Read this review to see if the Invasion episode “The Ones We Leave Behind” is worth watching.
About Invasion
- Season 3, Episode 1: “The Ones We Leave Behind”
- Directed by Alik Sakharov
- Written by Simon Kinberg
- Synopsis: Mysterious alien signals force Mitsuki out of hiding. Nikhil is charged with a task that tests his loyalty.
- Airdate: August 22, 2025
- Starring: Golshifteh Farahani, Shioli Kutsuna, Shamier Anderson, India Brown, Enver Gjokaj, Shane Zaza, Erika Alexander, Billy Barratt, David Sullivan, Terry Chen, Henry Samiri, and Aaron Pearl
If you want to avoid spoilers for this episode, skip to the overall section at the end.
Warning: Spoilers for Invasion Season 3 Episode 1 “The Ones We Leave Behind”
Recap Invasion (2025): S3E01 – “The Ones We Leave Behind”
In Invasion season 3, Trevante Cole (Shamier Anderson) and Caspar Morrow (Billy Barratt) are hailed as heroes after the alien mothership crash-lands on Earth. There’s a flashback as they confirm that his vital signs have ended. Jamila sits by Caspar as he convulses in a London lab.
Cut to two years later, they are honored as heroes in the former United States, and President Zhou addresses the nation in honor of the upcoming M-Day, emphasizing the need for human unity in a new world order.
While the President is giving his speech, a suburban family watches the news about the invasion. A child plays with an action figure of Trevante and Casper. Steven, the father, is proud of humans’ stubbornness as the “dominant species.” However, his dog (named after Neil Armstrong) disappears in the woods. As he follows the dog’s whines, an alien stabs him in the back.
At Portal Site 11 in the Atlantic Ocean, tremors start. Jensen orders soldiers to surround the portal and shoot on sight. But instead of aliens, they find Cole floating in the water. He’s taken to a secure facility and confirmed to be alive, but Caspar is still missing.
Jamila Huston (India Brown) returns to Former England, painting again, and is thriving. They even talk about the soccer game (football in England). However, a bleak painting of Caspar at the gallery causes her to spiral. She’s even more shocked when she sees the news that Travante is alive.
Meanwhile, Trev wakes up at WDC headquarters in a medical bed. He talks to a surveillance camera and a mirror, receiving food from a voice. The voice questions if Trevante is real or an alien who learned his memories. He’s told that both Caspar and Trevante died two years ago when the mothership crashed.
The President calls WDC demanding to know how the news leaked out about Trevante’s return. Jack Hollander, the voice, doesn’t know about the leak but is skeptical that he’s who he says he is. Zhou insists he needs to face the world.
We don’t know what happened on the Mothership, but the Chief warrant officer feels like something is missing. Jack Hollander (Eric Lange) enters with General Bryant (Aaron Pearl) and asks him more questions. Trev is worried, but they insist it’s been dormant for two years. He insists there was something about the walls, and the aliens are coming back.
General Bryant, who promises Trevante help to remember more. Then he shows him a video of his funeral, which was watched by “more people than anything in the history of our species.” He asks him to present himself on TV.
Trevante’s first public statement is scheduled for the WDC headquarters in the Americas. Her boyfriend Jahan suggests Jamila try and get tickets and find “peace,” but she refuses. She takes out a notebook and remembers Trevante’s drawing and EEG readings from his death. They enter the venue, where diplomats mill about. Jack questions Trevante’s decision to make a public statement, highlighting his role as a survivor rather than a hero.
Jamila retrieves Casper’s drawings and EEG readings from his death, recalling their kiss and the doctors’ attempts to revive him. Later, the two enter a venue with crowds and a statue of the two heroes.
Trevante stands alone, and Jack highlights his role as a survivor rather than a hero. President Zhao introduces Trevante and awards him a medal of honor. Trevante struggles with Caspar’s words to him, “You’re a soldier…”Jamila completes it from the audience, “… help us.”
The two hug, and Jamila demands answers. But Trevante collapses after she hands him the EEG read-out. He screams and has flashbacks to his time on the mothership. Trevante finds General Bryant and says there’s a new type of alien, and he heard the same sound as his unit’s disappearance in Afghanistan. The general believes Trevante is suffering from PTSD and promises medical help. Trevante says, “The sound that I heard, it means ‘attack’.”
Jamila and Trevante meet, and they encounter a group of soldiers who are trying to convince Jamila to leave and return to London with her boyfriend. As they drive away, Trevante asks Jamila for information about the aliens. As they drive away, they notice unusual bird formations. Jack, at the facility, is shocked to learn that Trevante has left and orders all routes out of the city shut down.
Overall: Watch Invasion (2025): S3E01 – “The Ones We Leave Behind”
Invasion has returned, but there’s no clear information on whether Trevante is an alien or if he’s escaped their clutches. Caspar remains missing, raising questions about humanity’s current situation. Authorities are set to track down Jamila and Trevante, so they’re on the run. This is a character-driven show with lengthy, dialogue-heavy scenes. So it’s not the ideal show for fans who prefer fast-paced, action-packed programming.
The story’s cliché dialogue and plot conveniences can distract in tense moments, while the ease of escape and escape from captivity is reminiscent of a children’s game. This first episode essentially shows that the show’s writing has never been its strongest asset. Hopefully, the upcoming episodes will be somewhat better. But it works as a slow-burn show. So I’m giving this episode 3.5 out of 5 stars
All episodes of Invasion are available to stream on Apple TV+. New episodes of Invasion drop every Friday.
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