Observation

The scenes involving Wendy are the most interesting, particularly concerning her recently discovered ability. I find this quite compelling, and hope it leads somewhere that fits with events depicted in the classic movies. Bringing Joe back into the fold works well and adds more tension to the dynamic between the hybrids and Prodigy.

This episode offers more exposition on the social/political order of Earth. The exposition comes in a fairly unsubtle information dump, but scenes, such as the dialogue between Joe and Atom Eins, demonstrate more about the type of world Earth has become. You cannot help but hope the Ocellus scene foreshadows a gruesome demise for the character Boy Kavalier.

The other plot thread of note involves Morrow, who, along with the aliens, is the most sinister lifeform depicted on Alien Earth. You feel a sense of dread for Slightly and family, but you want to see Weyland-Yutani doing terrible things to obtain a xenomorph, as so much of Alien and Aliens is underpinned by this.

Is the pace too slow? Arguably, it feels so currently, but if it is laying foundations that make future events good, I will not complain. At this point, though, the jury is out for me. The next episode needs a major event or significant plot movement.

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.

A sudden huge spike in quality in Episode 4 on all sides - acting is better, directing is much better... well basically that's it - simply a much better director this time, who knows how to handle the project. Unlike the previous two. Unfortunately the last 2 episodes gonna be directed by god-awful Dana Gonzalez again, so we might get another dose of garbage.

This episode doesn't move the story forward as much as the previous ones. Instead, it focuses more on psychology and social relationships. We see some of the core team members getting distracted - for different reasons - which will likely make them the source of problems in future episodes.

What I really appreciated was the explanation of The Five - the five companies that have replaced governments. While it wasn't directly tied to the main plot, it added valuable context to the Alien universe. In general, I like how the series continues to educate us about aspects of the universe we didn't know before, and that educational angle keeps me engaged.

I'm also glad they did something with the other species Prodigy brought to their lab; I had assumed those species would simply be forgotten in favor of focusing solely on our familiar alien character. The ending sets up a new direction that will definitely need a deeper explanation in future episodes - otherwise, it risks feeling confusing.

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.