REVIEW: ‘Invasion’ Season 1 is Premium Sci-Fi Thriller

It’s no surprise to anyone who’s followed my reviews, or my online social media, that I am a giant fan of Apple TV+. The way in which they’ve approached their content for the platform, and how creatively diverse the shows are has been incredibly welcoming. From Ted Lasso, to For All Mankind, The Morning Show, and especially Mythic Quest, there are plenty of contenders for your next binge. So get ready for your next obsession, as we dive into the Apple original series, Invasion Season 1.

Invasion is a sci-fi series that depicts the perspectives of five or so different groups of people as seemingly random events cause mass panic across the globe. As these incidents start to unfold, however, it’s clear that they aren’t random, and that they’re actually all connected, as a dark and ominous presence looms in space, waiting to invade. Developed by Simon Kinberg, and David Weil, and starring Sam Neill (Jim Bell Tyson), Golshifteh Farahani (Aneesha Malik), Firas Nassar (Ahmed Malik), Shioli Kutsuna (Mitsuki Yamato), Shamier Anderson (Trevante Cole), and Billy Barratt (Caspar Morrow).

This was not at all the show I was expecting based on the trailers I’d seen. In fact, I’d suspected based on what I’d seen that the show had a lot of potential complete with stunning visuals, and a lot of great action layered with a tinge of spine-chilling suspense. All in all, pretty common fare for modern sci-fi.

Invasion however is a diamond in the rough, and so much more than it is advertised to be. It’s not just layered with a tinge of spine-chilling suspense, it’s absolutely swimming in it. Debuting in the month of October, it’s a story that absolutely belongs amongst the frightful content everyone is looking for.

The true tension of the show lands due to the very clear and present consequences of a planet in chaos. Resources have been looted, planetary satellites controlling the world’s internet and communication distribution system have been crippled, and people are mysteriously going missing. Some of the characters are forced from their homes in an effort to evacuate damaged areas, while others are stranded in unfamiliar hostile territory.

Not only that, but these dangers are inflicted upon characters we grow attached to and don’t want to see harm come to. It’s here where the show really goes above and beyond because we spend the majority of our time getting to know these unrelated characters as they experience the strange happenings out in the world.

What I loved about the approach to the characters is how fresh it felt and it was so different from the normal Sci-Fi tropes. They weren’t rogue soldiers who were being called to action one last time to save the planet or fringe Scientists that were believed to be mad but had secretly been aware of aliens all along. No. These are people surviving while the world crumbles around them.

This is another element of how the show builds suspense. Most of our characters aren’t integral to solving the larger problem, but we as the audience are invited to witness the world through their eyes.

The results of this, added to the methodical pace,  and the harrowing and suggestive score culminates in a viewing experience I can only describe as edge of your seat with a white-knuckled grip. I truly loved every moment of it, as I watched with my heart in my throat.

The pace in particular was a highlight of the show. Too often sci-fi unfolds quite rapidly, quickly racing to some big reveal with flashy graphics, but Invasion holds back, and instead fills the void with the threat of the unknown. The perspective of how these huge global events would affect the everyday person, and what survival looks like creates a far more relatable experience than the lone hero to the rescue.

All of this is tied together by some phenomenal performances from Farahani, Nassar, Kutsuna, Anderson, and Barratt pushes this show into the elite viewing for Apple TV+ audiences. Each actor has some really notable moments, and they are highly engaging adding to the desire to just want to binge the story in one sitting.

Overall Invasion Season 1 creates a masterclass of sci-fi terror that’s akin to the likes of the Alien franchise. The story drags you deep into caring about the characters while tormenting you as they try to survive the dangers of an alien invasion. This show will continue to push Apple TV+ into being considered as a series contender for one of the must-have streaming platforms. You won’t want to miss this show!

The first three episodes of Invasion Season 1 will be available exclusively on Apple TV+, Friday, October 22nd, followed by new weekly episodes every following Friday.