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I've listened to several folks insist that we will never be able to make true AI / General Intelligence because it's 'simply too complex'. OTOH I've listened to plenty of other folks saying we don't know where consciousness comes from, or e.g. where it goes when we have a nap. So I reckon the designers could have made Wendy's computer brain without knowing how it would turn out once she started experiencing things. I mean they say they went with kids because their brains were more adaptable.
I've been nervously looking forward to this last episode because - barring a few minor quibbles - I really enjoyed the first few episodes. However, something about episode 7 had me a bit nervous about how things would play out. For me, episode 8 didn't stick the landing.
I know horror relies on people doing dumb stuff but as the episode progressed I just started losing patience with the level of stupid on display.
Spoiler:
NB: The strobbing lights partway through gave me a migrainey head so I'm in an extra crappy mood.
It raised a couple of issues - why wasn't Atom 'air gapped' from the network to protect him from being hacked? If it was so that he could tap into the surveillance system why didn't he raise the alarm about Kirsh.
How was it that an assault rifle can't even wound a Xenomorph when we saw one get it's head chopped in half with a fricking paper guillotine a few episodes back? Is the answer Joss Whedon levels of Girl Power?
Why didn't the soliders go back and get the bigger guns as soon as they started finding shredded bits of soldiers all over the island.
My two biggest armies are Tyranids and GSC...and I think the poor soliders were getting a raw deal...
Nobody significant died (sorry Pink Dreads, but your squad should have gone back to the frackin' armoury like you guys were just talking about
I got fed up with Wendy's complaining about shooting Nibs...when Nibs was sitting right there completely unharmed, seemingly fully repaired and given a clean shirt.
I think I missed Young Yutani downloading the information from Morrow? I may have missed that.
Eyeball Paul was great. Top marks EBP.
I don't feel any interest in the next series. The kids and aliens will shred the W-T forces.
It started as Alien but ended as Disney Super Heroes (and Dog)
Souleater wrote: Why didn't the soldiers go back and get the bigger guns as soon as they started finding shredded bits of soldiers all over the island.
Don't forget when the squad leader(?) was trying to get them to do that and the elevator just magically opened and he points out they didn't call the elevator, after which the rest get on the elevator then cajole him to get in. If they had just got on the elevator I could pass it off as the group not being particularly bright, or panicking, but they literally have one them say out loud that it shouldn't be there then continue to do it.
Amidst the mists and coldest frosts he thrusts his fists against the posts and still insists he sees the ghosts.
Don't forget when the squad leader(?) was trying to get them to do that and the elevator just magically opened and he points out they didn't call the elevator, after which the rest get on the elevator then cajole him to get in. If they had just got on the elevator I could pass it off as the group not being particularly bright, or panicking, but they literally have one them say out loud that it shouldn't be there then continue to do it.
Spoiler:
That's very much a 'they don't know what the audience knows' issue, though. The elevator arriving on its own is odd, but they don't know that Wendy is controlling everything, nor that she's currently homicidal. They have no reason to think it's anything sinister. I've had elevators arrive without me calling them, and I've never found any reason to expect that they're about to explode when I get in.
insaniak wrote: [spoiler]That's very much a 'they don't know what the audience knows' issue, though. The elevator arriving on its own is odd, but they don't know that Wendy is controlling everything, nor that she's currently homicidal. They have no reason to think it's anything sinister. I've had elevators arrive without me calling them, and I've never found any reason to expect that they're about to explode when I get in.
I get that they don't know what we know, but even in that situation that specific character did know that something wasn't right and says so. They had reason to believe something was wrong because they had already seen some weird gak, have been hearing some things on comms, and were in the middle of an emergency evacuation of the island which is why they were having the whole conversation about protocol to begin with before the elevator doors just opened on their own.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2025/09/25 04:33:35
Amidst the mists and coldest frosts he thrusts his fists against the posts and still insists he sees the ghosts.
Got to echo the majority here. That was not a great ending. Too many unanswered questions which leads me to think things were happening for plot reasons rather than part of some well-conceived and well-written plan.
Spoiler:
Wendy's level of control of the systems didn't come from nowhere, but I do think it's way overdone here. Yes, they're low on staff, but you'd think one of Atom or Kirsh, or even BK himself, would have done something to remove some systems from the network. Kirsh clearly wasn't on the network in the same way as Atom, for example. Also, I was assuming it was a given that there was a kill switch for the hybrids, but apparently not, which seems out of character for BK. We still don't have a resolution to Kirsh's story either, which feels unsatisfying.
