Anthony’s Watch – Alien: Earth

There are two things the Alien franchise has yet to dare to attempt (outside of Predator and other spinoffs): depicting an alien invasion on Earth and venturing onto the TV screen instead of film. Alien: Earth seeks to break both of those molds, setting up the franchise for what could become either its biggest triumph or its greatest failure.

For those unfamiliar, or in need of a recap, the Alien franchise depicts a future in which the Weyland-Yutani Corporation sends various space expeditions for resource mining, resulting in either intentional or unintentional encounters with the titular aliens: the Xenomorphs. While the films explore the creatures’ formal backstory, the most important thing to know is that they reproduce via parasitic “facehuggers,” spawned from a queen, which implant embryos into other organisms. The Xenomorph then gestates until it hatches, bursting out of its host and killing it in the process. The franchise is well known for blending horror and science fiction while consistently exploring themes such as the dangers of unchecked capitalism, claustrophobia, and the power of a strong female protagonist.

Alien: Earth begins with a mysterious vessel crash-landing on Earth, containing surprises that won’t be too shocking for long-time fans. What follows offers a unique perspective for the franchise, as the typical Alien narrative is reimagined for a multi-episode television format. To achieve this, creator Noah Hawley blends in an unexpected influence, Peter Pan. Characters are directly referential in both name and visual imagery, with lead character Wendy guiding her “Lost Boys” on a perilous adventure. Hawley characterizes Wendy as a child in an adult’s body, leading her group much like Peter Pan did, though here there is no escaping reality and no chance of ever truly growing up. This thematic twist is unsettling, introducing more psychological dread in the early moments than literal horror, though the latter certainly awaits.

Another way the series distinguishes itself within the long-running Alien franchise is by introducing new creatures. Many new installments experiment with Xenomorphs reproducing through hosts other than humans, often with disturbing results (looking at you, Alien: Romulus). Alien: Earth, however, takes the concept in a fresh direction that plays perfectly into the episodic format. Those unfamiliar with Hawley’s work need only look at his mind-bending Marvel series Legion to understand his capacity for the strange, unsettling, and imaginative.

The show features a solid ensemble cast, each with a résumé to justify their place in a project of this caliber, though few are household names. Timothy Olyphant may be the most recognizable face, yet even his appearance is altered enough to make him unrecognizable at times. While major franchises often cast big stars to boost viewership, Alien has traditionally leaned toward lesser-known actors, preserving the unpredictability of who might survive. Alien: Earth continues this tradition, allowing the story’s stakes to feel authentic and dangerous.

From the outset, the series stays true to the franchise’s core subject matter while weaving in contemporary fears, particularly the rise of artificial intelligence, into its dystopian corporate aesthetic. By combining these elements, Alien: Earth feels simultaneously familiar and fresh. It also leans heavily into visual and auditory design to keep its horror roots front and center at all times. In balancing reverence for the past with a bold new vision, the show succeeds on both fronts.

It’s remarkable how a science fiction horror story can remain thought-provoking at every turn, yet Alien: Earth consistently engages with ideas larger than itself. Sometimes that’s through exploring the dangers of corporate dominance, and other times it’s in meditations on the meaning of life itself. Often, these ideas intertwine, particularly around the theme of eternal life as humanity’s ultimate goal. This is where the Peter Pan analogy deepens: characters like Wendy cannot grow up or die, a direct consequence of corporate advances in cybernetic and synthetic life. The result is poignant and unsettling, reminding us that greed and self-interest ultimately pave the way for the alien threat.

The final flourish comes in the production design. Hawley’s choice to embrace the retro-futuristic aesthetic of the original 1980s films is just the start. Practical effects are used wherever possible, avoiding the pitfalls of choppy CGI and ensuring the series looks as cinematic as possible. In some moments, it even outshines recent big-screen installments.

In nearly every respect, Alien: Earth excels in storytelling, in worldbuilding, and in its bold embrace of the TV medium. Based on its first two episodes, this may be the finest iteration the Alien franchise has ever produced. Horror and science fiction have rarely been so perfectly intertwined.