Alien Earth Episode 7: Emergence – Review

"He who fights with monsters might take care, lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you." - Friedrich W. Nietzsche

We're thrown straight back into the aftermath of Slightly's (Adarsh Gourav) disastrous choices. Arthur (David Rysdahl) lies unconscious, gripped by a face-hugger, while Tootles (Kit Young) is nothing more than a decomposed shell on the cold lab floor. The kids start to feel the weight of their actions, while Kirsh (Timothy Olyphant) and Boy Kavalier (Samuel Blenkin) reveal their true colours. The lines blur between heroes and villains, and the dread of the Xenomorph's presence becomes suffocating. Honestly, the compound feels less appealing than the men's toilets in a nightclub.

It's never a good idea to have a Xenomorph around - whether contained or free - because we know it'll find a way to get you. This season's variant has felt different from the start, particularly in its eerie connection with Wendy (Sydney Chandler) and the way it stalks from the rafters. It seems to be plotting, waiting for its moment. When it's finally released, it's a shock that Wendy herself triggers it. Hermit (Alex Lawther) is terrified, seemingly realising this isn't his sister at all, sparking fresh conflict. Again, their chemistry feels wrong; instead of sibling tension, it plays uncomfortably romantic. It's off-putting, and dare I say it - maybe Lawther was miscast. Somewhere, Han Solo is groaning: "I've got a bad feeling about this."

Wendy's ability to control the Xenomorph is a bold choice. At first it felt goofy, but watching their relationship unfold was surprisingly effective. Whether she has full or conditional control remains unclear, but it sets up fascinating possibilities. Maybe she's key to the birth of the Queen. The carnage is as thrilling as it is shocking — there's even a scene where the creature bursts through bushes in slow motion to wipe out a death squad. It felt like me playing Rainbow Six: Siege back in the day… on the losing side.

Kirsh (Olyphant) and the Eyeball continue their power struggle, each manipulating others in their own way. The Eyeball cleverly draws Boy Kavalier (Blenkin) closer by putting on a show for the cameras. Kirsh, meanwhile, may have just dethroned Morrow (Babou Ceesay) as the worst babysitter ever, using children as bait. Honestly, don't let either of these guys anywhere near a daycare.

This week also delivered one of the most gruesome chest-bursts yet, with Arthur (Rysdahl) meeting a tragic end. It's quick, bloody, and devastating - and it piles more trauma onto the children. Nibs (Lily Newmark) meets her own brutal fate after going cyber-psycho, only to be gunned down by Hermit (Lawther), much to Wendy's fury.

Alien: Earth continues to balance raw trauma with philosophical undertones, reminiscent of Prometheus (2012). Rewatching Prometheus, I realised I may have been too harsh on it - it tried something new, and Alien: Earth feels like a more nuanced successor. Its "show, don't tell" approach reminds me of Aftersun (2022) - my favourite horror film - which left me sobbing on the couch.

The Xenomorph's new design looks more threatening than ever, though its gold hue did remind me of Iron Man (2008), when Tony Stark swaps out the grey for gold and red. The cinematography is consistently stunning (though I rolled my eyes at one mountain shot). Still, the writing is sharp, the tension razor-edged, and the moral ambiguity of the characters keeps everything intense.

With the finale looming, it feels like Hawley is teeing up something massive. Could the last shot be the reveal of the Xeno-Queen? Will Kirsh survive? And is Boy Kavalier destined to become a puppet of the Eye? We'll find out soon enough.

Blake Reilly

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