History Recap / Invincible2021S02E08ImNotGoingAnywhere

Mark attempts to prioritise his personal life and make time for Amber. They attend a convention together but Mark has to leave to help Rex Splode fight a supervillian. Nevertheless, he tries to commit more to Amber and college life, getting some concessions from Cecil.

Meanwhile, The Immortal attempts to resign from the Guardians Of The Globe and is put on sabbatical with Rudy becoming leader once more. Donald also attempts to resign from the GDA and finds out he has been a cyborg for far longer than he knew, having actually died repeatedly and having his memory wiped each time. Donald uses this knowledge to talk down William's boyfriend Rick from committing suicide.

After a date with Mark, Amber is threatened by a newly arrived Viltrumite, Anissa. They talk with Anissa telling Mark of the advantages Earth will have under Viltrumite rule and helps him rescue a cruise ship from a kaiju. However when Mark refuses to take on his assigned role a fight breaks out. Mark is outclassed and easily beaten by Anissa and even Cecil instructs Mark to tell Anissa what she wants to hear. Mark refuses and insists either Anissa kill him or leave. She leaves with a warning that the next person to come check on Mark will be much harsher.

Amber and Mark's relationship falls apart in the aftermath of Anissa's attack. Sitting alone on a roof, he gets a call from his mother but it's Angstrom Levy on the other end who has kidnapped Debbie and Oliver.

In the stinger, Anissa encounters Allen the alien in space, although Allen is now tough enough to fight her, he instead baits her into taking him captive.

* CameBackStrong: In Allen's fight with Anissa, he realizes that he's become far stronger since his near-death experience against the Viltrumites; her attacks barely do any damage to him, while one of his punches managed to make her bleed profusely.
* CantKillYouStillNeedYou: Mark correctly guesses that Annisa isn't willing to kill him, and uses that to goad her into either finishing him off or leaving. She chooses the latter, but warns that the next Viltrumite won't be so merciful.

* DeathMontage: Cecil allows Donald to learn that Omni-Man's rampage was not the first time he died. He died in the line of work ''thirty-nine times'', and each time he asked Cecil to erase his memories so that the trauma doesn't slow him down. After learning this, Donald once again asks to have his memories wiped. Donale himself looks at several files of him being routinely killed.

** The Immortal is "so old he shits dust" and is severely depressed due to the death of his girlfriend, whom he felt was the only person he could relate to.

* HistoryRepeats: Mark once again suffers a [[CurbStompBattle one-sided fight]] against a Viltrumite. This time, he is not a bloody mess as he calls out Anissa's insistence that she only came to Earth to negotiate with him.

* LightningBruiser: Anissa is not only stronger than Mark, she is even faster than Nolan. Cecil and Donald lament that even if they had the chance to use some of the weapons they think might kill her, there's no way they could ever get her to stay still long enough to actually hit her.

** About two more have ninja headbands and coats similar to the [[Manga/{{Naruto}} Akatsuki]], although blue instead of red and without the clouds.

* NoSell: Anissa ''lets'' Mark hit her once, only being staggered at least, to further show him what a mistake he made in challenging her.

* CantKillYouStillNeedYou: Mark correctly guesses that Annisa isn't willing to kill him, and uses that to goad her into either finishing him off or leaving. She chooses the latter, but warns the next Viltrumite won't be so merciful.

** The Immortal is "so old he shits dust" and is severely depressed due to the death of his girlfriend whom he felt was the only person he could relate to.

** Though Bulletproof doesn't exactly articulate his issues like he does the others, Shapesmith is an exile from his own race who impersonated an astronaut to escape his home planet.
** Rex is an obnoxious, loud-mouthed braggart who recent lost an arm and took a bullet to the head and is somewhat overcompensating for the recent battle with the Lizard League by going up against even more dangerous threats.
** The only two things Bulletproof can bring against Samson is that the latter [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking is bald]] and [[HorribleJudgeOfCharacter actually believes the new Guardians of the Globe are the best superhero team in the world.]] Samson retorts that the team is indeed flawed but are still a capable group when it counts.

* HonorBeforeReason: Cecil orders Mark to at least ''say'' to Anissa that he'll follow through with the takeover of Earth, if only to buy some time. Mark refuses and keeps trying to fight her, even though he doesn't stand a chance. This does work out in his favor, as she retreats, but she warns that the ''next'' Viltrumite who meets Mark will not be so merciful.

* DeathMontage: Cecil allows Donald to learn that Omni-Man's rampage was not the first time he died. He died in the line of work ''thirty-nine times'', and each time he asked Cecil to erase his memories so that the trauma doesn't slow him down. After learning this, Donald once again asks to have his memories wiped.

* CantKillYouStillNeedYou: Mark correctly guesses that Annisa isn't willing to kill him, and uses that to goad her into either finishing him off or leaving. She chooses the latter, but warns the next Viltrumite won't be so merciful.
* {{Cosplay}}: Mark feels awkward when seeing several convention attendees dressing up as his Invincible persona.

* LightningBruiser: Annisa is not only stronger than Mark, she is even faster than Nolan. Cecil and Donald lament that even if they had the chance to use some of the weapons they think might kill her, there's no way they could ever get her to stay still long enough to actually hit her.

