Invincible isn’t holding back, both literally and figuratively, in its current season. Mark Grayson (Steven Yeun) is deeply embroiled in the war against the Viltrumite Empire, even facing a bloody rematch with Conquest (Jeffrey Dean Morgan). His father, Nolan (J.K. Simmons), has been forced to confront his past sins on Earth, particularly during a tense encounter with his former wife, Debbie (Sandra Oh). However, Invincible‘s latest episode, “Don’t Do Anything Rash,” dramatically shifted fans’ perceptions regarding Grand Regent Thragg (Lee Pace).
Thragg made his first appearance in the Season 4 episode “I’ll Give You The Grand Tour,” and almost immediately captivated the audience. Given that Conquest, who revels in violence, was intimidated by him, it set high expectations. Some fans felt those expectations were dashed in last week’s episode “You Look Horrible,” when Thragg quickly flew away after the battle on Talescria. However, those concerns were unfounded as Thragg truly steals the spotlight in “Don’t Do Anything Rash,” thanks to Pace’s exceptional performance.
Lee Pace Makes Thragg a Menacing, Yet Compelling Figure in ‘Invincible’
“Don’t Do Anything Rash” begins with a flashback to the early days of the Viltrumite Empire, where Thragg was just a servant to Emperor Argall (Frank Welker). However, when Thadeus (Peter Cullen) murders Argall, Thragg immediately demonstrates his danger when he commands Viltrum to “purge” itself of the weakness that led to Argall’s demise. This moment is chilling due to Pace’s performance; instead of shouting orders, he delivers most of Thragg’s dialogue in a low, almost monotone voice. This contrasts sharply with the fervor that Thragg inspires in the Viltrumites, which Pace elaborated on during an interview with Polygon.
“I wanted to start playing him like a cool customer. He’s very calm. He’s very measured in what he’s trying to do. Thragg is strategic and desperate in this story. The Viltrumites are down to a very few, and he’s tasked with either their annihilation or continuing the mission at their heart of basically moving through the galaxy and conquering it.”
Pace’s performance truly shines in a scene where Thragg and Nolan discuss among the ruins of Viltrum. Despite Nolan’s pleas to surrender, Thragg remains resolute in his mission, even encouraging Nolan to return home and assist him in rebuilding. This illustrates Pace’s skill in adding depth to zealotrous characters, as he brought similar energy to his roles as Ronan in Guardians of the Galaxy and Brother Day in Foundation. However, neither Ronan nor Brother Day could match the destruction Thragg leaves behind.
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The latter part of “Don’t Do Anything Rash” showcases Thragg finally joining the conflict between the Viltrumites and the Coalition of Planets. This is an utterly terrifying debut, as he not only brutally tears apart Oliver (Christian Convery) with a single punch but also sends Mark hurtling into space with a vicious backhand. Even Battle Beast (Michael Dorn) proves no match for Thragg, as the Grand Regent tosses him aside like refuse. One of the most shocking moments features Thragg drawing back a punch, and the force of that punch pulling Nolan into his orbit — before Nolan is promptly sent into orbit himself. Early on, Oliver scoffs that Thragg “can’t live up to the hype”; this sequence proves Oliver, and by extension fans, were completely mistaken about Thragg’s abilities.
“Don’t Do Anything Rash” concludes on a chilling note as Mark realizes that Thragg and the other Viltrumites are heading to Earth. Given that he and Nolan barely survived their previous encounter, this sets up Invincible‘s Season 4 finale to be one of the most intense yet and allows Thragg to further solidify his status as one of the series’ most iconic villains. It should also remind fans that co-creator Robert Kirkman enjoys playing the long game, which often yields significant rewards.
