TV Review: Invasion Season Finale - "The Last Wave Goodbye"
Published May 22, 2006
Invasion is an odd bird. I have found myself distanced from the show, yet oddly compelled to continue watching it. I have yet to nail down the character's names. At the start of the year it was one of three new alien invasion-type shows debuting in the young season, along with Surface and Threshold. Of the three, I liked Threshold the best, and it turned out to be the shortest lived. I really know how to pick them — I never would have picked Invasion as the longest lasting.
This final episode of its debut season, "The Last Wave Goodbye," continues the literal invasion that had been building up all season, and began in earnest last week when a second hurricane struck. There is an armed hybrid militia that has rounded up all of the townsfolk, separating out those that have already been "changed." After the people-sifting, the men started forcing the normals out of the hanger and into the rain, and ultimately into the water where their conversion would begin.
As the people are forced out, they get their first glimpse of the storm and what it contains. There are lights falling from the sky, giving an unnatural glow to the falling rain. We know what these lights are, as we witnessed them at the start of the season, during the initial storm. The people are terrified as they are pushed along by the uniformed men with their automatic weapons.
Through the people's confusion, Tom and Russell are staging their own assault on the compound, seeking out Szura. A firefight ensues when our heroes take out a couple of Szura's men. Szura arrives in time to take a bullet from Tom. He retreats into the compound, Tom follows him inside, while Russell remains behind with Mariel.
Mariel is having problems of her own. Szura had introduced her, in last week's episode, to a roomful of pregnant women that are ready to give birth. They are all bursting with glowing alien goodness, but they need help, help that Mariel is unsure she can provide, although she suspects that there is a reason why they need so much water. Mariel and Russell help the women get to the lake, while Tom, having just killed Szura, responds to a call from Lewis about their capture.
Christopher Beaumont spends much of his time writing about entertainment when he isn't sitting in a movie theater. He is known around the office as the "Movie Guy" and is always ready to talk about his favorite form of entertainment and offer up recommendations. Interests include science fiction, horror, and metal music. His writings can be found at Draven99's Musings, as well as Film School Rejects. 
- TV Review: Invasion Season Finale - "The Last Wave Goodbye"
- Published: May 22, 2006
- Type: Review
- Section: Video
- Filed Under: Video: SF, Video: Television
- Part of a feature: TV Viewer's Diary
- Writer: Chris Beaumont
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It was hard getting into "Invasion" at first, but I resolutely stuck with the show, in spite of all the macho BS between Tom and Russell. (It took forever to learn all their names!) I thought that these last few episodes were getting a lot better in moving the story along; I especially liked the one-armed deputy and Kira. *shrugs*
I also read that it hadn't been renewed, but I hope that was just a rumor.
"Threshold" died because they never DID anything and because it was on Friday nights. I thought it was going to be a good show also. I never watched "Surface," so I can't comment there. I think that one thing that helped "Invasion" was the lead-in from "Lost"; that ABC kept it on the same night and didn't try to move it around; and that new episodes were shown almost continously all season.
Not a rumour. "Invasion's" cancellation was made official by the ABC upfronts last Wednesday.
"Threshold" was the one I never saw. I missed the pilot, and just never bothered. Actually, if I remember correctly, the pilot aired at 8-10pm, when the show was scheduled for 9-10pm, so I recorded the second half of the pilot. Networks have no idea how badly they hurt themselves with scheduling gimmicks.
Threshold, Surface, and Invasion were supposed to draw on Lost fans. None of them made it to Season Two. I'd bet that a year from now I don't remember anything about these shows, except an irritating kid with a killer iguana, and that adorable gal who played Larkin.
There are three fall shows that seem to be aiming for Lost viewers. One where a nuclear explosion affects a town, the other two involving mysterious connections between strangers. Or something.
I watched most of the first season of "Invasion" but eventually, I got bored. Nothing seemed to progress quickly enough (or at all, really) so I gave up on it. (It should perhaps be noted that I gave up on "Lost" at the same time for the same reason). I guess when I discovered that the only reason I was still watching the show was to see if Lewis the One-Armed Deputy was in this week's episode, I realised that it wasn't really the most engaging of shows. And I waited with much anticipation for the episode in which Lewis cut off his own arm... only to be very disappointed. I liked much of the episode, but Tom's ability to convince Lewis to cut his own arm off just didn't fly with me at all. Okay so Lewis is a religious man, okay so he wants to follow Tom and have absolute faith in him as a leader, but we're talking SELF-MUTILATION! And Lewis was so happy with both arms back! I just didn't believe that he would be so easily convinced to do this to himself. So after that moment I really lost touch with the show. Which is sad, because I loved Shaun Cassidy's earlier work, his series' "American Gothic" and "Cover Me" were both excellent and very enjoyable. When I heard about the above chainsaw scene, I was delighted as it sounded like Shaun was getting back to some of the weirdly creepy that he explored in "American Gothic", but like I said, it didn't work for me. I'm not too surprised "Invasion" wasn't picked up, and I won't really miss it.
