I’ve watched Invasion since it first touched down on Apple TV+ in 2021, and my feelings throughout both seasons so far have been the same: this show has squandered so much potential.
The sprawling nature of the storylines meant characters rarely had enough time to develop, leaving the series feeling more like an empty shell than a meaningful character drama. With expendable characters, shifting personalities, and story arcs that went nowhere, Invasion has been consistently subpar.
So, going into Invasion Season 3 Episode 1, I was prepared for the worst. Somehow, against all odds, the series has finally won me over.
The first two seasons were heavy on build-up with minimal payoff. That’s why I worried the reset and two-year time jump would make everything else feel like a prologue to the “real” story the creatives always wanted to tell. But surprisingly, the premiere is the most confident and purposeful Invasion has felt since its inception.
Putting Trevante and Jamila front and center wasn’t on my bingo card, but there’s a lot of potential in pairing them. Both carry scars from the initial alien invasion that upended the world, and their shared history gives their alliance a strong foundation.
Of course, Caspar’s death is the real shocker here. Invasion Season 2 ended with Caspar and Trevante on the cusp of discovering the mothership’s true motivations—and maybe even saving humanity. Instead, the series takes a hard left by killing him off.
Invasion Season 3 Presents Big Changes
It’s a shame because Billy Barratt was criminally underused last season. Caspar spent most of it in a coma in one world while serving as a vague source of inspiration for Mitsuki in another. Losing him stings, but narratively, it creates a strong reason to tether Jamila and Trevante together as they navigate this next chapter.
Meanwhile, Earth’s return to “normal” is fascinating. Yes, there are still aliens out there, but the world has settled into a fragile peace. Instead of preparing for the worst, people are relishing the return of a life they thought was gone forever. That sense of calm makes the inevitable disruption hit harder.
Enter Trevante, returning to Earth and being hailed as a hero. Alongside Caspar, he’s credited with destroying the mothership. They’re modern-day legends, symbols of survival, and people look to them as proof that humanity can overcome the impossible.
But the twist comes quickly: Trevante goes from being Earth’s most celebrated man to its most wanted fugitive in a single episode. That’s whiplash even by TV standards, and it raises important questions about how much people really trust him.
If his DNA was altered during his time away, could he pose a threat to the very people he fought to save?
Shamier Anderson shines in this material. Trevante has been inconsistently written across the first two seasons, but here, Anderson breathes warmth and vulnerability into him. You can tell he’s relishing the chance to explore the depths of this character finally.
Trevante doesn’t even seem fully aware of his own importance, but you can see the hesitation in his eyes—the quiet fear that maybe he isn’t the same man anymore.
Then there’s Jamila. Losing Caspar gives India Brown some of the best material of her career so far. The teenagers of Invasion have been mainly underutilized, but Jamila’s grief, resilience, and determination in Invasion Season 3 Episode 1 prove she’s crucial to the story.
Despite wanting to move forward, Jamila can’t shake the haunting question: what if Caspar is still alive out there somewhere? That lingering doubt drives her decisions, and it’s a smart way to keep Caspar’s presence felt even in his absence.
Could Caspar Still Be Alive?
Her dynamic with Trevante also feels fresh. They both lost someone in Caspar—Jamila lost the boy she loved, and Trevante lost the partner who fought by his side. That shared pain bonds them, but their personalities couldn’t be more different.
Jamila approaches the mission with youthful conviction, while Trevante carries the weariness of a soldier who’s seen too much. Watching them clash and, eventually, rely on one another could be the backbone this series has always needed.
What excites me most is that Invasion Season 3 Episode 1 finally makes it feel like the story is moving forward. Too often, the first two seasons dragged their feet, content to focus on scattered perspectives without delivering satisfying answers. The time jump resets the board.
Humanity thinks it’s safe. The aliens are regrouping. And the characters who matter most are finally given the focus they deserve. That said, the absence of Mitsuki in the premiere was surprising. She was such a crucial element of Invasion Season 2 Episode 10 that leaving her out here feels like a gamble.
Mitsuki has always been one of the sharpest characters in the show, using her intellect and intuition to get closer to the truth than anyone else. It seems inevitable that she’ll cross paths with Trevante and Jamila at some point, and when that happens, the series could really ignite.
A trio like that — brains, brawn, and heart — would make for a compelling core team. Another interesting shift in this premiere is the tone. Invasion Season 3 Episode 1 embraces a more character-driven approach. The spectacle of the aliens is still there, but it’s not the entire focus.
Instead, the story is about what survival does to people—how heroes are made, how grief reshapes identity, and how society rebuilds after collapse. That’s always been the most intriguing element of alien invasion stories, and Invasion is finally tapping into it properly.
Where is Mitsuki?
There’s also something compelling about the way the show handles normalcy. Watching the world celebrate peace, even temporarily, makes the looming threat of a second invasion feel all the more chilling.
The audience knows it’s coming, but the characters’ desire to believe the nightmare is over makes the suspense cut deeper. After two seasons of false starts, Invasion finally feels like it has a direction. The characters are sharper, the stakes are clearer, and the emotional core is stronger.
Invasion Season 3 Episode 1 proves that sometimes, a reset is exactly what a struggling series needs. It’s too early to say whether the entire season will keep up this momentum, but this premiere was a marked improvement in almost every respect.
For the first time since 2021, I find myself excited about where Invasion is headed.
What are your thoughts on the reset and Caspar’s demise? Do you think the show is finally blossoming into something worth watching?
Hit the comments.
Watch Invasion Online
-
Invasion Season 3 Episode 1 Review: A Big Reset That Finally Pays Off
Invasion Season 3 Episode 1 resets the series, but leaves one of the best characters on the cutting room floor. Check out our review.
-
The Morning Show Season 4 Trailer Shockingly Sidesteps Trump’s Re-election
The Morning Show Season 4 trailer shockingly sidesteps Trump’s re-election. Smart choice or missed opportunity? Here’s what it means for the season ahead.
-
Smoke Finale: Jurnee Smollett and Cast on Burning Love, Fatal Betrayal, and Playing With Fire
It’s been nearly a week since the Smoke finale — and we’re letting the cast unpack burning love, fatal betrayal, and the fire that consumed them all.
TV Fanatic is searching for passionate contributors to share their voices across various article types. Think you have what it takes to be a TV Fanatic? Click here for more information and next steps.
The post Invasion Season 3 Episode 1 Review: A Big Reset That Finally Pays Off appeared first on TV Fanatic.
