The new FX series Alien: Earth expands the Alien universe with three types of artificial beings—cyborgs, synths, and hybrids—as corporations fight for control using advanced immortality technology. Set in 2120, two years before the original Alien movie, the show explores how these creations challenge what it means to be human while facing deadly extraterrestrial threats.
Cyborgs: Humans Upgraded with Machine Parts
Cyborgs in Alien: Earth are humans enhanced with robotic parts to improve strength, durability, and lifespan. Babou Ceesay plays Morrow, a security officer on the spaceship USCSS Maginot, who has mechanical arms with built-in tools like a Swiss Army knife. Unlike fully artificial beings, cyborgs retain their human minds but struggle with their identity.
“I think [Morrow] wishes he was more machine. Wishes he was more [synth] Kirsh. So that he doesn’t have to deal with the problem of emotions,” said Babou Ceesay about his character .
Morrow represents Weyland-Yutani, one of five mega-corporations competing to dominate Earth. His role shows how cyborgs balance human emotions with machine efficiency, making them key players in the corporate war.
Synths: Fully Artificial Beings with Human-Like Intelligence
Synths, short for synthetics, are robots designed to look and act like humans. They have been part of the Alien franchise since the first movie, with characters like Ash and David. In Alien: Earth, Timothy Olyphant plays Kirsh, a synth working for Prodigy Corporation, who mentors the hybrids.
Unlike cyborgs, synths are entirely man-made with artificial intelligence. Kirsh sees himself as superior to humans, focusing on logic over emotions.
“He’s trying to make things work, and has decided, perhaps, that this new thing is better than the old thing,” Timothy Olyphant explained about Kirsh’s disdain for humanity .
Synths like Kirsh represent Weyland-Yutani’s traditional approach to artificial life, while Prodigy pushes boundaries with hybrids.
Hybrids: Human Minds in Synthetic Bodies
The newest addition to the Alien universe, hybrids are synthetic bodies implanted with human consciousness. Sydney Chandler plays Wendy, the first successful hybrid created by Prodigy. Her mind comes from Marcy Hermit, a terminally ill 12-year-old girl, now in an adult synthetic body.
“A hybrid is—in Wendy’s specific case—it’s the mind of a 12-year-old child placed into a synthetic body. So it’s the first try at immortality,” Sydney Chandler explained .
Wendy leads a group of child hybrids called the Lost Boys, named after Peter Pan characters. They have superhuman abilities but retain childlike emotions, raising ethical questions about identity and humanity.
Corporate War Over Immortality Technology
Five mega-corporations—Weyland-Yutani, Prodigy, Lynch, Dynamic, and Threshold—compete to control Earth by perfecting their versions of artificial life.
- Weyland-Yutani relies on synths and cyborgs.
- Prodigy bets on hybrids as the future of immortality.
The conflict escalates when the USCSS Maginot crashes on Earth, bringing alien threats into the mix. The corporations see this as a chance to prove which technology—cyborg, synth, or hybrid—will dominate the future.
How the Three Beings Change the Alien Franchise
Alien: Earth shifts focus from just xenomorphs to deeper sci-fi themes about humanity and artificial life. The series questions:
- Can a human mind in a synthetic body stay truly human?
- Are synths more stable than hybrids with human emotions?
- Do cyborgs lose their humanity by merging with machines?
The show’s creator, Noah Hawley, explores these ideas through action, corporate intrigue, and ethical dilemmas.
Alien: Earth premiered on FX and Hulu on August 12, 2025, with new episodes releasing weekly. International viewers can stream it on Disney+.
Also Read: Alien: Earth Season 1 Timeline Explained: How It Fits Into the Alien Universe
Credits: Dexerto, SuperheroHype, SlashFilm
