As a devoted fan of Ridley Scott’s groundbreaking 1979 sci-fi horror film, Alien, I’ve journeyed through its subsequent sequels and prequels over the past four decades. My experience with this franchise has been extremely polarized: either I find them incredibly entertaining or nearly unwatchable. That’s why I found myself with mixed feelings about Noah Hawley’s new television series, Alien: Earth. I would describe the series as both a triumph and a setback.
Alien: Earth achieves many things effectively, but after viewing the first season’s conclusive episode, I’m ambivalent because it also stumbles in numerous ways. While there’s evident dedication to several elements of the Alien saga, many of the narrative’s most compelling threads are left unresolved. Having reflected on the events of the initial season, I’m prepared to share my thoughts. Here are five aspects of Alien: Earth Season 1 that I adored, and five that I found disappointing.
5 Things I Loved About Alien: Earth
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<div class="responsive-img image-expandable img-article-item" style="padding-bottom:56.25%" data-img-url="https://static0.polygonimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/morrow-1-1.jpg" data-img-desc=""Babou Ceesay shines as Morrow, Weyland-Yutani's steadfast cyborg."" data-modal-id="single-image-modal" data-modal-container-id="single-image-modal-container" data-img-caption=""Image: FX"">
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<img width="1650" height="928" loading="lazy" decoding="async" fetchpriority="low" alt="Morrow (Babou Ceesay) looks intensely off-screen." data-img-url="https://static0.polygonimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/morrow-1-1.jpg?q=49&fit=crop&w=825&dpr=2" src="https://static0.polygonimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/morrow-1-1.jpg?q=49&fit=crop&w=825&dpr=2"/>
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<figcaption>Babou Ceesay shines as Morrow, Weyland-Yutani's steadfast cyborg.</figcaption>
<small class="body-img-caption">Image: FX</small>
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The Casting and Acting
It can’t be overstated: The cast of Alien: Earth contributes profoundly to its appeal. Babou Ceesay, in the role of the cyborg Morrow, delivers a performance that’s a key element of the production. Timothy Olyphant portrays Kirsh, a synthetic character with a sarcastic edge, also adds to the show’s enjoyment. Samuel Blenkin impresses as Boy Kavalier, the CEO of Prodigy, achieving a portrayal that is both alluring and unsettling.
Even secondary characters such as Smee (Jonathan Ajayi) and Slightly (Adarsh Gourav) are both endearing and credible as youths confined within manufactured adult forms. Lily Newmark is fascinatingly disturbing as Nibs, a Hybrid character displaying unmistakable signs of mental deterioration. Sydney Chandler convincingly embodies a young Wendy, although certain initial remarks within the season seem to contradict the Hybrids’ capacity for emotion. Wendy and other “Lost Boys” regularly express sentiments that suggest a high degree of emotional awareness.
The Music
Whether it’s regarded as a stylistic technique, I’m fully on board. Each episode of Alien: Earth concludes with credits accompanied by music from my youth. Songs like Tool’s “Stinkfist,” Metallica’s “Wherever I May Roam,” and The Smashing Pumpkins’ “Cherub Rock” are all featured throughout Season 1. Even if I find an episode’s conclusion underwhelming, it’s difficult to resist a smile when those familiar sounds blend with the elements of my preferred sci-fi/horror series.
The musical selections are not reserved exclusively for the end credits. We get the classic “We’ll Meet Again” by The Ink Spots when Morrow looks back on his life, and Alt-J’s “Tesselate” creates a sense of anticipation before a meeting between Prodigy and Weyland-Yutani. The series’ intro benefits greatly from the reworked rendition of Cream’s “Strange Brew,” with vocals by Hawley. The alteration to the lyrics (“Killing what’s inside of you” becomes “Kill what’s inside of you”) gives an eerie vibe.
