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By the sometimes acid blood I mean why doesn’t it melt thru a paper cutter or a meat hook? Forget weight and strength and pressure points, that hook shouldn’t have lasted even a couple seconds impaled thru the alien before melting.
[DCM]
Chief Deputy Sub Assistant Trainee Squig Handling Intern
There I’m assuming it missed any major blood vessels and that.
Presumably, that jaw is predominantly muscle and cartilage. Perhaps it only has tiny capillaries, as it’s not intended for much more than whipping out to brain someone, and not any kind of sustained physical activity which might require a greater blood supply?
Not saying the scene isn’t silly for it. But again, I think there are fairly reasonable explanations.
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In the early Aliens movie it’s mentioned that the Xenomorph’s blood oxides into acid. So maybe the combination of being under tension and the tongue’s material created an air tight seal?
The Xenomorph could have lunged forward to attack her with its tail, surely? Maybe it’s super sensitive in that spot so couldn’t be it’s usual cunning self?
My explanation for the Xenomorph’s erratic combat effectiveness?
Spoiler:
One of the corporate CEOs is feeding it instructions over iffy WiFi!
I am wondering if their cyber brains have additional skills programmed in that they aren’t aware of, such as fighting, driving, etc.
When BK is talking with the girl she mentions their brains being super computers so they are very quick to assimilate new information. They also have adult motor control skills so they have possibly had some ‘skill’ programmed in.
Also possible that we didn’t see any of the ‘learning to walk’ stuff because of time and/or it being waved away because they are in adult bodies.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2025/08/23 08:55:44
-Also, why was it trying to pull away from her? It could have just as easily jumped onto her, pinned her down and then went stabby stabby with its tail.
-On that note, what happened to its tail? It suddenly too short to reach past its head? Pah.
I think Ahtman figured out the rules of the show a while ago:
Ahtman wrote: I imagine Boy Kavalier will be learning why Intelligence and Wisdom are two different stats in D&D.
Spoiler:
A xenomorph can increase its strength as a swift action. It can use this ability a number of times a day equal to its hit dice. It can make a tail attack as part of a full round action.
Unfortunately in spite of acting like a classic murderhobo it didn't get enough XP to level up before its fight with Wendy. And the hook in its tongue staggered it.
Why did they go thru the whole process of removing the embryo from the egg to implant into a single lung rather than just tossing one egg into a room with a sheep and seeing what happens? Like, how did they even know specifically to look for the embryo, that it could survive submerged in liquid, etc. I liked the android’s “Don’t stick your face next to the egg” speech and their “no humans allowed in this room” protocol they then enacted, but everything after that felt like Too much knowledge on the subject.
-I agree with MDG, Kirsh had read all the files the previous crew had collated on the various alien species. He was working from an informed position and either knew exactly what he was looking for, or otherwise correctly extrapolated what he had to do.
I did like the way he took charge with BK and pushed him out of the lab. Shows he's not prepared to fool around with things he doesn't yet fully understand. And I think actually shows that BK has at least a modicum of trust in those he delegates too. Or at least a level of trust in Kirsh. He allows himself to be ejected from the lab without throwing a tantrum and doing the the usual billionaire thing of "you can't tell me what to do!" when they're separated from their new toys. While he might not like it, he accepts Kirsh's judgement on the matter and is instantly prepared to roll with it.
I do like that he didn't go for Dumbest Genius Ever Award right away. That's kind of refreshing. Happy news, Riri. You still reign supreme!
Nehekhara lives! Sort of!
Why is the rum always gone?
[DCM]
Chief Deputy Sub Assistant Trainee Squig Handling Intern
Going back to general impressions?
It’s nice to see a show which has its daft moments, but is otherwise of sufficient quality and interest most are willing to overlook them. Not sure that’s quite the right term, but hopefully you’ll get what I mean.
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I vaguely remember reading an alien book a loooooong time ago (might have been the novelisation of 3) that set out how after the death of the creature the blood rapidly goes inert.
Please excuse any spelling errors. I use a tablet frequently and software keyboards are a pain!