ABC IS VERY BAD ABOUT AIRING SOMETHING AND TAKING IT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SEASON, WE WANT INVASION BACK. WE WOULD LIKE TO FINISH THE SHOW PLEASE!!!!!
Unbelievable that both Surface and Invasion should be cancelled. Both shows were brilliant in different ways. Invasion's scripts, character development and directing were extraordinary. Surface was one of slickest produced and best acted shows I've seen in a long time. Both were incredibly engaging.
That they should have been cancelled when the festering pile of idiocy that is Lost lumbers on and on is beyond imagining.
Dave
I hope invasion isn't cancelled for next season...i really like the show, have watched it from the begining.....They can't leave us hanging like this wondering about the outcome of Larkin!!!!
THIS IS WRONG YOU CAN'T CANCEL SUCH AN EXCELLENT SHOW LIKE INVASION IT WAS JUST GETTING INTERESTING NOW THAT LARKIN IS AN ALIEN PLEASE DON'T CANCEL INVASION BRING IT BACK.
you can sign an online petition to save Invasion
Dam good show and typical crappy ABC get rid of what potentially could of been a hot runner given the chance and decent programming.. it had all the trade marks of becomming that way. Lost has really gone down hill and surely can only survive another season before we all yawn "Is it over .. what was it all about" But alas once again odd american t.v stations cut out the good meat only seem to savour the rancid left overs.. I will never understand you.
I ADORE INVASION!! it is a FANTASTIC show with great cast, storyline and sfx. Im devastated to hear that it has been cancelled!! WHY?? whats wrong with your TV people?? why cancel such a great show!! you should have cancelled LOST instead. Why? I hear you ask, well because it is downright BORING!!! and far to slow!! it plods along and I end up giving up and going to bed, its far more interesting to sleep than to watch another minute of it!!
SAVE INVASION!!!!! IT KICKS "LOST" BUTT!
ABC: Please put Invasion back on this fall and at least finish the story. We watched it as faithfully as we watched LOST! We waited all week for these 2 shows. Please, Please don't do this to us.
I adore Invasion!A fantastic show!
It´s terrible if the show is cancelled!!!
NOOOO.....DONT DO IT, PLEASE ABC!!!
What is Lost compared with Invasion!?! Lost is really "lost"...it´s so slow.
SAVE INVASION!
At least let us see the end of story. Pleeeeaaaasssseeee.....
One Lost Fan Converted to Invasion!
I am devastated that Invasion has been cancelled! I think it is sad that Invasion has been cancelled b/c it failed to draw fans from Lost. Being a TV junkie I watched both, but was super frustrated by the dull lost story and heinous scheduling. The title "lost" is apt- those writers certainly are! As a fan, I would far prefer to watch Invasion any day of the week over lost. Luckily Tivo allowed me to watch both. How can we bring Invasion back????
Es una pena.
żIs the 22 episode of the season 1 the last of Invasion?. I'm from spain and I want to know what happens to the family after the aliens rain.
And, żaren't there an Invasion official web site?
I like "The 4400" too.
INVASION IS GOOD, AND LOST IS KIND OF LOST, BUT PRISON BREAK IS THE BEST, ALSO (24) IS ALWAYS ON THE EDGE........... YOU DESIDE...........
ESTOU MUITO TRISTE...
Invasion is very good, I don't understand why a serie like INVASION don't deserve a proper final...Many people from Portugal are very sad and disappointed...
hi i just watched all 22 episodes of invasion, it is great but this is insane not to at least end the series right, i mean at the end he has just dumped larkin in the water to be saved and that is it! this sucks does anyone know if they are going to make some more invasion episodes? [Personal contact info deleted] maybe we should all write shaun cassidy he wrote it, and someone should be willing to produce it it is great
SAVE INVASION! I cant believe the show got cancelled. The mob of angry fans protesting for another series has died down now, I feel alone.
Please please please do your best to get it back everyone!
Check out imdb and leave messages for Shaun Cassidy incase he ever checks it. Also check out save-invasion.net and read how you can help!!!!
I was completely devastated when I discovered that invasion had been cancelled. It was the best tv show I had seen for a long time. I used to look forward to watching it on a sunday night. Now I watch Lost which is a great show but it seems to be carrying on for a long time. Though Lost is a fantastic show which has you glued to the tv screen, nothing can beat invasion. That show had so much potential. There are so many boring shows out there which show series after series and yet the show which I became so attached to was suddenly cancelled leaving it unfinished. I really do hope somebody sees some sense out there and brings invasion back. PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
please bring back invasion, is awesome.
In our country (the netherlands) they are showing surface right now and I think it is a realy cool show. They are repeating Invasion and I would realy realy want to see a season 2
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I thought it was cancelled for next season. Did this change? If anyone knows how to save the show...post it.