* TheWorfEffect: Mark, who previously fought a Viltrumite on equal terms, is absolutely dominated by Annisa to show that she is powerful even by Viltrumite standards. Annisa, in turn, finds herself completely outmatched by Allen to demonstrate just how much stronger he's become after nearly dying, only "losing" to her as part of his gambit to find Nolan.

* TemptingFate: During their date, Amber tells Mark that there are some situations that he just can't punch his way out of. ''The very next second'' has Anissa the Viltrumite showing up and threatening Mark to come with her or take his chances stopping her from tearing Amber's head off, and she's too strong for him to overpower with his fists.

Mark attempts to prioritise his personal life and make time for Amber. They attend a convention together but Mark has to leave to help Rex Splode fight a supervillian. Nevertheless he tries to commit more to Amber and college life, getting some concessions from Cecil.

Meanwhile, The Immortal attempts to resign from the Guardians Of The Globe and is put on sabbatical with Rudy becoming leader once more. Donald also attempts to resign from the GDA and finds out he has been a cyborg for far longer than he knew, having actually died repeatedly and having his memory wiped each time. Donald uses this knowledge to talk down William's boyfriend Rick down from committing suicide.

After a date with Mark however, Amber is threatened by a newly arrived Viltrumite, Anissa. They talk with Anissa telling Mark of the advantages Earth will have under Viltrumite rule and helps him rescue a cruise ship from a kaiju. However when Mark refuses to take on his assigned role a fight breaks out. Mark is outclassed and easily beaten by Anissa and even Cecil instructs Mark to tell Anissa what she wants to hear. Mark refuses and insists either Anissa kill him or leave. She leaves with a warning that the next person to come check on Mark will be much harsher.

Amber and Mark's relationship falls apart in the aftermath of Anissa's attack. Sitting alone on a roof, he gets a call from his mother but it's Angstrom Levy on the other end who has kidnapped Debra and Oliver.

* ThisCannotBe: Annisa is understandably shocked that any Unopan could be strong enough to so easily wound her. Allen playfully mocks her for her research being out of date.

** The only two things Bulletproof can bring against Samson is that the latter is bald and [[HorribleJudgeOfCharacter actually believes the new Guardians of the Globe are the best superhero team in the world.]] Samson retorts that the team is indeed flawed but are still a capable group when it counts.

* TheManyDeathsOfYou: Cecil allows Donald to learn that Omni-Man's rampage was not the first time he died. He died in the line of work ''thirty-nine times'', and each time he asked Cecil to erase his memories so that the trauma doesn't slow him down. After learning this, Donald once again asks to have his memories wiped.

* LeaningOnTheFourthWall: When meeting Filip Schaff at Comic-Con, Mark asks when they can expect to see Season 2 of the ''Seance Dog'' adaptation, referencing the infamously long wait that happened in real life with ''Invincible's'' second season. Schaff then goes on to explain the animation process and the various tricks and angles that animators use to cut costs, [[LimitedAnimation while the scene itself proudly displays those very same methods as he describes them]].

* ShoutOut: One of the cosplayers at Comic-Con is dressed as [[Series/DoctorWho the Thirteenth Doctor]].

* LeaningOnTheFourthWall: Filip Schaff's entire conversation with Mark about why Season 2 of ''Seance Dog'' is taking so much time is absolutely stuffed with this, covering the LimitedAnimation present in the ''Invincible'' show itself.

As Mark attempts to salvage his personal life, a new villain arrives, presenting Invincible with his greatest challenge yet. Donald grapples with his past.

** When Allen crosses paths with a Viltrumite ship, he is immediately attacked by Anissa. To his surprise, he feels little pain for her punches. To Anissa's surprise, Allen punches her hard enough to make her ''bleed'', meaning Thaedus' gambit paid off.

** When Allen crosses paths with a Viltrumite ship, he is immediately attacked by Anissa. To his surprise, he feels little pain. To Anissa's surprise, Allen punches her hard enough to make her ''bleed'', meaning Thaedus' gambit paid off.

!!This episode gave examples of...

** Cecil is morally dubious man who is willing to throw anyone under the bus for his own agenda, which may not always have everyone else's best interest in mind.
** Shrinking recently injured herself while trying to expand inside someone else's body, which Bulletproof refers to as "fucked up".

* WoundedGazelleGambit: Anissa seemingly knocks out Allen and brings him back to the ship so her people can examine him. Allen is shown smiling along the way.

* HonorBeforeReason: Cecil orders Mark to at least ''say'' to Anissa that he'll follow through with the takeover of Earth, if only to buy some time. Mark refuses and attempts to fight the Viltrumite woman but doesn't stand a chance.

* WhamShot: When Allen crosses paths with a Viltrumite ship, he is immediately attacked by Anissa. To his surprise, he feels little pain. To Anissa's surprise, Allen punches her hard enough to make her ''bleed'', meaning Thaedus' gambit paid off.

* WhamShot: When Allen crosses paths with a Viltrumite ship, he is immediately attacked by Anissa. To his surprise, he feels little pain. To Anissa's surprise, Allen punches his hard enough to make her ''bleed'', meaning Thaedus' gambit paid off.
* WoundedGazelleGambit: Anissa seemingly knocks out Allen and brings him back to the ship so her people can examine him. Allen is shown smiling along the way.

* LeaningOnTheFourthWall: Filip Schaff's entire conversation with Mark about why Season 2 of ''Seance Dog'' is taking so much time is absolutely stuffed with this, covering the LimitedAnimation present in the ''Invincible'' show itself.