Anna Daniels
Nostalgia Turns into Terrifying Dreams
Noah Hawley has revived Tuesday night viewing on FX with Alien: Earth—that’s right, the very same Alien franchise. This week, the show revealed a fresh set of images through Entertainment Weekly, leaving audiences either exhilarated or infuriated. It’s chaotic. It’s disturbing. And it’s set on Earth, which is nearly sacrilegious for this series.
The Xenomorph Is Only the Beginning of the Terror
Let’s address the large, unsettling bio-mechanical presence here: Alien: Earth takes place in 2120, only a few years prior to Ridley Scott’s first film—but it introduces a twisted element. Earth no longer serves as a safe, bureaucratic launching point; it has become a battlefield. Hawley’s interpretation yanks alien terror out of its dark hiding places and places it squarely in our backyard.
Additionally, Sydney Chandler’s character Wendy is a meta-human who combines the physique of an adult woman with the mentality of a child—which resembles a discarded plotline from Blade Runner viewed through a psychedelic lens.
Combine that with Timothy Olyphant portraying a synthetic guide named Kirsh (imagine a southern android life coach), and what emerges isn’t merely science fiction. It’s a form of speculative psychology.
We’ve Seen This Before—Kind Of
Recall how Prometheus attempted to navigate alien genetics through space explorers and poor choices? This iteration is different. Hawley sidesteps the baggage of prequels and completely bypasses Prometheus. Instead, he draws upon something more chaotic—like if Ridley Scott’s Alien engaged in a creative collaboration with Children of Men and Succession.
The images? Gloomy vistas. Stark technology. Views of Wendy looking aimless. The essence of corporate warfare permeates each frame—five mega-corporations (Weyland-Yutani, Prodigy, Lynch, Dynamic, Threshold) clash for dominance in the realm of androids.
It’s more than sci-fi; it represents late-stage capitalism dressed in synthetic armor.
This Is Not Fan Service—It’s Fan Sabotage
Let’s be frank: placing Alien in an earthly setting feels akin to hosting a Metallica concert in a sacred space. Many fans shouted “BLASPHEMY!” when the show was first announced. Yet, such risks are essential for television.
If these images are any indication, Hawley is not merely tinkering with the xenomorph lore—he’s methodically unraveling it.
A Reddit user remarked on the leaked concept art:
“It’s as if Black Mirror found a Facehugger and opted to use it to traumatize the younger generation.”
So… Will It Be Successful?
If Alien: Earth manages to pull it off, it could represent the boldest evolution in the franchise since Ripley took a razor to her hair.
If it falters? We might witness a visually stunning, artificially performed fever dream centered around corporate body horror and the exploitation of childhood fears.
Regardless, August 12 can’t arrive soon enough.
Your Move, Weyland-Yutani.