Speaking of unanswered questions, what the hell is the eyeball made of? I know it's not literally an eyeball, but it got smashed against walls multiple times and kicked clear across the room by a super-strong hybrid and just wanders off as if nothing has happened. I'm assuming in any second season it'll rapidly ditch Arthur's body for one that isn't actively decomposing.
Hermit's squad roaming the halls was a bit too horror-stupid for me, but at least we got to see the plant in action.
I think the finale was the worse for trying to turn it into a pitch for a second season.
[DCM]
Chief Deputy Sub Assistant Trainee Squig Handling Intern
Boooo! Boo I say! Booooo!
Here, have a shiny whole internet for that one.
Automatically Appended Next Post:
Slipspace wrote: Got to echo the majority here. That was not a great ending. Too many unanswered questions which leads me to think things were happening for plot reasons rather than part of some well-conceived and well-written plan.
Spoiler:
Wendy's level of control of the systems didn't come from nowhere, but I do think it's way overdone here. Yes, they're low on staff, but you'd think one of Atom or Kirsh, or even BK himself, would have done something to remove some systems from the network. Kirsh clearly wasn't on the network in the same way as Atom, for example. Also, I was assuming it was a given that there was a kill switch for the hybrids, but apparently not, which seems out of character for BK. We still don't have a resolution to Kirsh's story either, which feels unsatisfying.
Speaking of unanswered questions, what the hell is the eyeball made of? I know it's not literally an eyeball, but it got smashed against walls multiple times and kicked clear across the room by a super-strong hybrid and just wanders off as if nothing has happened. I'm assuming in any second season it'll rapidly ditch Arthur's body for one that isn't actively decomposing.
Hermit's squad roaming the halls was a bit too horror-stupid for me, but at least we got to see the plant in action.
I think the finale was the worse for trying to turn it into a pitch for a second season.
I remain torn.
Spoiler:
As an episode it was pretty decent. Plot made sense acting was of course excellent as it has been throughout. But yeah…we better get a second season or at least series of tv movies to follow up.
But….I think part of my disappointment at how it ended is that so far as anyone knew? This is a one and done show. A self contained story. And so I wasn’t expecting a cliff hanger of sorts, and so hadn’t “braced” for that. And you can kinda see where and how it could’ve been wrapped up quite neatly, leaving the ending bit feeling like an unpicked seam.
If we get a follow up? I’ll be much more favourable about this finale. If not, it’s going into my book of Media Grudges, right alongside Space, Above and Beyond, and the Sarah Conner Chronicles.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2025/09/25 08:29:33
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Judging by the reactions here I guess I'm lucky I only found the show okay. Fewer expectations for the finale.
Spoiler:
I didn't expect the last episode to wrap things up in any satisfying way. The previous two episodes were way too slow to progress anything to fit everything still left into one episode. That's before you consider that the last two episodes were the shortest ones of the season.
Wendy and her gang of murderbots dialing things up to eleven was also hardly surprising. It plays right into the theme of dumb and completely helpless humans that's been shown throughout the season, probably best embodied by but not limited to one xenomorph attacking and butchering armed squads of soldiers in the open and not getting shot in the process. Pretty handy it falls in the bulletproof monster category as well. Who needs clever writing if your monster can't be killed?
So I guess I'm meh like everyone else, except I've been there from the beginning, so at least I'm spared the disappointment. Which makes my reaction to the finale downright positive by comparison?
Nehekhara lives! Sort of!
Why is the rum always gone?
Slipspace wrote: Got to echo the majority here. That was not a great ending. Too many unanswered questions which leads me to think things were happening for plot reasons rather than part of some well-conceived and well-written plan.
Spoiler:
Wendy's level of control of the systems didn't come from nowhere, but I do think it's way overdone here. Yes, they're low on staff, but you'd think one of Atom or Kirsh, or even BK himself, would have done something to remove some systems from the network. Kirsh clearly wasn't on the network in the same way as Atom, for example. Also, I was assuming it was a given that there was a kill switch for the hybrids, but apparently not, which seems out of character for BK. We still don't have a resolution to Kirsh's story either, which feels unsatisfying.
Speaking of unanswered questions, what the hell is the eyeball made of? I know it's not literally an eyeball, but it got smashed against walls multiple times and kicked clear across the room by a super-strong hybrid and just wanders off as if nothing has happened. I'm assuming in any second season it'll rapidly ditch Arthur's body for one that isn't actively decomposing.
