Abhiroop Das
Created by Simon Kinberg and David Wei, Apple TV+’s ‘Invasion’ centers around humanity’s response to an alien invasion, both in how the world opposes it and how it affects the intricacies of several relationships. A number of characters from all over the world become the vessels in this explorative journey, with characters like Trevante Cole, Aneesha Malik, and Caspar Morrow taking the main stage. However, the show also delves into the lives of ordinary people, who are equally affected by the crisis but often do not get the spotlight. With the confrontation with the alien mothership having catapulted the world to a new era, the show gives a peek into the life of a regular family, which is completed by their pet dog, Armstrong. SPOILERS AHEAD.
Armstrong Likely Dies at the Hands of Aliens
Armstrong is introduced in the opening scene as the pet Labrador dog of Steven and his family. From the beginning, the dog has a playful streak, going against his owner’s commands to eat food straight off the table. This playfulness takes a foreboding form when Armstrong suddenly exits the house. Steven’s son is the first person to notice the pet’s absence, and the family believes he has simply gone out of the open door to their lawn. However, when Steven heads out to check for his dog, he hears loud noises of barking. Paying little heed, he ventures deeper into the plants looking for Armstrong and only turns serious when the barks are replaced by a whimper. By the time the voices go completely silent, he discovers what appears to be a hunter-killer alien. In that moment, another alien ambushes him from behind, gutting the man to death.
While Steven’s death is explicit, Armstrong’s fate is left a little ambiguous. However, the visual and sonic cues of the entire scene strongly point to the fact that the dog also fell victim to the aliens’ attack and was killed. It is likely that Armstrong quickly noticed the odd presence in the lawn and went out on his own to inspect it. Realizing that his barking would draw human attention, the aliens might have waited for someone to come rescue the dog before making quick work of both of them. Furthermore, when Steven follows the sounds, the hunter-killer he sets its eyes on is stationary, and appears to be punching on something. Although this is never confirmed, the horrifying possibility remains that the entity already had Armstrong in its grasp by the time the owner came.
Armstrong’s Fate Signals the Incoming Threat of Another Alien Invasion
Although Armstrong has a very brief appearance, his character shines out as a loyal and courageous pet that became an unfortunate victim. Based on Toby’s reaction to the dog’s absence, it is probable that the boy shares a deep bond with his pet, and this is only amplified by Armstrong’s eagerness to protect his home. Additionally, Steven’s decision to venture out in the dark also speaks to how much he cares for his pet, and their deaths are bound to break the family’s heart. Furthermore, given the government’s interest in covering up the cases of hunter-killer aliens making their move, the case could just be swept under the rug, with the family potentially never finding out what truly happened to Steven and Astronaut. This paints the whole event in a sad and uncomfortable light, leading the way for the larger plot to unfold.
From a narrative perspective, Armstrong functions on two levels. First, he sets the tone for the rest of the series, making it clear that while the public buys into the idea of the world finally being rid of alien activity, they cannot be farther from the truth. In reality, the aliens are not returning to their mothership, but silently gathering their strength for a new wave of invasion, one precisely meant to exploit a sense of peace. Secondly, the pet’s disappearance and unfortunate fate also cast a shadow on the protagonist, Trevante’s future trajectory. There are some parallels between the dog’s name, potentially taken from the real-life astronaut Neil Armstrong, and Trevante, who is now celebrated as a soldier who went on a mission dealing with extraterrestrials. As such, the alien attack reiterates the idea that the world is still very much in danger.
