The Xenomorph, once the undisputed apex predator of movie monsters, is no longer the scariest thing in town. In Noah Hawley’s Alien: Earth, a new villain has emerged from the depths of human depravity – mankind itself.
Hawley’s show takes place in a world where corporations own biology, technology, and even consciousness. Humans are uploaded into artificial bodies called hybrids, while augmented humans known as cyborgs fight for dominance with androids. Cities are essentially company towns, and democracy has become extinct.
This new narrative twist takes the Alien franchise to a whole new level of terror. The show explores the darker side of human nature, where people are treated as commodities to be used and discarded. Even the iconic Xenomorph is reduced to a second-string nuisance, its terror now just an inconvenient obstacle in the path of humanity’s self-destruction.
Alien: Earth’s creator, Noah Hawley, has chosen to tweak canon to focus on biotech companies carving up humans for parts. This new direction showcases the real horror that lurks in our own world – a hyper-capitalist society that values profit over human life.
The show’s portrayal of humanity’s descent into madness is both unsettling and thought-provoking. It highlights the darker aspects of our nature, where people are treated as disposable assets to be used for corporate gain. Alien: Earth is a chilling reminder that the real monsters we face are often those closest to home – ourselves.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2025/aug/26/alien-earth-humanity