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<div class="responsive-img image-expandable img-article-item" style="padding-bottom:56.25%" data-img-url="https://static0.polygonimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/xenofx.jpg" data-img-desc=""The show consistently exhibits impressive practical effects."" data-modal-id="single-image-modal" data-modal-container-id="single-image-modal-container" data-img-caption=""Image: FX"">
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<img width="1650" height="928" loading="lazy" decoding="async" fetchpriority="low" alt="A Xenomorph's mouth is poised to strike its victim." data-img-url="https://static0.polygonimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/xenofx.jpg?q=49&fit=crop&w=825&dpr=2" src="https://static0.polygonimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/xenofx.jpg?q=49&fit=crop&w=825&dpr=2"/>
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<figcaption>The show consistently exhibits impressive practical effects.</figcaption>
<small class="body-img-caption">Image: FX</small>
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The Intro
The show’s initial sequence is notable for its simplicity and efficiency. Hawley could have presented a lengthy, overblown opening credits sequence, inundating the audience with images of Xenomorphs as the cast’s names crept across the screen. Instead, he selected something more streamlined and unforgettable. A set of three beeps mark the start as the title emerges, followed by a rapid recap of the previous episode.
Its brevity, its eeriness, and its capacity to refresh the viewer’s recollection of recent events, while simultaneously establishing the ambiance for the present episode, work quite well.
The Practical Effects
The reliance on practical effects is among the aspects of the original 1979 Alien that are most admirable. The movie’s visual integrity persists even by modern criteria, and Alien: Earth mirrors this approach, especially when presenting Xenomorphs. The production incorporates multiple Xenomorph suits, along with an animatronic Xenomorph puppet called Steve.
There are episodes where the “man-in-a-suit” image is clear, but that also occurred in the original Alien. I am far more drawn to these evident, yet commendable practical effects than to visually disappointing CGI.
New Creatures
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<img width="1650" height="1148" loading="lazy" decoding="async" fetchpriority="low" alt="The eyeball creature from alien: earth" data-img-url="https://static0.polygonimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/eyeball-alien-earth.jpg?q=49&fit=crop&w=825&dpr=2" src="https://static0.polygonimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/eyeball-alien-earth.jpg?q=49&fit=crop&w=825&dpr=2"/>
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<small class="body-img-caption">Image: FX</small>
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</div>When it comes to creatures within the Alien realm, I consider myself to be relatively traditional. I focus primarily on Xenomorphs. I initially felt some concern about Alien: Earth, as Hawley unveiled multiple novel species, from a hanging plant-like thing to deadly flies, swarms of tick-like creatures, and the “eyeball alien” known as t. ocellus, or Species 64.
Hawley deserves credit: T. ocellus is the first non-Xenomorph entity within the franchise that has captured my attention. The eyeball monster has charm and intellect and even rivals the Xenomorphs in its capacity for plotting. I would welcome future exploration of Species 64 in Season 2.
5 Things I Hated About Alien: Earth:
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<div class="responsive-img image-expandable img-article-item" style="padding-bottom:56.25%" data-img-url="https://static0.polygonimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/disappointed.jpg" data-img-desc=""Although I wanted to love <em>Alien: Earth<\/em>, aspects of the show left me feeling disappointed."" data-modal-id="single-image-modal" data-modal-container-id="single-image-modal-container" data-img-caption=""Image: FX"">
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<img width="1650" height="928" loading="lazy" decoding="async" fetchpriority="low" alt="Arthur (David Rysdahl) appears disheartened in the rainforest." data-img-url="https://static0.polygonimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/disappointed.jpg?q=49&fit=crop&w=825&dpr=2" src="https://static0.polygonimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/disappointed.jpg?q=49&fit=crop&w=825&dpr=2"/>
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<figcaption>Although I wanted to love <em>Alien: Earth</em>, aspects of the show left me feeling disappointed.</figcaption>
<small class="body-img-caption">Image: FX</small>
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Ice Age
While I understand that Fox, now owned by Disney, is the proprietor of the Ice Age franchise, integrating it into an Alien series feels strange. The animation feels out of place within Alien’s blend of retro and future elements, and Sid the sloth consistently disrupts the show’s immersion in a sci-fi setting.
While providing Wendy and her brother Joe with an enjoyable movie is acceptable, Ice Age and Alien do not complement one another. If a message is forced into the series, consistency is important.
The Pacing
Alien is historically a series of films in which the death of most of the cast is expected within 90 minutes. It would be expected that pacing would present difficulties in a TV series spanning eight hours, but the pacing of Alien: Earth suffers from issues. The abrupt episode endings often left me wondering why episodes ended at certain points.
