Alien: Earth’s Opening Is A Perfect Easter Egg Callback to Ridley Scott’s Original Film

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The “Alien: Earth” series ventures into uncharted territory, expanding the “Alien” franchise through a TV episode format. Interestingly, the debut episode pays homage to the initial “Alien” film. Set in 2120, “Alien: Earth” follows the crew of the Weyland-Yutani cargo ship, the USCSS “Maginot,” who encounter a ravenous xenomorph, leading to the ship’s crash-landing on Earth. This event releases the xenomorph into the human population. Although ideas for bringing xenomorphs to Earth have been presented in past attempts, such as some concepts for “Alien 3” and the Earth-based storyline of “Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem” in 2007, “Alien: Earth” manages to achieve this goal while expanding the “Alien” lore in intriguing and unforeseen directions.

In the opening episodes of “Alien: Earth,” there are affectionate references to the visual themes of the initial two “Alien” films. One such reference is clearly visible right from the start of “Alien: Earth,” as the narrative structure mirrors that of the original “Alien” series.

Alien: Earth’s Opening Pays Tribute to the Opening of Alien (1979)

The initial scene of the first episode in ‘Alien: Earth’ finds the team aboard the USCSS Maginot emerging from prolonged hibernation in cryosleep, a moment reminiscent of Ridley Scott’s original ‘Alien’, where the crew of the Nostromo also woke up from their hypersleep as they approached Earth. This parallels the opening scenes of both stories.

Furthermore, the homage to the movie “Alien” is evident in various aspects, notably through the musical cues and the way the show’s title is presented. Similar to the slow reveal of the title in “Alien,” the title of “Alien: Earth” appears gradually, letter by letter, until it is fully spelled out. Moreover, the series’ 2120 timeline takes place merely two years before the 1979 movie’s setting of 2122. Consequently, it can be inferred that the creators intended to establish a strong link to Ridley Scott’s film right from the opening minutes of the series.

Alien: Earth Recreates the Atmospheric Sci-Fi Feel of Alien (& Aliens)

The opening episodes of “ Alien: Earth ” are particularly noteworthy due to their clever blending of nostalgia from both “ Alien ” and “ Aliens “. In the first episode, “ Alien: Earth ” skillfully employs the suspenseful, gradual build-up of horror characteristic of “ Alien “, resulting in a renegade xenomorph brutally killing the crew of the Weyland-Yutani freighter and causing it to crash on Earth. What makes this series intriguing is that its second episode mirrors the tone shift experienced by “ Alien ” into “ Aliens “.

Following the premiere of the second episode of “Alien: Earth”, I found it had an exhilarating blend of horror and action akin to the classic sequel, “Aliens”. In this installment, the xenomorph wreaks havoc within a vast apartment complex, forcing a squad of elite soldiers to attempt control. Remarkably, the first two episodes of “Alien: Earth” steer clear of becoming overly nostalgic and distracting, instead adhering to a familiar structure reminiscent of both “Alien” and “Aliens”. It subtly pays tribute to its predecessors, such as a nod to the original’s opening scene in the form of a subtle hat-tip. Additionally, “Alien: Earth” maintains a trend that has become characteristic of the “Alien” franchise in recent years.

Alien: Earth Is Continuing the Alien Franchise’s New Winning Streak

The Alien franchise, famous for timeless classics like the original Alien and Aliens, has also seen its fair share of contentious releases such as Alien 3, Alien: Resurrection, and the Alien vs. Predator series. Despite this, the franchise never quite recaptured the success of its first two installments until Fede Álvarez’s celebrated Alien: Romulus in 2024. This film not only serves as a narrative crossroads for the Alien series (incorporating hints introduced in Ridley Scott’s Prometheus and Alien: Covenant), but it has been widely adored by Alien fans since the original two movies.

The impressive initial reception for “Alien: Earth” suggests a fresh surge for the “Alien” series, mirroring the revitalized “Predator” franchise. Significantly, “Alien: Earth” serves as the inaugural episodic installment in the “Alien” saga, making it fitting that the opening scene of its first episode pays homage to the origins of the series through an Easter egg nod to Ridley Scott’s original “Alien”.

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As a devoted sci-fi enthusiast, I’m thrilled to share that the initial chapters of the gripping series, “Alien: Earth,” are now streaming on Hulu! Every Tuesday, prepare for more exhilarating episodes to unfold, keeping us on the edge of our seats. Let’s tune in and embark on this cosmic adventure together!

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2025-08-16 15:23