This publish incorporates spoilers for the two-episode premiere of “Alien: Earth.”
The most recent version to the “Alien” universe just isn’t quick on jargon. The collection, an earth-bound prequel appropriately titled “Alien: Earth,” begins with a considerable on-screen glossary that includes a rundown of the three forms of future humanoids discovered on this world: “synths,” “cyborgs,” and “hybrids.” The on-screen titles do not cease there; all through the primary episode, they introduce the Weyland-Yutani Company’s USCSS Maginot, a collection of dates and mission-relevant measurements, and a brand new setting for franchise followers, megacorp Prodigy’s analysis island – dubbed “Neverland” by its trillionaire creator.
Lastly, viewers are launched to New Siam, a spot that we’re informed can also be referred to as Prodigy Metropolis. The town instantly appears to be like acquainted, and regardless of some automation, it nonetheless has a distinctly human contact that is lacking from different areas of “Alien: Earth.” We see colourful, busy streets and a system of floating transportation that is downright retro when contrasted towards Prodigy’s superior surveillance and AI tech. The pre-technocratic title for the world isn’t uttered in these episodes, however context clues point out that New Siam can solely be one place: Bangkok, Thailand.
Company ruler Prodigy took over Thailand in Alien: Earth
Even when you’ve by no means seen the unmistakable cityscape of Bangkok for your self, the origins of New Siam are apparent because of its title. Thailand was traditionally referred to as Siam, particularly by outsiders, and Historical past At present notes that the title, initially Sanskrit, possible gained recognition when utilized by sixteenth century Portuguese colonizers. In Noah Hawley’s dystopian imaginative and prescient of the long run, the area can also be colonized, however this time it is managed by one company – Prodigy. In an fascinating inversion of Ridley Scott’s “Blade Runner,” which imagined a future Las Vegas closely influenced by Tokyo, Hawley conceives of a world the place a vivid, well-liked Asian metropolis has been consumed by American greed.
Although town’s particular governmental construction hasn’t absolutely been defined but, a nifty little bit of exposition within the pilot lays out the groundwork for a model of the world ruled straight by firms. Prodigy, run by annoying, rich weirdo Boy Kavalier (Samuel Blenkin), has possession of town previously often called Bangkok. Regardless of this, town’s spirit shines by means of in early scenes that showcase its bustling, distinctly human attraction. As Salon’s Hanh Nguyen wrote after a set go to, “Eradicating area from the ‘Alien’ equation meant that Hawley needed to envision what Earth 2120 appeared like, and apparently, a part of it appeared like Thailand.”
twenty second century earth is a capitalist hellscape
Prodigy’s newfound maintain over town is made obvious after we’re launched to the privatized navy group that medic Hermit (Alex Lawther) is unable to depart. There’s additionally a reference to a vacation referred to as “Founder’s Day,” and whereas we do not see many festivities, Kavalier is informed that the USCSS Maginot – a spaceship owned by company rival Yutani – smashed right into a Kavalier-owned constructing whereas most of its tenants had been on the Founder’s Day Competition. To recap, one white man who appears to be like like he is twelve owns one of many greatest port cities on the earth, a whole navy, a bunch of high-rises, a non-public island constructed for Dr. Moreau-style experiments, and Timothy Olyphant’s bleached eyebrows.
In traditional 1% style, Kavalier’s boundless riches do not precisely translate to prosperity or entry for the individuals of New Siam. He clearly would not care in any respect about potential casualties from the spaceship crash, and desires a peek at Yutani’s specimens even when a search and rescue crew or any variety of civilians should die alongside the way in which. In a separate flashback, Hermit and others are additionally pressured to come back head to head with dusty, unfriendly paperwork processing machines at a nightmarish wanting DMV-style workplace, one which appears designed to depart all who enter feeling powerless. Beneath Kavalier’s thumb, Thailand is a far cry from the idyllic nation portrayed earlier this 12 months in “The White Lotus.”
With simply two hours of storytelling underneath its belt, it is already clear that “Alien: Earth” possesses one thing even scarier than a Xenomorph: a bleakly correct imaginative and prescient of what capitalism would possibly appear like in 100 years.
New episodes of “Alien: Earth” premiere Tuesdays at 8 PM ET on FX and Hulu.
