Alien Earth – Episode 3 Review 'Metamorphosis'

After last week's brilliant start, Alien Earth keeps the momentum going with "Metamorphosis," serving up action, tension, and drama - with a dash of "he'd be dead if this were real life" thrown in for good measure.

Hawley and his crew deliver an episode that eases a few concerns left over from episode 2 while simultaneously raising the stakes.

We're dropped straight into the chaos left behind. Wendy (Sydney Chandler) and Hermit (Alex Lawther) are separated once again by the savage Xenomorph, leaving Wendy to pick up the pieces. The fact that Hermit isn't instantly ripped apart feels odd at first - but it's revealed that the Xenomorph has set an elaborate trap. This is where the creature truly shines. A brutal fight breaks out: the Xenomorph is killed, Wendy dies, and Hermit somehow clings to life despite injuries that really should have finished him off. The whole sequence is strange, unsettling, and yet undeniably compelling. Meanwhile, the creepy Morrow (Babou Ceesay) continues his failed pursuit of specimens, reduced to terrifying children - which, let's face it, has probably ended his daycare career for good.

From here, the series cranks up the psychological torment. Kirsh (Timothy Olyphant) takes on a role reminiscent of Albert Wesker (Resident Evil), and the group spirals into disarray. Gone is the Avengers-like cheesiness of earlier episodes; what remains is a traumatised group of children who suddenly feel real and vulnerable. The once-goofy "children in synthetic bodies" concept now hits differently, driving home the horror of kids being hunted and manipulated by both humans and aliens.

Standouts this week include Nibbs (Lily Newmark), whose mix of childlike innocence and raw trauma is brilliantly portrayed, and Slightly (Adarsh Gourav), who faces his own unsettling arc. These performances help transform the once-jarring premise into something dark, haunting, and genuinely exciting to see unfold.

Kirsh's experiments with a Facehugger echo David from Prometheus (2012). He unveils a tadpole-like creature hidden within the egg and then implants it inside Hermit's damaged lung — yet another reminder that in the Alien franchise, synthetics are never your friends.

And yes, before anyone calls me a biased fanboy, here come the criticisms. Hermit has had far too much plot armour. Surviving a spear-like impalement, a long fall, a fight with a Xenomorph, and now multiple potential impregnations? Come on. Whatever his gym routine is, I want in. Wendy, meanwhile, has frustrating moments too — her wrangling of the Xenomorph's head-tongue like a rogue farm animal was more silly than scary.

Still, despite these bumps, Alien Earth is hurtling toward something special. The tension is high, the effects look fantastic (sorry film bros, the Alien really doesn't look as bad as you say), and the acting across the board is excellent - though Lawther's American accent is still a bit distracting.

Overall, "Metamorphosis" is a gripping, creepy entry that deepens the story, raises the stakes, and proves that Hawley's vision for this franchise is only getting stronger.

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Blake Reilly