REVIEW: ‘Alien: Earth’ Episode 4 — “Observation”

It’s time to have observations of all kinds and test our loyalties in Alien Earth Episode 4, “Observation,” everyone. You could think of the title of the episode from a scientific perspective or in terms of the characters observing one another. Neither would be wrong in this case with this sci-fi horror delight’s fourth episode. 

Alien Earth Episode 4 follows various characters directly after Episode 3, who are dealing with individual issues, especially those that pertain to loyalties and what’s most important to them. Alien Earth continues its slower pace in Episode 4, with character development and the introduction of new elements. In the previous episode, we discovered that Wendy (Sydney Chandler) was experiencing pain and hearing loud noises because of an experiment being performed on a facehugger. And in Alien Earth Episode 4, we touch base on that discovery more. 

In Alien Earth Episode 4, we see more of what Wendy is capable of in terms of communicating with the alien species that Boy Kavalier (Samuel Blenkin) is harboring. The only person who is fully worried about Wendy’s well-being is Joseph (Alex Lawther), and that’s already causing conflict with Prodigy. Just like Weyland-Yutani, Prodigy isn’t considering the long-term consequences of its actions. An action that’ll undoubtedly cause the deaths of many people on the private island they’re operating on. 

The mystery deepens not only surrounding Wendy, but also the other hybrids in Alien Earth Episode 4.

Throughout Alien Earth Episode 4, we bounce around characters. In terms of Wendy, her journey is taking a sharp turn, as she is now able to hear the creatures communicating, as well as the evolutions that follow later in the episode. Her continued presence as the main character remains effective for the series as it progresses, and this episode further reinforces that.

There hasn’t always been someone in the Alien universe who has a different understanding of the species we learn about across the galaxies. Instead of being confrontational, Wendy is fascinated and has a connection with them that’s not yet fully explained. As for the other hybrids, things are going awry regarding the loyalty and stability of several characters. One of the hybrids, Nibs (Lily Newark), is becoming increasingly unstable by claiming she’s pregnant and threatening one of the Prodigy employees when they question her.

Meanwhile, Slightly’s (Adarsh Gouray) situation with Morrow (Babou Ceesay) has taken a sharp turn downhill because he’s now being forced to betray his friends and Prodigy, or his family will be killed by Morrow. If anyone had been questioning how villainous Morrow really is, Alien Earth Episode 4 makes it clear that he’ll do anything to protect the eggs. 

A new layer of exploration is displayed in how the titular Aliens are literally dissected and picked apart.

Throughout the Alien franchise, numerous individuals have risked their lives or the lives of others to study or capture the xenomorph. Therefore, Morrow being unhinged in this manner isn’t unusual in this universe. But what makes him a fascinating, villainous character is that he’s fully capable of storming Prodigy’s island right now. Rather than crashing the party, he’s letting Slightly handle the hard part. Most likely, he’ll be caught once he makes his attempt because Kirsch (Timothy Olyphant) is onto him.  

Instead of getting back to the action and having people be torn open or facehugged, the violence that we mostly see is teased or is part of the experiments themselves. The scientists and Boy Kavalier orchestrate an unsettling experiment on the alien hybrid lamb by throwing one of the eyeballs (not kidding) with tentacles in the glass cage with it. There’s a morbid curiosity that the characters have with the aliens, and the lack of consideration for the harm or tensions they’re causing is front and center. 

Although it may sound strange, Alien Earth presents a unique perspective on the aliens. While the xenomorph and the other species aren’t to be underestimated as far as violence, being experimented on is surely something that creatures like them revile. And this much is clear, as evidenced by Wendy’s earlier comment that they don’t like it. Rather than giving us characters who are helpless against threats, these characters are actively playing with fire and causing harm that isn’t in self-defense. 

Communication with xenomorphs may pave the way for something truly amazing for the Alien universe.

Alien Earth Episode 4 offers its viewers, especially longtime Alien fans, insight into what could’ve happened if someone was able to understand the xenomorph or other cross-species on a base level. As Wendy is the main character and the one who, throughout the episode, struggles with how the species is being treated, a character like her might have changed the course of nearly everything in other installments. Instead of a character like David (Michael Fassbender) in Prometheus or Alien: Covenant, imagine this version of Wendy being there in his place?  

This episode is solid from start to finish. The writing for Alien Earth has been relatively consistent, the production value is evident, the creature designs are a lot of fun, and the acting is great from the cast we frequently see. Everyone feels like they belong in the Alien universe, especially since this is a prequel series and the films that came before it are Prometheus and Alien: Covenant. 

That all said, Alien Earth Episode 4 is a good, albeit slow, episode that contributes to the slow build-up toward a chaotic turn of events. We’re sure to see xenomorph action against the human beings that are currently living on the island. And what will happen to all of those eggs that are hoping to hatch? The answer to that question will soon be answered as Alien Earth continues its trek throughout a very futuristic-looking Earth. 

At the end of the day, if you don’t mind character work and intriguing developments that can occur in sci-horror properties, you’ll enjoy Alien Earth Episode 4. 

Alien Earth Episode 4 is streaming now on Hulu and Disney+ internationally, with new episodes releasing every Tuesday.

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