Mark Turner *This review is for the release of the complete series on disc*I've said before and I'm likely to say again that one of the joys of DVDs has been the release of classic television programs on disc. Many of the shows that a vast number of us grew up watching and have fond memories of have already made their way to disc and more are coming. Some of these were shows that have never been shown in syndication or if they were it was long ago. Now the chance to enjoy those series once more is a blast for the baby boomer generation. Case in point THE INVADERS.Let me start by saying that growing up in the 60s and 70s everyone knew what a "Quinn Martin Production" was. Martin was a television producer whose shows always had a similar look and feel to. Each one opened by announcing it was a Quinn Martin production, showed the title of the show as well as the stars, then announced "this week's guest stars" and followed that with that nights chapter (aka episode) title. Once back from the commercial break the segments of the shows were labeled with act 1 through the epilogue. THE FUGITIVE, THE F.B.I., BARNABY JONES, CANNON and THE STREETS OF SAN FRANCISCO were just some of the shows done this way. THE INVADERS began with a pilot episode that found architect David Vincent (Roy Thinnes) on his way home for a meeting and taking a short cut that turns out not work out. Tired and near sleep he pulls up at an abandoned gas station and takes a nap only to be awakened later by a pulsing light shining into his car. Waking, he looks up to witness a flying saucer landing in the open field next door. Of course his first impulse is to let the authorities know.But the odds of the police believing that someone has actually seen a flying saucer are low. Contacting his partner Alan Landers (James Daly) in David tells him the same. The police finally agree to go to the location only to find the name of the gas station has changed and a young couple are camping there saying they saw nothing the previous night. It is here that David discovers the first tell-tale sign that distinguishes the aliens from humans, their pinky fingers tipped out at an awkward angle. The aliens try to kill David and then realizing if another attempt on his life were made it would only increase their odds of being found out they try to just discredit him. Each week found David trying to convince someone else while investigating the alien invaders on his own. Moving forward he finds more ways to identify the aliens from humans as well as the fact there are different types of aliens, some without the pinky problem. As the series progresses more people become aware, the aliens become involved with sabotage and what could have been an easy take over becomes more complicated.Various well-known stars at the time showed up in the series. William Windom, Michael Rennie, J.D. Cannon, R.G. Armstrong, Suzanne Pleshette, Roddy McDowell, Edward Asner, Ed Begley, Dabney Coleman, Peter Graves and Gene Hackman are just a few. These actors who were well known at the time played both aliens and humans trying to stop them.The series obviously was a look at the Communist scare that had run rampant in the 50s and remained and issue with the Cold War in full swing at the time. Everyone was certain that the new neighbor might be a spy sent to infiltrate the country at the time. Well not most people but if you were looking for a way to create a series what better plot idea to use? Having just come out of the blacklist ear film makers and TV shows were using this to break down the barriers set up during the previous years. Odd how this has worked out now with a series like THE AMERICANS about the same thing has become popular.CBS has released both seasons of the series in the past but are now releasing it in a single boxed complete series edition. All 43 episodes are included in this 12 disc set. The extras here are limited but include select episode introductions by Roy Thinnes, two audio commentaries, an interview with Thinnes, the extended pilot episode and series promos. CBS has been going back and releasing complete series editions like this for many of the older series and as a fan I've been glad to see it happen. It's a nice way to be able to revisit those old series or perhaps to binge watch them. At over 37 hours it might take a few days to completely watch this one but fans of the show will be more than happy to do so. So if you are one of those fans, if you enjoyed series like THE X-FILES, if you enjoy science fiction or if you enjoy classic TV series than by all means you'll want to add this one to your collection.

jc-osms Classic "They walk amongst us" alien invader series from the Acts 1 - 4 plus Epilogue Irwin Allen school of 60's fantasy Sci-fi series. Like his earlier, long running success "The Fugitive" we again have a man on the run, trying to uncover the truth in every town he passes through only it's not his wife's murderer he's after but a band of shape-shifting planetary interlopers whose only give aways to their true origins are that they have gnarled fingers and tend to vaporise at point of death.Roy Thinnes is the fugitive David Vincent who gives up a good job and takes on the incredulity and mocking disbelief of friends, colleagues and particularly members of the authorities, as he tries to pick up proof of his discovery.Thinnes is very good as the series's mainstay making temporary alliances and dalliances along the way. I'm watching it again from the start, can't remember how the show ends and whether Thinnes ever saves the world, but just like all those years ago, I'm hooked on his journey.Lead on MacDuff.

ebiros2 Made by Q M Productions that specialized in crime dramas, this series was a departure from that formula.Theme of the story was science fiction , but the format was very much like "The Fugitive" that was an enormous success for Q M Production.The story was rather morose in the beginning lacking in flare and trying to cover for that with good guest star's appearances, but it quickly got traction, and the stories became lot more interesting. Towards the end of the first season a plot was forming that David Vincent was starting to find allies in people who are in professions that can help him. There was more "science" angle to the story, and the show can be called a borderline science fiction in its content as this season ended.The show succeeded more as a drama in the style of "The Fugitive" where David Vincent was a fugitive from the invaders, and sometimes from the police, more than science fiction. In this Q M Production's pat formula for making drama got in the way, but it also succeeded by not letting the quality of the production go down. Ultimately, the show lacked focus, as it was made by people who knows nothing about the UFO or science fiction, compared to true science fiction like the Star Trek of the same era.True to Q M Production's formula, there were suits everywhere. People dressed immaculately in a suit filled the scene. But this also took away from the science fiction atmosphere as it was too solidly grounded to earth. One thing I can say is that they filled this show with great guest stars that would have been perfectly comfortable in the movies as well as the television show.It was a good show, but not a good science fiction series. It was a crime drama with criminals replaced with aliens. At the end I wished that the story turned like the ending of "The invasion of the body snatchers", but that was too much to ask for to the script writers of the drama.

oz Jo This show aired when i was about 10 years old. I've always remembered it, and was glad to see it available on DVD. I recall having the model kit of the UFO and building it. I remember going through my mothers button box, and finding some large black plastic faceted buttons, if you held them and moved your hand a bit they would catch the light and sparkle. They reminded me of the alien discs they used to kill people. I gave one to my friend, and we would walk the schoolyard during recess, go up to younger kids, and with a blank expression pull out the discs and hold them in front of us, the kids would take off running. They apparently watched the show as well haha. Really cool that they got Roy Thinnes involved with the DVD release. Good to see him after all these years.