Alien: Earth Episode 5 Drops with a Bang: “In Space, No One…” Unveils Deadly Prequel and Divisive Twist

September 2, 2025 | New York - FX’s hit sci-fi anthology Alien: Earth released its fifth episode, titled “In Space, No One…”, today at 8 PM ET on FX and streaming simultaneously on Hulu and Disney Plus. Serving as a standalone prequel, the hour-long installment revisits the ill-fated USCSS Maginot 17 days before its crash on Earth, revealing the chaos that led to its descent into New Siam.

The episode reconstructs the ship’s interior to mirror Ridley Scott’s 1979 Alien-era Nostromo, immersing viewers in a claustrophobic, analog-styled environment. Security officer Morrow (Babou Ceesay) awakens from cryosleep to alarms announcing escaped alien specimens and a sabotaged navigational system. As face-huggers attach to crewmembers and toxic gas from genetically engineered ticks claims lives, it becomes clear that Weyland-Yutani corporate interests-and an inside saboteur-engineered the Maginot’s transformation into a “missile” headed straight for Earth.

Showrunner Noah Hawley explained that the episode was conceived as a “mini-movie” within the series, embracing Alien’s classic horror tropes while injecting fresh narrative elements-most controversially, a tech-tycoon-inspired plot twist that reframes earlier episodes in a new light. In today’s release, this twist sparked vigorous debate across social media platforms, with fans divided over its bold reinterpretation of the franchise’s lore.

Richa Moorjani, whose character Zoya Zaveri assumes acting command amid the crisis, described the challenge of balancing duty and humanity: “Protecting her crew and ensuring everyone’s survival is paramount,” she told Decider in an interview published today. Her flashback scenes deepen Zaveri’s emotional stakes, juxtaposing grief with steely resolve as she navigates corporate mandates that prioritize alien cargo over human life.

Early critical reactions have been overwhelmingly positive. Esquire lauded Episode 5 as “the franchise at its very best,” praising its seamless blend of suspense, horror, and heartbreak. GamesRadar+ proclaimed it “the best Alien movie since Aliens,” highlighting its heroic turn for Ceesay’s Morrow and the elaborate set design. IGN’s review echoed these sentiments, calling the episode “extremely well crafted” and likening its structure to a feature-length homage to the original film.

However, some critics noted the heavy reliance on nostalgia and questioned whether the episode’s dramatic twist undermines the series’ broader narrative cohesion. Despite these debates, “In Space, No One…” has undoubtedly reignited Alien fandom and set a high bar for the remainder of the season.

Viewers can stream Alien: Earth Episode 5 now on Hulu and Disney Plus, or catch re-airs on FX. The series will return next week with its sixth installment, promising further exploration of the deadly legacy left by the Maginot.