I mean, my understanding from high school chemistry is that the stronger an acid is, the more reactive it is, the more reactive it is the faster it burns itself out.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2025/08/24 18:44:01
Wendy's knife is a bit weird, though. That said, I don't remember if we've seen alien blood on hardened steel before, as opposed to floor plates which would be a considerably lesser quality metal.
Steel is steel. Carbon, iron and a few alloying gubbinz. Heat treatment won’t change the metallurgy. Maybe it’s stainless with just the right amount of chromium. Or some kind of space ceramic? Or it’s just a little plot hole that does t really need to be obsessed over.
Please excuse any spelling errors. I use a tablet frequently and software keyboards are a pain!
Ceramics are generally very resistant to acid in its base state. Engineered ceramics can be all but immune. So "sci-fi" ceramics could be hand waved as immune to alien acid blood.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2025/08/24 23:07:53
Inquisitor Gideon wrote: Ceramics are generally very resistant to acid in its base state. Engineered ceramics can be all but immune. So "sci-fi" ceramics could be hand waved as immune to alien acid blood.
It doesn't even take hand waving. Different acids react with different things. Hydrochloric acid will dissolve metal, but not glass. Hydrofluric acid will dissolve glass but not plastic.
Given the alien's own biology, it would make sense that its blood wouldn't have a strong effect on materials with a high silica content.
Seems Teflon would offer at least some protection. Now, I’m not a chemist or biologist or physicist etc, but I’d imagine you’d still need a reasonable amount of Teflon.
But, a Teflon coated guillotine blade, to ensure cuts are a smooth as possible seems feasible. And so we’ve, at least for me, an acceptable work around for Wendy’s Chopper.
You know what else often has a Teflon coating? Kitchen Pans. Specifically, Frying Pans.
You know who’s a dab hand at wielding a frying pan in a fight? Eddie Hitler. Played by Adrian Edmondson. Who’s playing Atom Heins.
Atoms vs Xenomorph in a Bottomesque punch up confirmed?
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One possibility for the invincible paper cutter (which ignores why a scientific research facility has such a device) is that everything that Wendy was expected to be exposed to early on was massively overengineered so that she wouldn't destroy it with her super strong body until she adjusted to it.
Granted, that would have been far more reasonable for an uncrushable Cutter, but perhaps they planned for every type of mischief.
Klawz-Ramming is a subset of citrus fruit?
Gwar- "And everyone wants a bigger Spleen!"
Mercurial wrote:
I admire your aplomb and instate you as Baron of the Seas and Lord Marshall of Privateers.
Orkeosaurus wrote:Star Trek also said we'd have X-Wings by now. We all see how that prediction turned out.
Orkeosaurus, on homophobia, the nature of homosexuality, and the greatness of George Takei.
English doesn't borrow from other languages. It follows them down dark alleyways and mugs them for loose grammar.
[DCM]
Chief Deputy Sub Assistant Trainee Squig Handling Intern
Opening scenes of Episode 4 just blew my socks off!
They’re not action packed like. But they’re impressively sensible.
Automatically Appended Next Post: Absolutely phenomenal.
Serious Spoilers
Spoiler:
Many of the topics we discussed now have answers. And they’re not bad ones. And they’re not necessarily entirely truthful ones.
Episode is largely character focussed, building things up nicely.
Also pleasing to see whatever that eyeball gribbly is also get “who am, what do” exploration. Which raises some expectation we might see a spin off show about the other alien life forms currently in Prodigy’s not exactly trustworthy hands.
What I really enjoyed about this is the Sensible People (not you, Boy) being Allowed To Be Sensible. Kirsh knows full well about Slightly being compromised. And I like that he’s able to eavesdrop on the calls.
Why he’s not done anything about it is lightly touched upon (hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil etc), and I expect we’ll find out more. I may even have missed a bit of dialogue which explains it further.
