‘Alien: Earth,’ directed by Noah Hawley and Dana Gonzales, began streaming on JioHotstar on August 13 and stars Sydney Chandler, Samuel Blenkin, Alex Lawther, Babou Ceesay, and Adarsh Gourav.
A bold new chapter in the Alien universe
From the very beginning, ‘Alien: Earth’ feels like a bold and creative addition to the much-loved ‘Alien’ series. As a prequel to Ridley Scott’s original film, it quickly sets a big and ambitious tone. The first moments pull you in with the promise of a tense, unpredictable ride that respects the franchise’s legacy of cosmic horror while creating its own style.
In the first two episodes, it mixes suspense and atmosphere with a gripping storyline, hinting it has plenty to offer. By focusing not only on alien dangers but also on human greed and the hunger for power, it adds new depth to the ‘Alien’ universe instead of just repeating old ideas.
Fear, greed, and the blurring of humanity
Known for giving fresh and unsettling twists to familiar stories like ‘Fargo,’ Noah Hawley treats ‘Alien: Earth’ with both respect and a fresh vision. He turns it into more than just a sci-fi horror story, making it a thoughtful look at identity, mortality, and the price of progress.
The futuristic setting doesn’t hide from reality—instead, it reflects our own world in a dark and unsettling way. What stands out in ‘Alien: Earth’ is how confidently it builds suspense. The pace is steady but never boring, with sudden bursts of shocking violence breaking up long moments of tension. Hawley stays true to the franchise’s horror roots, keeping the aliens scary by showing them only in quick glimpses, shadows, or sudden attacks.
The set design is impressive, mixing the clean, cold look of corporate technology with dark, cramped spaces that fans of the series will immediately recognise.
A battle between hybrids, cyborgs, and synths
The story takes place in the year 2120, in a universe ruled by powerful corporations. The main conflict is no longer between humans and aliens—it’s cyborgs (humans with enhancements) versus synths (fully artificial beings) versus hybrids (synthetic bodies with human minds). At the heart of it is Neverland, home to Boy Kavalier’s (Samuel Blenkin) company, Prodigy.
Here, a dying girl is transformed into Wendy (Sydney Chandler), the first hybrid. With her adult synthetic body and sharp mind, she becomes the leader of other child-robot hybrids, all guided by the mysterious Kirsh (Timothy Olyphant). Far away in space, the Yutani Corporation’s research ship, Maginot, crashes in Prodigy’s territory, releasing alien creatures that kill the entire crew except for Morrow (Babou Ceesay), a cyborg.
Wendy and another hybrid soldier are sent to investigate, where they meet Hermit (Alex Lawther), Wendy’s brother—setting off a dangerous chain of events filled with fear, greed, and survival.
Performances anchor the show
The actors bring the show’s big, complex world to life. Sydney Chandler, as Wendy, is captivating—she plays the role with a mix of cold detachment and hidden vulnerability. She balances the precision of a machine with moments of real human emotion, making her presence quietly unsettling.
Alex Lawther gives Hermit an unpredictable edge that keeps you unsure of his true motives. Adarsh Gourav, as a quick-witted hybrid soldier, adds energy and speed to the slower, tense moments. Babou Ceesay, playing Morrow, shows both the chilling efficiency of a cyborg and small hints of human emotion underneath.
The cast doesn’t just play simple roles—they make each character complex, living in a world where right and wrong aren’t always clear.
World-building and lasting questions
The show also raises big questions about what survival means when technology can keep a person’s mind alive forever. By showing the struggles between hybrids, cyborgs, and synths, it becomes more than just a humans-versus-aliens story—it’s also about the meaning of existence.
From the start, ‘Alien: Earth’ proves there’s still room for fresh ideas in one of science fiction’s most famous worlds. It’s not just fan service or a repeat of old stories—it’s driven by strong performances, powerful visuals, and thought-provoking ideas that stay with you.
If Hawley keeps this balance through the season, ‘Alien: Earth’ could become one of the most impressive additions to the franchise.
Rating: 4/5
Discover the latest Business News, Sensex, and Nifty updates. Obtain Personal Finance insights, tax queries, and expert opinions on Moneycontrol or download the Moneycontrol App to stay updated!
