Hulu is in its final days, but Alien: Earth is allowing it to end its run on a high. Set to be released on August 12, the show serves as a prequel to Alien (1979) and is set primarily on Earth, as its title suggests. After a ship crashes onto the Earth’s surface, several humans are forced to reckon with the arrival of a Xenomorph and other dangerous aliens.
The show is set to debut just days after Disney announced that it will be ending Hulu’s time as a standalone service. After gaining complete control of the platform, it plans to merge Hulu and Disney+ into one service by 2026. The Disney+ app will still host Hulu, but the service will no longer be an individual operation.
While Hulu executives are preparing to see its full integration into Disney+, they are also preparing for the release of one of Hulu’s best shows. It is only days until Alien: Earth hits the platform, and the initial response from critics proves that it could be extraordinary, as it has a 92% Tomatometer score on Rotten Tomatoes.
What This Means For Hulu And Alien: Earth
Critics have had nothing but praise for Alien: Earth, which should come as no surprise. The show was created by Noah Hawley, who previously created the shows Fargo and Legion, and each was also critically acclaimed. While audiences have not had the chance to see the show yet, the existing reception is promising.
Most reviewers have expressed that the action, gore, and horror are all impeccable and serve as effective call-backs to the original Ridley Scott movie. The Xenomorph is not the only compelling element, however, as the deeply emotional story is another highlight. Sydney Chandler has received immense praise for her compelling portrayal of the hybrid Wendy.
There is no guarantee that audiences will enjoy the series as much as critics did, however, and there is nothing that it can do to prevent Hulu’s merger. The show will still be available through Hulu when it eventually does move to Disney+.
Our Take On Alien: Earth’s Critical Success
Alien: Earth is certainly an incredible production, as ScreenRant‘s Graeme Guttmann highlighted in his review. Guttman called the show “a gripping expansion on the franchise mythology” and also highlighted that “Alien: Earth is about survival“. With Hulu in its dying days, that theme is certainly an evocative one.
Hulu has been a streaming staple since 2007, just as Netflix began shifting away from the DVD rental business. It represented the viability of the streaming industry and was an early indicator of the potential of these platforms. Disney’s decision to axe Hulu makes sense, given the existence of Disney+, but it is difficult to say goodbye to the platform.
It will exist in some form on the Disney+ app, though its Live functionality will move to FuboTV. Still, Hulu and its shows will continue to represent that theme of continuing against all odds. If Alien: Earth truly is about survival, it is fitting that the show will launch just as Hulu moves to the next stage of its existence.
