LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) – The new fall season offers three series that put the entire Earth in peril from the Great Unknown. Of these, the most contained and the most relatable is Shaun Cassidy’s “Invasion”.

The premiere offers a truckload of unanswered questions but suggests that the threat is a long time in the making and, as in “Invasion of the Body Snatchers,” involves aliens accomplishing their nefarious task by commandeering unwitting humans.

Unfortunately, the story is set in motion by a powerful hurricane that rakes the area around the Everglades. Unfortunately because, given recent events, it’s hard to dissociate the depiction of any hurricane from the real tragedy of Katrina.

Nonetheless, hurricanes are a part of the region’s normal weather, just like tornadoes in the Midwest and nor’easters in New England. In the case of “Invasion,” the hurricane is accompanied by colored lights that fall into the swamp.

Rather than play out the story on a global scale, Cassidy confines it largely to two blended families in a small town on the edge of the Everglades. At the center is Russell Varon (Eddie Cibrian), a park ranger and biologist, and his ex, Dr. Mariel Underlay (Kari Matchett). Russell remarried and his new wife, Larkin Groves (Lisa Sheridan), is a local TV news reporter. Mariel also remarried, this time to Tom Underlay (William Fichtner), the local sheriff. Russell and Variel share custody of their two children, Jesse (Evan Peters) and Rose (Ariel Gade), and Tom has a daughter from his previous marriage, Kira (Alexis Dziena). Living with Russ and Larkin is Larkin’s brother, Dave Groves (Tyler Labine), a believer in conspiracies who, as it turns out, can not be easily dismissed. Thankfully, the pilot does a good job of sorting all of this out clearly and quickly.

The very title suggests sci-fi, and there’s no denying the connection to that genre. Even so, what gives this serious heft and its own unique feel is the family drama woven throughout the premiere. That, and a group of particularly talented and skilled cast members who, under director Thomas Schlamme, take their performances to the highest levels. Each and every time, they find the right nuance and the right facial expression. In the end, it’s the little things that make the whole fantastic notion of an alien invasion compelling and credible.

There is a danger in the series, and we’re not talking about the mysterious underwater orange light that turns people into skeletons, or, even more difficult, continuing to pay for the kind of special effects seen in the pilot. The premiere, even with its well-drawn characters, raises countless questions but provides virtually no answers. That’s fine for the opener but, at some point soon, the series needs to take on more shape and direction or run the danger of becoming a mecca for a cult following of Internet chatters.

Competitively, “Invasion” goes head-to-head with two very respectable procedurals, “Law & Order” and “CSI: NY.” That gives it an opportunity to snare viewers looking for a different genre.

Cast:

Sheriff Tom Underlay: William Fichtner
Russell Varon: Eddie Cibrian
Larkin Groves: Lisa Sheridan
Dr. Mariel Underway: Kari Matchett
Dave Groves: Tyler Labine
Jesse Varon: Evan Peters
Rose Varon: Ariel Gade
Kira Underlay: Alexis Dziena.

Executive producers: Shaun Cassidy, Thomas Schlamme; Producer: Robert D. Simon; Director: Thomas Schlamme; Teleplay: Shaun Cassidy; Director of photography: Jeffrey Jur; Production designer: Mayling Cheng; Editor: Rob Seidenglanz; Music: Jon Ehrlich, Jason Derlatka; Set decorator: Donald Krafft; Casting: Meg Lieberman, Jennifer Eusten.

[Invasion airs its first episode September 21st on ABC, 10PM EST]

Source: Yahoo Entertainment News, Written by: Barry Garron