Hermit's squad roaming the halls was a bit too horror-stupid for me, but at least we got to see the plant in action.
I think the finale was the worse for trying to turn it into a pitch for a second season.
I remain torn.
Spoiler:
As an episode it was pretty decent. Plot made sense acting was of course excellent as it has been throughout. But yeah…we better get a second season or at least series of tv movies to follow up.
But….I think part of my disappointment at how it ended is that so far as anyone knew? This is a one and done show. A self contained story. And so I wasn’t expecting a cliff hanger of sorts, and so hadn’t “braced” for that. And you can kinda see where and how it could’ve been wrapped up quite neatly, leaving the ending bit feeling like an unpicked seam.
If we get a follow up? I’ll be much more favourable about this finale. If not, it’s going into my book of Media Grudges, right alongside Space, Above and Beyond, and the Sarah Conner Chronicles.
FX’s Alien: Earth concluded its debut season run with a moment that almost felt like a stage-play curtain call: All the acclaimed sci-fi drama’s surviving broken toy characters (some, like Timothy Olyphant’s Kirsh, literally broken) together in one room — including the xenomorph. They didn’t quite take a bow for the audience, but their ambitions and murderous resentments were seeming put on hold — for now.
The uniquely staged cliffhanger was also rather practical. Showrunner and executive producer Noah Hawley arguably gave himself plenty of options for season two rather than box himself into one particular direction following a season that incorporated several different ideas, genre styles and threads.
More info at the link above.
'It is a source of constant consternation that my opponents cannot correlate their innate inferiority with their inevitable defeat. It would seem that stupidity is as eternal as war.'
- Nemesor Zahndrekh of the Sautekh Dynasty Overlord of the Crownworld of Gidrim
Indeed. “ I don't have a destination in mind. I don't know how long it will take me to get there. It's been such an amazing act of play for me to enter this franchise and bring my own ideas to it.” - Noah Hawley from the link provided above.
We've had some quibbles back and forth here, and I'm not on board with everything that's been stated by others in this thread. (Off the top of my head, it does seem that "transference" ended the lives of the original children, particularly if the 'hybrids' are copies rather than transfers of the children's consciousness. There's a philosophical dimension to this that can be endlessly debated, but I think it's fair to say that the original children had whatever time they had left abruptly curtailed by the transference procedure. If you have just three weeks to live, losing even one day is a huge loss. So I can't agree that the transference procedure itself was morally neutral.)
But what's interesting to me is how much in sync we've been. Most here really liked the early episodes but thought the conclusion didn't stick the landing. I mean, where's the contrarian who wants to argue that the show started badly, but the ending was so fantastic it saved the show? Seriously? Not even one taker? Our lack of disagreement over the fundamentals just feels bizarre in terms of how forums and the internet in general usually function.
I think my initial reaction was perhaps harsher than necessary. I think a lot of us were thrown by just how much the last episodes led into a naked plea to continue the series, and I still think they could have resolved a few more things while making that plea. I don't think the final episodes were bad, per se - like all the other episodes, they featured some great moments and acting - they just didn't deliver the partial closure I was expecting. As my wife exclaimed to me when episode 8's credits rolled, "They didn't resolve anything!" But they weren't bad. If, as Grotsnik says, we get a great Season 2 in a couple of years, perhaps then we'll view the final episodes of season 1 in a more positive light. Right now the show feels more like Hawley's "Proof of Concept" than a satisfying story, but I do think he proved his concept.
Not that I have any predictive powers, but I think we will get a season 2. My primary hope for that is that it's at least 8 episodes long, not shortened to, say, five, as is often the case with streaming series. Hawley said in an interview that he's used to working with 10 episodes per season, and it sure felt to me like two more episodes would have made the conclusion of Alien: Earth season 1 feel a lot richer. The last thing I want to see now is an even shorter Alien: Earth season 2. That just feels to me like a recipe for failure; might as well just cancel the the show now rather than go that route.
I'm torn about the lack of sacrifice at the end of this season. Having become attached to the characters, part of me is glad that all of the principals (presumably) will be coming back, save for poor Isaac (and Arthur, although his actor will be back. Siberian was fine, but not developed enough to miss too much.) But the Alien universe is a harsh one; things just feel off when endings are too happy and pat.
