Resident Alien Meets Doctor Who In The 10-Part Sci-Fi Thriller Canceled Too Soon

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Published Aug 31, 2026, 3:00 PM EDT

Memory Ngulube joined Screen Rant in April 2024 as part of the Movies and TV team. Since then, she has written for the Perennials and Streaming team, covering a wide range of topics from new releases to old movies and TV shows. Memory is currently a Classic TV writer.

Before joining Screen Rant, Memory was a freelance copywriter who specialized in email marketing and social media management. While she enjoyed her job, her true passion was always movies and TV.

When she isn’t writing for Screen Rant, Memory can be found reading, baking (which is one of her passions), or watching her favorite K-drama.

Science fiction TV shows often draw the short straw when it comes to longevity. Those that stay on air for longer than one season are the exception, particularly a series like Doctor Who, which has an impressive 41 installments. Even Resident Alien’s comedic take on alien invasion wasn’t enough to save it from the chopping block.

Showtime's 10-part sci-fi series, The Man Who Fell to Earth, is the perfect example of how to execute an extraterrestrial "invasion" story properly. The series blends the fish-out-of-water experience of Resident Alien with Doctor Who’s saving-civilizations premise. The Man Who Fell to Earth serves as a sequel to the 1976 movie of the same name that starred David Bowie as the intriguing Thomas Newton. The series pays homage to its inspiration, but carves out its own identity with a storytelling format more suitable to modern sci-fi audiences.

Known for his roles in 12 Years a Slave, Doctor Strange, and The Martian, Chiwetel Ejiofor is equal parts funny and tragic as Faraday, an alien who takes Newton’s place as his planet’s savior. In addition to Ejiofor, the series’ cast also includes familiar faces like Naomie Harris and Rob Delaney. Sadly, The Man Who Fell to Earth only has 10 episodes, with Showtime canceling the series after one season. Though the story is still satisfying, a second season definitely would have worked.

The Man Who Fell To Earth Breaks The Rules Of Alien Invasion Stories

A male and female actor in The Man Who Fell to Earth remake

Alien invasion stories often follow the trajectory of extraterrestrial beings arriving on Earth to conquer it. V, for instance, features seemingly benevolent aliens who secretly plan to exploit humanity, while Falling Skies centers on humanity fighting an extraterrestrial occupation after a devastating invasion. Colony similarly imagines Earth under the control of mysterious alien forces, with humans struggling to survive and resist their occupiers. The Man Who Fell to Earth, however, is different because the extraterrestrial being in the series is not presented as an existential threat.

Faraday arrives on Earth to create a source of energy that might save his planet, Anthea, which is facing a doomsday-level crisis. With the human world also heading towards the same fate as Anthea, it becomes integral for the alien visitor to complete his mission and aid both planets. The first contact story in The Man Who Fell to Earth is so fascinating because it shows that aliens aren't the boogeymen who will come to end our world.

The Man Who Fell to Earth is, as cliché as it sounds, a story about hope. Faraday and MIT scientist and engineer Justin (Harris) form an unexpected alliance, with each teaching the other something. Justin learns to let go of things holding her back, while Faraday begins to sit with his emotions, no matter how uncomfortable they are.

The Man Who Fell To Earth TV Show Is Far Better Than The Movie

The 1976 The Man Who Fell to Earth movie is deliberately strange, slow-burning, and somewhat confusing. Those qualities make it fascinating, but the film also leaves much of Newton's story deliberately ambiguous. The 2022 series takes the basic concept and builds a much more complete story that explores the world and themes introduced in the movie. The TV show, thankfully, doesn’t try to simply remake the film, though there are some scenes that it borrowed, such as Faraday going to a pawnshop a few moments after he arrives on Earth.

After reading about The Man Who Fell to Earth, how interested are you in watching the 10-episode series?

I’m planning to watch it very soon

I’m planning to watch it very soon 0%

I’ll add it to my watchlist for later

I’ll add it to my watchlist for later 0%

I might try an episode if I hear more good things

I might try an episode if I hear more good things 0%

I’m curious about the concept but probably won’t watch

I’m curious about the concept but probably won’t watch 0%

It doesn’t appeal to me at all

It doesn’t appeal to me at all 0%

Which type of alien-focused story are you most drawn to right now?

Hopeful, collaborative stories where aliens help humanity

Hopeful, collaborative stories where aliens help humanity 0%

Dark invasion tales where aliens are a clear threat

Dark invasion tales where aliens are a clear threat 0%

Ambiguous first-contact stories where motives are unclear

Ambiguous first-contact stories where motives are unclear 0%

Character-driven dramas that just happen to involve aliens

Character-driven dramas that just happen to involve aliens 0%

Light, comedic takes on aliens living among us

Light, comedic takes on aliens living among us 0%

multi-answer Select all that apply When it comes to sci-fi like The Man Who Fell to Earth, what most influences whether you actually hit play?

Strong character development and emotional depth

Strong character development and emotional depth 0%

Complex, well-built sci-fi worlds and lore

Complex, well-built sci-fi worlds and lore 0%

A complete, self-contained story with a clear ending

A complete, self-contained story with a clear ending 0%

Big-name cast or creators I already like

Big-name cast or creators I already like 0%

Positive buzz from critics, friends, or online communities

Positive buzz from critics, friends, or online communities 0%

As a sequel, the series touches on what happened after the original alien's arrival while introducing a completely different protagonist and perspective. It is through Faraday that audiences who were drawn to Newton’s world but didn’t get to see much of it in the movie understand Anthea and what led to it becoming a dying planet. The serialized format of the top-tier sci-fi show also makes its world-building much richer. A two-hour movie has to condense its alien invasion story and character development, whereas a series has more room and leeway to fully flesh out its plot.

Bowie’s Newton was intentionally distant and mysterious, reflecting an alien who becomes trapped by the strange world he encounters. Chiwetel Ejiofor as Faraday is simply magnetic. Because Faraday’s story in The Man Who Fell to Earth was much richer, it's infinitely easier for audiences to care about him than the movie’s protagonist.