Mr. October

Consider this to be my review of the series so far, since the first two episodes came out together.

Right up top I will say this seems to me like one of the better entries into the franchise, even surpassing the latest Alien: Romulus movie. It is quite clear that the people working on these movies were big fans of the original movies. The sets, costumes and overall production design are very reminiscent of the original movie. What is very reminiscent of the first movie as well are the opening scenes which felt as if I were watching a remake of the original movie.

The movie doesn't mess around and gets right to action fairly fast. The first episode felt longer than an hour not because I felt bored, but simply so many things had happened. The action might even feel off-putting to some (as I've already seen in negative reviews). The Xenomorph gets plenty of room to be brutal leading to some interesting set pieces, even if those might seem as fanservice to some. Personally I am keeping an open mind for now, there is the majority of the plot still in front of us.

Some quick notes:

The artistic choice to have kids in enhanced bodies be the main team inside the ship seems weird to me, but let's see what they do with this setup.

Timothy Olyphant is great in his role. I fear his character is unlikely to see the end of the series, but I am enjoying his scenes so far.

It kept feeling weird that the rescue team would arrive heavily armed, but I guess if their goal was the inside of the ship all along, than that could be understandable. A bit distracting at first though. Does real Army at Earth wear weapons for rescue missions after similar events?

In the year 2120, alongside humans, cyborgs (people with both biological and artificial components) and synthetics (humanoid robots with artificial intelligence) exist. But everything changes when Prodigy unleashes a new technological advancement: hybrids (humanoid robots imbued with human consciousness). The first hybrid prototype, named Wendy, marks a new dawn in the race for immortality. After the Weyland-Yutani spaceship crashes into Prodigy City, Wendy and the other hybrids encounter mysterious life forms more terrifying than anyone could ever have imagined.

But first, the positives. After watching two episodes, you have to conclude that the sets look fantastic. The opening scene, which manages to imitate the atmosphere of Alien 1978 fairly well, is unfortunately not continued in a longer scene with more depth. We get transitions to Earth and more or less cuts where a lot of the story is skipped.

Unfortunately, there are also some negative aspects. Goldsmith's traditional soundtrack is sorely missed, and at times, the film even switches to a kind of rock music that completely ruins the atmosphere and saps the tension.

Furthermore, the characters don't always react logically to the horror they witness, often too apathetically or almost indifferently, as if what they see is practically normal.

We see this especially when the young rescue worker walks through the ship, encounters the alien several times, experiences the greatest horror but still carries on as if nothing special has really happened instead of being in shock, compare that to the original Alien in which the crew members react in a much more human way, traumatized and panicked.

The series seems promising but it could go either way and I have a feeling that one small mistake could ruin the whole series.

I had high hopes for this series, but so far the writing and characterisation feel unconvincing. Despite a clear sense of extreme danger, the characters behave casually, with no apparent risk assessment. It's frustrating to watch actions that defy logic. By the second episode, major questions remain unanswered - how did the space crash happen in the first place, and why was there no Earth defence against an out-of-control ship? Too many elements don't add up. Hopefully, the story will improve in the coming episodes.

Knowing what Noah Hawley is capable of, I'm wondering how such plot holes, non-existing character development and general emptiness could take place.

As for the direction, there is no tension and nothing appealing despite the high budget displayed on screen.

There is absolutely no soul in these first two episodes.

Alien: Earth's second episode dials up the intensity, clawing closer to the franchise's horror roots while untangling Episode 1's AI haze.

Noah Hawley leans into visceral thrills, delivering a blood-soaked xenomorph "slaughter" that echoes Alien's primal terror. Sydney Chandler's Wendy, the synthetic-human hybrid, grounds the chaos with raw vulnerability, her arc sharpening as she navigates her strange existence. The grimy, post-apocalyptic Earth setting pulses with dread, amplified by a haunting score and tight cinematography. Timothy Olyphant's Kirsh brings gritty charm, though his role still feels secondary.

The AI and corporate threads - less cluttered than the pilot - start to mesh with the horror, hinting at deeper stakes. However, pacing dips when tech jargon resurfaces, and the "Lost Boys" hybrids remain an odd fit, teetering on gimmicky.

Ep 2's leaner focus and gory set-pieces make it a step up, recapturing the Alien vibe while teasing future clarity. It's not perfect, but it's a pulse-pounding stride forward.