Alien Earth: The Real Monsters

"You better save the children because I'm going to burn this place to the ground."

I imagine this episode is going to be divisive. Not only did they leave things on a cliffhanger, they barely resolved any of the long running plots.

That being said, it was really fun to watch as the children took over. Wendy taking lead dolled out orders, with Nibs being her violent enforcer and the rest being way more effective than the season so far would've led us to believe was possible. Systematically they captured everyone of importance, the rest killed off by the xenomorph.

Speaking of Wendy and her incredible power up: she had already been fairly busted power wise, as an immortal hybrid synthetic with the ability to speak and control xenomorphs. But her previously known ability to connect to cameras expanded tenfold and now she can control anything on the network including Synths. I really don't know how I feel about that change, although it did make for some impressive moments scene to scene.

One of the final reveals is that Atom is a Synth, and that may have been one of my favorite scenes. Although Hermit continues to have sibling plot armor as he escaped Mr. Eye like three times at least. I did love how Wendy just stopped Atom in mid-motion and he was just trapped like a statue, only able to move his eyes. It was a perfect example of how the show thumbs its nose at authority but also comments on the arrogance and entitlement of the rich and powerful.

This power shift is even more impactful in the scenes with Boy Kavalier as he strolls into the prison cell expecting one outcome and ends up running for his life when his toys turn against him. Yet at the end, despite being tied to the wall of a prison cell he smiles, as though his grand schemes were playing out exactly as he envisioned. Or perhaps he is just pleased with the idea that the children will be running the show. He is obsessed with Peter Pan, after all.

Morrow got a chance to finish the job and just kept getting hammered down. Much like his reference to John Henry, he lost due to exhaustion, his human body failing him. Plus he got knocked in the head by Slightly, which was more than a little satisfying. What I found even more satisfying was that he ended up in the cell with the rest of the adults, all lumped together as the real antagonists of the show.

What was even more telling was that Hermit ended up grouped with the children, free and clearly conflicted by who his sister has become. Yet he has also been a victim and pawn of nearly everyone in power up to this point – contracted by Prodigy, manipulated by both Kirsh and Atom, ignored and set up by Boy Kavalier more than once, and finally Morrow treated him as a speedbump instead of an ally. He has also been consistently on Wendy's side, despite his choice to subdue Nibs in the last episode. If the show does continue, I'll be curious to see their dynamic going forward.

Which brings me to the point of all of this. We were asked the question early on – what happens when you try to blend human and artificial? The answer they have come up with is fascinating. We have been shown the limits of a cyborg, how their human side is both fragile and constraining. We've been shown how synthetics are powerful and brilliant, but emotionally blank with a tendency to be both cold and cruel.

These hybrids really are a massive jump in a new and exciting direction, with terrifying potential and possibly devastating consequences. They are immortal beings with nearly unlimited power. I think the real point being made here is that all roads are incredibly dangerous. Like trying to weaponize a xenomorph, it would be incredibly foolish, reckless and arrogant to pursue any of these technologies.

This has been a weird ride, as both a loyal Alien spin-off and a story that could've stood alone as something wholly disconnected with this franchise. Does the presence of the xenomorph add to the show? I believe it does, especially the connection Wendy has with the creature. But I'm wondering if perhaps this would've been a stronger show without the franchise elements. Either way this was a relatively strong first season with a very distinct storytelling style and visual aesthetic.

Bits:

The music at the end was Pearl Jam: "Animal."

While it was a fun and intense scene, why does an elevator have a self-destruct?

The circular cages were interesting aesthetically, and I liked how the kids posed the adults like toys on a shelf.

No more deaths except for glorified extras like Siberian.

Boy built his own synth and used it to kill his own father, then had that synth pose as his father. No wonder he has issues with parental figures. He is also clearly a sociopath. I really wanted Boy Kavalier to die, damn.

Mr. Eye found Arthur's body. We also got a scene of the xenomorph finding Arthur's body and having a small interaction with a crab. It was kind of creepy and cute.

The final alien was revealed and I'm a bit disappointed. It is basically an evil umbrella plant thing, which is exactly what I imagined it would be.

So a couple of corrections from my review last week:

Tootles was Steven and Smee was Chris. I loved the small tribute to Steven/Isaac by the kids.

Curly or Jane is definitely not Dame's biological daughter evidenced by both Dame and Jane's actions and lack of emotional connection.

Quotes:

Atom: "Who would make children immortal? An eternity of, 'Are we there yet?'"

Dame: "Wendy... darling. Whatever I did, I'm sorry."
Wendy: "No, you're not. You think you're a good person who did good things. All you did is put six children in the ground."
(Which is exactly what Arthur said a few episodes ago.)

Morrow: "You know the story of John Henry and his ten-pound hammers? All night long, he drove that steel, fighting the machine. Who can dig deeper, faster? In the end, man will always win. It's a question of will."
Kirsh: "Didn't John Henry die of exhaustion?"
Morrow: "Well, I'm just getting started."

Hermit: "It's comp..."
Wendy: "Don't say complicated. That is what powerless people say to make doing nothing okay."

Morrow: "Feels good, doesn't it? Being more than human. But there is a price. When the corporation gives you something, there's always a price. Do you know what it is?"
Hermit: "Everything."
Morrow: "Everything doesn't begin to cover it."

While this does not fully wrap things up in a neat bow, I did find there was enough emotional resolution to move on if this show doesn't get a second season. Your mileage may vary when it comes to this finale, but ultimately it was an interesting and engaging season.

3 out of 4 Twists, reveals and cliffhangers

Samantha M. Quinn spends most of her time in front of a computer typing away at one thing or another; when she has free time, she enjoys pretty much anything science fiction or fantasy-related.

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