The Invaders - The First Season

After 40 years, some TV that you thought was good just doesn't measure up. These episodes are decent enough, but the non-special effects date the material. Many gaps in reasoning are there also, and require the asking of questions. How does the main character support himself with these cross-country treks? How do the others involved contact him? Although I will probably buy the second and final season, it will be just for nostalgia and mind-diverting trivia.

I was a huge fan of this series during its too-short run. I was about seven, so I was a little worried that it would not be as much fun as I remembered.

But it is!

It's pretty basic science fiction, with inexpensive sets and what might be considered laughable effects. Sort of The Fugitive, with aliens. (Same producer did both.) But there's lots of familiar faces, fine acting, and some real issues that still prompt discussion today. There's real chills and suspense, and you'll never look at people's pinkies the same way again.

Another thing I didn't expect was the way my husband and I marveled at the way people lived in 1966. He makes calls from a pay phone! The cars are huge! The suits are baggy! They listen to records!

If you were a fan back when, ya gotta have. If you weren't, it's still a charming example of a thoughtful science fiction series at a time when this was very rare. Perhaps it paved the way for Star Trek.

I don't know if it's my DVD player, but the "prologue" before the main titles is "skipped" on one episode on each of the discs, so I have to fast reverse to pick up that portion of the show. Otherwise, a great set. Roy Thinnes does look a bit odd these days.

higher quality color and format than the old copy that i bought a couple years ago. looking forward to season two.

Don't fool yourself: this is an extremely dated TV show. From the cartoonish special effects, stand-alone episodes, no character development, through the almost unbearable never-ending pounding sountrack, it's dated in every aspect.

But it's good. Acting is very satisfactory, Roy Thinnes as the leading actor is solid, plot line (although pretty simple and sometimes altogether obvious) are enjoying. Transfer for DVD coul be better, but both sound and image are highly satisfactory. For the price they ask for it, it's a fair purchase.

There's only one unforgivable flaw, in my opinion: the lack of English subtitles for the hearing-impaired. I know there's a budget and a profit assingned to each product, but I think it's almost an offense to not inlude (at least) English subtitles. Other old shows (or even older, like RAT PATROL) have them. Shame on the producers of this DVD set for this flaw.