Invasion season 2 review: An intriguing alien invasion story crippled by inconsistencies

3/5

Story: After Aneesha (Golshifteh Farahani) and her children come across a faction known as the Movement – they claim to be dedicated to providing shelter to those in need. Elsewhere, Trevante (Shamier Anderson) decides to follow the clues in Caspar’s (Billy Barratt) books and begins an investigation of his own. Caspar on the other hand is in a French medical facility, being studied by doctors and scientists, while Jamila (India Brown) recruits the help of her friends to travel from Britain to France to find Caspar. Deep in the Amazon jungle, Mitsuki (Shioli Kutsuna) is recruited by a tech billionaire and a group of scientists in order to find a way to establish communication with the alien invaders.

Review: The first season of Invasion was probably harshly scrutinised by both audiences and critics. While it certainly does not fit into the category of ‘groundbreaking television’, it offered a unique blend of grounded sci-fi and relatable stories. The second season is vastly superior in terms of scale and ambition, and it delivers yet another compelling narrative. The setting and the world-building are smartly crafted, and there is great attention to detail in the scenes and frames. However, season 2 is plagued by the same inconsistencies as its predecessor. The pacing in particular is at odds with the overarching narrative that is spread across three continents. The slow-burner aesthetic does add a level of authenticity to the series, but it restricts it from fleshing out some of the character arcs and interconnected storylines.

The most exciting storyline from season one was Trevante Cole’s journey from a war-torn Afghanistan in the midst of the alien invasion to back home in the US. His detour in England as he eventually ends up aiding a boy named Caspar to defeat the aliens, makes for some of the more compelling moments of season one. However, Trevante is relegated to being nothing more than just a filler character for most of the season, until the final episodes of the season. Trevante and Rose Callaway’s (Nedra Marie Taylor) investigation into the missing persons in the small town of Idabel is, unfortunately, less intriguing despite its initial promise.

The story involving Jamila, Monty (Paddy Holland), Penny (Ruby Siddle), and the rest of the children on their journey from England to France, although admirable, is poorly written. It lacks conviction simply because of the fact that unsupervised children were able to cross the border into France during an alien invasion, almost unscathed. It is also quite mind-boggling that Jamila was able to convince her friends to embark on this dangerous mission, by claiming that she saw visions of Caspar. It is understandable why Monty and his little sister Penny joined them, but then the entire arc rests on a flimsy logic. And when they do in fact finally meet Caspar, the narrative spirals into cliches and recycled tropes.

Aneesha and the children's arc remains the most consistent of the series. It also introduces the series to a faction called the Movement, led by their selfless leader Clark Evans (Enver Gjokaj) – a character who is almost too good to be true. However, this segment of the story is relatively more fleshed out. While Aneesha’s son Luke (Azhy Robertson) and his psychic connection to the aliens are never truly fully explained, it hints at how it is all connected to the overarching story. The constant inner conflict within the group that arises after Aneesha and her children join the faction is similar to how most post-apocalyptic stories depict society. However, even this particular subplot is not without a few plot holes.

The best and most improved story of season 2 is Mitsuki’s attempts to establish communication with the aliens. Unlike the first season, Mitsuki is offered a more complex arc, and possibly the most crucial. The performances of both Shioli Kutsuna as Mitsuki and Naian González Norvind as Dr Maya Castillo elevate this storyline. However, the depiction of the eccentric tech billionaire Nikhil Kapoor (Shane Zaza) is probably one of the most stereotypical ever written for film or television. It almost takes away the grounded realism of the narrative, even though it is a story about an alien invasion. There is a romantic arc teased between Maya and Mitsuki, but it never materialises. Considering the season ended on a cliffhanger with questions raised about where Caspar’s true loyalties lie, the unfinished storylines may be explored in a third season if Apple does renew it for another season.

Verdict: Invasion season 2 is a mixed bag, and much like the first season it is marred by several inconsistencies. However, it offers great production value, intrigue, and a fresh spin to an alien invasion storyline. The Apple TV+ original series is brimming with potential, but unlike some of the other offerings from the platform such as Ted Lasso, Silo, and Severance, it is let down by questionable character arcs and pacing.