The fifth episode of Alien: Earth stands out from the rest of the series – not only is it entirely devoted to flashbacks, but it also has almost everything that’s been lacking so far.
In episode 5, titled “In Space, No One…”, showrunner Noah Hawley takes viewers aboard the USCSS Maginot a dozen days before its crash. We have the chance to meet the crew, look around the deck, and finally solve the mystery of the tragic events on the ship.
After four rather disappointing episodes of Alien: Earth, episode five is a breath of fresh air. Here are four reasons why.
1. This retro-futuristic tribute to Ridley Scott’s Alien is a feast for the eyes
Hawley’s series is a real treat for fans of the early xenomorph films and of retro-futuristic science fiction in general. The interiors, costumes, hairstyles, colours, lighting, and even the dramatic music evoke the spirit of 1970s’ and 1980s’ sci-fi cinema.
The fifth episode of Alien: Earth is its crowning glory. The episode’s title, “In Space, No One…”, obviously refers to the famous tagline advertising Ridley Scott’s 1979 film. From the very first shot, it becomes clear where the idea originated – the design of the USCSS Maginot is a wonderful tribute to the Nostromo spacecraft, in which Ellen Ripley first encountered the xenomorph.
Fans of Alien may get teary-eyed at the sight of white corridors, glass hibernation pods, and flashing golden lights in the Mother room. Wandering through the Maginot with the characters feels like coming home – to a time when the Xenomorph series was still new and scary.
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2. Adult characters make the series more engaging
Among the many things I don’t buy in Alien: Earth are the child protagonists. Although they’re well acted and sometimes genuinely funny, I find them unconvincing as opponents of bloodthirsty extraterrestrial predators – the creators don’t really use the potential offered by their bodies’ superhuman abilities. What’s worse, they’re one-dimensional characters
However, the fifth episode of the series focuses exclusively on the crew of the USCSS Maginot, ie, adult human protagonists, and it’s as refreshing as it can be. Of course, none of them are particularly complex characters either, but at least they’re all distinctive and serve the plot well.
At the end, it’s much more interesting to follow the ruthless Chief Security Officer Morrow, the alien-obsessed scientist Chibuzo, the creepy android Teng, and the sarcastic medic Rahim, than any of the naive hybrid-kids.
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3. The whodunnit formula introduces much-needed suspense
I have nothing against slow-burners. In fact, I enjoy them very much, as long as they offer interesting characters, an original plot, and subtly mounting tension. Unfortunately, Alien: Earth not only lacks the suspense to be a gripping thriller, but it’s also too bland to be a thought-provoking philosophical parable.
Fortunately, in the fifth episode, the creators abandon their attempts to create a philosophical tale and introduce a whodunnit plotline. The story follows Morrow investigating a mysterious malfunction of the ship. And, as all crew members are suspected of sabotage, the plot thickens nicely.
A clearly defined goal and rising tension make episode 5 the most coherent of the entire series.
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4. Survival horror gives the vibe of a true monster story
As I mentioned above, I’m fine with Alien: Earth not being a classic sci-fi thriller. I respect the fact that Noah Hawley chose to focus on transhumanism rather than monsters.
However, survival horror is the cornerstone of the Alien universe – the marginalisation of that component makes the story of the Xenomorph empty.
Watching episode 5, I was delighted to return to the classic Alien plot of monsters eliminating a crew, one by one. It was all even more exciting thanks to the nods to the original 1979 film. Sequences including crew attempting to cut through a facehugger wrapped around a human head or a breakfast during which the thickening atmosphere suggests the sudden appearance of a monster evoke much-loved scenes from Ridley Scott’s hit.
Alien: Earth is rolling out now on Hulu every Tuesday night at 8pm ET / 5pm PT. UK viewers can watch the series on Disney+ from 1am BST on Wednesdays.
