Alien: Earth – Ridley Scott’s terrifying space monster finally comes to TV … and it’s properly creepy

The most cinematic evil creature ever comes to the small screen, courtesy of the brains behind the excellent revamp of Fargo. It’s a dread-packed, gory watch that’s hugely entertaining

‘I am human, and nothing human is alien to me,” wrote Roman playwright Terence in 165BC. He hadn’t seen any of the Alien films, though. He hadn’t seen Alien or Aliens or Alien 3 , he hadn’t seen any of the Predator crossover canon, he hadn’t seen Resurrection or Prometheus or the one after Prometheus. He hadn’t even seen Alien: Romulus, even though it’s named after the guy who co-founded Rome. The Oscar-winning franchise has earned well over a billion dollars worldwide. There’s nothing more human than loving Alien.

Part of the franchise’s success is its malleability. A creature-horror stuffed with Freudian nightmare, the films blend action, sci-fi, theology and satire. (I don’t want to be Frankenstein’s Pedant about it, but the monster is the profit-driven corporation determined to bring the alien to Earth to develop as a biological weapon.) Now that the IP belongs to Disney, we should expect many more instalments. But can they keep stretching the story into exciting shapes? Or are the days of Alien: Below Decks or The Real Housewives of Moon LV-426 upon us?