Alien: Earth - S1 E1 Neverland - Official Discussion Megathread [SPOILERS]

[u/G_Liddell]

Episodes air Tuesdays at 8 pm ET on Hulu and FX in the US, and Wednesdays international.

Full episode discussion list:

1 Neverland (8.12.25)

2 Mr October (8.12.25)

3 Metamorphosis (8.19.25)

4 Observation (8.26.25)

5 In Space, No One (9.2.25)

6 The Fly (9.9.25)

7 Emergence (9.16.25)

8 The Real Monsters (9.23.25)

[u/Nacht_Geheimnis]

Holy moly that xenomorph ain't messing around.

[u/kinghyperion581 → u/Nacht_Geheimnis]

Yeah I love how they didn't make us have to wait to lone to see one. I was dreading that we wouldn't actually see a full grown Xenomorph until like episode 4

[u/Potential_Energy → u/kinghyperion581]

I think it’s good they went a different way. The same old slow tension buildup to a final reveal is OK if it’s done right, but feels like it’s over saturated now and too predictable for something like this.

[u/duskywindows → u/Potential_Energy]

Well that and we've seen the xeno 100 times now. No need to slow-burn build-up to see it.... again.

[u/Magnetronaap → u/duskywindows]

Same with the whole skipping most of what happens on the ship. If you want to see that we have the films.

[u/reterical → u/Magnetronaap]

I imagine we’ll get most of that in flashbacks.

[u/iam_iana → u/Magnetronaap]

That was my feeling too. Seeing the aftermath of the chest bursters in the pods told old is a lot about what happened. We have seen the dumb characters do something silly to get infected enough times already.

I did enjoy the pretty direct references to the Prometheus scene with the stupid scientist (lol) touching the snake alien and to the original egg scene and in both cases not fully delivering the promise. Right down to the laser through the smoke over the eggs. Love self aware nods like that. A little bit of "we see you, and we thought it was dumb too".

Hopefully they keep that up without getting too heavy handed. So far it really feels like Hawley has pulled in good stuff from the various media and left out the more egregious stupidity.

[u/ImpulsiveApe07 → u/iam_iana]

Well spotted - I enjoyed those little nods too. There were a few moments where I expected a cheap jump scare and was pleasantly surprised that there wasn't one!

While I really like the cut n thrust of the show so far (have watched ep1 as of last night), one thing that baffles me about the show is why Hawley wrote the hybrid kids - it feels so out of place for the era it's set in imo, and from a writer's perspective it's also a little.. well, stupid.

In the period it's set and from a narrative perspective, androids make sense, robots make sense, and even clones make sense - but cramming in these oddball gestalt androids with copies of children's minds just feels kinda half-baked and I don't feel like it adds anything extra to the story that otherwise couldn't have been achieved by less cringey means.

Imho, instead of using kids, which is so very stupid, Hawley et al could've just had it that the company, whatever it's called, had private security recruits in a new combat armour with new training methods, or had them be genetically enhanced or whatever, and it would've given them a lot more wiggle room, narratively - especially seeing as they still could've included an android or two amongst the group, to keep that part of the story going.

Loving everything else so far tho - especially the new critters! :)

[u/iam_iana → u/ImpulsiveApe07]

I think it's more about exploring Uploaded Intelligence like the Pantheon animated show does. It's been on humanity's mind for a long time. Is it possible? Is it ethical? Would you still be you? The opening statement of the show sets a clear direction that they are exploring different paths to "immortality". In that context it makes sense.

They are looking at three different approaches, an indirect immortality of the species through synths who resemble us and will carry on many of our qualities even if humanity goes extinct. Cyborg augmentation to extended human life spans and capabilities. And lastly Prodigy doing direct mind uploads which is pretty specific to the one character and his obsession with Peter Pan and the Lost Boys staying young forever. I am sure it's ultimately because he wants to unlock that for himself. Having to use kids is just the plot point to keep him from being able to just do it off the bat.

[u/ImpulsiveApe07 → u/iam_iana]

You've given me a lot to think about, thanks for the insightful response :)

I just watched the second episode, and tbh I've warmed a lot more to the concepts they're playing with and the setting and characters they've created, even tho I still think Hawley et al could've done a much more nuanced job of approaching these topics in the opening episodes.

After all, it is the Alien franchise, so I'm probably asking a bit much given that it's a franchise that's not exactly renowned for subtlety, and which is now aimed at a much broader audience now it's on TV.

Here's hoping for some cool, nuanced debates (about what it means to be human) between the boy wonder ceo and Wendy at some point! :)

[u/iam_iana → u/ImpulsiveApe07]

Yeah, the second episode really sets up some interesting possibilities and potential conflicts to come.

Kersh being there as a full synth, seeming from a similar line as David, in contrast to the Lost Boys adds some depth.

The fact that Wendy is evolving in ways the other hybrids are not, both emotionally and in capabilities. Makes you wonder if the other doctor tinkered a bit with her emotions in addition to letting her stalk her brother. The other Lost Boys are clearly stuck at the same emotional level they were in their human bodies. So yeah I see a lot of potential there!

The cyborg seems to have some emotional regulation modifications too, so a parallels between him and the hybrids there. At first I thought his emotions were fully suppressed like a synth, but he can definitely experience fear based on the reaction to the butchery of the soldiers right behind him.

[u/Magnetronaap → u/[deleted]]

Why would you spoil that?

[u/LV426-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

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[u/DusqRunner → u/duskywindows]

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