EXPLORING THE THRILLING PLOT OF ALIEN: EARTH: Set two years prior to the notorious demise of the Nostromo at the hands of a xenomorph, the gripping narrative of the space vessel Maginot unfolds as it crash-lands on Earth, carrying with it an incredibly perilous cargo that could change everything.
AN IN-DEPTH REVIEW OF NOAH HAWLEY’S ALIEN: EARTH: Noah Hawley’s Alien: Earth stands out as perhaps the most ambitious television series of the year. With exceptional production values and a budget that would put many other shows to shame, FX is making a bold move to transform the Alien franchise into a premium, flagship series—aiming for the same success that Game of Thrones and The Last of Us achieved for HBO. But what elements contribute to the effectiveness of Alien as a television series?
Of course, Hawley is renowned for turning Fargo into a signature success for the network, although it’s important to note that he’s not without his missteps—his previous endeavor into the realm of sci-fi with Legion received a mixed bag of responses (some viewers adored it, while others were less enthusiastic—I personally couldn’t make it past the pilot episode).
Alien: Earth reaps the rewards of Hawley’s evident passion for Ridley Scott’s original film. The pilot episode begins with the awakening of the soon-to-be doomed crew aboard the Maginot, featuring scenes that pay homage to Alien. The production design closely mirrors the original film, capturing that authentic working-class essence—depicting a group of space truckers diligently performing their duties. However, instead of being merely a tribute, the grim fate of the Maginot is suggested through some intense, gory flash-forwards. Without revealing too much, I can say that the series wastes no time in introducing the xenomorphs, who once again are portrayed by actors in suits—bringing them back to their original menacing appearance and feel.
That being said, the show isn’t an endless barrage of alien mayhem. The initial episode keeps the gore to a minimum, prioritizing the establishment of an intriguing narrative landscape for Hawley to explore. So, if you desire to remain entirely unspoiled, it’s best to stop reading now.
Still here? Awesome.
The storyline revolves around Sydney Chandler’s character, Wendy, a terminally ill child whose consciousness has been transferred into an adult synthetic body as a means of preserving her life. It turns out she is the pioneer of a colony of children in similar adult synthetic bodies, all being groomed for perilous tasks. This includes, perhaps, investigating a certain crashed ship that may harbor a xenomorph—or so the suspense builds.
Chandler is a captivating lead. Wendy embodies the essence of a child trapped in a woman’s body, which imparts a unique and somewhat uncanny quality to her character. Timothy Olyphant portrays her mentor and guardian, Kirsch, who is a fully constructed synthetic being, contrasting sharply with Wendy’s unusual situation.
This review focuses solely on the pilot episode (which also premiered at Comic-Con), making it challenging to determine whether Alien: Earth can sustain its narrative across a full series—at this stage, it is primarily setup. So far, I find Chandler to be very promising, while Olyphant offers an intriguing, enigmatic portrayal as the synthetic character who may or may not become an ally. Babou Ceesay also stars as Morrow, the cyborg captain and sole survivor of the Maginot. I’m somewhat hesitant about Hawley introducing cyborgs, as they have not traditionally been part of Alien lore, but Ceesay’s performance is undeniably strong.
From a technical standpoint, the series is of exceptional quality. It goes to great lengths to replicate the visual aesthetic of Scott’s 1979 classic. The score by Jeff Russo is equally impressive, blending the chilling tones reminiscent of Jerry Goldsmith with the more action-oriented vibe of James Horner from Aliens.
In summary, Alien: Earth has launched with a promising premise—but it remains to be seen if it can maintain its momentum. While Hawley is a remarkable showrunner, this project is a significant risk. Currently, it seems to lack the emotional core that made Fargo so engaging, as it concentrates more on world-building and expansive themes. It may not be as immediately captivating as the premiere episode of The Last of Us, but I am certainly intrigued to see where the story leads from here.
