Invasion (2005 TV series)

Cast and crew responses

Cast reflections

Several cast members, including Eddie Cibrian, Ariel Gade, Kari Matchett, Evan Peters, Lisa Sheridan, Nathan Baesal, Tyler Labine and Elisabeth Moss, have spoken positively about their experiences working on Invasion. Cibrian recalled having fun with co-stars Tyler Labine and Evan Peters, while Peters, reflecting on his early career, admitted he was still learning and appreciated working alongside William Fichtner. Matchett enjoyed playing Mariel and praised the creative team, particularly Shaun Cassidy and Thomas Schlamme. Gade described the experience as unique, noting that the lengthy shooting schedule allowed the cast to grow close. Moss, who played Christina, particularly enjoyed portraying a villain, describing the experience as “really fun”. She also recalled being surprised by how many fans approached her after the show’s cancellation to express their disappointment.

William Fichtner’s experience

William Fichtner, who played Sheriff Tom Underlay, has been more critical of his experience on Invasion. He felt that the character had greater potential than was explored in the series, particularly regarding Underlay’s mysterious and morally ambiguous nature. Fichtner was disappointed with the direction the writers took, especially the decision to portray Underlay as a more conventional villain. He later acknowledged that he was relieved when the series was cancelled, describing its ending as “a deliverance”. Although he recognized the show’s potential, he did not consider it among the highlights of his career and was pleased to move on to other projects, including Prison Break.

In a May 2025 interview on the Prison Breaking with Sarah & Paul podcast, Fichtner elaborated on his dissatisfaction with the show’s creative direction: "It was not what was shared with me about how it was going to go, and I was upfront about that after a few episodes of the first season. I was very clear about saying, ‘Wait, hold on a second, where are you going with this now? Because you told me this, and now you’re going in this direction. It’s your show, but I also want to remind you of the deep conversations we had about this.’ It did not end up being a pleasant thing. I remember saying to my agent at the time that the producers of the show and the creators of the show are very lucky because I’m not a phone-in guy, and I’ll always put my best foot forward, and that was a tough one because I wanted to go."

Tyler Labine’s comments

Tyler Labine has repeatedly expressed disappointment over the cancellation of Invasion. He questioned ABC’s decision to end the series despite its critical reception and dedicated fanbase, attributing the cancellation to “purely politics”. Reflecting on the decision, he stated, “I still to this day don’t know why that show got canceled”. Labine believed the series had the potential to become a major success, comparing its planned twists and storylines to those of Lost. He also appreciated the opportunity to take on a more dramatic role and praised creator Shaun Cassidy as “a mad genius”.

Shaun Cassidy’s comments

Shaun Cassidy has also discussed the cancellation, suggesting that ABC had unrealistic expectations for a series airing immediately after Lost. He stated: “I think there were unrealistic expectations that any show following Lost should do better. But no show after ours ever DID do better, so I suspect some of the execs may have regretted taking our show off the air.” When asked which of his prematurely cancelled series had disappointed him the most, Cassidy chose Invasion, describing its cancellation as “the most surprising”. In 2020, writer Carlos Coto similarly pointed to the show’s scheduling as a factor in its cancellation. He explained: “They put us on after Lost. It made sense on paper, but audiences weren’t up for two mythology-rich shows at once. Lost was awesome, but exhausting – in a good way (and so were we)”.

Retrospective reception

“One of the challenges when I was starting to write TV series, like American Gothic and Invasion, they did not want anything serialized on network. They wanted closed-ended [episodes], because they couldn't sell [serialized shows] internationally, or they had some argument why they didn't repeat well or something. It was so frustrating, because I liked shows that felt like novels, and I still do. And now that is au courant, which is great.“ - Shaun Cassidy