The Xenomorph’s initial entry into the show is not at all gradual, in contrast to the building tension of the Alien films. Instead, the Maginot crew is decimated almost immediately during episode 1. In contrast, the finale exhibited the opposite problem; the tamed Xenomorph is too prevalent, and characters of importance were not threatened. While episode 1 began with significant action, episode 8 didn’t produce the level of drama expected by fans.
The Unbelievable Stupidity
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<img width="1650" height="928" loading="lazy" decoding="async" fetchpriority="low" alt="T. ocellus is inside the body of a cat that has died." data-img-url="https://static0.polygonimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/cateye-1.jpg?q=49&fit=crop&w=825&dpr=2" src="https://static0.polygonimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/cateye-1.jpg?q=49&fit=crop&w=825&dpr=2"/>
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<figcaption>T. ocellus' jailbreak is inexplicable, especially considering the existence of break-proof glass.</figcaption>
<small class="body-img-caption">Image: FX</small>
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</div>While horror franchises often necessitate poor decision-making, Alien: Earth excessively displays this tendency. The cause is explained by Boy Kavalier’s unmedicated ADHD, which leads to his decision to send The Lost Boys on their mission.
The series contains other examples of questionable decision-making, such as when the Maginot’s head medical officer, Chibuzo (Karen Aldridge), eats while feeding alien species. The most baffling display of stupidity is in the finale when Wendy confronts Atom (Adrian Edmonson). Wendy simply has to say no for Atom to be unable to fight. While Wendy describes it as a function of Atom being on the network, Boy Kavalier and his synths should be aware of private networks.
The Hybrids Just Don’t Make Sense
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<div class="responsive-img image-expandable img-article-item" style="padding-bottom:56.25%" data-img-url="https://static0.polygonimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/wendycloseup-1.jpg" data-img-desc=""Wendy is a well-developed character, but her operational capabilities are inconsistent when compared to other Prodigy hybrids, and there is no explanation."" data-modal-id="single-image-modal" data-modal-container-id="single-image-modal-container" data-img-caption=""Image: FX"">
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<figcaption>Wendy is a well-developed character, but her operational capabilities are inconsistent when compared to other Prodigy hybrids, and there is no explanation.</figcaption>
<small class="body-img-caption">Image: FX</small>
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</div>Wendy is the first Hybrid that Prodigy made. As a result, one would think that the fellow Lost Boys would be more advanced than her. She can hear the language of Xenomorphs as a result of her synthetic body, which identifies frequencies that are too high or low for humans. This is believable. What doesn’t make sense is how the other Hybrids can’t hear the Xenomorphs. Did Boy Kavalier provide Wendy with super-special hearing abilities and decide not to give them to the Hybrids that came after her? The series implies that this capability only emerged after Wendy killed the Maginot Xenomorph. Also, this doesn’t make sense given that the superior hearing was already known, and the transformation is unexplained.
During episode 7, Nibs begins killing members of Prodigy’s security staff. She receives two shots to the chest but is unharmed until Joe utilizes Morrow’s super-taser. Then, Nibs is presumed to be dead, which horrifies Wendy. However, Nibs is fine when she reappears in episode 8. Another Hybrid, Isaac (Kit Young), is said to have died from alien flies melting his face, which is explained as the flies were drawn to inorganic matter. Despite the possibility of rebooting Isaac, the scientists seemingly don’t know how to start. It seems that Hybrids are unharmed by weaponry, electricity, and Xenomorphs, and only cosmetic damage from alien saliva is capable of instant death.
The Ending
Alien: Earth’s primary problem is that the season finale has little impact. The Xenomorph is well-behaved, and t. ocellus is unable to take control of Boy Kavalier. Rather, it inhabits Arthur’s body in order to startle his wife Dame Sylvia (Essie Davis) during season two. The writers suddenly reference the ceiling-dwelling plant as it consumes a soldier. Also, the animosity between Wendy and Curly (Erana James) ends as Curly reclaims her birth name Jane and follows Wendy’s orders.
It appears the series’ authors want closure, as well as leave room for a subsequent season. At best, fans will receive an unsatisfying finale, and at worst, the show will not be continued and several plot threads will remain unresolved.
Alien: Earth is enjoyable, and I look forward to season 2. I hope the writers will consider how the universe functions.
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