Prometheus
Ridley Scott’sPrometheusset out to shed ignitor on some ofAlien ’s big doubtfulness , but – 12 years on – it ’s finally time to consent that the movie ’s primary mystery will never be resolve . Despite being the only film in the serial not to boast the iconic xenomorph design , Alien ’s fingerprints are plain throughoutPrometheus . The moving picture feature multiple nods to Scott ’s hallowed pilot , from shared narrative constituent to haunting visual cues . However , while the moving picture ( partially ) suffice where the franchise ’s iconic monsters come from , oneAlienquestion that the film pledged to clear remains frustratingly open - ended .
When developingPrometheus , Ridley Scott set out some of import parameters for its winner . In an interview withMTVahead of waiver , the director reveal that the pic would contain " strands of Alien ’s DNA,“while original author Jon Spaihts suggested that the film would explore unanswered question from the 1979 film – in exceptional " the elephantine titan that was anticipate the ' blank jockey '' " ( viaForbes ) . When the movie was liberate , it was clear that the place jockey was a core component . However , while this plot point promised toaddress a majorAlienmystery , fans were ( and continue to be ) let down .
We’ll Never Know How An Engineer Ship Got To LV-426
This Aspect Of The Original Alien Remains Unclear
AlthoughPrometheusrevealed that the space jockey animal enfranchisement fans had long puzzled over was , in fact , an Engineer – an alien slipstream responsible for for humans ’s instauration – the flick did not actually answer the main question about the distance jockey pose byAlien . Namely , it ’s still a mysteryhow an Engineer ship , with a cargo hold full ofAlieneggs , managed to terminate up on LV-426 in the first place .
By the picture ’s end , there were no alien eggs , and Shaw and David ’s ship was traveling to a altogether different planet .
Prometheusfeatured all the elements necessary to answer this question . The movie explained what the space jockey was , introduce a proto - xenomorph in the shape of the sinister Deacon , and establish how the Engineer ship could move through space . However , none of these plot threads ever came together . By the movie ’s terminal , there were no alien eggs , and Shaw and David ’s ship was travel to a wholly different satellite . EvenPrometheus ' sequel , Alien : Covenant , picture the first facehuggers bound on another ship , even further from LV-426 and the first movie .
All this intend thataudiences still have no hint how an Engineer ship loaded with eggs ended up on the franchise ’s original satellite . This creates an uncomfortable plot hollow , given how the series has insisted on attempt to unravel what had once been a satisfyingly puzzling teaser . However , whileAlien : Covenantstill left a shaving of promise that , having re - opened the case with two prequels , the franchise would at least provide some sort of resolution , the current res publica ofAlienmakes it clear that we will never get an solvent to this cardinal number .
The Alien Series Has Moved Beyond Prometheus' Set-Up
Romulus And Earth Are Taking Things In A Different Direction
With its story arrange betweenAlienandAliens , Fede Álvarez’sAlien : Romulusrepresents a literal and metaphorical " proceed on " for the dealership . While the motion-picture show was deliberate to recognise theAlienfranchise ’s complete history(with the android Rook even explicitly cite " Prometheus fire”),the storey has little narrative connexion to the result of Scott ’s prequel . Not only does it not imply LV-426 , butRomuluscompletely eschews the place jockey creature , make the Engineers seem much less central toAlien ’s overarching story .
It ’s clear from plans for the franchise ’s next thatRomulusis not an anomalousness . Noah Hawley ’s upcoming seriesAlien : Earth(which itself has pledge to rewrite aspects of the series ' lore canonized inPrometheusandCovenant)will provide a new origin for the franchise , with its earthbound setting indicating a similar lack of outer space jockeys and " black sludge " . For fans who foundPrometheusandCovenant ’s exposition unnecessary – even damaging – this is a welcome development . However , the inevitable upshot is that audience will never know how the Engineer ship arrive on LV-426 .
The Alien Franchise’s Future Proves What A Mistake Prometheus Was
Trying To Explain Alien Made Everything Too Complicated
Given its status as one of the greatest sci - fi movies ever made , it ’s perhaps understandable that movie maker and storytellers require to continually revisitAlien ’s lore . The 1979 movie ’s introduction to human race and civilization completely unrelated to our own was both haunting and awe - exalt – highlighting humanness ’s insignificance in the vastness of the existence . The quest for answer around things we do n’t understand is a very human inherent aptitude , creating a keen metatextual parallel betweenPrometheus ’s character and its creators . Wanting to know more about the space jockey is a innate inherent aptitude for both .
… Alien ’s greatest lastingness is its terrific serendipity .
However , this inclining completely be amiss what madeAlienso powerful to lead off with . The Francis Scott Key to its success comes not from the rationality of its game . Instead , Alien ’s corking strength is its terrifying serendipity . There is no answer to how the foreign testis arrived on LV-426 . As far as the character make love ( at least , until the reveal about Weyland - Yutani ’s underhand involvement),it is a atrocious twist of fate that brings them expression to face with the unadulterated being .
Custom image by Debanjana Chowdhury
In seek to give everything an explanation , Prometheusand its subsequence undersell a core strength of the franchise . Alienno longer pose open - end questions about the closed book of nature beyond Planet Earth , and instead became disappointingly pedestrian and artificial . It ’s tell thatRomulusabandonedPrometheus’expository coming – instead choose to put a fresh group of theatrical role in a horrifyingly alien situation . ConsideringAlien : Earth ’s toast to rewrite the franchise ’s line of descent , it ’s increasingly clear-cut that the determination to solve the original space jockey riddle was always hopelessly misguided .
Sources : MTV , Forbes
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