Cast: Sydney Chandler as Wendy, Alex Lawther as joe Kermit, Samuel Blenken as Boy Cavalier, Timothy Olyphant as Kirsch, Adarsh Gaurav as Slightly, Erana James as Curly, Lily Newmark as nibs, Jonathan Ajayi as Smee, David Ridschol as Arthur, Kit Young as Issac, Babou Ceesay as morrow

length: 8 episodes

Created by Noah Hauley

Studio/Streamer: FX/Hulu

Release Year: 2025

Audio description Provided By: (Need Credit)

Written By: (Need Credit)

Narrated By: (Need Credit)

What Is it?: The first television series adaptation to launch from the Alien franchise which started with Ridley Scott in 1979 and spawned 7 sequels, and two cross over Alien Vs Predator films. In this timeline, a deep space research vessel is returning to earth when something on board goes horribly awry, and the ship crashes into one of the corporate owned zones. On board, dangerous cargo. the only thing standing in its way? Wendy and the Lost Boys.

What Works: Certainly a show with its detractors, it won’t appease everyone. However, it takes its own big swings, incorporating elements we haven’t seen before to try and continue and shape a world that started with “in space no one can hear you scream.” Instead of just one Xenomorph, we’re treated to new aliens, each one potentially more terrifying than the next, though the series has a hard time balancing all of those ideas.

The jarring introduction of the Lost Boys is one of those love it or hate it things that could either power the series, or immediately kill it for you. We learn that in this expanded lore, there was this prodigy who figured out how to transfer the conscience of a human into a powerful synthetic body, with a brain houseing powerful capacity. these “lost boys” could potentially push humanity forward. From the onset, we are introduced to our first future Lost Boy, who is actually a girl who will become Wendy, and she retains her mind after it leaves her human body which is already dying due to disease. Now, she’s healthy, older, and has the potential to see the world in a new light. Soon after, she’s joined by five others, all named after characters from Peter Pan.

In this world, there are androids, cyborgs, and synthetics. When does a machine stop being a machine? Perhaps those looking for a Xenomorph around every corner were distracted by all the character development. Frankly, that’s the literal point of doing a series, is that in long form, we should have a stronger grasp of who the characters are.

it’s a stark contrast when we jump back in time to see what happened to the crew of the crashed space vessel, which is housing all these dangerous aliens. In that episode, the character development is nearly non-existent, because it is just like a late-stage Alien film, ripping through expendable characters no one cares about. We don’t care, because they have no discernible personalities. The most developed get one or maybe two specific traits or backstory elements, but a lot of that crew is waiting for a red shirt ride off the show.

There were moments throughout the season where typical horror movie cliches abound. One character rushes in to save another, completely aware that something is loose. then, another character comes in after. Life choices. I noticed some interesting set ups that I’m not even sure the writers knew they had set up.For example, one character is seeking the ultimate conversation, and when they meet an alien species capable of that communication, he wants to get the parasite in something that could talk. I thought this was a clear be careful what you wish for moment, but they are far more interested in having a substantial returning cast for next season. Another character is clearly given some kind of synthetic lung, which made me think, what if a chestburster thought they had an organic life form, only to become trapped in the one are they would reside and that is not organic. what then?

Alien Earth had so many chances and it didn’t even pick up on all of them. But, it does have ideas that do float. Being able to have a synthetic command and talk to a Xenomorph. That is cool. Transferring someone’s essence into a synth, also an interesting topic. Battling cyborgs on different sides, equally interesting.

For every interesting beat, or two, we got one that wasn’t. like, what exactly was Smee’s arc? He’s really the only one. They never explain how or why one of the synthetics thought they were pregnant. were they?

The performances are fine. I’m not nominating anyone. When you have a host of characters playing variations on robotic characters, you get a lot of robotic emotions. Whether intentional or otherwise.

The Audio Description: I have to hand it to the team for nailing some fun and gnarly gore. We see what happens with all the fresh new aliens, all well described, along with the old ones. Our cyborgs and synths fall apart, but humans get torn apart. Nice writing, nice narration.

Why You Might Like it: You’re looking for actual science fiction, not so much just another entry in the Alien franchise.

Why You Might Not Like It: You wanted just Xenomorph gore, and instead got a tale about kids growing up too fast, and their creator doing devious deeds.

Final Thoughts: Alien Earth has some highs and lows, but on average remains a compelling piece of science fiction, that perhaps has a season finale a little too open ended. For those who don’t like it, I hear in space no one can hear you complain.

Fresh: 8.2/10