Alien Earth - Season Finale “The Real Monsters” - Review

We open with most of our characters in jail, paying the price for their sins. Wendy (Sydney Chandler) is now fully in her God Complex era - potentially nodding to the Elouise storyline from the Alien comics (1997) and still refusing to make peace with Hermit (Alex Lawther). Meanwhile, Morrow (Babou Ceesay) lies beaten and restrained with a device blocking his cybernetic enhancements. Somewhere, Johnny Silverhand (Keanu Reeves) is filing a formal complaint.

Across the board, performances have been strong this season, but Samuel Blenkin is the absolute MVP. His chaotic, unhinged portrayal of Boy Kavalier gives the show an emotional edge it desperately needed, and his final episode performance cements him as the standout human element. Honourable mention to Lily Newmark, Nibs' cyber-psychosis escalated to such deranged heights it made me audibly gasp.

Androids have always been trouble in the Alien universe, which is why I've stayed loyal to Apple. Wendy and her band of misfit synthetics were supposed to be different, yet they've fallen into the same pattern as Ash (Alien) and David (Prometheus). Except this time, it's creepier - because they're children.

Strangely, the Xenomorph barely does anything this episode beyond reinforcing Wendy's (Chandler) divine delusions. It's now criminally underused. I previously applauded the show for its "show, don't tell" approach, but now it feels like it neither showed nor told. It's giving Godzilla (2014): constant cutaways from the action to perspectives nobody asked for. Fun at times, but where's the monster?

The other invasive species are equally underwhelming. Best kill goes to the Plant, flattening Siberian (Diêm Camille) like Omni-Man pancaking Red Rush in Invincible. The Eyeball attempts to grab Hermit (Lawther), but thanks to his god-tier plot armour, Death (from Final Destination) wouldn't stand a chance. In the end, Wendy and her crew escape, imprison the adults, and post the Xenomorph on guard duty. The season closes on "Now we rule" backed by a couple of Xenos and an ecstatic Boy Kavalier (Blenkin). It absolutely slaps… until you realise that's it.

And that brings me to my biggest problem: nothing is resolved. Every narrative ends on an undeserved cliffhanger. The whole season built towards something massive, and instead of payoff, we got blatant sequel bait… despite Season 2 not being confirmed. A season preaching anti-corporate greed ends by pulling a corporate greed tactic. The irony writes itself. The real monsters are, in fact, the corporations ruining everyone's fun.

Despite the ending fumble, Alien Earth is still absolutely worth the watch. Its tension, performances, atmosphere and additions to the franchise lore are stellar. If Season 2 happens, the sting of this finale will fade. Until then? Consider me frustrated, entertained, and cautiously hopeful.

Blake Reilly

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