Season 1, Episode 8: ‘The Real Monsters’
Just a few weeks ago, a friend and I were speculating about the direction of “Alien: Earth.” Even then, Neverland Island was unraveling. Its owner, Boy Kavalier, became more repugnant with each passing moment on screen, his wealthy, leering presence a constant source of discomfort. And, of course, aliens of various kinds had been feasting on people throughout the entire season.
It seemed inevitable that the boy genius, Kavalier, was destined for a close encounter with a xenomorph, right?
My friend, half-kidding, questioned whether series creator Noah Hawley would deny audiences the satisfying payoff they desperately wanted. Hawley, known for his bleak crime anthology “Fargo,” has sometimes withheld such catharsis. Would Kavalier escape the classic alien fate—no facehugger, no chestburster, his skull safe from “rapid unscheduled disassembly” by a creature from beyond?
Turns out, my friend’s worries were unfounded. Kavalier may have survived this episode, but he certainly didn’t emerge unscathed. After a terrifying face-to-many-faces encounter with a xenomorph that left him thoroughly humiliated, he was spared only because his hybrid “Lost Boys” decided to imprison him instead. His island home is now under siege by a ruthless corporate competitor and swarming with terrifying, repulsive creatures. His loyal, albeit sleazy, right-hand man has also been transformed into an extravagant, immobile monument (but more on that later).
One after another, Kavalier and his morally dubious staff and enforcers face their much-deserved reckoning. Their comeuppance arrives thanks to the incredible powers of Marcy Hermit, the hybrid child who can not only communicate with the aliens but also manipulate technology with a magical prowess.
The forced evacuation of Neverland, triggered by the alien invasion, perfectly sets the scene for a grand revenge. As the chaotic departure begins, the Lost Boys find themselves confined in a stark holding cell, reminiscent of a Victorian-era zoo. Guided by Marcy, the hybrids collaborate, reaching two crucial realizations.
First, they’ve had enough of the adults—human, synthetic, or cyborg—and their cruel treatment. Second, they discover they possess immense power, enough to not just fight back, but to seize complete control of the island.
The spark for their plan comes from a casual comment by Nibs, the most troubled and aggressive of the hybrid children. Reflecting on their existence—neither fully child nor adult—she declares, “We’re all ghosts.” This ignites an idea in Marcy: if they are indeed ghosts, why not behave like them? Why not turn the tables and terrify their tormentors?
Marcy unleashes her extraordinary abilities to execute this very idea. With seamless access to the island’s entire network, she effortlessly opens prison cells, disables security cameras, and monitors anyone she chooses.
During an intense confrontation with Boy Kavalier’s personal aide, Atom Eins, Marcy discovers she can even deactivate networked synthetics. This “distinguished gentleman,” it’s revealed, was a synthetic all along, much like Kirsh. Atom was Kavalier’s first creation, built when the inventor was just six years old, and subsequently served as a surrogate father and public face after Kavalier murdered his own abusive father. The naming — Atom, Adam; eins, one — speaks volumes.
Atom is far from the only character to face retribution in this episode. Wendy confronts Dame Sylvia, tormenting her with recordings of the children they once were, before Sylvia’s grotesquely unethical medical experiments transformed them into immortal weapons for a trillionaire psychopath. Meanwhile, Smee and Slightly quickly dispatch Kirsh and Morrow, who come perilously close to killing each other in a brutal brawl within the creature lab. Curly, not to be outdone, subdues Rashidi, the sole Prodigy soldier left standing after the massacre.
Wendy unleashes a xenomorph to hunt Boy Kavalier. It terrifies him to the brink of death before she calls it off, allowing her brother, Joe, to deliver a well-deserved kick to Kavalier’s head. Joe’s anger is justified: Kavalier’s final order before Marcy orchestrated the island’s chaos was for Atom to feed Joe to the grotesque eyeball monster. It was Marcy’s swift action that saved Joe from both Atom and the creature.
So, let’s tally the monstrous inhabitants, shall we? The slithering eyeball creature discovers a new host in Arthur’s lifeless body, which washes ashore on a nearby beach. The colossal plant monster, resembling a gliding cuttlefish capable of terrifying speed and, naturally, human consumption, escapes after pulverizing Rashidi’s partner, Siberian. Thankfully, the leech bugs and barf bugs remain contained, as Smee reports. Both the adult xenomorph and its younger, lab-created companion are now under the command of Marcy and the other hybrids, who are safe from their wrath.
What of the more human, or Frankensteinian, monsters? Kirsh is left with a fractured back and a mouth dripping with white android blood, though this doesn’t deter his sarcastic remarks. Morrow, Kirsh’s cyborg rival, has been thoroughly pummeled by Kirsh and Slightly, who lands a satisfying blow even after Morrow claims he never hurt his mother. Atom, meanwhile, is completely immobilized, awaiting Marcy’s command.
The true monsters in this narrative, echoing the episode’s title, are undeniably human and undeniably wealthy. Perhaps they are bitter young moguls like Kavalier, who Marcy accurately observes is as abusive as the despised, deceased father he avenged. Or perhaps they are entitled figures of dynasty like Yutani, glimpsed briefly directing her forces in the invasion of Neverland Island, whose irresponsible manipulation of nature’s formidable power sealed the fate of countless individuals.
In a twist of poetic justice, Kavalier, Yutani, and their empires have inadvertently orchestrated their own destruction. For Kavalier, this is literal: he’s found bound in a cruciform position to a cage, at the mercy of his own creations. His maniacal laughter echoes as Marcy declares that she and the other hybrids intend to “rule.” Whether it’s Kavalier’s hybrids or Yutani’s unleashed aliens, history is rife with capitalists who unwittingly arm their own executioners.
Despite its stark message and the absolutely sickening violence and creature effects—seriously, that eyeball still gives me the creeps—this season finale of “Alien: Earth” often managed to be visually stunning. Cinematographer Dana Gonzales captures the xenomorph roaming Neverland’s jungles, beaches, and hills with a style reminiscent of Terrence Malick’s contemplative grindhouse, filled with rustling foliage and elegant slow fades. It’s been a genuine delight for fans of 1970s New Hollywood cinema to see techniques like slow fades and zooms resurface in television this year, notably in this series and the equally retro-futuristic “Severance.”
To claim that “Alien: Earth” could have been a disaster might be an overstatement. I know many who believe Ridley Scott’s 1979 original is the only true “Alien” film. Yet, even for them, 46 years of subsequent material, arguably lesser, hasn’t diminished the original’s allure. This monster, it seems, can take a lot of hits and keep coming back for more.
However, there’s absolutely nothing to endure when watching “Alien: Earth.” It stands as a thrilling, stylish sci-fi horror show in its own right, and a truly top-tier addition to the iconic franchise. Creator Noah Hawley has finally achieved what countless ill-fated Weyland-Yutani Corporation employees failed to do for nearly five decades: he successfully brought the Aliens to Earth.