Invasion (2021)
TV show · 2021 · Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Drama · English
Curator score: 3.7/10 (58.5K ratings)
Tagline: The threat has evolved.
Earth is visited by an alien species that threatens humanity's existence. Events unfold in real time through the eyes of five ordinary people across the globe as they struggle to make sense of the chaos unraveling around them.
Ratings:
- Curator score: 3.7/10
- IMDb: 6.2/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: 59%
- Metacritic: 72
- TMDB: 7.1/10
Production: Genre Films, Boat Rocker Studios, Apple Studios
Cast: Golshifteh Farahani, Shioli Kutsuna, Shamier Anderson, India Brown, Enver Gjokaj, Shane Zaza, Erika Alexander
Where to watch: Apple TV Plus
Curator Review
Verdict: A big, polished alien-invasion drama with strong atmosphere, global scope, and a patient, character-first structure. It’s more about dread, survival, and human fallout than constant spectacle, and that approach works best if you enjoy slow-burn sci-fi. The first season is the roughest, while later seasons are generally more confident and engaging.
Best for: Viewers who like slow-burn sci-fi and mood over nonstop action; Fans of ensemble survival dramas with a global perspective; People who enjoy prestige Apple TV-style production values; Viewers willing to stick with a show that improves over time
Skip if: You want fast pacing and frequent alien action; You prefer tightly plotted sci-fi with clear answers early; You get impatient with long stretches of character drama and ambiguity; You’re looking for a fully satisfying, self-contained story
Overview: Invasion aims for a grounded, human-scale take on an alien apocalypse, following ordinary people across different parts of the world as the crisis unfolds. That global structure gives the series a distinctive identity, and the production is often handsome and immersive, with a strong sense of unease and scale.
Worth noting: The tradeoff is pacing. The show is deliberately patient, sometimes to a fault, and early episodes can feel frustratingly thin on payoff. It’s less interested in big set-piece spectacle than in the emotional and psychological cost of survival, which will be a strength for some viewers and a dealbreaker for others.
Bottom line: As the series goes on, it becomes more assured about what it wants to be, and the character threads land better once the world-building settles in. If you’re in the mood for a contemplative, atmospheric sci-fi drama rather than a propulsive invasion thriller, it’s worth a look.
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Topics: sci-fi drama, alien apocalypse, slow burn, ensemble cast, global scope, prestige television, survival thriller, atmospheric, apocalyptic, character-driven
https://watchlist.tannermartz.com/apple/tv-show/invasion/127235
Invasion (2021)
TV show · 2021 · Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Drama · English
Curator score: 3.7/10 (58.5K ratings)
The threat has evolved.
Overview Earth is visited by an alien species that threatens humanity's existence. Events unfold in real time through the eyes of five ordinary people across the globe as they struggle to make sense of the chaos unraveling around them.
Ratings
Curator score: 3.7/10
IMDb: 6.2/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 59%
Metacritic: 72
TMDB: 7.1/10
Production Genre Films, Boat Rocker Studios, Apple Studios
Cast Golshifteh Farahani, Shioli Kutsuna, Shamier Anderson, India Brown, Enver Gjokaj, Shane Zaza, Erika Alexander
Where to watch Apple TV Plus
Curator Review
Verdict
A big, polished alien-invasion drama with strong atmosphere, global scope, and a patient, character-first structure. It’s more about dread, survival, and human fallout than constant spectacle, and that approach works best if you enjoy slow-burn sci-fi. The first season is the roughest, while later seasons are generally more confident and engaging.
Best for
Viewers who like slow-burn sci-fi and mood over nonstop action
Fans of ensemble survival dramas with a global perspective
People who enjoy prestige Apple TV-style production values
Viewers willing to stick with a show that improves over time
Skip if
You want fast pacing and frequent alien action
You prefer tightly plotted sci-fi with clear answers early
You get impatient with long stretches of character drama and ambiguity
You’re looking for a fully satisfying, self-contained story
Overview
Invasion aims for a grounded, human-scale take on an alien apocalypse, following ordinary people across different parts of the world as the crisis unfolds. That global structure gives the series a distinctive identity, and the production is often handsome and immersive, with a strong sense of unease and scale.
Worth noting
The tradeoff is pacing. The show is deliberately patient, sometimes to a fault, and early episodes can feel frustratingly thin on payoff. It’s less interested in big set-piece spectacle than in the emotional and psychological cost of survival, which will be a strength for some viewers and a dealbreaker for others.
Bottom line
As the series goes on, it becomes more assured about what it wants to be, and the character threads land better once the world-building settles in. If you’re in the mood for a contemplative, atmospheric sci-fi drama rather than a propulsive invasion thriller, it’s worth a look.
Recommended similar titles
2014 · Curator 0.8/10 (1.2K ratings) · Where to watch: Max
A prestige, character-driven mystery about grief, faith, and societal collapse, with the same patient emotional intensity and existential unease.
2017 · Curator 6.9/10 (548.2K ratings) · Where to watch: Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads
Dense, atmospheric sci-fi with escalating mystery, family entanglements, and a serious commitment to mood and consequence.
2014 · Curator 7.6/10 (311.3K ratings) · Where to watch: Pluto TV
A survival-driven post-apocalyptic ensemble that starts with crisis and gradually expands into bigger sci-fi mythology.
2015 · Curator 8.5/10 (193.8K ratings) · Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
A serious, expansive sci-fi drama with ensemble storytelling, political stakes, and strong world-building across multiple fronts.
2004 · Curator 9.7/10 (188.8K ratings) · Where to watch: Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Pluto TV
A benchmark for survival-focused sci-fi with moral pressure, ensemble tension, and a constant sense of existential threat.
2004 · Curator 8.8/10 (674.3K ratings) · Where to watch: Hulu, fuboTV
For viewers drawn to mystery-box storytelling, ensemble survival, and the slow accumulation of answers and emotional payoffs.
2015 · Curator 1.5/10 (908 ratings) · Where to watch: Hulu
A compact, eerie sci-fi mystery with a controlled small-town apocalypse feel and escalating revelations.
2010 · Curator 8.1/10 (1.2M ratings) · Where to watch: Netflix, AMC+, Philo, Netflix Standard with Ads, Pluto TV
A long-running survival drama centered on ordinary people adapting to catastrophe, with strong early seasons and ensemble momentum.
2008 · Curator 9.0/10 (272.3K ratings) · Where to watch: Hulu
A more procedural but emotionally grounded sci-fi series that balances strange phenomena with character relationships and escalating mythology.
2021 · Curator 7.2/10 (127.2K ratings) · Where to watch: Apple TV Plus
If you like large-scale Apple TV sci-fi with ambition, visual polish, and long-game world-building, this is a natural follow-up.
2020 · Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Drama · Curator 5.6/10 (94.4K ratings)
An eerie, high-concept sci-fi drama that leans into mystery, atmosphere, and philosophical unease.
2023 · Curator 8.5/10 (739.8K ratings) · Where to watch: Spectrum On Demand, Max
A premium post-collapse drama that pairs intimate character work with a dangerous, world-ending premise.
Topics
sci-fi drama, alien apocalypse, slow burn, ensemble cast, global scope, prestige television, survival thriller, atmospheric, apocalyptic, character-driven
Open Invasion (2021) on Curator TV