Alien: Earth hasn't been renewed for season 2, but creator Noah Hawley is discussing the show's future with FX (Misleading

[–] TehBamski@lemmy.world 18 points 1 week ago (3 children)

I personally thought season 1 started off strong. I enjoyed episodes 1-5 the most. Eps. 6-8 didn't always hold my intrigue level as much as the previous episodes. While the show slowed down in ways for the later episodes, it also got a little 'messy'. And while that was visually appealing on screen, it was not as well received personally in terms of the story. I started forming a bit of disinterest in Wendy and Joe, her brother, in the last two episodes. That being said, I thought this was a good starting season for Alien: Earth.

I'm hoping that it gets a second season, so we can further see these mega corps go head to head with one another. Plus the ending left me actually wanting to see how far Wendy and the other synths will go and what possible trade offs they might make along the way.

[–] xploit@lemmy.world 9 points 1 week ago (1 children)

That's kinda how I felt about the show.... strong start, silly things could usually be explained by realising kids don't know what exactly they should do, without huge detriment to the show. But at some point it's like the writing/story line got lazy and mistakes became more dumb rather than something happening due to inexperience/young age.

[–] tiramichu@sh.itjust.works 4 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

For me the stupidity was there right from the first episode, where the miliarty team entering the ship crash make a ridiculous decision to jump down a broken flight of stairs which nearly kills them.

That's when I realised ah - they aren't doing that because they as characters would reasonably choose do it, they're making a stupid decision simply because the plot dictates they get cut off.

When characters act in unbelievable dumbass ways just for the plot, it totally ruins the immersion by making the supposedly "invisible hand" of the writer very visible indeed.

[–] jbone@lemmy.dbzer0.com 6 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Interesting how perspectives can vary.

I didn't like it straight away and gave up after Episode 03 (tried to give it a chance). From the comments I've seen, the severe problems present in the first three episodes only got worse later on.

[–] tiramichu@sh.itjust.works 9 points 1 week ago (1 children)

It wasn't great. Which really made me sad because I wanted to love this show.

The most compelling stories happen when it feels like the narrative unfolds due to the characters and their interactions, where A inevitably causes B, which in turn causes C, and so-on.

Watching Alien Earth, it felt like A, B and C were all drawn out in advance, and the characters were simply going through predictable and sometimes bizarre motions to move the plot from one point to the next.

Obviously shows and movies are scripted and written in advance, but the trick is to make it not feel like that to the audience, so we can get invested and live in the moment, with the characters.

And that was the problem with Alien Earth. I barely cared about anyone, I couldn't get invested, and the whole thing felt bland to me.

The biggest exception was Morrow (the Maginot's cyborg security officer) who I thought was a great character, with strong acting performance. The flashback episode to the events on the Maginot prior to the crash which featured him significantly was probably the strongest episode IMO.

[–] jbone@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 1 week ago

The actor who played Morror did a good job at least in the first 3 episodes.

I tried watching Episode 05 (people were recommending it, saying it's self-contained and a throwback to the movies). Turned it off after 10 minutes, it's not for me.

[–] criticon@lemmy.ca 1 points 1 week ago

I watched ep 4 last night and I thought it was very boring. The story is interesting but they take a lot of time to build up stuff that don't deliver. The episode could have been an email. I'll probably keep watching tho

[–] CallMeAnAI@lemmy.world 3 points 1 week ago

Everyone went from kinda stupid, to unreasonably stupid.

[–] HeyJoe@lemmy.world 12 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Didn't realize the show was hated so much. I guess that's most things these days. Personally, I went in knowing nothing, and it quickly became one of my favorite shows to watch each week along with Peacemaker. My only gripe was when I was talking to my friend about it last night and was saying how excited i was to see how this wraps up either next week or the week after and he told me this was the finale... I hate seasons that dont have any distinct end to them, and this one really didn't conclude anything! I guess i just assumed there were more because there were only 8 episodes and was expecting 10. Hope it gets renewed because that would be a terrible ending if this is it. Also not looking forward to the almost 2 years until it finally gets released if it does.

[–] Scallops@ttrpg.network 3 points 1 week ago

I don't get the hate either. It's a perfectly cromulent show. It innovates within a franchise, while paying homage for its predecessors, without derailing into fan service/derivative nostalgia porn. That's a hard thing to accomplish.

And I see the critiques and while they're valid, they're mostly "this show isn't a masterpiece", which yes. But fucking Virgin River got renewed for a sixth season, it makes no sense to not renew this one.