After the series' cancellation and over the years, Invasion has gained growing appreciation, with its complex themes and deep characters now considered major strengths. Initially criticized for its bad timing, airing right after Lost, it struggled to capture and retain an audience. As noted by Entertainment Weekly, “Invasion was rather high-concept” and “lost in the buzz surrounding the second season of the equally high-concept Lost,” which overshadowed it. Jason Hughes from HuffPost TV explains that, despite its impressive 17 million viewer debut, Invasion couldn’t recover when ratings slipped, partly due to its hurricane-themed premise, which felt too soon after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. Screen Rant further emphasized that the real-life aftermath of Katrina forced ABC to halt promotion for the show, despite its critical acclaim and loyal fanbase. However, the show’s unique premise—a small Florida town overtaken by alien creatures following a storm—captured the imagination of critics. MovieWeb praised the series as a "wonderful homage" to Invasion of the Body Snatchers, noting the mindbending alien takeover plot and William Fichtner’s standout performance. The show's cinematography, which beautifully captured Florida's destruction, was also widely praised. David Churchill, in Critic At Large, calls Invasion a "completely brilliant show," pointing out its rich exploration of societal fears, such as “the dangerous post-9/11 world where terror can come from abroad, above or your next-door neighbor.” The show’s deep connection to family was also noted in the 2009 article 2000s: 15 Sci-Fi Series That Deserved A Longer Run, which praised Invasion for being “at its heart, a show about family” and lamented the mysteries Cassidy had planned to expand on in future seasons, which were left unresolved due to its untimely cancellation. As Brad LaCour noted in Collider’s retrospective on shows turning 20, Invasion holds a special place in viewers' memories as "one of the best sci-fi shows that was canceled far too soon." He praised the series for its gothic horror influence and unique atmosphere, citing the talented ensemble cast, including William Fichtner, Evan Peters, and Tyler Labine, which made the show stand out. Over time, the series' ability to combine family drama with science fiction has become more apparent, with WhatCulture observing that it created a "mystery" that kept viewers engaged, peeling back layers of complexity episode by episode. The show’s cinematography, praised by Collider for capturing both the "beauty and destruction" of Florida, added to its atmospheric depth. Critics also highlighted the psychological tension, with A.V. Club noting how Invasion gradually shifted from a simple alien-invasion story to a "slow burn" that asked, “Who’s real and who isn’t?”

Additionally, D.S. Watson’s article, “Does Anyone Remember…Invasion (2005)? The Best Sci-Fi Show No One Watched,” underscores the show’s lasting impact. Watson argues that Invasion is a "hidden gem" and praises it for its unique combination of psychological horror and sci-fi, with a gripping narrative, strong performances (especially from William Fichtner), and stunning production values. He notes that it was ahead of its time, and despite being unfairly canceled, it remains a standout in the sci-fi genre, deserving more recognition for its cinematic quality and depth.

For Shaun Cassidy, Invasion was a chance to explore themes that were deeply personal. In a 2024 interview, he explained, "It's always about family, usually some hidden version of my own or my own experiences." He went on to describe how Invasion was marketed as an alien invasion story, but for him, it was about "the invasion of a new father in my children's house" and the challenges of co-parenting after divorce. Cassidy noted that, much like in his earlier series American Gothic, he was exploring dysfunctional family dynamics and the emotional complexities of blended families in the midst of extraordinary circumstances.

In 2026, TVLine included Invasion among forgotten 2000s science-fiction series worth revisiting, praising its distinctive alien mythology and twist-filled storytelling, and describing the series as “paranoid, eerie, and full of slow-burn horror.”

Ratings troubles

According to Nielsen ratings, the series premiere garnered 17 million viewers airing after Lost. By the November 30, 2005 episode, the show was only garnering 10 million viewers.

For the episodes shown on January 11, 18, and 25 the Nielsen Ratings only reached 9.7 million, 9 million and 9.3 million, respectively. It had lost nearly half of the first episode's audience, far behind CBS's CSI: NY, which had 13.7 million, 15.5 million and 14.9 million, for the same period. The show was then put on hiatus for the second time, during which time it was replaced with The Evidence.

Cancellation

In January 2006, ABC Entertainment president Stephen McPherson defended Invasion despite its declining ratings, suggesting that its scheduling after Lost may have affected its audience. He called it “a great television show” and said the network needed to know when to be patient with struggling series, adding, “We believe in Invasion.”

In June, TV Guide reported that ABC executive vice president Jeff Bader had been looking for a place for the series in the network’s fall schedule, as it had improved creatively during its first season.

Following the cancellation, McPherson acknowledged that Invasion had attracted a small but loyal audience. “We just could not get a large audience off of it. We really believed in it. It came down to the wire. It was a very tough call for us.” he said at the July Television Critics Association press tour.