MY SAY In spite of that famous source material (xenomorphs!) and pedigree (Hawley), "Alien" fans may want to temper their expectations here. Foremost, "Alien: Earth" is not the movie or even a movie, but a series full of character exposition and backstory. With eight hours to fill, the pacing can be unhurried too.

This project has been in the oven for several years, and the final result feels anything but rushed or weightless because Hawley and his collaborators had a grip on the TV format and the story they wanted to tell.

"Alien: Earth" on FX taps into themes of corporate arrogance and artificial intelligence. And, yes, it is terrifying.