When it comes to arranging films within the Alien series, many enthusiasts often place Alien: Covenant towards the lower end of the list. Back in 2016, Ridley Scott was still receiving criticism for not delivering a true Alien prequel as anticipated with Prometheus; while Covenant did connect more closely to the Alien universe, this unity came at the expense of a less complex narrative compared to Prometheus, and fell short of recapturing the original Alien’s depth.
To put it simply, Alien: Covenant succeeded in its mission: by blending with the storyline of Prometheus, it managed to provide a detailed narrative for dedicated fans, connecting the development of the xenomorph species and setting the stage for the events seen in Alien (1979). Notably, Alien: Covenant contains a scene that addresses an essential aspect in the franchise, making the upcoming Alien: Earth TV series even more captivating.
“Idle Hands Are The Devil’s Work”
In Alien: Covenant, it’s revealed that a character from Prometheus, David (played by Michael Fassbender), not only survived but took a dark turn. He had killed his human companion, Dr. Elizabeth Shaw. Using an alien spacecraft, he tracked down the Engineers’ homeworld – an advanced species that created life on numerous planets including Earth with their genetically engineered goo. David employed this weapon against the Engineers, destroying their planet before setting up a laboratory for his genetic experiments. In this lab, he spent decades tinkering with the mutagen, infecting different hosts until he discovered the right combination for facehugger parasites and their eggs.
In Alien: Covenant, it’s uncovered that David (Michael Fassbender’s character from Prometheus), not only survived but committed a terrible crime. He killed his human companion, Dr. Elizabeth Shaw. With the help of an alien spacecraft, he found the Engineers’ homeworld – an advanced species known for seeding life on various planets including Earth with their mutagen goo. Using the weapon against them, he wiped out their planet and established a laboratory for genetic research. In this lab, he spent decades playing around with the mutagen, infecting different hosts until he found the perfect combination for facehugger parasites and their eggs.
As the crew of the USCSS Covenant discover David’s world, some of its members get contaminated by a mutagen, leading to the birth of various xenomorph versions known as Praetomorphs. Unaware of the sinister intentions of the rogue synthetic David, the Covenant crew is compelled to seek shelter from him. David skillfully eliminates crew members one by one and gives birth to another Praetomorph in the process. However, the synthetic officer aboard the Covenant, Walter (also portrayed by Michael Fassbender), becomes suspicious of David’s actions and confronts his supposed counterpart.
Synthetics Were Originally More “Human”
In the intriguing narrative of “Alien: Covenant”, I found myself entwined in a subtle subplot where my onscreen counterpart, David, misquotes a renowned poem. He erroneously attributes “Ozymandias” to the celebrated English poet Lord “Byron”, whereas later on, Walter corrects him, revealing that the actual author was Percy Bysshe “Shelley”. This discrepancy serves as evidence that there might be flaws in David’s programming, adding a layer of complexity to his character.
In simpler terms, Walter clarifies that later synthetic models, following David, underwent changes to reduce their personality and lost the ability to create, unlike David who could independently compose a heartfelt melody on a hand-carved flute. Unlike David, Walter cannot compose melodies and instead needs instructions from David to replay the tune. This difference is demonstrated by the Prometheus theme.
Initially, this particular scene in ‘Alien: Covenant’ appeared quite ordinary. But after viewing ‘Alien: Earth’, it has taken on a greater importance within the broader storyline of the Alien series.
Unstable Synthetics Led to a Mechanical Arms Race
In the film titled “Alien: Earth“, audiences encounter three distinct forms of machine entities in the Alien Universe: synthetics (androids), cyborgs (humans with robotic enhancements), and hybrids (human minds housed in synthetic bodies). However, it’s evident from “Alien: Covenant” that this technological competition arose due to the perceived instability or danger of self-governing artificial intelligence.
Essentially, the David models’ attempts at synthetic refocused humanity have failed, leading instead to a shift in humanity’s focus towards post-human evolution. While Mr. Weyland aimed to build thinking machines, these creations exposed humanity’s need for advancement. This theme of seeking humanity’s next phase through technological or biological means is highlighted in the movie “Alien: Earth.” The corporations are eager to use xenomorphs and other dangerous alien species to develop a serum that boosts human capabilities. Similarly, Boy Kavalier is preparing to introduce his hybrid line, a significant leap towards ensuring humanity’s long-term survival.
The Alien series has consistently explored complex topics such as man versus machine versus nature, but without overpowering the suspenseful horror-thriller aspect. However, with the arrival of Alien: Earth, viewers are enjoying a fresh perspective while contemplating these profound themes, and for the first time, they’re becoming crucial elements that define the franchise more than ever before.
Alien: Covenant and Alien: Earth are streaming on Hulu-Disney+.
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2025-08-21 23:53