The new television series Alien: Earth has achieved a notable accomplishment, becoming the most well-received installment in the sci-fi horror franchise in nearly four decades. Launching shortly, the show earned an 89% rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 37 critical reviews, placing it third in the franchise’s history behind only Ridley Scott‘s 1979 original Alien and James Cameron’s 1986 sequel Aliens, which scored 93% and 94%, respectively.
Plot and Setting Grounded on Earth for the First Time
Created by Noah Hawley, known for Fargo, Alien: Earth unfolds two years prior to the original Alien film. The story centers on Wendy, played by Sydney Chandler, a hybrid volunteer tasked with recovering enigmatic cargo after a mysterious spacecraft crash-lands on Earth. Distinctly, this series is the first Alien story set on the planet itself, adding a fresh perspective within the franchise.
Critical Acclaim Highlights Ambitious Storytelling
Reviews praise Alien: Earth for its bold narrative and intense violence, with critics acknowledging its ability to keep viewers engaged throughout. Rolling Stone noted,
“As he did with Fargo, turning a classic and beloved movie into a long-running, award-winning anthology series, Hawley has taken a concept that has no business working for television and shaped it into something thrilling, strange, and surprising.”
—Rolling Stone
The Hollywood Reporter described the show as
“a heady, sprawling, occasionally unwieldy but eventually thrilling epic about personhood, hubris and, of course, the primal pleasure of watching people get absolutely rocked by space monsters.”
—The Hollywood Reporter
Paste Magazine emphasized the vibrant life breathed into the franchise, stating,
“Nearly 50 years after Ridley Scott introduced the xenomorph, Alien has rarely felt this alive.”
—Paste Magazine
Mixed Reviews Point to Narrative Challenges
Despite widespread praise, some reviews were more cautious about the show’s pacing. The Seattle Times criticized
“Unfortunately, Alien: Earth gets the balance wrong,”
further explaining,
“The prequel series […] spends too long setting up a story that only barely gets going by the time the eight-episode season comes to an end.”
—Seattle Times
Upcoming Release and Broader Context
Alien: Earth will premiere on August 12 on Hulu in the United States and on August 13 on Disney Plus in the United Kingdom. As part of the Alien Earth Ridley Scott franchise, this new show showcases expanding storytelling possibilities by exploring the franchise’s origins in a new setting. Fans and newcomers alike are invited to judge the series themselves when it becomes available.
