TVSquad

Invasion aired for one season from 2005-2006. Check out Jonathan Toomey's great reviewcaps here.

Along with Surface, Invasion was one of my favorite new shows that season, with each episode getting better and better. By the series finale, I was hooked. I'm still miffed that ABC didn't give it more time to flesh out the story and characters.

Incorporating a sci-fi-alien mystery, a government conspiracy, and plenty of family drama, Invasion had a built-in audience because it aired directly after another sci-fi mystery, Lost. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough to keep the series on the air.

(S02E16) Things are finally coming into place on Ugly Betty. Wili officially declared war on the Meades, Betty dealt with serious baby drama, and Hilda got back into the dating game (almost). If this keeps up, the show will be back to its old self--Wili scheming, Betty working with Daniel against her, and an end to the Suarez family mourning period. Sounds good to me!

This is Spoilers Anonymous, a weekly column here at TV Squad where we'll supply you with the dirt on some of the more popular shows on the air. We'll never put spoilers up here on the main page in order to help the reformed stay unspoiled. If you have anything to add to the group, feel free to step up and let yourself be heard, either with our tips form or by emailing us at tvsquad at gmail dot com or call and leave a message at (775) 640-8479 - your anonymity is guaranteed, if you wish to remain as such.

This week we have: 30 Rock, Desperate Housewives, Greek, Grey's Anatomy, Heroes, How I Met Your Mother , Numb3rs, Smallville and Ugly Betty. (SPOILERS FOLLOW!)

(S01E06) No, red vests aren't the newest fashion trend; Jeremy actually became a valet on this week's Dirty Sexy Money. While Jeremy was learning the complexities of parking cars, the rest of the Darlings were dealing with some serious drama. Dutch's death is officially a murder, and two of the most likely suspects, Tripp Darling and Simon Elder, faced off in an epic poker game.

In my latest New TV on DVD post the other night, some readers were wondering when the NBC show Third Watch was going to be released on DVD. Well, the home entertainment gods (or the folks at Warner Brothers) must have heard your prayers, because the first season set is coming on February 5!

The set will be six DVDs total, and wil include all 22 episodes from the first season, features, unaired scenes, and a gag reel.

Here's an interesting bit of news from Kristin over at E Online: producers of Bones will solve the mystery from the short-lived show Vanished on the show this fall.

Now, that's undoubtedly fantastic news for fans of Vanished (both of you), and it's intriguing that the network and the people behind Bones would actually want to take the time and effort to solve a mystery from a show most people have forgotten. But it's very cool, something you don't see on TV that often. I'm sure the episode will be more Bones-centric than Vanished-centric, but it's a great idea.

Murder, She Wrote did this once. They solved a mystery from an old film noir movie from the 40s (Strange Bargain), and even got several members of the cast back together for it.

The last time we left Vanished (well, actually, the last time you left it, since I didn't watch it), star Gale Harold had been killed off after the actor had been fired from the show (according to USA Today). The show will return next week, in the network-is-going-to-cancel-it-anyway slot of Fridays at 9pm. The new star is Eddie Cibrian.

FOX asked the show's executive producer Josh Berman to wrap up the storyline in 13 episodes, the same thing that NBC asked the makers of Kidnapped to do (that show has been shoved over to Saturday nights). There's no such like for fans of CBS' Smith, which was simply canceled. (Actually, I thought Vanished was simply canceled too, but I guess it has come back to life, if temporarily.)

I wonder when the networks will start toying with the idea of giving shorter seasons to a show and giving viewers the confidence of investing in a show, especially one with an ongoing, season long mystery?

This week, the low-rated Fox drama Vanished made a surprise move by killing off its lead character, Det. Kelton (played by Gale Harold). It was only seven episodes into its first season. Why would they do that? Was it because ratings were so low? Or, because of reports that Harold was reportedly a bit of a prima donna on set? The producer, Josh Berman, says no and no.

In an interview with TV Guide's Ausiello, Berman says it was their way of "thinking outside the box", a directive from Fox when they started the show. He said he and the writers realized that Kelton was getting closer than they planned to solving the mystery of the missing Sara Collins, so it was time for him to die. Berman also says that Harold was pumped about his character's death and even suggested the scene where his estranged wife gives back his wedding ring as a way to wrap up that subplot. The new lead detective on the show is Det. Danny Lucas, played by Eddie Cibrian. Berman also said a lot of the mystery about Collins' disappearance will be wrapped up by the 13th episode, as the show has not yet received an order for a full season. If it does, Berman has plans for new plot lines.

