Alien: Earth Episode 8 Review

Warning! Spoilers ahead for Alien: Earth episode 8, “The Real Monsters.”

The time has finally come for Alien: Earth, the most exciting sci-fi show of the year, to end, and while I wish there were more episodes, “The Real Monsters” didn’t disappoint. Alien: Earth episode 7, “Emergence,” might have been more action-oriented, but that left plenty of room for the series finale to wrap up the emotional and narrative themes they’ve been circling from the beginning. The Alien franchise punishes its characters for playing god and trying to control nature, and the Hybrids in Alien: Earth dole out some retribution in the series finale.

The episode title tells us everything we need to know, and have known from the start, in “The Real Monsters.” Wendy finally breaks the tension with Hermit, revealing to him the real reason why she likes the aliens. While Wendy claims it’s because they’re honest, her second reply is much more telling; it’s because the humans are food to them and the Hybrids aren’t. Like any father, Boy Kavalier has made his mark on his children, and now that they’re all grown up, they have the intelligence and power he gave them, as well as the blood thirsty edge.

Alien: Earth Unravels Its Inevitable Conclusion, Leaving Room For Future Seasons

The Series Carefully Cultivates Plenty Of Storylines That Make Us Desperate For Season 2

We jump back into the narrative with the Hybrids locked up and things at a relative standstill after Hermit’s betrayal, with Boy Kavalier leaning heavily on his hubris. Though “The Real Monsters” was a little more anti-climactic than I was expecting, seeing Kavalier’s downfall and slow loss of control in the episode was as satisfying as I expected. However, I was somewhat surprised that he didn’t see it coming. The seeds of Wendy’s mutiny were planted a long time ago, but I suppose Kavalier’s fatal flaw was always meant to take him out.

It’s compelling to watch Wendy’s plans and powers click into place as she realizes just how little she needs the adults, and grasps how far above them she really is. While there are plenty of tense moments throughout the installment, it makes sense that Alien: Earth would give its most exciting sequences to the penultimate episode. This lets its characters ruminate on the future and spell out the show’s conclusions for us. If the Lost Boys and Hermit are a little too quick to jump on board with Wendy’s plan, it’s understandable, as her assent to the Island’s throne positions her as something of a cult leader.

Her charisma and planning make me want to watch her all the more, not unlike how I felt about Kavalier. I respect that in the final moments, Alien: Earth didn’t try to shock us with a body count; instead, it ensured that our favorite, most contemptible, and compelling characters would be back with us for season 2. Though there’s still time for the eyeball monster to parasitically control the Boy, I appreciate that the series is saving that inevitable conclusion for later. The creature is one of the many loose ends that Alien: Earth purposefully leaves uncertain, so we’ll have plenty to think about in the gap between seasons.

While the Xenomorph is terrifying because it’s a single-minded killer, the eyeball operates at a level of intelligence that caught our attention. Boy Kavalier’s as well, so it feels safe to assume there will be significant fallout there. Who the real monsters are in Alien: Earth depends on your point of view. There’s only one character that the audience can truly identify with, Hermit, who, unfortunately, is one of the least interesting people in the show. As the only human left with any agency by the end of “The Real Monsters,” there are only so many ways the tenuous situation can play out next season.

Wendy Sets Up A New World Order In “The Real Monsters”

There’s No Denying Who Has The Power Now

Chandler is at her best in “The Real Monsters,” which is Wendy’s episode above all, as there’s no longer any point in denying that it’s she who holds all the cards. While we know that the tenuous alliance she has with the Xenomorphs can’t last forever, the symbiotic relationship between the Hybrids and the aliens, who can’t gain anything from their deaths, is interesting to explore. Wendy is teetering dangerously close to fancying herself a god, and while we wanted to see the Hybrids take revenge on their creators, it won’t be long before they need to be stopped themselves.

If there’s one hope I have for Alien: Earth season 2, it’s that the wait won’t be too long between seasons. Of course, this is probably foolish, as the gaps between seasons are growing larger every year, but the semi-cliffhanger ending of Alien: Earth has me on the edge of my seat, ready for more. The fact that I know my favorite characters, from nearly all the Lost Boys to Boy Kavalier himself, will be back for Alien: Earth season 2 means the wait will be agony, but it will likely be worth it.

Release Date: August 12, 2025
Directors: Dana Gonzales, Ugla Hauksdóttir, Noah Hawley
Writers: Bob DeLaurentis

Pros & Cons

Alien: Earth paves the way for an exciting second season, making us intrigued by the series’ future.
All the most interesting and compelling players make it to the end of Alien: Earth alive.