NINETOES VS. ALIEN EARTH EP 104

The fanbase of the ALIEN franchise has determined this to be a polarizing show as it continues to wow viewers, but is Ninetoes on board?

An unexpected connection is formed while a covert plot puts everyone in danger.

Directed by Ugla Hauksdottir

Written by Noah Hawley and Bobak Esfarjani, based on concepts by Dan O’Bannon and Ronald Shusett.

Starring Sydney Chandler, Alex Lawther, and Essie Davis

Hey there, television lovers! It is your old pal, Ninetoes, coming to you from Ninetoes HQ. Today, I am taking a look at episode four of Alien: Earth I have coffee in my system, and my thinking cap on, so let’s do this!

Here we are at the halfway point, and this episode is packed with emotion exhibited differently in each of the “kids”. Curly exhibits jealousy, Nibs exhibits anger, Smee exhibits wonderment, etc. Part of me is wondering if they were programmed this way. They are products, androids, and experimental prototypes. Even though they have the minds of children implanted in them, what’s to say that some extra tinkering was done in the background?

In the episode, “The Five” is mentioned, and at one point, one of the kids asks Wendy’s brother about it. For those that do not know, The Five are the five corporations that run the world and keep everything in check. Those corporations are: Weyland-Yutani, Prodigy, Lynch, Dynamic, and Threshold. So far, this series has been heavy on the Prodigy side of things, with Weyland-Yutani hovering in the background.

As much as this is a Science-Fiction/Horror series, it should also be considered Cyberpunk. With a heavy emphasis on corporations, science, engineering, and implants, it has all of the hallmarks of a great cyberpunk show. It even fits the timeline for a lot of popular cyberpunk books and games. In fact, I would say it is right at home there. (If you are wondering where this show fits in the Alien franchise timeline, it is between Alien: Covenant, set in the year 2104, and Alien, set in 2122).

The acting in this episode is even better than the previous episodes, and that is in large part due to the other kids. Each had their assignment and knocked it out of the park. The other actor to watch is Timothy Olyphant. His portrayal of Kirsh is off the charts. At times dispassionate, and at others, he is like a parent that heard the word “Dad” one too many times in the checkout line of Walmart. Then again, like I told a good friend of mine this morning, I would watch a movie of Olyphant eating Doritos or reading a Manhattan phone directory.

The character to keep an eye on is Morrow, portrayed by Babou Ceesay. You know he is up to no good at all, and he plays it to the hilt. He nails the snake in the garden so well that I want to reach into the screen and get him in a chokehold, and that right there is a testimony to his acting ability.

The sets are mainly in the Prodigy campus, and a lot of time is spent in science labs, but they hit the mark on this as well. One of the interesting sets was Wendy’s room. It had a childlike quality to reflect her character, right down to the size of the bed. When she is standing next to it, I wonder how it handles her height. Maybe my sense of proportion is off, but it just looked a bit small for her.

This show just keeps getting better and better, and I, for one, cannot wait to see what happens next!

This show is perfect! Excuse me…it is perfect for fans of the Alien franchise, cyberpunk, horror, and Peter Pan.

Darren “Ninetoes” Perdue is a book and media reviewer. When he is not reading, he is watching true crime shows, cooking for his family, or working on a plan for universal domination. If you see him on his porch, say hi. He does not bite…much.

PLEASE NOTE: The views and opinions of the staff of Memento Mori Ink do not necessarily represent those of Memento Mori Ink or Crystal Lake Publishing. Thank you for understanding.