FX's latest series, Alien: Earth, opens with a scene that will evoke nostalgia among fans of the iconic science fiction horror film franchise. The show introduces us to a crew of dysfunctional, blue-collar workers who awaken from extended hibernation aboard a massive spaceship. Set in the year 2120, this timeline is two years prior to the events of Ridley Scott's classic 1979 film, Alien, and approximately 60 years before the timeline depicted in James Cameron's 1986 sequel, Aliens.
The crew of the USCSS Maginot is employed by Weyland-Yutani, the notorious corporation that has been a significant player in the earlier films. Showrunner Noah Hawley, known for his work on FX's adaptation of Fargo, has crafted a series that pays homage to the best elements of the original two films, with a particular focus on Alien. The setting where the Maginot crew assembles bears a striking resemblance to the dining hall from the first film, where the alien xenomorph famously burst from John Hurt's chest. The well-worn, futuristic design of the spaceship in Alien: Earth aligns perfectly with the '70s vision of the future showcased in Scott's original masterpiece.
The Maginot crew has been on a daunting 65-year mission for Weyland-Yutani, one of five corporations exerting control over Earth, tasked with capturing a variety of terrifying alien species from the depths of space. However, their journey takes a disastrous turn when their ship malfunctions, leading to a crash in an area controlled by a rival corporation known as Prodigy. As the ship tumbles to Earth, the captured aliens escape their confines, and chaos ensues.
In a world where corporations are racing to provide life-extending technologies, Alien: Earth introduces cyborgs—humans with artificial enhancements—alongside synths, completely artificial beings reminiscent of Ian Holm's character Ash from the original Alien. Prodigy is run by the enigmatic Boy Kavalier, portrayed by Samuel Blenkin, a young trillionaire who embodies a mix of a barefoot Mark Zuckerberg and Dr. Frankenstein. His company has developed groundbreaking technology that allows for the creation of hybrids, merging human consciousness with superior synthetic bodies. This innovation starts with sickly children being placed into adult bodies, resulting in a group of physically enhanced hybrids retaining the minds of inexperienced youths. These hybrids do not age and, theoretically, cannot die, setting the stage for intriguing storylines.
One of the core themes of the Alien franchise revolves around humanity's hubris and ambition, often leading to its own downfall by attempting to control the forces of nature. This resonates with contemporary discussions surrounding artificial intelligence. Hawley skillfully intertwines these themes as the Maginot crew crashes in Prodigy's territory, prompting hybrid children to be dispatched to contain the escaped creatures. This collision of natural aliens and human-engineered beings creates a volatile and gripping narrative.
Leading the hybrid children is a synthetic character named Kirsh, portrayed with unsettling precision by Timothy Olyphant. In the Alien franchise, artificial beings often exhibit a disturbing disdain for their human creators, and Olyphant's portrayal is no exception. He offers a chilling perspective on humanity: "You used to be food... You built tools and used them to conquer nature." His character embodies the arrogance that has plagued humanity, making Kirsh a fascinating and complex figure in this unfolding drama.
Overall, Alien: Earth emerges as one of the standout TV shows of the year. Drawing from the intense suspense and tension that captivated audiences in the original Alien films, Hawley successfully evokes the same feelings across eight thrilling episodes. As characters, along with viewers, delve deeper into the nature of the aliens and their deadly methods of extermination, the series revisits classic themes: a modern society tainted by corporate greed, the dichotomy of technological advancements serving humanity versus replacing it, and the resilience of individuals when faced with existential threats.
As the Alien franchise encompasses a vast array of storytelling possibilities, fans are left pondering intriguing questions. Why have hybrids never appeared in previous Alien films? And why did characters in earlier films seem oblivious to the xenomorphs, given Hawley's portrayal of their prior existence on Earth? The science fiction enthusiast in me hopes that these queries will be explored in subsequent seasons of Alien: Earth, which masterfully blends a fresh narrative with the franchise's rich history while leaving ample room for future explorations.
