If You’re Squimish, Watch Out For The Sci-Fi Show’s Goriest Episode Yet

Warning! Spoilers ahead for Alien: Earth Episode 5, “In Space, No One…”For viewers who have been missing some of the classic beats of the Alien franchise in Alien: Earth, episode 5, “In Space, No One…” will come as a welcome respite from the politics and mysteries of Neverland Island. Throughout the full hour of the sci-fi series’ newest installment, audiences will catch a glimpse of only a few faces we’ve come to associate with the show’s biggest plots. Just as Alien: Earth episode 4 teed us up to wonder if Hermit was going to become the next Xenomorph host, we’re thrown back in time to find out what really happened on the spaceship from the pilot episode.

Babou Ceesay, who has been compelling but a bit underused as Morrow, finally gets his moment to shine in “In Space, No One…” While Ceesay easily gives the standout performance of the episode, as our ragtag crew is compelling only insofar as the mystery of how they die, we don’t learn much about his background that fully justifies the extremity of the action he’s taken in Alien: Earth. The story of how he came to be on the ship and essentially gave up his whole life is emotional, but his characterization is a little thin, which is becoming a recurring theme in the series.

“In Space, No One…” Is A Beautifully Directed Tribute To Alien’s Legacy

This Episode Leans Into The Franchise’s History, But Doesn’t Explore New Territory

“In Space, No One…” has the spirit of a traditional Alien movie, and it’s clear that Noah Hawley tries to lean into this format while finding ways to subvert our expectations and keep the formula exciting. Sometimes he succeeds, as the mutiny is interesting and the dichotomy between the Xenomorph and the other alien samples the crew collected takes the story a step in the right direction. The eyeball with legs is quickly becoming even more terrifying to me than the Xenomorph, and Alien: Earth pushes us to wonder if we’ll get to see more action unfold between the two competing species.

However, the mutiny itself falls victim to the same problem as Morrow’s character development. Alien: Earth hasn’t pushed itself to engage with deeper, more interrogative questions about the issues of class and subjugation. These serve as the undercurrent of every decision and interaction between the characters. However, while this conversation exists in the corner of our eye, and it’s understandable that someone would be pushed over the edge and betray the crew after giving away their life, “In Space, No One…” uses the betrayal as a plot device, not an opportunity to enrich the show’s themes.

In terms of execution, the episode is gorgeous, and Hawley’s direction is thrilling to watch. It’s always fun to reverse the story’s timeline. It gives the audience the opportunity to feel smart and seen. The show retraces its steps, slowly revealing how the crew met their maker, lingering on the shots of the dead. When we already know how the story ends, it’s vital that each moment is as pressure-packed as possible. Fortunately, it’s undeniable that “In Space, No One…” gets scary. The last two episodes have starved us of Xenomorph action, and this installment delivered.

A bottle episode can sometimes skimp on story, and “In Space, No One…” only tells us one thing: the Boy Kavalier was responsible for the crash, and has been pulling more strings than we knew. A good twist, and one that didn’t take much foreshadowing for us to see coming, as our favorite genius has been far too comfortable putting aside his Peter Pan passion project in favor of his new test subjects. Alien: Earth is a series that doesn’t need to rely on plot twists, but I’ll admit that the Boy Kavalier’s endgame is getting murkier, and I want some answers soon.

Alien: Earth Has A Lot Of Story Left To Tell After “In Space, No One…”

It’s Hard To Believe There Are Just A Few Episodes Left

While it’s true that in the Alien franchise, once the Xenomorph has hatched, it doesn’t take long for all hell to break loose, there are plenty of plot threads that deserve the proper time and attention before season 1 ends. “In Space, No One…” concludes with Morrow on his way to the island, ready to put his plan into action, but as we’ve seen, the Boy Kavalier is, more often than not, many steps ahead of us, lying in wait to see if something interesting will finally happen. For his sake and ours, I hope it does soon.

Alien: Earth has been a thrill ride, but it hasn’t shocked me yet, and I’m hoping that after “In Space, No One…” the show will feel comfortable making me think as much as it makes me squirm. There are three episodes left in Alien: Earth season 1, and I’m cautiously optimistic that when Morrow’s, Wendy’s, and the Boy Kavalier’s clashing wants and motivations finally intersect, it’s going to be more than each of them can handle. Alien: Earth gave us some excitement in episode 5, but there’s plenty of story waiting in the wings to capture our attention next week.

Alien: Earth episode 5 is now available to watch on FX and Hulu.