[–] DigitalGemini@sh.itjust.works 10 points 1 week ago

Damn. After reading some of the comments to this post all I can say is, “I thought Star Wars fans were picky.” I’d give season 1 a solid 8 out of 10, which is more than I’d give anything outside of Isolation since the Assembly Cut of Alien 3. Let’s be happy that both the Alien and Predator franchises are getting some quality output and understand that art mirrors the times. Alien: Earth is of this time, the OG trilogy is of the 80s and 90s and I personally don’t want to see any rehashes. Admittedly, I’d like to see the xeno be more threatening in season 2 if it happens, but many of these characters and creatures are very interesting, acted and well-written in my opinion.

[–] Mediocre_Bard@lemmy.world 8 points 1 week ago (1 children)

This show has been the highlight of my week since it premiered. It captures the Alien Universe, especially the corporate bullshit. Human/synth hybrids seem like an amazing path to go down, as well as the structure and hierarchy of the Alien civilization.

I watch this and then pause to excitedly explain to my wife why what just happened is important or how it caught me completely by surprise. Honestly, I'm not surprised that they aren't renewing it, since that's what seems to happen to all great shows lately.

[–] UKFilmNerd@feddit.uk 4 points 1 week ago

No decision has been taken yet, the headline is misleading.

[–] x00z@lemmy.world 7 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Many times it felt like it was more about the kids than the Alien stuff.

[–] Ethalis@jlai.lu 11 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Yep. Honestly it isn't even a bad premise, those kids are a pretty good sci-fi setting that (to my knowledge) is very original. However I feel like it kinda stole too much space to the main reason anyone would watch an Alien series : the actual alien.

[–] misericordiae@literature.cafe 1 points 1 week ago

A series just about the hybrids and the corporations coulda been cool if it was thoughtfully done. But you're right, all anyone would have done is gripe that there weren't any xenomorphs.

[–] Broken@lemmy.ml 9 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I think it was supposed to be that way. They leaned heavily into the peter pan story, and were developing more universe background around the corporations and synthetics.

On paper I'm good with that. In practice, it kind of got old watching kids. Hats off to the actors, because they did a great job being a kid in an adult body. But at the end of they day, is watching a bunch of 8 year olds as the main attraction entertaining? It almost felt like watching a bunch of mentally disabled people since they were in adult bodies.

[–] popcornpizza@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 points 4 days ago (1 children)

That was my issue. I explained it elsewhere, but to me the screen is about entertainment. The books based on the Alien universe do a great job at exploring the question of humanity and consciousness in the synths, the brutal capitalism, and social issues. It's harder to read/write about xeno battles, so I get it.

The actors, the props, and all that was awesome. I liked the show for what it was, but I expected xenomorphs in the Alien show, and not pet xenos, but actual uncontrollable ones. Maybe something like a zombie outbreak but with xenos.

I'm also kind of tired of coming-of-age stories, tbh. Maybe I'm just too old for it.

[–] Broken@lemmy.ml 2 points 4 days ago

I'm also kind of tired of coming-of-age stories, tbh. Maybe I'm just too old for it.

I'm right there with you bro.

[–] UKFilmNerd@feddit.uk 7 points 1 week ago (2 children)

I don't know what people where expecting. This wasn't going to be Alien/Aliens condensed into fifty minutes every week. I knew there was going to be something else that was going to carry the story. I really enjoyed it and loved the fact it introduced other creatures that are just as nasty as disgusting.

[–] tankplanker@lemmy.world 5 points 1 week ago

Yeah I would like to know what exactly they expected. I stopped posting as I found the negativity just too depressing to deal with, there is very little TV shows this year that is head and shoulders better.

At its core the Alien films are horror films, well Aliens is a Nam war movie but with added horror elements. Horror films rely on most of the protagonists being dumb at least some of the time, going into the basement, saying the funny words in the book bound in human skin, etc.

Ripley is a Cassandra figure, shes the only one who makes sense but is ignored until its too late, and the people ignoring her are mostly morons possessed with self interest and greed. Its not a new concept to the franchise or horror films in general.

A straight retread of the same concept of Alien or Aliens doesn't work, its been done, its even been done again in a Force Awakens way recently with Romulus. Earth had to be its own thing with its own expanded scope otherwise it would never have the legs to cover about seven hours.

[–] prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone 4 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I thought it was pretty good. My only real complaint was that I think they made the Xenomorph too humanoid-looking. It almost looks like a person in a suit at times.

[–] UKFilmNerd@feddit.uk 2 points 6 days ago

To be honest, that was the biggest disappointment of the whole show for me. The design of the alien was great, but as you say, it was too "man in suit"-ish too often. Also, it wasn't slimy or wet enough. It always looked plasticy.

[–] highduc@lemmy.ml 6 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Surprised to see it wasn't renewed, I thought it was quite popular.

[–] UKFilmNerd@feddit.uk 11 points 1 week ago

I think the headline is misleading, it should include the word “yet”. A decision is still to be made.

