Alien: Earth Episode 1 Screening – Key Points

Context

• The writer received an invitation to an advance screening of the first episode of Alien: Earth.
• Screening took place on a big screen, which is rare for TV episodes.
• Release Details:
  • August 12th: First two episodes will drop
  • Platforms: FX (cable) and Hulu (streaming)
• Part of a renewed interest in the Alien and Predator franchises.

About the Show

• Alien: Earth is notable for being the first Alien TV series primarily set on Earth.
• Not related to Alien vs. Predator; it’s a standalone Alien franchise story.

First Episode Impressions

• The episode has a strong cinematic quality comparable to high-budget movies.
• Opening minutes: Emulates the atmosphere of the original 1979 Alien film (Ridley Scott).
• Quickly shifts gears to introduce new elements, also takes inspiration from Aliens (James Cameron), then establishes its own identity.
• Episode is 60 minutes long and packed with plot development.

Story & Setting

• Three competing companies:
  • Weyland-Yutani (specializes in synthetics)
  • Prodigy
  • A third unnamed company
• Competition focuses on robotics:
  • Synthetics (androids)
  • Cyborgs (humans with robotic implants)
  • Transferred human minds into robot bodies (the main focus)
• Main cast: Children with terminal illnesses whose minds are transferred to adult robotic bodies.
  • They are treated as expendable test subjects by the corporations.

Plot Overview

• A ship crashlands on Earth.
• The robotic children are sent to investigate, being viewed more as machines than people.
• The ship contains not only xenomorphs but also other dangerous alien creatures.
• The episode showcases at least one new alien creature, though xenomorph remains the central threat.

Themes & Approach

• Homage: Show pays respect to original Alien movies but quickly branches out to create a new, unique story.
• Expansion: Introduces the concept of multiple alien threats, building on the franchise’s universe.
• Tone: Blends horror, action, and science-fiction, similar to previous films.

Recommendation

• Highly recommended for Alien fans.
• Impressed with the cast, world-building, and quality.
• Excited for the remaining episodes.

Production

• Showrunner: Noah Hawley (also worked on FX’s Fargo).

Summary: "Alien: Earth" Episode 1 delivers a fresh, cinematic addition to the Alien universe, with a unique Earth setting, intriguing new characters, and expanded threats beyond the classic xenomorph.