Having debuted with two strong episodes that instantly made an impression,Alien: Earthalso made an incredibly bold decision that could’ve backfired, yet it looks like it’ll be the show’s biggest strength. GivenAlien’s prequel series is set before the very first movie, the project has a lot of freedom with its plot, so long as it fits into the timeline.
As always, Weyland-Yutani’s presence is felt, butAlien: Earthfocuses on another corporation, Prodigy, which created a new species known as hybrids. This is where the show’s protagonist, Wendy, is introduced. Despite suffering a terminal illness, Wendy manages to survive having her consciousness transferred to a synthetic body, making her the first known hybrid on the planet.
Still, despite her capabilities, Wendy’s main concern is reuniting with her brother, who was under the impression that his sister was dead. With Prodigy keeping the protagonist under strict supervision, it seemed like Hermit learning aboutWendy’s hybrid transformation inAlien: Earthwould almost certainly take a long time, but shockingly, this wasn’t the case.
Alien Earth Reunited Wendy & Hermit Way Sooner Than Expected
With Wendy’s desperation to reunite with her brother being a driving force behind the plot, it looked inevitable that the two would come painfully close to crossing paths, only for something to repeatedly get in the way. Even though Wendy is able to monitor Hermit, all the potential threats lurking on board the crashed research ship seemed like they’d delay the sibling reunion.
Consequently, seeing them interact as early as episode 2 was a very welcome surprise. During their emotional conversation, Wendy revealed that, despite her new name and body, she really was Hermit’s sister, and while he understandably took a while to wrap his head around the fact that his sister was a hybrid, the two finally embraced for the first time in years.
Dragging this storyline out and keeping Wendy’s true identity a secret could’ve been a constant source of tension. However, their bond is proving to be one of the show’s strongest aspects and gives the narrative some much-needed humanity, making the decision to reunite them so early a brave yet correct choice, which helps explain whyAlien: Earth’s reviews are so good.
Wendy & Hermit’s Relationship Should Be At The Heart Of Alien: Earth
Fans may be eager to seeAlien: Earthfeature plenty of violence and kill-hungry creatures as the show rolls on, but it still needs characters to care about, making it a no-brainer for Hermit and Wendy to be at the heart of the story.Alien: Earth’s casthave already provided some great performances, but Sydney Chandler and Alex Lawther have really stood out.
Wendy’s innocent, childlike mind has made her one of the most likable characters in the series, while Hermit comes across as a true underdog trying to do good. More importantly, Wendy’s love for her brother has been on display throughout the entirety of the opening two episodes, and it’s clear his feelings are mutual.
Therefore, it seems logical to base the plot around their desire to protect one another, no matter the consequences. In a world full of greedy corporations and cyborgs, having siblings doing everything in their power to have a normal life feels like a great focal point, since it brings humanity to such a dark world.
Their reunion is already one of the most heartfelt moments in the entire franchise, and the love between Wendy and Hermit gives the audience something to root for, suggesting they should remain at the center ofAlien: Earth.
Focusing The Plot On Hermit & Wendy’s Dynamic Could Make For A More Heartbreaking Ending
Revolving the story around Hermit and Wendy’s relationship isn’t just beneficial for getting the audience invested, but it also sets up a far more emotional ending. As of the first two episodes, Hermit has had some pretty solid plot armor, while Wendy’s synthetic body gives her plenty of durability, making these two characters feel pretty safe so far.
However, that could all change come the finale. The idea of Hermit dying in front of Wendy would be truly heartbreaking, while the opposite would be even more crushing, given Hermit already thought he’d lost his sister and had made peace with her death. Building up their relationship only to kill one off would undoubtedly hurt, but it’s not the only devastating outcome.
Release Date (Tuesdays @ 8 p.m. ET)
Episode 8 - “The Real Monsters”
September 23
Alien: Earth’sIce Agereferencesmay have felt a little bizarre at first, but it’s been a great way to connect the siblings and prove that Wendy is still herself. Therefore, revealing that Wendy’s memories were all implanted and that Hermit’s real sister did actually die would be a brutal twist, especially after spending so much time investing in their dynamic.
How Wendy & Hermit Can Mirror The Key Relationship In Alien: Romulus
Although they weren’t officially siblings,Andy was like a brother to Rain inAlien: Romulus, a relationship thatAlien: Earthcan mirror. Andy was a synth designed specifically to protect Rain, and having lost the rest of her family,Romulus' protagonist referred to the android as her brother, despite there being no biological connection.
Wendy and Hermit’s dynamic goes one step further, as despite no longer being in a human body, Wendy really is Hermit’s sister, giving them an unbreakable bond. She may essentially have superhuman abilities and be difficult to kill, but Wendy is still the regular child Hermit remembers her to be, making their story even more personal than Rain and Andy’s.
ConsideringAlien: Romulusproved to be one of the most popular movies in the franchise, mimicking its main relationship and expanding upon it is naturally a great idea, and withAlien: Earthreuniting Wendy and Hermit so quickly, the show has plenty of time to make fans 100% invested in their fate.