[–] Broken@lemmy.ml 4 points 1 week ago

I was highly impressed with episode 1. As the series went on, I liked it less and less.

Not even being critical, I am willing to let imperfections go for the enjoyment of the show, but it just got too far gone. It just wasn't well written at all. There didn't seem to be any logic in the whole thing, and plot points seem to happen for convenience.

I hope it was successful enough that the IP doesn't get shelved, but if Earth isn't coming back I'd kind of be happy about it.

[–] SlartyBartFast@sh.itjust.works 3 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Is this show based off the Alien movies?

[–] DeadPixel@lemmy.zip 5 points 1 week ago

Yes & it’s fucking awesome!

[–] lobut@lemmy.ca 3 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Feels like they had this story about hybrid kids ahead of time and then shoved the Aliens IP on top of it.

There are so few things I actually like about this show. Others seem to enjoy it. Episode 5 was the stand out for me. Episode 1,2 gave me some hope but I got slow burned by this. Watching so many bad decisions being made and then having people say "they're just kids" isn't a good enough tv watching experience for me. Kirsch and Marrow were obvious highlights. I actually liked Kavalier up until the last two episodes. The Pi thing was so stupid it upset me. The thing is that the kids also really bug me. The doctors bug me. The brother bugs me. I'm hoping it doesn't get renewed.

[–] popcornpizza@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 points 4 days ago

The Pi thing was so stupid it upset me.

If the previous episodes hadn't made a show of stating the eye is smart, it could have been a Clever Hans moment. Maybe it was. But it's hard to tell where they want this to go.

[–] misericordiae@literature.cafe 3 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Kirsch and Marrow were obvious highlights.

Agreed.

The Pi thing was so stupid it upset me.

SAME. So many assumptions had to be made for that scene to play out the way it did.

[–] Zoomboingding@lemmy.world 3 points 1 week ago

Oh, I didn't realize the season was over... The pacing of the show is honestly awful. I like the themes and ideas it throws down, but there's just no tension in most scenes, which is a shame for any horror show. I really can't call it horror though, it's a sci-fi with some dangerous monsters.

So, season 1 doesn't have any payoff on what it was building up!? The hybrids don't use their super strength for anything useful? The eyeball doesn't get to accomplish anything? The Xenomorph doesn't kill anyone important? Wayland-Yutani, one of the five largest military forces on Earth, only sends a small strike team against Prodigy, one of the OTHER largest military forces on Earth?

[–] FarraigePlaisteach@lemmy.world 2 points 1 week ago

I’m a huge fan of the first two moves and maybe Romulus too. But this series didn’t fit the Alien universe.

They started off with the right aesthetic in the first episode but they used it to segue into a universe that isn’t compatible with Alien at all. That was kind of sneaky.

Also it is set before the first Alien movie yet the tech and androids are more advanced than the first two movies.

I think it’s a good idea to branch out beyond just the Alien in a clostraphobic space, but this doesn’t work IMO.

Also, some of the characters have what are like superpowers. Alien was never a superhero movie. Appealing to fans of other franchises just homogenised the production.

All these elements play a big part in the writing and unfortunately the five episodes I watched didn’t interest me. I’m not interested in most of the characters.

I hope it doesn’t continue because I’m afraid these poor decisions will contaminate future production.

[–] misericordiae@literature.cafe 2 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I'm one of the people that went into the show with high hopes, but ended up hate watching pretty quickly (which, tbh, was enjoyable in its own way). I do think there were one or two cool ideas/moments buried in there somewhere, but the execution as a whole didn't work for me at all.

That said, I was under the impression a lot of people liked it, and there's nothing worse than a show that gets cancelled with only half (?) its story told. I kinda hope it gets a second season to at least wrap up everything the finale put in motion but didn't get around to.

[–] krooklochurm@lemmy.ca 3 points 1 week ago

I absolutely loved it. Every minute.

[–] salty_chief@lemmy.world 1 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Unless they make an adjacent Predator series and these two merge? Probably a pipe dream but would be very cool.

[–] KaChilde@sh.itjust.works 8 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Eh, I feel like Alien Earth should exist without Predator. They are very different franchises, and AvP stuff becomes action-schlock over horror.

Now, a dedicated AvP show, that’s another thing…

[–] TehBamski@lemmy.world 1 points 1 week ago

Now, a dedicated AvP show, that’s another thing…

My vote would be to not include the humans, as I would rather see more of the comics come to life in other formats. And by golly are there is a trove of Alien and Predator comics out there.

I recommend checking out some of the Youtubers that narrate them, or doing some reading but also talk about the overall elements and history bits and pieces of the work(s). Suggestions A, Suggestion B

LV426 - On Lemmy no one can hear you scream