Invasion Earth 1998: Maybe It's better if nobody out there knows we're here.

[Spectre Of The Fun]

I just saw this again for the first time in about 20 years. I saw the uncut UK version this time instead of the American Sci Fi Channel version. Not a huge difference that I could see just some adult language which was used in small doses and made it more realistic and believable. I like the UK cast and American Fred Ward.

I don't usually like really dark TV or movies but I have to say I did like this both times I have seen it. It is a good idea that not every alien civilization that could be out there is one we might want to know we are here. Also anybody capable of getting here would have a technological/military edge over us.

I thought it was interesting the way twice in 50 years the highest authorities had a hard time accepting the evidence of alien life coming here and how dangerous that could be. I found the ending less bleak and more open ended this time around. Granted it strongly suggests we've met our match but the fact the aliens intended a slower invasion at first and attempted to make us more docile first could be evidence that they feared we could resist better than others they had conquered in the past. Maybe humans found some way to win after the final credits. Maybe.

Anyone else enjoy Invasion Earth or enjoy speculation that not everyone out in space we are trying to say hi to is as friendly as Spock, Alf (unless you're a cat) or ET.

 

[N-121973]

I just saw this again for the first time in about 20 years. I saw the uncut UK version this time instead of the American Sci Fi Channel version. Not a huge difference that I could see just some adult language which was used in small doses and made it more realistic and believable. I like the UK cast and American Fred Ward.

I don't usually like really dark TV or movies but I have to say I did like this both times I have seen it. It is a good idea that not every alien civilization that could be out there is one we might want to know we are here. Also anybody capable of getting here would have a technological/military edge over us.

I thought it was interesting the way twice in 50 years the highest authorities had a hard time accepting the evidence of alien life coming here and how dangerous that could be. I found the ending less bleak and more open ended this time around. Granted it strongly suggests we've met our match but the fact the aliens intended a slower invasion at first and attempted to make us more docile first could be evidence that they feared we could resist better than others they had conquered in the past. Maybe humans found some way to win after the final credits. Maybe.

Anyone else enjoy Invasion Earth or enjoy speculation that not everyone out in space we are trying to say hi to is as friendly as Spock, Alf (unless you're a cat) or ET.

I remember this show as well. I saw it first time around on the BBC and I've been patiently waiting for it to come out on DVD/Blu-Ray. I know it was released on VHS. As I remember the premise the people making it talked about how it differed from many others in that we're not the ones the aliens are after, we're just in the way and the war is between two different alien factions. I suppose Earth is Organia to their Federation & Klingons. I didn't like the ending either, I much prefer happy endings, but I'd still watch it again.

 

[diankra]

At the time I was working on SFX, and the boss had read the scripts. Watching the first episode, he said "What have they done? It was funny, and scary, and it's neither!!!"

 

[N-121973]

At the time I was working on SFX, and the boss had read the scripts. Watching the first episode, he said "What have they done? It was funny, and scary, and it's neither!!!"

Is that SFX the magazine or SFX as in special effects for the series?

 

[diankra]

The magazine.

 

[diankra]

I remember this show as well. I saw it first time around on the BBC and I've been patiently waiting for it to come out on DVD/Blu-Ray. I know it was released on VHS. As I remember the premise the people making it talked about how it differed from many others in that we're not the ones the aliens are after, we're just in the way and the war is between two different alien factions. I suppose Earth is Organia to their Federation & Klingons. I didn't like the ending either, I much prefer happy endings, but I'd still watch it again.

It was during a period when people making UK science fiction seemed to go out of their way to insist that "It's not science fiction, and definitely not like Doctor Who."
How much they really believed that is debateable, but then liking Who was a career-killing no-no.
Some series worked, others didn't (interestingly the ones that were most determined to disavow any precedent tended to be the ones to fail).
Now Jed Mercurio says in interviews that he wants to write a sci-fi series. Forgetting Invasion Earth (which, to be fair, seems to have been messed up by the producers and directors, leading Mercurio to want more control on Bodies, Line of Duty and Bodyguard).