One of the biggest problems with ***Alien: Earth*** is that it treats ambiguity like it automatically equals depth.
Mr. Teng is the clearest example.
The show frames him like there’s something layered going on. The lingering shots. The uneasy vibe. The way other characters react to him. It all feels intentional.
But when you step back, there’s nothing concrete underneath it.
We’re told he’s unsettling. We’re shown that he’s different. But we’re never given a clear sense of what drives him or why he behaves the way he does. The show keeps implying there’s more there without ever committing to it.
And that’s not the same thing as depth.
Ambiguity can be powerful when it feels grounded in something real. Here, it just feels like empty space dressed up as mystery.
Did anyone else feel like the show mistakes “unclear” for “complex”?
That show was a testament to the importance of paying off your Chekhov’s Gun(s). If you tease a bunch of cool concepts and creepy aliens, you need to actually pay them off in a satisfying way.
14
cronedogApr 17, 2026
+9
Yeah. I mostly enjoyed it episode to episode, but didnt think the entire season amounted to much.
9
killedbygavrilo2Apr 17, 2026
+4
Yeah that last episode was not a season finale, not much was resolved at all, more of a mid season finale
4
Max_Powers1331Apr 17, 2026
+3
the season finale felt like a mid season finale if anything.
3
s1dmackApr 17, 2026
+2
Exactly. If you’re going to frame something like it matters, it has to matter eventually. Otherwise it just feels hollow.
2
RenRen512Apr 17, 2026
+3
I didn't get that.
Mr. Teng was a red herring. His character doesn't really *need* depth, the ambiguity about him is all that character was needed for within the confines of the story and his ultimate role in it.
Not everything needs a fully fleshed out motivation. The show is not about Teng's story.
3
s1dmackApr 17, 2026
+1
Fair point. I don’t think every character needs a full backstory. I just think if the show spends that much time framing someone as significant, it creates an expectation of payoff. For me, that didn’t quite land.
1
RenRen512Apr 17, 2026
+1
I agree in principle that if you give the audience something, there should be a reason for doing so.
But I give a lot more latitude in terms of what qualifies as "payoff." Some payoffs are small details that add a little something to the world, others are narrative devices, others are big, impactful things.
What I'm less fond of are narrative *contrivances* that just exist for their own sake and to shore up poor writing/story choices.
1
jogoso2014Apr 17, 2026
+5
While not saying it’s perfect…I love this show.
5
s1dmackApr 17, 2026
+1
That's fair. I don’t think it’s a bad show overall. I just think some of the elements it sets up don’t land as strongly as they could.
1
Stock-Channel6117Apr 17, 2026
+1
The mystery box approach can get exhausting when there's nothing actually in the box - just more smaller mystery boxes all way down.
1
kuhpunktApr 17, 2026
+1
What exactly is the mystery box approach?
1
AWorldwithoutSinApr 17, 2026
+5
The main actress and the brother are terrible, they should focus on Kirsh, Boy and Morrow instead
5
Impossible_Quote_505Apr 17, 2026
+1
I can't even remember who the hell Mr Teng was. Hated the show.
1
TheHumanTarget84Apr 17, 2026
+1
It tricked me into thinking I actually liked a Hawley show for five episodes.
Then he massively shit the bed as always.
Pretentious style over substance.
1
PlasticBirdsApr 17, 2026
-3
Terrible writing, acting, directing, and music. What a waste.
16 Comments