1 Year Later, This Alien: Romulus Moment Still Makes No Sense

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As a passionate fan of the Alien franchise, I’m absolutely thrilled with the current momentum. The airing of Alien: Earth on Hulu, Predator: Badlands hitting theaters this fall, and the one-year anniversary of Alien: Romulus this week – it’s an exciting time indeed!

However, just because a series is thriving doesn’t mean we should shy away from criticizing it entirely. In fact, it’s crucial to acknowledge its flaws and oversights occasionally, ensuring our appreciation remains grounded and honest, rather than blindly idolizing it. With that thought in mind, I believe now is the perfect time to revisit one of Romulus’ awkward dialogue moments: Andy (David Jonsson) saying, “Back off, you brute!

Romulus served as a refreshing shift for the Alien franchise, distancing itself from the controversial prequels like Prometheus and Covenant without overstepping the boundaries of the initial movies. Just like a xenomorph, it absorbed elements from its predecessor and transformed into something original yet recognizable. However, certain references to the past were noticeable, none more blatant than Andy’s direct quote from Aliens, which felt rather heavy-handed.

Side by Side Comparison

Ellen Ripley (played by Sigourney Weaver), during the climax of “Aliens”, solidified her place as a memorable character known for iconic one-liners in 80s action films. Towards the end of the movie, with Newt (Carrie Henn) being threatened by the queen of a colossal xenomorph nest, Ripley is the last remaining survivor who can intervene. In a unique move, she dons a cargo-loading exosuit, initially not designed as a weapon, but one that showcases her exceptional abilities hinted at earlier in the film. This suit separates her from the soldiers, who had proven ineffective against the xenomorphs using regular firearms.

This memorable dialogue line brings relief after a prolonged period of fear and despair for our protagonists. The situation appears bleak, and although the odds remain unfavorable, Ripley’s trusty exosuit empowers her to confront the xenomorph with the audacity that she might prevail. Her sorrow and fury over the loss of her daughter fuel her determination to safeguard Newt, but ironically, she perceives a shared grief in the xenomorph queen who has just lost numerous offspring – perhaps even hundreds.

The depth of meaning hidden within Weaver’s powerful portrayal of the line “Get away from her, you son of a gun!” is one reason why it has remained popular among fans for many years. This line is often remembered because of its underlying significance that sets it apart. Incorporating this phrase into another movie requires a similar impact on the plot and characters, as it carries a strong emotional resonance.

As a die-hard cinema enthusiast, I found that moment in the movie didn’t quite resonate as intended for me when it came to Andy’s character. First off, the callback happened earlier than expected, which somewhat undermined its potential impact. While it was supposed to be a climactic, despair-filled scene, the visual elements seemed to contradict that.

In this intense sequence, Andy and Rain (Cailee Spaeny) were frantically running from a xenomorph, with the creature almost having Rain pinned down. Suddenly, Andy appears, floating gracefully towards them while holding a rifle steady in his hands. He fires a series of precise shots right at the monster’s face, saving Rain just in time.

He delivers his line in two parts-first shouting “Get away from her,” followed by another burst of gunfire before adding “…you b-b-,” with his stutter reemerging once more. It was a thrilling moment, but the timing and buildup didn’t quite match the emotional weight that the callback was meant to convey.

In this pivotal scene, Andy isn’t just casually going through a trivial event – it’s more like Ripley defending someone dear to her heart. Unbeknownst to the viewers, Andy is proving he’s blended the gentle, slow-witted character from the start of the movie with the shrewd, strategic persona he developed after Rain’s reprogramming. Here, we witness him effectively handling matters, yet his feelings for Rain, his sense of humor, and certain imperfections remain evident.

While this method might not be the most ideal for revealing the change in Andy, there’s still some ambiguity. At this stage in the movie, it wasn’t explicitly clear whether the reprogrammed Andy had completely lost his human qualities and compassion, as found in the original character. Furthermore, Andy hasn’t openly addressed the mistreatment he endured from Bjorn (Spike Fearn), or the impending separation he faces when Rain moves on to create a new life on Yvaga.

Contrivance

In a slightly different phrasing: Ripley’s bold statement might not have been ideal for Andy’s circumstance, yet it appears that this moment in the film was perfectly suited for its inclusion. While we can’t be certain, it seems plausible that some creative minds involved in making the movie wanted to include this reference – whether they were screenwriters, directors, producers, or studio executives. If this line needed to be included in ‘Romulus’, this scene probably represents the most fitting placement. It’s a bit odd and disjointed, but what follows is impactful enough to compensate for that momentary pause in the narrative flow.

Without a doubt, “Romulus” is a cinematic masterpiece, for ordinary movies wouldn’t merit an entire critique focusing on a solitary dialogue line like this one. Its most notable shortcoming might be its awkward quote from “Aliens,” but even with that flaw, it remains exceptionally close to perfection in my opinion. Currently, you can stream “Alien: Romulus” on Hulu, along with many other titles in the series. Right now, “Alien: Earth” is airing weekly on Hulu, with fresh episodes every Tuesday at 9 p.m. ET. “Predator: Badlands” will hit theaters on November 7th.

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2025-08-14 20:57