Abhiroop Das
The third season of Apple TV+’s ‘Invasion’ continues the story of Trevante, Aneesha, and Mitsuki as humanity’s primary line of defense against an alien invasion. While their connection to extraterrestrial lifeforms is undeniable, the show’s near-supernatural nature also invites some suspicion. The leader of the World Defense Coalition, Jack Hollander, steps in to fill that role, becoming at once a figure of control, paranoia, and eventually malice. While his decisions are often ruthless, they remain grounded in reality, representing an ideological framework that is more fearful of aliens than inquisitive about them. However, his line of thought is not without resistance, and more often than not, he has to face his opponents head-on. With a second wave of aliens on the way, the tensions reach an all-time high, and Hollander leaves no stone unturned in his aim of eradicating the problems from the ground up, even when that means making sacrifices along the way. SPOILERS AHEAD.
Jack Hollander’s Death Marks the Beginning of a Coup
In episode five of the season, titled ‘Point of No Return,’ Jack Hollander meets his end at the hands of Infinitas, the political rebel who has been creating an intelligence network of her own right under his nose. Although they initially seem to be on the cusp of joining hands, Infinitas’ true plan is revealed to have been cold-blooded murder all along. After baiting him with the prospect of tapping into the secrets of the dead zone, she gets him to lower his guard for just a moment, which is all she needs to slit his throat open, giving the WDC leader a slow, painful death. As Hollander falls to the ground, she advises him not to fight what is happening to him, as his death will contribute to the future as a valuable sacrifice. This brief sequence plants the seeds for many threads that are bound to take root in the story, with a change in leadership at the top of the list.
While Hollander estabilishes himself as a clear antagonistic figure over the course of this season, his death is not directly related to any one of his actions. Instead, Infinitas, along with her eponymous movement, follows a cause of her own, and that comes into conflict with the goals of the WDC. Through her forums, she criticizes how the government uses the banner of safety to keep tabs on the flow of information around the world, punishing anyone who dares to speak up. This is exemplified in Hollander’s dynamic with Trevante, who is labelled a traitor for wishing to understand his own reappearance. As such, with Infinitas killing the world leader, the stage is set for what is bound to be a whole new world order. Notably, this also sheds light on her plans, and while we do not have the full picture, it specifically targets the nature of the aliens themselves, instead of destroying them at the source. As such, it is also possible that the group goes on to harness the alien abilities in their pursuit.
Eric Lange’s Role as Jack Hollander Has Likely Reached its Conclusion
Throughout the season, Jack Hollander maintains a powerful presence, serving as a foil to every main character while bringing in the perspective of the world government itself. In doing so, he creates a psychological profile that can be extrapolated to the entire system of control, as his idea of protection is rooted in self-interest. Veteran actor Eric Lange taps into all of these aspects and portrays them on the screen with his own touch, making him an indispensable element of the narrative thus far. However, given that his character dies in the episode, it is unlikely for Lange to reprise his role. While there is always the potential of characters returning to the show in the form of a flashback or a vision, the narrative structure of ‘Invasion’ doesn’t frequently make use of these devices. As such, any potential chances of Lange’s return are exceedingly slim.
Although Hollander is dead, there is another scenario wherein he can find his way back into the show, and this concerns the very nature of the new aliens whom he is up against. Given that the new extraterrestrial lifeforms have an even deeper connection to humans, it is entirely within the realm of possibility that they have an organic makeup similar to that of the species they are fighting. This also explains Caspar’s uncertain fate, as well as the strange visions that Trevante is haunted by. The result is a possible superconsciousness that feeds off of human lives, and that makes Hollander prime grounds. On a more abstract level, the character’s footprints continue to be within the show in the form of the WDC, which is built around his ideals and ruthless decisions. As such, while Eric Lange’s role in the story might be over, Hollander still indirectly plays a part in moulding what is to come.
Read More: Is Caspar Dead or Alive? What Happened to Him in Invasion?
