For a series that has undercut expectations and
taken unexpected routes, its fitting that this final episode maintains a
similar strategy. Rather than pick up straight away from the tense moments at
the end of episode seven, The Real Monsters, a little time has passed
and while the hunt is on, its not quite the hunt we expected.
Can we say something about
the opening titles of the series which gradually form the words Alien Earth
over artfully collaged clips from the previous episodes and suggestions as to
the tone of the series. It solves that problem of having to front load an
episode with a Last Week on… bit and also with the eerie music draws us
straight into the dark heart of the show. Right from the start it shows how
this is a series determined to be different.
Spoilers after the
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High praise has been lauded on this episode by many online reviews, with some even describing it as the best the franchise has been since Aliens. As the title `In Space, No-One…` suggests episode five is basically Noah Hawley making his own mini Alien movie. I suppose this is what some people imagined the whole series would be like and some have been critical of the till now differently presented show producing a more standard concept. Yet it is important and I can see why it wasn’t shown first because it would have misled people as to what the series was really like. No wonder they built such a fantastic set; that in itself deserved an encore. The results are fantastically gripping.
Spoilers after the break
Episode three, `Metamorphosis` is slower than the opening two, with only one real big action sequence though this doesn’t mean that the threat lessens, rather it allows the production to ramp up those Xenomprph scares. Like the best of this franchise the producers know that you don’t need to show the alien(s) a lot, just insinuate that they are lurking in a shadowy location of just round the corner. Then when they do appear it’s all the more effective.
The thing with long
running franchises is that they become increasingly tangled up in lore and
continuity so its ultimately best to take each iteration as it comes and judge
it on its own merit. Alien Earth is set just before the events
of the original film though of course that took place deep in Space, a long way
from Earth. “On Earth everyone can hear
you scream” is the cheeky but promising tag line for this eight part series and
the opening two episodes certainly fulfil that promise.
Spoilers after the
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