WhilePrometheusisn’t as unsound as some of its detractor claim , there is one part of Ridley Scott’sAlienprequel that I still resent . Althoughthe entireAlienseriesis fairly convolute , 2012’sPrometheuswas one of the first movies in the enfranchisement to flagrantly over - complicate thing . I still remember how surprised I was when , less than a decade after the arrival of 2004’sAlien Vs Predator , Ridley Scott ’s prequel introduced a unexampled version of the Weyland - Yutani Corporation ’s origin story , complete with a new CEO and founder . Lance Henriksen ’s Charles Weyland was replaced by Guy Pearce ’s Peter Weyland .
Before Alien : Covenant , Prometheus had another sequel that took position after the events of Aliens , and this forgotten continuation change Aliens ' ending .
This change was ameliorated over a ten later whenAlien : Romulus ’ endingtied the franchise together , neatly fusing the additional traditional knowledge of Scott ’s prequel to the original franchise timeline . Viewers will likely discover more about the Weyland - Yutani Corporation ’s other geezerhood inFX ’s forthcomingAlienTV showAlien : Earth , butAlien : Romulusalready managed to streamline some of the many retcons found inPrometheusand the prequel ’s 2017 sequel , Alien : Covenant . However , even Fede Alvarez ’s straightforward reboot could n’t loosen my least favorite part ofPrometheus ’s needlessly twist story , a pointless plot detail that I ca n’t forgive even 12 years later .
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Prometheus Made The Black Goo Integral To Alien Mythology
Ridley Scott’s Prequel Centered On The History of The Engineers
I in truth wishPrometheushadn’t made the shameful goo so key to theAlienmythos , since neither Scott ’s prequel nor the subsequent motion picture in the series were able-bodied to rationalize its universe . The “ Black goo ” is first seen inPrometheus ’ oracular possibility sequence , wherein an Engineer eat up the liquid before disintegrating and dying almost instantaneously . Like so many moments inPrometheus , this scene looks cracking and explains almost nothing . In an experimental brusque film , it would be a bold , striking image for viewers to mull over on . In theAlienprequel , it is a non sequitur that go forward to go precisely nowhere .
The Black Goo Has Never Been Properly Explained By The Alien Movies
Prometheus And Alien: Covenant Left The Goo A Mystery
Thanks toDavid ’s creepyPrometheuspoisoning plot , spectator learn that the goo is as lethal to human being as it is to Engineers . The " mordant slime , ” as players ofAlien : The Roleplaying Gamecan attest , is a potent biological weapon develop by the Engineers . Also have intercourse as “ Prometheus Fire , ” the goo is used by the advanced exotic backwash to pass over out total planet . This is all fascinating information , but none of it is made clear inPrometheusorAlien : Covenant . While viewers do n’t demand everything to be spoonful - fed , theAlienmovies do n’t thrive on ambiguity . The repugnance franchise work thanks to its simplicity .
Prometheus' Black Goo Made Alien’s Canon Needlessly Complicated
Scott’s Alien Prequels Left The Franchise’s Lore Convoluted
Alienisn’t Tarkovsky’sStalker , so saying thatPrometheusleft the goo unexplained to challenge viewers feels like a copper - out when the movie was a major mainstream Hollywood megahit . I always assumed that the black goo ’s explanation was cut for the sake of pacing or run time , and this would ordinarily be fine if it were n’t for its impact on the serial publication more broadly . The biological specfiics ofAlien : Romulus ’s nastiest deathare never explain in item , but the flick ’s floor is punchy and effective enough for viewers to forgive this oversight . Prometheus , in direct contrast , is deliberately paced and pointedly philosophic .
Ironically , the prequel never really justifies the Xenomorph ’s creation .
The opening tantrum ofPrometheusis eventually uncover to be a sci - fi retelling of the Prometheus myth . An outcast and renegade , the disintegrating Engineer subsidization human race its universe by sacrifice his body and providing it with the building occlusion of human DNA.The technologist develop Xenomorphs to ruin humanityso they can maintain intergalactic dominance , but this irreversibly refine the enfranchisement ’s mythology . Since the black slime is subject of wiping out entire major planet , it would make much more sense for the Engineers to expend this bioweapon when eliminating humanity . Ironically , the prequel never really apologise the Xenomorph ’s existence .
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There Was An Easier Way To Create A Xenomorph Origin Story
Prometheus Could Have Explained The Xenomorph’s Discovery
What makesPrometheus ’ Xenomorph backstory so frustrating is the fact thatAlien ’s prequel did n’t ask to explain where the Xenomorph come from . Scott ’s prequel will a lot unexplained , from the nature of the black sludge to the origins of the Engineers themselves . The Xenomorph ’s extraction could have been another compelling mystery story that was left on purpose unresolved , and this might even have made the monsters scarier . Ripley’sAlienfranchise storynever felt obligate to explain the origins of the Xenomorph and , to this twenty-four hours , Alienand its first sequelAliensremain the franchise ’s most acclaimed sashay due to this simplicity .
The reason I ca n’t standPrometheus ’ black muck subplot is that it demands further explanation and exhibition . I do n’t want a string ofAlienfollow - ups that exist solely to explicate the story of the earlier motion-picture show , but this is what the lore ofPrometheussets up . I ca n’t imagine that many viewers were clamoring to know where the Xenomorph originally came from beforePrometheus , but it is hard to watch the prequel without marvel what the import of the inexplicable pitch-black goo is . Instead of clarifying things , Scott ’s prequel only made the enfranchisement ’s backstory more complicated and necessitated further spinoffs .
Alien: Romulus Linked Its Canon To Scott’s Prequels
Alien : Earthshowrunner Noah Hawley admitted that he did n’t care for the revelations about the root of the Xenomorph see in Scott ’s prequels . interview byKRCW’sThe Business , Hawley acknowledge that the musical theme of the Xenomorph as a late make up bioweapon was n’t “ Useful ” to the story he wanted to tell . This means thatAlien ’s David prequel storylineneeds a follow - up more than ever , sinceAlien : Earthobviously wo n’t be explore the pitch-black goo and its extraction any further . The show ’s exploration of Weyland - Yutani could have justified this plot focus , but Hawley clearly is n’t interested in the storyline .
FX’sAlien : Earthis set to be released in other 2025 .
The black muck is something of a drained - oddment for theAlienfranchise , but a next undertaking still has to explain its existence . TheAlienmovies ca n’t just dismiss the Engineers because they occupy an clumsy quad in the franchise ’s mythology , and the only thing that could makePrometheus ’ subplot more frustrating would be subsequent movies ignoring it entirely . TheAlienseries ca n’t block about the goo any more than the franchise can drop the Xenomorph itself , but this make me wish that 2012 ’s prequelPrometheushad never mentioned the existence of the confounded substance in the first place .
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