IR TV Review: ALIEN - EARTH - EPISODE 3 (“Metamorphosis”)[FX]
The intention of response sometimes is based in the ability of people to understand the environment they are existing in. With the 3rd episode of "Alien: Earth" entitled "Metamorphosis," it is about evolving who one thinks they are both literally and figuratively. All the characters in some way shape or form are trying to find their own identity. The context of The Lost Boys does play into this because everyone wants to be Wendy, although there is a weird context that points to someone else as Peter Pan. Wendy, at the inset of this episode, has to descend deeper into the ship. There is a response factor which is interesting but it is not clear why. She is simply responding to her brother which should not be a factor yet it is. There is an aspect also of ambition which fuels Boy Chevalier (and one of the Lost Boys). What is interesting is the fact that he and Visch (Timothy Olyphant) seem to know how to handle this kind of crisis better than what Weyland-Yutani did (or will).
Morrow is the wild card here but we do learn a little more of what he is. However his motivation is made alot clearer and is not unlike someone else in the franchise although with a different set up. There is one backstory element of the crashed ship though that is not clear, considering what time has passed. Whether or not there is connection with "Prometheus" is uncertain though that might still be a factor. Sydney Chandler continues to play Wendy with a sense of wonder that brings to mind Winona Ryder's character in Alien: Resurrection. A specific scene down in the basement of the building also adds more mystery though this episode is much less violent and blood drenched than the last episode. Its coda is interesting almost like a funeral march in a way but that in itself speaks to resurrection and the notion of what life and death actually is. There is also an aspect of conflicts of interests which obviously can cause a lot of things to unravel. B+
By Tim Wassberg
