Invasion

:

Season 1
  • Network: ABC
  • Series Premiere Date: Sep 21, 2005
User Score
8.3

Universal acclaim- based on 239 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 196 out of 239
  2. Mixed: 12 out of 239
  3. Negative: 31 out of 239
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User Reviews

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  1. Tss5078
    Aug 20, 2016
    6
    Ever since the popularity of LOST, ABC has been trying to find another strange, prime-time, sci-fi series to fill the void. One of the better ones was Invasion. This show managed to last a full season, but just like V, Flash-Forward, Life On Mars, Persons Unknown, Surface, and so many others, it didn't last. Why not you may ask? The truth is that the network keeps using these great showEver since the popularity of LOST, ABC has been trying to find another strange, prime-time, sci-fi series to fill the void. One of the better ones was Invasion. This show managed to last a full season, but just like V, Flash-Forward, Life On Mars, Persons Unknown, Surface, and so many others, it didn't last. Why not you may ask? The truth is that the network keeps using these great show ideas and either takes them off the air for months in order to air some lame reality show or in this case, they keep making it stranger and stranger until it's unwatchable. LOST was weird, that's what we loved about it, but that show was written by J.J. Abrams, not Shaun Cassidy. Some people can make weird work and some just can't!

    Invasion takes place in a small town bordering the Florida everglades, where a strange family dynamic is taking place. The Varon family has split up and the kids spend half the time with their father, Russell (Eddie Cibrian), a park ranger who is engaged to a local reporter, and their mother, Mariel, who is a Doctor and whom has remarried the town sheriff, who also has a daughter. Going back and fourth between fighting parents is hard enough, but in an area as dangerous as the everglades, it can be downright deadly. One night, a massive storm blows into town and people see strange lights in the sky and in the water. When things settle down, certain people are somehow different. Some, like Russell, are skeptical that anything happened, others like his brother-in-law to be, think the planet is under attack, but no one really knows what the truth is.

    This is a modern version of invasion of the body snatchers and a much more subtle version at that. The series starts off with a bang and is definitely binge worthy, but then it hits a brick wall. I mean it is the same thing around and around for about ten episodes and it is ridiculously frustrating. Things finally get going again, and it just becomes weird, they jump back to story lines they haven't mentioned since the pilot, they investigate things they never mentioned before, the show is really kind of all over the place and it just gets worse.

    Shows like this kill me, because it started out so good, the story was extremely promising, and best of all was the cast. William Fichtner best known for Prison Break and dozens of blockbuster films is one of my favorite actors, and he is amazing in this show, there are points in Invasion, where he keeps the whole thing together and I may have stopped watching, if I wasn't so interested in what his character was up to. Paired with Third Watch's hunky fireman, Eddie Cibrian, the pair make for perfect rivals and strange bedfellows, and oddly had terrific chemistry. Add veteran actress, Lisa Sheridan, and a sixteen year old future TV star named, Evan Peters, to the mix, and this cast was fantastic.

