily ripped apart by even low-level threats like the Lizard League (as evidenced by the death of Dupli-Kate), Donald would likely have a hard time bouncing back from the kind of missions the GDA would require from him. Donald has only remained in the field because he’s robotically resurrected after each demise.
At first glance, this revelation paints Cecil in an even darker light than he previously occupied. Cecil and the GDA have proven willing to make bargains with monsters and utilize underhanded tactics in the name of protecting the world. Turning Donald into a machine would make sense as one of these options, especially going through the trouble of hiding the truth. However, it turns out that Donald was the one who decided to erase the memories of his death. Cecil explains to Donald (and the audience) that the human mind simply isn’t meant to process that much trauma.
Donald feared the truth would slow him down and cost lives in the field. As a result, Donald willingly allowed his memories to be erased, setting up the show’s current revelations. It’s an interesting reveal, as it sets up Donald to be one of the show’s most surprisingly durable characters. Although he can have his body destroyed, the GDA can bring him back with his memories and personality intact. This could potentially allow Donald to become a secret weapon for the GDA, as it allows him to embark on dangerous situations with no concern for his own well-being.
During a conversation with Rick Sheridan, Donald offers an understanding and vital empathy. After being experimented on in the previous season, Rick is horrified by how he’s alive. Donald is able to talk with Rick, revealing his own robotic status and his newfound belief that erasing the memories of his trauma was the wrong decision. Donald specifically cites Rick as the inspiration for this, explaining it is the decisions they make that defines their humanity more so than their physical forms.
It’s an emotional moment for the show to tackle and highlights how Invincible can explore the humanity of characters who nominally are inhuman. Donald’s decision to accept his trauma speaks to his growth, allowing him to potentially forge the kind of bonds that William and Rick have developed. Despite all the deaths Donald has suffered, he’s decided to learn from the pain and move forward instead of simply ignoring them. It speaks to an underlying theme of the entire second season of Invincible and underscores how there’s always hope, no matter how strange or brutal the circumstances become.