In a world where it seems almost everything is a sequel or reboot, and we have lost the ability to create new content, was it necessary for FX’s new show Alien: Earth to be part of the Alien franchise or could it simply have been its own new concept alien show?
Alien: Earth (2025) is not a sequel, it is potentially worse, a prequel. The problem with prequels is that the suspense is removed. If you follow an already developed character from a previous adaptation you ultimately know how it’s going to end. While it might be interesting to see how they got to the point where you know them as a character, the suspense of the will they, won’t they has ultimately been removed.
While in Alien: Earth the show follows brand new characters in a brand-new setting – Spoiler Alert – it’s on Earth. The timeline for the show starts in 2120 which is set two years prior to the original movie, which launched the franchise, Alien (1979).
For those of you who have not seen Alien (1979) the entire outer space portion of the movie was set on the USCSS Nostromo, during the Earth year 2122. The crew on the ship were unaware their cargo was alive, and they had never seen, or more importantly, heard of the Xenomorph – the Alien creature the movie is famous for.
The crew of the Nostromo were however in contact with Earth which means that no matter what happens on Alien: Earth we know that the Xenomorph’s or one of the other four new types of creepy alien creatures they have developed for the show, do not manage to get loose on Earth to cause a catastrophic world changing event prior to the film Alien timeline. Moreover, the powers that be on Earth even manage to control the media around any attacks to the point that the average person, even if they are involved in space travel for their career, do not know about these alien attacks.
One of the selling points for Alien: Earth which makes it different from the rest of the franchise, is that it takes place on Earth, unlike the locations for the other movies which take place, either on spaceships or alien planets. Now that the Xenomorphs have been bought to Earth, there is a far grander fear of global spreading and catastrophic death tolls. Except, ultimately, we know this cannot be the case otherwise Sigourney Weaver’s Ripley would be aware of the existence of the Xenomorphs and the treat to humanity at the start of her movie.
If you had asked me before the release of the show, or even before the first trailer, I might have asked if another Alien production was necessary, as the franchise already has nine films, as well as short films, video games, comic books, novels, and another movie in the works, Predator: Badlands due for release November 2025. My response would have been “why not have a TV show with a new concept instead?”
At the point of writing this article only five of the eight episodes have been released, and so far, they are receiving positive reviews, currently sitting at 95% on Rotten Tomatoes. Even I agree they are entertaining and have high production value. I’m enjoying Alien: Earth. I’d go as far to say I even hope there is a second season, depending on the final.
But my original thought still has weight, why not do an original concept?
The show uses the developed world history from the Alien franchise, but I would argue none of these aspects are overly critical to the plot. The largest connection is the Xenomorph, which are arguably the most icon alien concept from any space franchise.
Yes, on Alien: Earth there is a Xenomorph running about causing havoc and destruction, but the show also created four new alien species never seen in the franchises. The new species have been just as interesting as the Xenomorph and spine-chilling in their own way and are additionally getting similar airtime.
The show focuses heavily on a new technological advancement: Hybrids, (humanoid robots infused with human consciousness) where they download a human consciousness into a synthetic body. This plot point has given us several of the main characters and the most human element of the story, with main character “Wendy” the first hybrid, still having human emotions for her brother from her human life.
The technology of the hybrids has never been part of the Alien Universe before. Which makes me ask the question again. Why not an original concept?
While I believe Alien: Earth is successful for what it is, an entertaining Alien franchise TV Show. I am not sure that it needed to be part of the franchise. You could have changed a few aspects, such as company names and swapped the Xenomorph out for a new design large alien threat, and you would have had an entertaining alien TV show. One not limited with its future progression as it would not have had to be concerned about keeping the history of the franchise in order.
Caitlin 
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Kath Smart