Observation

Ep 4 "Labyrinth" is a vexing slog, squandering its promise in a mire of aimless filler.

Noah Hawley's vision, once brimming with dread, stalls as Wendy (Sydney Chandler) and her "Lost Boys" meander through a derelict facility, xenomorphs reduced to mere shadows.

The vaunted Neverland set, though grimly splendid, hosts naught but repetitive traipsing, with nary a thrill to stir the blood. Chandler's emotive grit strives to salvage the torpor, and Samuel Blenkin's Boy Kavalier injects a flicker of corporate malice, but Timothy Olyphant's Kirsh languishes in obscurity. The "Lost Boys" grate with juvenile prattle, their purpose muddled.

Only the final three minutes, teasing a belated escalation, offer a glimmer of hope, sparing this episode from utter ruin. Expository drivel and lethargic pacing betray the Alien legacy, leaving one teetering on abandonment.

A dire misstep, barely redeemed by its closing spark.

I think the action directors, cinematographers and editors etc have done the great job because I don't feel this monster looks cheap or overexposed. And I saw a few reviews complaining about the story is too silly? So far I feel fine, not so pretentious like what Ridley Scott did, not so entertaining like AvP, it's just at the right spot lol. But It's a little bit off to add culture in, like Bangkok, Paris, New York... None, just the Earth, no need to mention any current city... Still think this IP must strictly ban hits, I don't mean in this episode but in episode 2 definitely, and in episode 3 there is a formed music just feels like Scream after the killer kills another victim, it's not some very American IP like Scream or AHS that you can add hits between different scenes, this IP isn't that POP, it's supposed to be dark, maybe just add some pretentious Ridley Scott Moody Piano Chord or some nebulous symphony? There are some flute in Alien 1 hitting that creepy vibe so much and it doesn't sound like a formed music. I love Timothy's acting, I expect to see his part in every episode the most.

For a show that has seemed to have covered a lot, when I take a step back and try to take stock of what I've seen, I'm not sure where we are?

The action sequences are top notch; it's so hard to do Alien without just a rehash of what we've seen in the movies, and in general it's been well done. The introduction of the new species (especially the eyeball alien) has been a needed freshness the franchise has been looking for.

The characters are a bit all over the place. Marrow is the strongest and most interesting, followed by Kitch. But after that, it's a bit of a drop off - Marcy/wendy is ok, but she and the entire "kid" cast are hampered by exactly who they are - children in robotic bodies. The thing that makes characters interesting is the baggage they bring with them, and the children just don't have that baggage to make them relatable to the viewer. Kid cavalier is a bit too stereotyped in the show and the character so far lacks any depth or true examples of narassism that may make him more interesting.

Which leaves the last and most important part of this review - the story. What is this story, exactly? Is it the rushed technology of the hybrids? Is it the invasion of alien lifeforms on earth? Is it the relationship of the 5 corporations (which we meet only 2 and even their interaction seems strange)? It's hard to know where this is going ... and maybe that is the point? To quote a famous line from a silly movie "and we are all dumber for having listened to that."

That's how I feel- not any smarter about what this show is half way in.

Still, the ride so far has been mostly a fun one. I'm not nearly as frustrated with alien earth as I have felt with other shows (for example, house of the dragon). I'm excited to see how the second half of this season goes... but like most viewers, patience wears thin unless I really like characters, and alien earth hasn't done enough with its characters to make me want to hang out with them doing nothing for another 4 hours.

So i was already enjoying this show a lot but it wasn't quite there yet. But this episode made things feel more real and terrifying. All the several threats were very well done, great great job from the actors specially the lady and the redhead girl, and the sheep. Was more scared of this sheep than some xenomorphs from other movies. Hope things keep escalating with the quality this episode showed. Noah Hawley knows what he is doing. Only down side is this show is making me miss Raised By Wolves for some reason.

Directed by Ugla Hauksdóttir, written by Noah Hawley & Bobak Esfarjani, episode four, "Observation," pushes Alien: Earth further into questions of faith, biology, and human identity rather than focusing directly on the Xenomorph threat. The idea of synthetic adult bodies inhabited by the minds of children is unsettling, and the drama around reproduction and religion is well played-particularly by Lily Newmark as Nibs and Essie Davis as Dame Sylvia-though at times it feels more like a stage for ideas than an organic story. Nibs' "level three event" mirrors Blade Runner, echoing the maker-master issue with the Replicants, adding simmering tensions. Sydney Chandler's Wendy continues to intrigue with her alien connection, though her thread here drifts into functional, plodding setup with meandering interactions with Alex Lawther's Hermit. Toodles gets more to do with Kirsh and name changes; however, Smee and Curly are underused throughout.

The highlight comes from Babou Ceesay's Morrow manipulating Adarsh Gourav's Slightly/Arrush, coercing him into betrayal and, in their second exchange, threats of loss. It's a raw, gripping exchange. Later, Slightly's tension with Timothy Olyphant's Kirsh deepens the unease. Olyphant is outstanding as ever, his composed presence laced with menace. Adrian Edmondson also impresses as Atom Eins, hinting at corporate control that recalls RoboCop's OCP-a subtle but powerful thread about ownership of bodies and lives. Eins' manipulation of Hermit mirrors Morrow's with Slightly, and in turn Samuel Blenkin's Boy Kavalair (his name an obvious Android (1982) twist yet to come, perhaps?) influences Wendy.

Technically, the episode impresses with its set design, effects, and creature work. The sheep experiment and the chestburster birth are chilling and well realised, keeping the horror tangible. However, the fades and overlapping transitions are overused, becoming a heavy-handed stylistic bugbear that hampers the show. The Lost Boys/Peter Pan framing, meanwhile, wears thin, and the pop-rock track over the end credits is jarringly on the nose.

"Observation" is filled with ideas, strong performances, and unsettling imagery. But despite its strengths, it often feels stretched away from the Alien core, as though the show wants to be about everything except the creatures themselves. The result is ambitious and intelligent, yet uneven-a thoughtful hour that leaves you wondering if a more focused Alien story might have been the stronger path.