INVASION is a new Apple TV+ series in the Sci-Fi, Horror, and Thriller genres. You’ll follow people all over the world as a global alien invasion is underway. Of course, we [the viewers] know that it’s an alien invasion but to the characters in the series, it’s not so obvious.
But Invasion is really let down, though, is in the writing. It doesn’t take long to realise that Kinberg and Weil are going for the slow-burn approach. The problem is, they’re being too patient. The show establishes that the world is being invaded by aliens, and then focuses on character conflicts and tropes that we’ve seen before in hundreds of other series. The real-life issues that are plaguing the ensemble fail to resonate against the backdrop of the worldwide chaos. Invasion spends too much time establishing characters and backstories, and putting pieces into position for future episodes.
In each of the opening trio of episodes, it takes about 45 minutes for something dynamic and exciting to occur. Yet again Verbruggen oversees these action scenes well. Especially in the finale of the second episode, which culminates in our first real look at the alien ships that have attacked Earth.
Thankfully for Invasion, the sublime special effects and the ingenious design of the space foe’s craft combine to make sure that the episode concludes on a high. So much so, that you expect the third episode to be the one where the show really explodes into life. Unfortunately, that’s not the case. Instead it follows the same path as its predecessors, merely plodding along with teasers that spectacle and revelations are around the corner, while failing to be exciting.
After three hour-long episodes, Invasion should have its viewers firmly on the edge of their seats, from which they should be fervently speculating about what the aliens want and what’s going to happen to the characters. But the show spends so much time not answering those questions that ultimately, it ends up feeling dull.
Watch Official Trailer of Invasion
Watch Season 1 of Invasion on Apple TV Plus!
Simon Kinberg (several X-Men movies, The Twilight Zone) and David Weil (Hunters) are the creators behind Invasion. Directors of the season 1 episodes include Amanda Marsalis (Westworld), Jamie Payne (The Alienist), and Jakob Verbruggen (The Fall, Black Mirror).
The official genres for this new series are sci-fi, fantasy, and drama, but there are plenty of moments that belong to the horror and thriller genres. In other words, this isn’t a “cutesy” sci-fi series. Then again, a series about alien invasion and human survival shouldn’t be.
We’ve watched the first three episodes (which is what everyone can watch on premiere day) for this review. However, we will definitely be watching the rest of this series. Season 1 has a total of 10 episodes and the season 1 finale will be out on December 10, 2021.
Invasion premieres on Apple TV+ with the first three episodes on October 22, 2021, followed by new episodes weekly, every Friday.
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