Alien: Earth has not enough Alien and too much Earth

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Alien: Earth: A New Take on the Xenomorph Franchise

After watching the first six episodes of Alien: Earth, I found myself feeling a bit confused. The first series in the Xenomorph franchise takes a surprising turn into a psychological tale of transhumanism, moving away from the survival horror vibes that defined the movies. While there is no shortage of blood and guts, the story lacks the suspense that fans have come to expect.

Created by Noah Hawley, known for his work on TV shows like Legion and Fargo, Alien: Earth struggles to establish its identity amidst a sea of different themes and genres. While it’s commendable to experiment with new ideas, in this case, it seems to backfire.

One of the key elements that made the original Alien movie so terrifying was the slow reveal of the Xenomorph creature. However, in FX’s series, the mystery is quickly dispelled as the creature is shown early on. This lack of tension and buildup diminishes the impact of the onscreen violence, turning it into little more than a gory spectacle.

Visually, Alien: Earth captures the retrofuturistic aesthetic of the original films, transporting viewers back to the 70s and 80s. However, the plot veers more towards the territory explored in Prometheus and Alien: Covenant, focusing on a variety of extraterrestrial life forms, androids, cyborgs, and hybrids. This shift diminishes the terror that has been a hallmark of the franchise, as the focus shifts away from the fight against the monsters.

The series revolves around hybrid children whose minds are placed inside synthetic bodies, leading to moral and ethical dilemmas. While this concept is intriguing, the execution falls short, as the children’s naivety and lack of expertise make it hard to take their struggles seriously. The series shines brightest in episode 5, which harks back to the mysterious horror vibes of the original films.

As the series nears its conclusion, there is still hope that the final episodes may turn things around. However, for a show with ‘Alien’ in the title, there seems to be too much emphasis on the hybrids and not enough of the looming dread that made the franchise iconic.

Alien: Earth premieres on FX in the US on 12 August 2025 and on Disney+ in the UK on 13 August 2025. Fans of the Xenomorph franchise may find this new take on the series to be a refreshing departure from the familiar formula, but it may leave some longing for the suspense and terror of the original films.