    The bottom line is this show should have worked, it should have lasted, but ABC wanted it to be the next LOST. Someone kept messing with the story at the last minute, until the point that even the writers were confused about what they were doing, and things just fell apart. It's a shame, the first few episodes of this show were as good as it gets, while the last dozen or so were a struggle to get through.    … Expand
  2. mavericken
    Feb 20, 2014
    10
    Years after it has been cancelled It's still hard for me to face it. The best and most exciting tv show I have ever watched. Fantastic actors and the show has a great plot.
  3. AzzaC
    Oct 28, 2008
    10
    This series is one of the best TV Progams that I have ever seen. I rank this as one of the best, next to Lost, recommended to anyone.
  4. KellyB.
    Feb 11, 2008
    10
    I know it's been of th aire for a while but I really loved this show. If it is possible can you bring it back, it doesn't matter I will still be it's number one fan! Please bring it back!
  5. BREANNAM
    Nov 10, 2007
    10
    I absolutely cannot believe ABC. This was my favorite show in the world. Now that they have cancelled it i will be finding another channel. I was always ready to watch it and NEVER missed it.. it was the best show. so thanks alot abc you screwed everything up.. please bring it back or make a movie or something.
  6. NM.
    Sep 19, 2007
    9
    Why did u cancel ABC. It was good. I liked this series a lot.
  7. KarenG.
    Aug 9, 2007
    10
    Bring it back.
  8. MikeC.
    Jun 8, 2007
    10
    Please bring this show back. even if it isn't with all the original characters. It is a great series.
  9. AbbyY.
    May 21, 2007
    10
    I love it!! Please bring it back.
  10. lynnr
    Apr 14, 2007
    10
    Bring it back. We loved it as much as Lost.
  11. MatthewC
    Feb 11, 2007
    10
    this was the only show i ever watched on abc. if you were canceling the show, why did you cancel it and end it the way you did? at least make a movie to describe how things end. i will no longer be watching abc. thanks
  12. Tiny
    Feb 11, 2007
    10
    I love the show. Bring it back!
  13. mk
    Jan 28, 2007
    10
    im soooo annoyed its not coming back!
  14. GeorgeM
    Jan 8, 2007
    10
    Best thing ABC had going.
  15. PhillipP
    Jan 1, 2007
    10
    One of TV's best shows ever, cancelled too soon.
  16. TressaL.
    Nov 23, 2006
    10
    Clearly the networks don't care what their viewers think or want. I guess they think the viewing public is a bunch of brain dead idiots who will just keep tuning in, regardless of what they put on. Well count me out......first Invasion, now LOST....totally screwed up. Byebye ABC.
  17. KIMBERLYB
    Nov 20, 2006
    10
    How could you cancel this series. It kept me hanging each episode. at least have another few episodes to answer all the questions and give it a good ending. please
  18. GeorgiaJ
    Nov 8, 2006
    10
    I am absolutely heartbroken. I have waited the entire season for this show. I finally jumped online to see if it was starting later in the season and I have been broadsided by the news it is canceled. I suppose it is just another example of people who need to be seriously re-examining their careers. Who in their right mind would cancel a show in its first season with such great reviews? I am absolutely heartbroken. I have waited the entire season for this show. I finally jumped online to see if it was starting later in the season and I have been broadsided by the news it is canceled. I suppose it is just another example of people who need to be seriously re-examining their careers. Who in their right mind would cancel a show in its first season with such great reviews? Is ABC trying to live up the old saying I heard as a child? You know.....that ABC stands for Always Broadcasting Crap....if so ...they are well on their way to returning to that status in my book.… Expand
  19. Corinne&Jimmy
    Oct 27, 2006
    10
    We couldn't wait to see the second season of this show and now it's gone just like that?????? Somebody somewhere ------- get this show back on at least to film the ending to it!
  20. BarryB
    Oct 20, 2006
    10
    Dont you just love it when ABC sticks you and breaks it off.. like ending Invasion.. I am thinking that was the ONLY reason for me to watch ABC.. now that invasion is gone it looks like I will be watching another channel seeing they have also screwed up LOST as well.. they must have their heads screwed on backwards
  21. LizW.
    Oct 19, 2006
    10
    i am still in shock that they took this show off the air and kept so many other crappy ones! i liked it so much better than lost! what can we do to bring back this show?
  22. sherryw
    Oct 18, 2006
    10
    Why cancel a show with most of the country waiting for the 2nd season?
  23. DebbieH
    Oct 18, 2006
    10
    Great show! Why can't we at least have an ending since we were left hanging last season?
  24. PatrickC
    Oct 16, 2006
    10
    They HAVE to bring Invasion back! It was a great show with a plot like nothing else I have ever seen. It doesn't make sense that they would cancel it and not at least show us the ENDING! BRING BACK INVASION!!!!
  25. FredF
    Oct 13, 2006
    3
    The music seems to be more important than the cast speaking to each other, the music over shadows the speaking parts. This seems like the bigest soup opera in the Sfi arena. On DVD there is no english caption for those hard of hearing.
  26. CarrieM
    Oct 12, 2006
    10
    Best show of the season. And as usual they sike us up for a new season with their season finale and then srew us over. Why do we waste our precious time watching shows that get cancelled. No wonder people get cable and Netflix!!
  27. SabrinaR
    Oct 11, 2006
    10
    I cannot believe they just dropped it - after waiting through the whole Summer season to find out what happens...and they couldn't do a story to end it for us - not leave us hanging!!!
  28. LisaG
    Oct 9, 2006
    10
    I've been looking forward to the season premier all summer and just found out there isn't going to be one. I am so disappointed! I watched it faithfully every week and thought it a great show with a great cast. Another show worth watching bites the dust!
  29. DarcyR.
    Oct 7, 2006
    10
    I can't for the life of me understand why such an OUTSTANDING show was cancelled. I feel as though I read a book with the last chapter torn out and will never know the ending. PLEASE bring this show back on the air somehow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's very unfair to take it away when it had so many fans who were addicted to it and miss it so much!!
  30. KimH
    Oct 7, 2006
    10
    Invasion was the BEST FUCKING SHOW! I AM SO PISSED! I was waiting for the show to come on, and just found out that its NOT COMING ON! Thanks alot ABC, im never watching anything on ur stupid network anymore, and im telling everyone else not to ethier. You suck.
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Awards & Rankings

12
#12 Best TV Season of 2005
7
#7 Most Discussed TV Season of 2005
33
#33 Most Shared TV Season of 2005

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
72

Generally favorable reviews - based on 30 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 21 out of 30
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 30
  3. Negative: 2 out of 30
  1. Baltimore Sun
    Reviewed by: David Zurawik
    50
    Borderline over-the-top moments threaten the sense of verisimilitude usually expected in prime-time drama.
    Read full review
  2. Boston Globe
    Reviewed by: Matthew Gilbert
    80
    Like ''Lost"... the mystery is provocatively open-ended and, assuming the writing continues to be good, absorbing.
    Read full review
  3. Chicago Sun-Times
    Reviewed by: Doug Elfman
    100
    It may be hard to believe that "Invasion's" premiere could be touching in the context of Katrina, and effective as a sci-fi drama. But that is the power of high-quality storytelling.
    Read full review
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