It took half of a season, however we’re lastly right here: the aliens have proven themselves in Invasion. The Apple TV Plus collection received off to a gradual begin when it debuted in October. The first handful of episodes have been tense character drama, specializing in a couple of characters unfold throughout the globe, every of whom was coping with some private points along with the titular assault on the planet. That was all properly and good, however the sci-fi components have been so scant that you would blink and miss them. No one even stated the phrase “alien” till episode 5. But now that we’re midway by way of the season, that’s modified. The newest episode lastly exhibits the creepy off-world invaders, and it has given the present the aim it wants — together with some scares.

If you haven’t watched the present but, Invasion might be finest described as This is Us mashed up with War of the Worlds. It takes a giant thought — aliens are invading seemingly each a part of the world — however explores it by way of a collection of small, intimate tales. There’s a mom studying about an untrue partner, a US soldier on his personal in Afghanistan, and a bus filled with English teenagers that crashes in the midst of nowhere, amongst others. Each of those characters shouldn’t be solely coping with their very own shit but in addition the early phases of the invasion. No one even is aware of what’s happening. Amidst energy outages, mysterious objects crashing from area, and the occasional synchronized nosebleed, there’s a variety of misplaced blame on “the Russians” or unspecified terrorists.

Viewers, after all, have identified all alongside that it’s aliens. It’s proper there within the title of the present. But the hints for the precise characters residing by way of the invasion have been sparse, sporadic, and complicated. Now issues have gotten extra clear. In episode 5, we received a tease of simply how unusual these invaders is likely to be when a health care provider named Aneesha (performed by Golshifteh Farahani, whose distraught efficiency stays a spotlight of the present) notices a spiky little blob whereas stitching up a affected person. It’s gross and dangerous-looking. It additionally appears alive.

It seems that was only a style. In episode six, after a quick detour that started off as a hunt for meals and ended up as a short-term residency at a discipline hospital, Aneesha returns to the home her household has been staying in, solely to search out it empty and boarded-up like one thing from a zombie film. Except it’s not empty; one thing is lurking round. You see and listen to it in short, terrifying flashes. The complete home will begin to shake unexpectedly. Giant, spider-like legs scurry within the background. At one level, you’ll be able to see the complete creature however as a tiny reflection in a mirror.

Image: Apple

Like all the pieces else in Invasion, the build-up is gradual and methodical. But it really works: it’s nearly like a horror film, one which takes its time earlier than exhibiting the monster in its full, terrifying glory. And the reveal right here is fantastic, as you watch a tortuous sequence the place the creature terrorizes the household as they try to make an escape. Seeing the alien doesn’t take away from its thriller or menace in any respect. In reality, it simply raises extra questions on how these spindly black blobs managed to coordinate a planet-wide assault and what precisely it’s they need.

What I’m saying is, the slow-burn reveal was price it. Not solely are the aliens sudden and scary, however their arrival additionally makes nearly each character’s arc extra fascinating. Before, as participating as most of the private tales have been, it felt rather a lot like a bunch of individuals floundering round throughout the finish of the world. Now there’s some objective. That’s very true with Mitsuki Yamato (Shioli Kutsuna), an obsessed Japanese area technician who seems to be the one one near determining what’s happening with the invaders. More than simply shifting the plot ahead, although, the blobby bugs from area have launched a tangible risk. It’s not just a few bizarre stuff happening — it’s a bunch of killer spiders sneaking round each metropolis on the planet for unknown causes.

I’m glad I caught it out to see the aliens. But they do introduce a brand new downside for Invasion as a result of now the present has to do it yet again. The first 5 episodes have been a gradual build-up that finally paid off, however we’re simply over midway by way of the story at this level, so there’s lots to go. The reveal labored, however the subsequent check can be seeing if the present can join all of its many tales into one thing satisfying.