Alien: Earth

Actually, I had expected more... the first two episodes of the series were promising, but then the whole thing took an unusual turn that really made me start to question a lot of things. Why are the scientists acting so carelessly with unknown species from outer space? Every possible mistake is made, making it predictable that a catastrophe will happen.

Alien: Earth is pretty well made for it is (occasional bad effects notwithstanding) and the production and cinematography are very reminiscent of the better Alien films. However, in order to actually enjoy it you really have to turn off the part of your brain that expects characters to not act like complete morons and not laugh when it devolves into self-parody which happens early and often.

After an intriguing start and some midseason high points the show meanders into a very strange final arc that really seems like the show runners had minimal interest in making an Alien show and used this as a back door to make a Blade Runner with the serial numbers filed off show they really wanted to make. Now granted robot people have always been part of Alien but that aspect has never quite been the central focus as much as here.

It's what you might imagine Disney producers might imagine fans of Alien might imagine they want to see.

The first few episodes are absolutely immense. It doesn’t quite keep that insanely high focus going to the end of S1, but it remains engaging and tense nonetheless. Superbly cast, well performed and mostly real good looking. Hopeful for more of the same from a franchise on the up.

Given this is a Noah Fawley show, I had high expectations. It's for that reason I fault it more than I should. Unlike his other work, he plays it safe here. Most things are run of the mill. It's also probably the first work since Aliens that brings in some new ideas to the room. But it also tackles these ideas sloppily and in a scatterbrained way. What I liked most about it is color correction weirdly. The franchise may never make use of any of it either case.

What a thrill to finally get an Alien installment that dares to look forward without forgetting where it comes from. Alien: Earth proves you can expand the mythology with fresh ideas — echoes of corporate paranoia, identity, and science playing God — while also recovering that hum of constant threat that crawls down your spine. Visually, it’s staggering: Wētā FX delivers more than fireworks, they give texture and world-building.... - Full Review

Abandons most all of the Alien franchise to be a Prometheus x Blade Runner spinoff where the cast crash full-speed (actively accelerating even - in a spaceship) into earth. Writing feels backwards; putting cool setpieces first & filling in the 'logic' later. They force in contrived characters and fantastic scenarios to justify re-presenting the same questions Ridley's been asking for *four and a half decades* of drawing out one great original film. Rule of cool... it's still an awesome aesthetic

We get a glimpse of the power struggles between the megacorporations, but not enough for my taste. The children in super-powerful synthetic adult bodies lead to some interesting situations. However, a few central plot elements are hard to swallow, and for me, that’s the main weakness—but who knows, maybe Season 2 will manage to lend the whole thing a bit more credibility? That said, the series is very well produced, and Timothy Olyphant is truly spine-chilling! (After Season 1)

I thought it was solid for the most part. Not as good as the best of the series, but still entertaining enough. The finale went in some unexpected directions and I'm curious what they're going to do with that in the next season.