Other than that, I really hope that Hawley and co. won't consider the new aliens basically fully introduced and explained at this point. Arguably, we still know practically nothing about them, from the full extent of their intelligence to the nature of their life cycles to the extent of their capabilities. I'd be much happier with a Season 2 that approaches the new creatures with the sensibility of "you think you understand the new aliens? You don't know gak."
Dakkadakka: Bringing wargamers together, one smile at a time.™
I do feel the "OMG folks it's not just the Xenomorphs" and then it mostly is the Xenomorphs except for Eye-Ball being a sheep for a while, the flies doing one thing, the bloodbugs being good for one episode, and the not-Half-Life-Barnacle doing (again) one thing.
Yeah, it's Alien, it should be about the Xenomorphs, but why the preamble of "5 deadly species, but now they're on Earth (in an entirely enclosed controlled location)".
Also bleh, blatant setup for second season is blatant.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2025/09/25 20:32:14
I was kinda hoping we would've got an episode about how they caught all the aliens....
BorderCountess wrote: Just because you're doing something right doesn't necessarily mean you know what you're doing...
"Vulkan: There will be no Rad or Phosphex in my legion. We shall fight wars humanely. Some things should be left in the dark age." "Ferrus: Oh cool, when are you going to stop burning people to death?" "Vulkan: I do not understand the question."
– A conversation between the X and XVIII Primarchs
Lathe Biosas wrote: I was kinda hoping we would've got an episode about how they caught all the aliens....
They laid out a trail of Reese's Pieces with a cage at the end.
I wonder if Alienses is considered Canon... it did have ET and Sigourney Weaver in it.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2025/09/25 21:44:33
BorderCountess wrote: Just because you're doing something right doesn't necessarily mean you know what you're doing...
"Vulkan: There will be no Rad or Phosphex in my legion. We shall fight wars humanely. Some things should be left in the dark age." "Ferrus: Oh cool, when are you going to stop burning people to death?" "Vulkan: I do not understand the question."
– A conversation between the X and XVIII Primarchs
Gert wrote: I do feel the "OMG folks it's not just the Xenomorphs" and then it mostly is the Xenomorphs except for Eye-Ball being a sheep for a while, the flies doing one thing, the bloodbugs being good for one episode, and the not-Half-Life-Barnacle doing (again) one thing.
Yeah, it's Alien, it should be about the Xenomorphs, but why the preamble of "5 deadly species, but now they're on Earth (in an entirely enclosed controlled location)".
From the trailer, I was originally expecting something of a 'monster of the week' set up as they worked the crash site. So the other aliens only having limited things to do wasn't really surprising there, and they direction they actually went was certainly a more interesting story. So that's all good.
If they do get to proceed with season 2, there's a fine line to walk to keep Wendy a sympathetic protagonist. I wouldn't be too surprised if there's a bit of a pivot to Hermit as the primary protagonist, or a whole perspective switch to the arriving WY assault team. If anything, they might have been better off not showing the WY flyers coming in just yet. Have that happen after some more time has gone by and the whole thing becomes more of a Lost World style affair.
insaniak wrote: If they do get to proceed with season 2, there's a fine line to walk to keep Wendy a sympathetic protagonist. I wouldn't be too surprised if there's a bit of a pivot to Hermit as the primary protagonist, or a whole perspective switch to the arriving WY assault team. If anything, they might have been better off not showing the WY flyers coming in just yet. Have that happen after some more time has gone by and the whole thing becomes more of a Lost World style affair.
They really could do anything at this point, including skipping the whole Yutani invasion with episode one beginning "15 years later . . . " in a mysterious location.
Dakkadakka: Bringing wargamers together, one smile at a time.™
[DCM]
Chief Deputy Sub Assistant Trainee Squig Handling Intern
I think I’m starting to settle my opinion on the finale.
Spoiler:
In short? I don’t think it was a Bad Episode. But it was Unsatisfying.
I’m thrilled we’re looking at more from the creative team. The show has been superbly made and this thread is testament to how it kept us guessing and discussing the relative morality of what’s going on.
But….nothing had been mentioned of a potential Season 2, or other form or follow up. And so its actual end feels, well I guess Cheeky is the word for it. It also leaves a certain nagging, but not necessarily justified, feeling that perhaps they didn’t really know how to wrap it up.
I know the wording quoted from an interview above kinda supports that? But not being sure where you want to take it next isn’t, at least to my mind, not knowing how you want to wrap it up. For an example that, I’ll point you to George R R Martin.
