When the mysterious deep space research vessel USCSS Maginot crash-lands on Earth, Wendy and a ragtag group of tactical soldiers make a fateful discovery that puts them face-to-face with the planet's greatest threat.
"Neverland" was written by Noah Hawley and directed by Noah Hawley
A century from now, life has changed in numerous ways on Earth. The planet is governed by five mega-corporations. Their grand pursuit is immortality. Missions are commissioned to explore the universe. Yet the greatest dangers have just crash landed on Earth. The premiere offers a mess of exposition it has to slog through. That arrives in seeing the crew of the Maginot before it comes under attack by a xenomorph. It's then extended through the Peter Pan allegory of Wendy's consciousness being implanted in a synthetic body. She is championed as the first of her kind. A line is given as to why children are required for this procedure. It's also built around the genius inventor Boy Kavalier's own refusal to grow up. He's one of the most powerful people on the planet. Yet his obsession with Peter Pan runs deep. He reads the book to the people in this facility every night. Wendy takes on a new name after the download is complete. She guides more sick children through this procedure. It's impossible for her to forget about her past self. All of this is experimental. The staff are figuring out the right way to regulate emotions for their test subjects. They are children's minds in adult bodies. They don't have emotional responses triggered by biology. And so, everything remains a test meant to push their limits.
A century from now, life has changed in numerous ways on Earth. The planet is governed by five mega-corporations. Their grand pursuit is immortality. Missions are commissioned to explore the universe. Yet the greatest dangers have just crash landed on Earth. The premiere offers a mess of exposition it has to slog through. That arrives in seeing the crew of the Maginot before it comes under attack by a xenomorph. It's then extended through the Peter Pan allegory of Wendy's consciousness being implanted in a synthetic body. She is championed as the first of her kind. A line is given as to why children are required for this procedure. It's also built around the genius inventor Boy Kavalier's own refusal to grow up. He's one of the most powerful people on the planet. Yet his obsession with Peter Pan runs deep. He reads the book to the people in this facility every night. Wendy takes on a new name after the download is complete. She guides more sick children through this procedure. It's impossible for her to forget about her past self. All of this is experimental. The staff are figuring out the right way to regulate emotions for their test subjects. They are children's minds in adult bodies. They don't have emotional responses triggered by biology. And so, everything remains a test meant to push their limits.
Wendy is eager to show what she can do. She's motivated by the need to save her brother. He is employed by Prodigy as well. He works as a medic. He saves lives. Wendy remains attached to him even though he was led to believe she died from her illness. This family connection is still real. Prodigy monitors her watching his life. She has easy access to do so. She wants to embark on the action because he's in danger. That's the only reason. Kirsh recognizes that humans are all going to die at some point. It could be from illness, tragedy or old age. It's an inevitable part of the circle of life. Wendy can't focus on that grand plan. She's intent on saving her brother in this particular moment. She doesn't even know the extent of the danger he is in. The audience sees the familiar image of a body torn apart by the birth of a xenomorph. This crew came under attack like so many prior vessels in the franchise. The android Morrow presents as the only survivor. He is engaged with his own agenda. The collection of alien specimen was the purpose of the Maginot's mission. He secures the lab while also cementing two members of the search-and-rescue team to the same brutal fate as the crew. The xenomorph isn't the only lethal creature aboard. These soldiers are drained of their blood from one bite. It's horrifying. No one is out of danger either. In fact, the hybrids are flying right into it believing they are indestructible.
Grade: B+
"Mr. October" was written by Noah Hawley and directed by Dana Gonzales
A ship crashes into a building from space. That still isn't enough for the privileged elite to abandon their dinner party. The host believes if the world was truly in danger he would receive a personal call from Boy Kavalier. The genius doesn't have time for that nonsense. He's too fascinated by his pursuit to have a conversation with someone he deems his intellectual equal. He controls one of the five corporations overseeing Earth. Even then, he doesn't view the other executives as his peers. Weyland-Vutani exerts its proprietary interest in whatever was aboard the Maginot. That's enough to intrigue Boy Kavalier. He wants control over that as well. That becomes the focus of the mission led by Kirsh. The androids are very focused on the task at hand. Morrow has a device that can stun the xenomorph into submission. He's not trying to kill it. He aims to capture it. That was the point of the deep space mission. Now, it's up to the crew on the ground to neutralize these threats. Part of the Prodigy team is aware of the creatures that lurk on the ship. Wendy is only focused on reuniting with her brother. It was potentially a mistake for her to be given access to his life. She monitored him whenever she wanted. She uses that as proof of how strong their connection is. They found each other even in the most dire of circumstances. Hermit is repeatedly targeted by the xenomorph. He's always in danger. He has survived every encounter so far though.
A ship crashes into a building from space. That still isn't enough for the privileged elite to abandon their dinner party. The host believes if the world was truly in danger he would receive a personal call from Boy Kavalier. The genius doesn't have time for that nonsense. He's too fascinated by his pursuit to have a conversation with someone he deems his intellectual equal. He controls one of the five corporations overseeing Earth. Even then, he doesn't view the other executives as his peers. Weyland-Vutani exerts its proprietary interest in whatever was aboard the Maginot. That's enough to intrigue Boy Kavalier. He wants control over that as well. That becomes the focus of the mission led by Kirsh. The androids are very focused on the task at hand. Morrow has a device that can stun the xenomorph into submission. He's not trying to kill it. He aims to capture it. That was the point of the deep space mission. Now, it's up to the crew on the ground to neutralize these threats. Part of the Prodigy team is aware of the creatures that lurk on the ship. Wendy is only focused on reuniting with her brother. It was potentially a mistake for her to be given access to his life. She monitored him whenever she wanted. She uses that as proof of how strong their connection is. They found each other even in the most dire of circumstances. Hermit is repeatedly targeted by the xenomorph. He's always in danger. He has survived every encounter so far though.
No one even has adequate words to describe what they witness with the xenomorph. It's not the only deadly creature. The alien with multiple eyes is looking for a host. A torn apart cat wasn't suitable. Meanwhile, Kirsh needed to download the records of this ship. That was more important to understand what was happening in this lab. The synths are still children afraid of the unknown. They no longer have to respond that way. They have been given enhanced abilities. The researchers at Prodigy are monitoring their every action. They are astonished by what they have created. They don't even know the full extent of their creations. Wendy can seemingly rewrite code through a screen. She denies Hermit's early discharge so he can attend medical school on Mars. She needed him to remain close. She mentions that detail. He can't even focus on that. He's thrown for a loop over his sister still being alive. He questions her for details of their past. He accepts this reality. The danger still persists. That's never far removed from the situation. Wendy is aware of that. Her mind was fixated on her brother. He had to join her on the mission. That brought him into more danger. Now, she must rescue him all over again. That's the priority over everything else. She compromises the mission because she won't follow orders. Part of that is her childish mind. Another is simply choosing what matters to her in a world where anything is suddenly possible for her.
Grade: B
