The kids are done playing by the rules, and the adults, synthetic or otherwise, are indeed in a bind in Alien Earth Episode 8. Having officially wrapped up for Season 1, with no official news about a renewal, we’re left with a lot of questions as to where everyone ends up.
Once again, Alien: Earth proves that Wendy (Sydney Chandler) is the character whose perspective is key. Throughout the episode, it’s clear that who she was at the beginning of the story is long gone. But she’s no longer the same person that Joseph (Alex Lawther) knew before, either.
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Alien Earth Episode 8, “The Real Monsters,” follows the aftermath of everyone’s actions in Episode 7, and we see the hybrids in temporary lockup. However, what Prodigy doesn’t know is that the kids are far more in control, looking to break free from being owned by Boy Kavalier (Samuel Blenkin), and are now entirely under Wendy’s leadership.
Sydney Chandler delights as Wendy who remains the crucial perspective.
Instead of Boy Kavalier getting what he wants, he finally gets what’s coming to him. Though, not in the form of being ripped apart by the xenomorph or another one of the alien species.
The episode opens on the beach, where we see Arthur’s (David Rysdahl) corpse, briefly observed by the xenomorph. Despite the chaos of Alien: Earth Episode 7, we kick off somewhat slowly this time around. Everyone is in their own stressful situations.
Weyland-Yutani is disrupting the satellites and is on its way to Prodigy’s island, and Boy Kavalier is unraveling like a ball of yarn. The people who are used to being in control in the series are suddenly at the mercy of others. And there’s no disputing that it’s deserved because toying with people’s lives sometimes has consequences.
We witness Wendy playing around with technology for amusement, as well as to help her and the hybrids escape their predicament. She’s also actively beckoning the rogue xenomorph back to the facility. The other hybrids are allowed moments of their own, but Wendy continues to be a prominent center focus. It’s not a bad thing in the slightest, though, as Chandler’s performance is a delight to watch.
Alien Earth Episode 8 needed to give Morrow more to do.
Aside from Wendy, Joseph and Morrow (Babou Ceesay) are seen temporarily in a cell together. At least until they get out, and Morrow attempts to go on a murderous rampage. One unfortunate aspect of the episode is that Morrow only beats up a guard, tries to kill Kirsh (Timothy Olyphant) and breaks his back, and is then taken out for the remainder of the episode. Considering it was teased for many episodes that Morrow would be a dangerous force as soon as he got to the island, it’s a shame that the possibilities fizzled out in the finale.
The other characters fare no better, as they either die at the hands of the aliens or are captured by the hybrids. A few characters that end up being relatively pointless are the Prodigy soldiers, who do very little throughout Alien Earth Episode 8. It’s a minor gripe because that screen time could’ve been used for the hybrids, the Xenomorph, or something more interesting. However, it isn’t uncommon for the Alien universe to introduce soldiers who are destined to die in the end.
As the episode progresses, we see our hybrid crew working together to gather the adults. Whether they’re synthetics, cyborgs, or humans making terrible decisions. Every single one of them is stripped of the control they might have had over the hybrids. Boy Kavalier is brought to heel, Slightly (Adarsh Gourav) gets to hit Morrow in the face with something, Smee (Jonathan Ajayi) and Slightly tie up Kirsh, Dame Sylvia (Essie Davis) is brought to confinement by Nibs (Lily Newmark). And, at the end of “The Real Monsters” Wendy speaks the truth about Boy Kavalier’s true nature.
The finale shows the consequences of toying with the lives of others.
It’s almost always satisfying to watch a power-hungry man be weakened, all due to his poor decision-making and desire to own everything he can. Alien Earth Episode 8 presents its audience with the apparent reality that neither Prodigy nor Weyland-Yutani is looking to help anyone. Both companies are acting in their own self-interest, and those who oppose them don’t last long (as seen with Arthur).
Most of the finale is spent building to the ending, which may frustrate some viewers because there’ll be a bit of a wait for Season 2 if there is one. But for people who enjoy an attempted takeover of a powerful corporation, this might butter your biscuit. There’s a thrum of wanting to reject a system that’s trying to hold you down throughout the show. Whether that’s the intended takeaway from this sci-fi horror treat remains to be seen.
Alien Earth Episode 8 is the weakest episode of the season due to the sloppy writing. It’s not a bad episode of television as a whole, as it’s obviously watchable – especially if you’ve been locked into Alien: Earth from the start. However, if you’re expecting the highs of, let’s say, Episode 5, you won’t find that here.
“The Real Monsters” is fine as a season finale, as long as there’s a Season 2 to continue everyone’s story and reveal how successful Weyland-Yutani is at infiltrating. Then, it’ll remain just fine. Aside from the writing, the practical effects and overall production of the show remain consistent. And the shot at the end of the episode, with the xenomorphs lurking around everyone, is excellent. Cheers to the Alien: Earth Season 1 finale.
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Alien: Earth Episode 8 - 8/108/10
TL;DR
Alien Earth Episode 8 is the weakest episode of the season due to the sloppy writing. It’s not a bad episode of television as a whole, as it’s obviously watchable – especially if you’ve been locked into Alien: Earth from the start.