I still standby reserving judgement until we know for sure if we’re getting a follow up. For me, that’ll cement whether this was an act of cockiness or confidence.
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I kinda wish this had been a Predator TV show instead. It would've worked better.
Spoiler:
Hunters on the Jurassic Park island filled with the worst monsters from the cosmos mixed with synthetic super-soldiers (because that's what Wendy-Sue is, who else can kill a Xenomorph who is immune to bullets with a paper cutter?)
The language thing would've been cooler as she can speak to the Predator and it works better in the long run as a hunter/protégé bond could form... over the "attack dog Xenomorph" that we have now.
But, we ended up with the unscariest Alien ever and Wendy as a protagonist who can just magic away every problem... and had a faster turn to the dark side than Anakin Skywalker.
Automatically Appended Next Post: Also a little upset that we never got to see the Adidas Xenomorph that FX teased:
Spoiler:
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2025/09/26 15:40:19
BorderCountess wrote: Just because you're doing something right doesn't necessarily mean you know what you're doing...
"Vulkan: There will be no Rad or Phosphex in my legion. We shall fight wars humanely. Some things should be left in the dark age." "Ferrus: Oh cool, when are you going to stop burning people to death?" "Vulkan: I do not understand the question."
– A conversation between the X and XVIII Primarchs
For the most part I really enjoyed it, until it became obvious that they weren't going to wrap anything up. I would have loved to have seen more from the other aliens though, rather than focusing on the Xenomorph mincing a bunch of people like usual (Especially as they weren't particularly good at filming said Xenomorph, it was very "Man in a suit" at times).
Also glad that, until I looked at this thread, I didn't realise Ade Edmundsons character was called Atom and not Adam, would've totally spoiled the reveal that he was a Synth (I thought he was BKs father).
All in all, very disappointed it wasn't a "One and done" show like I thought it was going to be, but I'll happily watch more if they make more.
[DCM]
Chief Deputy Sub Assistant Trainee Squig Handling Intern
On the Xenomorph?
Spoiler:
I do agree it looks quite Man In A Suit. But, given they chose to give us some proper daylight shots? I’m going to approve of the bravery of that choice. Certainly I think that’s the first time, on-screen, we’ve seen the beasty in full light?
Also top marks for showing Toddler/Child Xenomorph as well.
Further shows wise? I think I want Eye Ball Paul to be explored further. In a show full of great things? Next to Ade Edmondson naturally, Eye Ball Paul is the Greatest.
That we’re uncertain about its intelligence and sentience. That we don’t know it’s definitely malevolent. Desperate for a Host? Yes. But entirely possibly just to get it the hell away from the Xenomorph.
Where did it come from? Where will it go? Where did you come from, Corpse Eye Joe?
Yes I changed the name, because humour is contextual.
Fed up of Scalpers? But still want your Exclusives? Why not join us?
I Where did it come from? Where will it go? Where did you come from, Corpse Eye Joe?
Yes I changed the name, because humour is contextual.
Spoiler:
I never figured you for a redneck Rednex...
'It is a source of constant consternation that my opponents cannot correlate their innate inferiority with their inevitable defeat. It would seem that stupidity is as eternal as war.'
- Nemesor Zahndrekh of the Sautekh Dynasty Overlord of the Crownworld of Gidrim
Where did it come from? Where will it go? Where did you come from, Corpse Eye Joe?
Have an exalt!
Automatically Appended Next Post: On a minor note, after we saw the ticks display an alarming degree of intelligence and deviousness in episode five, I keep imagining them upping the ante in the future by working in concert to form living bridges across chasms and such, army ant style. It'd be one way to make such a small creature more threatening and formidable as a collective.
I know that so far they've stayed pretty much within the tick family's arachnid family tree in terms of their known abilities, incorporating the (aerosolized) venom and silken webbing of their spider kin. But they're alien species, so while blending in some insect capabilities might offend a few entomologists, no one else will care. Plus, as far as I can tell they sort of have six legs already (or rather 4 legs, with the two front legs splitting into four at the "knees,") so entomologists are already raging anyway.
And for anyone massively disappointed at the series' introduction of "tame" xenomorph "friends," if we get a season 2, I'm pretty sure that that alliance will fall apart, with Wendy's faith in her "honest" alien buddies revealed to be a child's catastrophic naivete.
This message was edited 3 times. Last update was at 2025/09/26 18:15:44
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