Now it's time for the Vanished fans to chime in: Was killing off Det. Kelton a good or a bad move?

(S01E22) I really don't think ABC understands what they're giving up here. Granted this wasn't the best episode of the season. But as far as season finales go, this is right up there. Things you wanted addressed were taken care of and the cliffhanger... man, I never saw that coming. The only gripe I had was the middle. There was a lot of filler and it took some patience to get to the good stuff. I'm glad I waited.

We picked up right where last week left off with Szura's gang pushing people into the water to do a dance with the orange aliens. Tom and Russell put up a fight though. They bust out their guns and take out a ton of the hybrids. Just in time too because Dave and Louis finally show up with Colonel Lopez and the Air Force. Szura, being the smart guy that he is, grabs Mariel (four of the pregnant ladies too) and drives off with them. Game on.

(S01E21) Holy crap, this show is incredible. This episode had the potential to be the season finale the way it ended... I can't believe what the hybrids are up to. But we still get one more episode next week and I can't wait. With Alias, Lost, and Invasion, ABC has one hell of a Wednesday night line-up right now. Too bad we're only getting it for little while longer.

Last week we left Tom and Russell as they headed back into Homestead to try and stop Szura's plan... whatever it was. Now we know. Using the military uniforms and guns that Tom supplied Szura with, the hybrids are posing as National Guard. They're driving around, picking people up, and dropping them off at this (deserted?) military base. As the hurricane keeps knocking trees down and blocking off roads, Mariel, Larkin, and the kids end up with nowhere to go. Until one of the hybrid patrols drives up. They hop in the back of the truck but by the time Mariel realizes what's going on (I guess they all have some kind of "hybrid sense"), it's too late.

August is turning out to be a big month for TV on DVD releases. We've already reported that both Surface and The Weird Al Show will be released that month, and now comes word of two current shows that will have their first seasons released.

The first season of Invasion is coming on August 22, with 50 minutes of extras, while the first season of Prison Break is coming even earlier, on August 8, with an unbelievable amount of extras.

(S01E20) Consistency ... it's just always good. There's a reason that Surface only had a 15 episode first season, and there's a reason why Threshold got the axe. Invasion was, and is, the best of three new sci-fi shows this year, and after last night's episode, it's one season finale I'm truly looking forward to.

If you had asked me earlier in the season, would we see Rusell and Tom joining forces by the end of the season, I would have never called it. But they are, and after they send Larkin, Mariel, and the kids out of town, the two of them venture back into the storm to take on Szura and his minions. This is too good.

(S01E19) Ehh... not so much. This episode was kind of like Oscar Mayer Bologna. They tell you it's not all "filler," but after you look it? Yeah, it's "filler." All this episode really achieved was the creation of a bond between Tom and Russell and I don't think we'll see that bond break for the rest of the season. It's gotten to the point where I'm starting to believe Tom. He was genuinely surprised when Russell told him that he saw pictures of Szura with the military. I really think he means it when he tells Russell that he wants to stop Szura and whatever's planned.

That's all you really needed to know about this episode. It concluded with those two teaming up but it was stretched out because Jesse decided that he just can't take living with "all these bastard hybrids" anymore.

(S01E18) I kind of like it when good shows go on hiatus for three or four weeks because when they come back, it makes it that much better. This show is too good, and anyone who says otherwise is crazy. It's got drama, engaging characters, and a great storyline. So much happened in this episode - it was incredible.

At this point, the whole town is on edge. No one knows who's "one of them" and everyone is running around like a bat out of hell. Larkin even runs over a guy who escaped from the local military complex. But hey... wait a tick. Why does the military have people in captivity? I thought the military didn't know anything? Wrong.

Yes, Invasion is still on. Of all the new Sci Fi shows that premiered on the big three networks this year, it's the only one that is still hanging on. I saw the first two episodes and quicky gave up because of the long stares from characters who may or may not be aliens. Oh, and I couldn't handle the premise that a hurricane was bearing down on the town and no one was evacuating (school was still in session, for crying out loud!). Anyway, I may have given up too soon because Jonathan really seems to dig the series.

On Sunday Saturday, April 15th, ABC Family will air ten back-to-back episodes of Invasion.