Though I think some reporting may have occurred offscreen. First, we see Morrow essentially threatening Slightly’s Mum (who believed him to be dead). Next when he says it’s not fair Wendy/Marcie is allowed her brother on the island? Boy just…agrees. And all but offers outright to have the families brought along. That suggests he may have been informed that Slightly is compromised, and how.
God this show is so, so good.
This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 2025/08/27 08:20:13
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I’m very curious about Kirsh, it seems like he might have his own agenda (or maybe the series is just playing on our pre-existing suspicion of synthetics in the Alien universe)? Timothy Oiliphant is quietly stealing every scene he’s in though.
Zed wrote: *All statements reflect my opinion at this moment. if some sort of pretty new model gets released (or if I change my mind at random) I reserve the right to jump on any bandwagon at will.
[DCM]
Chief Deputy Sub Assistant Trainee Squig Handling Intern
Defo on both counts.
Boy did comment previously that Kirsh is of intelligence. But I can’t recall if he said more intelligent than Boy.
The way Oliphant acts with his face is sublime. Just a slight cock of the head, the merest sliver of an angle off centre, and we can see something has piqued his interest.
And again, what a joy it is to see Sensible People In A Risky But Contained Situation Be Sensible Enough To Take Sensible Steps To Maintain That Containment. Miles different to “hey, what’s this? Better shove my face right in it of Prometheus.
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So the noises she was hearing are too high frequency for the others to hear, and they have her repeat it at a lower frequency for them. Then she repeats that to the Xeno. That Xeno was hearing the equivalent of the deepest James Earl Jones voice speaking to it. It was mezmorized by its sheer levels of wtf is going on here.
This show has solidified one thing that has been nagging me across the franchise.
Prodigy is shown as having intelligent employees.
I can only assume, since 99% of Weyland-Yutani are stone stupid, that everyone who can't fill out the job application at a real company has a job licking rocks waiting for them at WY.
BorderCountess wrote: Just because you're doing something right doesn't necessarily mean you know what you're doing...
Next when he says it’s not fair Wendy/Marcie is allowed her brother on the island? Boy just…agrees. .
Spoiler:
Unless I missed a chunk of show at the end, that wasn't Boy, it was Wendy's brother...
Not spoilering this bit, as I don't think it's particularly spoilery at this point, but...
The bit that jumped out at me from this episode was when Dame and Arthur were talking outside and mentioned a control group being part of the hybrid programme... which might explain why Wendy can do things that the other kids can't. She's got extra programming to push her into elite superhuman status, while the others have more baseline synthetic systems and are there to provide a contrast to how Wendy performs.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2025/08/28 02:39:40
Episode 4 is really hammering home how little Boy Kavalier really understands or even knows what he's play at. With anything really. He's an emotionally stunted man child and it's marvelous watching the plot set time bomb after time bomb in his wake that I'm very eager to see implode.
It's curious that they've hit one of those so hard to hit points; We know Boy Kavalier is basically 'too dumb to live' like a lot of horror characters, but he's so well portrayed by his actor and compellingly written, you can't look away from the oncoming trainwreck. There's not rolling your eyes at the inevitability of it all or the clear dumbness of the characters. It's just that very very flawed person who is walking headfirst into disaster and can't see it and you're just there watching it all play out.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2025/08/28 05:01:40
It's curious that they've hit one of those so hard to hit points; We know Boy Kavalier is basically 'too dumb to live' like a lot of horror characters, but he's so well portrayed by his actor and compellingly written, you can't look away from the oncoming trainwreck. There's not rolling your eyes at the inevitability of it all or the clear dumbness of the characters. It's just that very very flawed person who is walking headfirst into disaster and can't see it and you're just there watching it all play out.
I don't think he's coming across as 'dumb'. He's very much self-absorbed and convinced of his own superiority, but his actions are only stupid because of things we know as outside observers, not because they're not logical things for him to do. That's a large part of why the character works... he wouldn't be believable as the boy genius if he was actually stupid. He's ultimately going to run afoul of hubris and ignorance, rather than stupidity... and that's much more satisfying to watch.
Cadre Coronal Afterglow w1;d0;l0 
