Alien: Earth has been firing on all cylinders since its premiere, but Alien: Earth Season 1 Episode 5 may be its most ambitious hour yet.
By rewinding the clock to the USCSS Maginot’s doomed 17-day voyage before crash-landing on Earth, the series delivered an introspective, horror-laden story that recontextualized Morrow, elevated Zaveri, and shockingly expanded the franchise’s mythology.
This was the episode that finally pulled back the curtain on Morrow, a character who has often straddled the line between chilling villain and enigmatic operator.
Up until now, his manipulation of Slightly and threats toward his family painted him as irredeemable, someone whose humanity had long since been stripped away.
Yet here, we learned of the personal sacrifices that shaped him. His decision to join the mission out of loyalty to Yutani’s grandmother cost him a relationship with his daughter, who tragically died in a fire at just 19.
That revelation reframes everything. Morrow isn’t just a cold corporate pawn — he’s a man hardened by loss, channeling his grief into an unwavering loyalty that makes him both sympathetic and terrifying.
His pain doesn’t absolve him, but it explains why revenge against Prodigy and Boy Kavalier has become so consuming throughout Alien: Earth Season 1.
Zaveri Stole the Show on Alien: Earth Season 1 Episode 5
If Morrow was the episode’s revelation, Zaveri was undoubtedly its heart. She embodied the human cost of the mission, fighting an uphill battle to keep the crew alive even as every victory dissolved into tragedy.
Her standoff with Mother was one of the most haunting moments of the series so far. In that instant, she realized the brutal truth: the crew’s survival was inconsequential compared to the preservation of the alien cargo. It was chilling, tragic, and frustrating all at once.
Zaveri’s resilience made her instantly relatable, and when she pounded on the door in vain as Morrow locked her out, it was more than just another character death — it was the emotional collapse of hope.
She deserved better, which is precisely why her ending hit as hard as it did.
The episode also doubled down on Alien’s signature horror, and it didn’t hold back. From the grotesque discovery of parasitic “ticks” crawling across Malachite’s heart to his grisly demise on the operating table, the body horror was unflinching.
Yet the most quintessentially Alien moment arrived during the Xenomorph’s relentless pursuit of Zaveri through the Maginot’s claustrophobic corridors.
The sequence was suffocating, visceral, and perfectly executed, proving that the franchise’s classic formula of confined terror still works when done with this level of precision.
The alien-on-alien fight that followed was a bold swing, and it paid off, hinting that these creatures are not a united front but locked in their own primal struggle for supremacy.
What elevated the hour beyond scares was its deft handling of themes. The tension between corporate loyalty and human survival has always been at the heart of the Alien franchise, and this episode crystallized that conflict beautifully.
Different Sides of the Battle
Morrow and Yutani’s fixation on the alien species clashed brutally with Zaveri, Rahim, and Chibuzo’s desperation to save their fellow crew members. Every choice underscored the cost of obedience versus rebellion, making the story feel like a self-contained film with operatic stakes.
The alien power struggle mirrored the humans’ plight, suggesting that the thirst for dominance transcends species.
Structurally, flashback episodes can often feel like a frustrating detour, but this one was anything but.
It provided long-awaited answers posed by the Alien: Earth series premiere about what went wrong aboard the Maginot while keeping the season’s momentum surging forward.
Petrovich’s clandestine deal with Boy Kavalier — offering alien specimens in exchange for a new body — could have felt convenient, but instead it tracked perfectly with what we already know about Kavalier’s opportunism.
The revelation that the crash was engineered through betrayal tied the pieces together in a satisfyingly sinister way. The character work extended to the supporting cast as well.
Malachite’s collapse, Rahim and Chibuzo’s desperate operation, and Shmuel’s conflicted friendship with Malachite all added texture.
While Zaveri’s arc overshadowed most of them, no one felt underserved — a rarity in an ensemble hour this packed with plot and carnage.
The fact that Shmuel’s grim fate at the hands of the “eye alien” didn’t even register as a low point shows how relentlessly gripping the episode was from start to finish.
The standout moment, though, belonged to Zaveri’s final confrontation with Morrow.
Watching her pound on the locked door, only to be abandoned to the Xenomorph’s claws, was a brutal payoff to everything she endured. It wasn’t just a death — it was a statement about the ruthless hierarchy aboard the Maginot.
Is Morrow Redeemable?
Morrow made his choice, and that choice will haunt the season going forward, even if Zaveri herself won’t.
By the end, Morrow’s trajectory was clear: his loyalty to Yutani is unshakable, his grief unending, and his vendetta against Prodigy fully ignited.
Manipulating Slightly back on Earth might be morally indefensible, but in his mind, it’s the only way to get justice and secure the alien species for Yutani.
Rather than feeling like a peak, this hour proved that Alien: Earth is still climbing, layering its mythology with bold character work, suffocating horror, and emotionally devastating payoffs.
Alien: Earth isn’t just the best new show of the year — it’s a masterclass in how to expand a legendary franchise while staying true to its DNA.
Over to you, Alien: Earth Fanatics!
What’s your take on the flashbacks and how they impact the rest of the series going forward?
If you’re all in on extraterrestrial goodness, be sure to check out Invasion. The Apple TV+ drama has hit its stride this year and is delivering some stellar storytelling.
While I have you, TV Fanatic wants to hear from YOU. What would you like to see more of on the site?
Watch Alien: Earth Online
-
Alien: Earth Revisits Ill-Fated USCSS Maginot in Powerful and Terrifying Season 1 Episode 5
Alien: Earth Season 1 Episode 5 dials up the horror, stakes, and context. Read our review of the best episode yet.
-
Alien: Earth Season 1 Episode 4 Review: Trauma, Secrets, and a Bowing Xenomorph
Alien: Earth Season 1 Episode 4 marks the halfway point, and nothing will ever be the same again. Read our review.
-
13 TV Shows That Weren’t Afraid to Get Political
From The Handmaid’s Tale to Boston Legal, these 13 shows weren’t afraid to get political — tackling power, ideology, and the cost of compromise.
TV Fanatic is searching for passionate contributors to share their voices across various article types. Think you have what it takes to be a TV Fanatic? Click here for more information and next steps.
The post Alien: Earth Revisits Ill-Fated USCSS Maginot in Powerful and Terrifying Season 1 Episode 5 appeared first on TV Fanatic.
