'Alien: Earth' might just be my favorite show of all time — and it proves the franchise is thriving

Tom's Guide

2 days ago

Hearing we were getting a TV show set in the 'Alien' franchise had me a little worried at first. As a superfan, I've always found the iconic sci-fi horror movies incredibly effective, especially in how much terror they pack into just 90 minutes of claustrophobic space. So, the idea of stretching that into eight hours of content definitely gave me some concerns.
But now, having seen the first six episodes, I can confidently say I'm genuinely blown away. I'll admit some of my opinion might be a little biased, but I tried to distance my love for the franchise and be critical of 'Alien: Earth' fairly. Even then, it still blew me away.
'Alien: Earth' is pure sci-fi goodness, wrapped in a smart TV show format that's equal parts character drama and savage horror. There's so much to appreciate here, and showrunner Noah Hawley exceeded all expectations. He clearly knows the franchise inside and out, delivering exactly what fans want from an 'Alien' series.
With a flashy marketing campaign (including an exhibit at the Natural History Museum in London) Disney and Hulu clearly want 'Alien: Earth' to be the next big TV event. And I'm not alone in thinking this: my colleague Rory Mellon called it the best new show of the year in his review.
Now that 'Alien: Earth' is streaming its first two episodes on Hulu (and Disney Plus in the U.K.), I just have to talk about why it might rank as my No. 1 show of all time, and why you need to stream it right now.
Most of the 'Alien' movies follow a group of human characters (plus an android) who come face-to-face with the Xenomorp, with each of them dying one by one until only the final girl remains. 'Alien: Romulus' leans heavily on this concept, and while I still love this format (and wouldn't mind seeing it used in future 'Alien' movies), I'm glad 'Alien: Earth' breaks away from it.
Don't get me wrong, in the first two episodes we follow a group of search and rescue soldiers who encounter the Xenomorph aboard the Weyland wreckage (and soon discover exactly what they're up against). Episode 5 takes that format almost entirely, feeling like a 60-minute 'Alien' movie, which was incredible. But for the most part, the series breaks that mold in a really smart way.
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That comes down to its storytelling structure and how Hawley clearly wanted to explore the concept of 'man is the monster' even further. Instead of following characters' traumatic survival on a spaceship, we're introduced to Prodigy, a major Earth-based corporation that, in 2120, is one of five companies governing the planet.
Prodigy is another example of corporate greed, led by the ego-inflated, shoe-hating CEO Boy Kavalier, who is very unlikeable (Samuel Blenkin delivers one of the strongest performances). After learning about the Weyland research vessel crashing into his city, he becomes determined to obtain everything on that ship including every species that was caged on board.
'Alien: Earth' strays from the usual movie format by introducing multiple species and showing how organizations like Prodigy constantly hunt for the next big innovation. Instead of characters dying one by one, the group of hybrids in 'Earth' must survive the very organization that created them.
Unfortunately, in the process, they encounter several species (and the deadly Xenomorph) under far from ideal circumstances.
In essence, 'Alien: Earth' expands the franchise's storytelling from a simple survival horror into a deeper, more layered drama about corporate power, scientific experimentation, and diverse alien threats. It's a remarkable piece of TV.
I think any 'Alien' fan will agree that the franchise has always been visually stunning. Even the clean aesthetic of 'Prometheus' was pleasing to look at, alongside the grittiness of 'Romulus' and the rough, gritty look of 'Alien 3' (despite some dodgy special effects).
'Alien: Earth' takes all these elements and meshes them together. We experience the claustrophobic terror of spaceship corridors, the sleek corporate design of scientific labs inside Prodigy's main building, and the fresh addition of the natural setting at the Neverland research facility, which is something new for the franchise.
From the very first scene in episode one, it nails the vibe. You could probably guess it's 'Alien' even if you closed your eyes and listened to the sound alone, including the iconic clicking of the computer interface.
Every aspect of the TV show screams 'Alien' and I found myself almost jumping with excitement when something recognizable pops up. The set design, haunting music, and satisfying opening title sequences only add to the quality of this incredible series.
Most of all, I had so much fun watching 'Alien: Earth,' and I was sad every time an episode ended. Franchise fans will eat it up, and even those who haven't encountered any piece of 'Alien' media can still enjoy this show with no prior knowledge. Hawley does an incredible job setting up the story and characters without relying on lore from the movies.
Plus, even though we see 'more Xenomorph on screen,' the design is still incredible. I'm glad they stuck with practical effects for the costumes, especially since other species required special effects. The Xenomorph looks as cool as ever with its flashy silver fangs and dripping drool, and horror fans will especially love how gory things get. This show actually has some pretty shocking scenes, to say the least.
Based on the first six episodes, I could easily say 'Alien: Earth' is my favorite show of all time. Maybe. 'The Walking Dead' has been my top show for years and one I've rewatched the most, so it's hard to say anything could truly top that. But 'Alien: Earth' is definitely giving it a run for its money.
In fact, I'd fight a Xenomorph barehanded to experience this sci-fi masterpiece again for the first time.
The first two episodes of "Alien: Earth" are now streaming on Hulu in the U.S and Disney Plus in the U.K.