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Before, people used to complain that Netflix cancels shows too quickly. Now, Apple TV Plus is showing that it’s much better at taking care of its shows and fans. A good example is the sci-fi show Invasion. Even though many people didn’t love it, Apple is bringing it back for a third season. The new season will start on Friday, August 22, and episodes will come out every week.
To confirm the news, Apple shared three teaser pictures. A full trailer will probably come out soon. While Apple TV Plus usually makes shows that get great reviews, Invasion hasn’t been one of the most loved ones. Its first season only got 48% on review sites, and the second season got 67%. So overall, it averages just 57%, and the audience ratings are even lower, around 50%. Many viewers and critics say the show is too slow, although they agree it’s getting more exciting as the story moves forward.
How is Apple TV better than Netflix?
If Invasion had been on Netflix instead of Apple, it probably would’ve been cancelled after the first season. That’s because Netflix cancels shows quickly, even ones people enjoy, if they don’t become big hits right away. In 2025 alone, Netflix has cancelled newer shows like Pulse, Territory, and The Residence, as well as older ones like The Recruit, Six Nations: Full Contact, and Tour de France: Unchained.
But Apple TV Plus is different. It gives shows time to grow and improve. The third season of Invasion will continue the storylines from the first two seasons, and it might not even be the last. Many TV shows don’t become amazing until their third or fourth season, but Netflix often doesn’t give them that chance. Apple does.
Other shows on Apple TV Plus, like Sugar, Criminal Record, and Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, are also being renewed, even though they aren’t huge hits outside of Apple’s subscriber base. This gives writers and creators more confidence to tell bigger and better stories without worrying their show will be cut short.
For example, Foundation season 3 (coming July 11) is exciting because the creators were given time to plan a big story over many seasons. Shows like Bad Monkey are returning, too, even if their story seemed finished. The Studio also just got a second season approved, which fans were hoping for.
Honestly, it’s hard to think of an Apple TV+ show I’ve liked that hasn’t been given another season. Even shows I wasn’t sure about are being renewed, so I’ll give them another try.
It’s not just Netflix that cancels too much; Amazon’s Prime Video recently cancelled The Wheel of Time early, and Disney Plus got rid of Shardlake and Extraordinary, even though people liked them. (Marvel and Star Wars shows are different; they usually end naturally.)
Overall, it seems like most streaming services don’t support long-running shows anymore, which is sad for fans who enjoy deeper stories. But if you want to watch shows that have a good chance of continuing, Apple TV Plus might be the best option out there.