Tiny Table 3

Six episodes in the can and two remaining Noah Hawley’s Alien: Earth has proven to be the best iteration of the iconic xenomorph since the 1980s. It balances chest splitting, limb slicing, eyeball popping action against fleshed out (pun intended) character development. AE succeeds where most of the later films fail – we actually care when these character are hunted, violated, and/or ripped in half. But what episodes of the the first six rise to the top of the list? Let’s rank!

6. The Fly (Episode 6): It’s difficult putting any of Alien: Earth’s episodes at the bottom of any list, but we gotta start somewhere. Ep6 is one of those transition points where plotlines converge and the climax is set. Wendy feels the pull of humanity (via her brother) Joe and starts to see the cracks in Cavalier’s portrait of Neverland. Therapist and protector, Dame Sylvia, reveals herself as allied is with Prodigy even at the cost of the ‘kids.’ And Slightly final succumbs to the pressures of Morrow, setting in motion the theft of a Xenomorph. The Fly, even with a few squishy kills, is all setup and character development: well executed, but with fewer thrills. Verdict: 8 Credit Roll Song, Godsmack, Keep Away: 6.5

5. Metamorphosis (Episode 3): Where Ep5 sets up the season climax, Metamorphosis launches us into its center. Wendy gets a solo kill on a full sized Xeno, Morrow meets the hybrid kids for the first time, and we get our first tease at communication with our favorite killers. The episode is more spark than lit fuse, but the gunpowder trail has to start somewhere. Verdict: 8.5 Credit Roll Song, Metallica, Wherever I May Roam: 9

4. Observation (Episode 4): At season midpoint, we get a masterful balance of character and tension: Morrow’s manipulation of Slightly, Nibs projection of trauma, and Wendy’s connection to creature. And Observation includes a revelatory demonstration of the eyeball monster’s powers and intelligence in all it’s skin crawling glory. The final scene concludes an affectionate exchange between a chestbuster and our main character – a true WTF moment. Verdict: 9.0 Credit Roll Song, Jane’s Addiction, Ocean Size: 10+

3. Neverland (Episode 1): The season opener was always going to be high on the list. While deferential to it’s source material, Neverland manages to establish its own world, conflicts, and characters without shortchanging any element. Things happen fast. Wendy discovers her brother. Morrow sacrifices the crew of the Maginot. The bug hunt begins. Ep1 is a near perfect launch. Verdict: 9.5 Credit Roll Song, Black Sabbath, Mob Rules: 9

2. Mr. October (Episode 2): This could sit in the #1 spot. It has the xenomorph is at its true predatory powers, and we get an up close look at (most) of the new bugs. The rampaging xeno, as it tears through the upper floors of the tower, is everything we’d been waiting for. Wendy and Hermit’s story arc starts to take shape, and kid’s individual personalities start to emerge. And watching Wendy take that heroic leap into nothingness as the opening riff of Tool’s Stinkfist drops is pure catharsis. Verdict: 9.5 Credit Roll Song, Tool, Stinkfist: 10+

1. In Space, No One… (Episode 5): I’m sure there will be some detractors here, but this flashback episode borders on perfection. Morrow crystalizes in his singular commitment to mission. Hawley makes us care for characters we’ve barely met, and we feel it as each it taken out. The conspiracy unravels with careful pacing and broadens our understanding to the universal narrative. Babou Ceesay’s performance is, as it is throughout the series, a masterclass. In Space fills every second with meaningful interactions, intrigue, and revelations…and more than a few gruesome deaths. You could watch it a dozen times and still have fun. Verdict: 10+ Credit Roll Song, The Smashing Pumpkins, Cherub Rock: 7.5