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Published Sep 3, 2026, 3:02 PM EDT
Craig began contributing to Screen Rant in 2016 and has been ranting ever since, mostly to himself in a darkened room. After previously writing for various outlets, Craig's focus turned to TV and film, where a steady upbringing of science fiction and comic books finally became useful. Craig has previously been published by sites such as Den of Geek.
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Given how Alien: Earth left franchise canon bent, broken, and bruised, the show's divisive reception was hardly surprising. Nevertheless, stellar reviews and vocal support won out, and Alien: Earth season 2 is, thankfully, happening, continuity be damned.
The prequel series is stated to take place after Ridley Scott's two prequel movies, a short time prior to the Nostromo incident depicted in Scott's original 1979 feature. One might imagine that Alien: Earth season 2 will begin pulling the series closer to its cinematic counterparts, but that could prove tricky after season 1 veered so heavily in other, more unexpected directions. That unpredictability has been one of Alien: Earth's greatest strengths thus far, but also makes it very difficult to foresee anything that could happen once season 2 arrives.
With its unconventional approach and genre-bending habits, it would be entirely like Alien: Earth to pull a surprise main character switch in its second season. The series is based around an ensemble, and a strong one at that, but Sydney Chandler's Wendy was undoubtedly the focal protagonist across Alien: Earth's first eight episodes. Wendy will almost certainly continue to be a major player during season 2, but won't necessarily retain her status as the show's outright main character.
Wendy's Story Is Entering A New Phase In Alien: Earth Season 2
Wendy's arc in Alien: Earth season 1 was deliciously complex and filled with nuance. Effectively coming to terms with the death of "Marcy" and discovering her new identity as a synthetic hybrid, Wendy grew into her immense power, motivated by the need to liberate herself and her fellow hybrids. Alien: Earth season 1 ended with Wendy overcoming Boy Kavalier, establishing control of his not inconsiderable empire, and proudly proclaiming, "Now, we rule."
There are big questions surrounding Wendy as she heads into next season. How far will she go to achieve total freedom? Is she already succumbing to the sweet taste of power? Will she set her sights on the wider human population next? These are all fascinating and valid questions for Alien: Earth to pose, but they aren't questions befitting of a protagonist.
Sure, Alien: Earth could simply give Wendy a bigger enemy to fight, with Weyland-Yutani the obvious candidate, but then season 2 would merely be repeating season 1 and switching one evil corporation for another. If the "now, we rule" scene is anything to go by, Alien: Earth's next episodes will be more concerned with transforming Wendy into a threat herself, not once again positioning her as an underdog raging against the metaphorical machine.
Wendy's potential to become a human-hunting menace intent on machine supremacy is one of the more intriguing angles Alien: Earth could explore, but it also leaves the series with a protagonist-shaped hope to fill. Fortunately, the perfect replacement character is waiting in the wings.
Joe Can Become Alien: Earth's New Protagonist In Season 2
Alex Lawther's Joe effectively played Alien: Earth's deuteragonist in season 1, still featuring heavily, but more or less functioning in service to the development of his onscreen sister, Wendy. The other Lost Boys represented Wendy's new life, and Joe symbolized her human past, capturing Chandler's character between two worlds before she fully embraced her shiny new "Wendy" persona.
As the only character with a foot in both camps, Joe finds himself in a unique position as Alien: Earth season 2 beckons. On one hand, Joe's flesh-and-blood existence means he's heavily invested in humanity's survival. On the other, the Lost Boys consider Joe one of their own, and he ended the season by Wendy's side as part of her Neverland gang. It seems inevitable that Joe's loyalties will be torn between his sister and his species, exactly as Wendy found herself torn between diverging paths in season 1. That dilemma makes Joe the perfect new protagonist for Alien: Earth.
Joe is also the biggest underdog in the series right now. An army medic with a good heart, Joe is unhappily trapped between super-genius scientists, super-powered hybrids, super-rich narcissists, and super-angry extra-terrestrial species. Joe is super-out of his depth.
With a strong moral compass and love for his sister driving him forward, however, Joe is compelled to reach the end of this terrifying journey one way or another. As he decides whether to support his sister without question or keep her from crossing the line, Joe needs to summon a newfound inner strength from somewhere. Again, that's perfect protagonist territory.
Alien: Earth Could Change Main Characters Each Season
As a mold-breaking series with a large cast of talented individuals, there's no reason for Alien: Earth to follow the conventional route of having a single main protagonist. In truth, there are enough fully-formed characters to switch perspectives each season.
As Boy Kavalier's flagship hybrid, it made sense for Sydney Chandler's Wendy to act as the nucleus of season 1. And, as outlined above, her brother has all the ingredients necessary to take over that role in season 2. For Alien: Earth season 3, however, centering a character like Kirsch could prove the smartest move.
Timothy Olyphant's shady cyborg is easily the most mysterious entity in Alien: Earth so far, and his full motivations still aren't clear after season 1's finale. Kirsch will likely remain an international synth of mystery in season 2, but if Alien: Earth ever decides to get completely lost in the Kirsch labyrinth, there's little doubt the character could command a season just as brilliantly as Wendy and Joe.
The likes of Boy Kavalier and Yutani have plenty of secrets still to yield, and Nibs is already standing out among the 'Lost Boys' kids, so there will never be a shortage of individuals with 'main character energy.' It's also worth pointing out that Alien: Earth is yet to introduce any characters that are already part of established Alien canon, but does have the option to do so. If and when that happens, the incoming familiar face would give the show yet another potential protagonist to base an entire season around.
That all depends on Alien: Earth's long-term future and how many seasons it can survive in a ruthless streaming landscape, but as far as season 2 is concerned, Joe is perfectly primed to take the reins from his sister and become the audience's entry point into the story when the chaos resumes.
Release Date August 12, 2025
Directors Dana Gonzales, Ugla Hauksdóttir, Noah Hawley
Writers Bob DeLaurentis
English (US) ·