Comments (Page 189)

I am going to have to say its PARKER

For the Following Reasons....

Ripley is the Main Protagonist and Character and Survivor

Dallas is Secondary Main Character and Captain

Ash becomes One of the Main Antagonist and Plot Twist

Lambert provides the Emotional Proxy for the Viewer

Kane is our Introduction to the Horrific Beast

Bret is the Adult Xenomorph's First Victim

Parker mainly just moans about stuff, makes some Wise Comments (WHY dont they just Freeze Him as in Kane).

But he is NOT really Important to the PLOT the other Characters Function as Part of Important parts of the PLOT.  And so if he was Removed it would NOT really effect the Movie.   You could say he is just really the Ford (Prometheus) of the Movie ;)

I still think that Kotto did a Good Job, my point being that he is the one with the LESS Impact on the Plot.

Thank you for writing that dk...  That's so funny.  

I was thinking the same thing about my review for Another Life (here) and was looking for a way to address it.  

Selma Blair and Katee Sackoff were both in Another Life and I didn't finish the last part of the series where I believe you wrote it had it came into it's own later on.  

Maybe I shouldn't have put Another Life in the Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome file just yet.

Haven’t posted anything on here since covenant came out. I still read all your entries, and enjoy them thoroughly. Big Dave might remember me, I’m the nerdy biologist from Vail colorado. I posted a subject about how the Xenomorph is nowhere near to the perfect organism. Anyway I’m just not a good enough writer to feel confident on how I feel about the alien series. Anyway to the question, I have to agree Lambert could be removed, but if your not including the deleted scenes.  Brett could be done away with as well. If not for the egg morphing scene he is just another kill character. 

There has to be more than robots babysitting church kids.

Hah! I suppose you are right. It just feels like we have been down this road before. Who made who(m?). Maybe I was too harsh but I feel cautiously optimistic at best. 

@ dk,

I once believed as you did until I read this... Are the eggs on LV-426 still there, page 3 (read posts by BigDave and daliens).

Gender & Robots

If I am completely honest their relationship has never changed from my first draft, though the story and its execution has. The way I wrote it was instinctive. Michael said that Elizabeth fascinated David. The look on his face in the briefing and the Africa scene is a mixture of intense curiosity and awestruck. Once she had shown him more kindness than any other human being he is happy with his role as a super servant and he wanted to be perfect for her on her terms. So I agree with you. 

However, as matters become clearer and clearer beginning in Chapter 8 through to 14 then he becomes the candid friend (Ali) and unknowingly is also being tested. 

The comment I am making here in the story is what better way to deal with an upside notion of everything with everyone involved making mistakes than a machine and one who has been on a journey to neutrality. 

To reach that neutrality you could interpret that it is achieved in "the Prophesy" when he is born again, born anew. The first time he is born The Piero Della Francesca is in the room telling him there is a hole in the roof which will enable him to find heaven. The second time he is renewed the same light comes from the roof above in the "place of connection" and at his feet are the three ghorwa. 

So is he taking upon himself the mantle of Moses, is there an echo in his final act of freeing the Israelites from slavery? I think there are echos but I don't think so, he is simply caught up in his transformative morality tale. So he is a super servant to Elizabeth but grows into a super servant of all. 

To summarise Davids behaviour and her response cover a good deal of ground but it is not the destination it is part of their separate journey. However, I think it is fascinating to look at this enabling relationship where they give each other quite different gifts.

There is a comment within their story about sexuality. From the quarantine room onwards they are engaged in very intimate contact and in both directions, David helps her pre Caesarean and Elizabeth carries him from the downed craft to the operating table. She would have manoeuvred his head very carefully over his torso before making the connections.  

That kind of interaction is carried through into the original work in many different ways and they also pursue two moments of music but by implication, because in his current state he has no reproductive or sexual narrative, it is always defined by the head and the heart but not the hips.

Thank you again for your observations.

Intelligent Design.

As the proposition is that hidden within all our myths and belief systems is the truth then concerns about a particular subtext would not be warranted. 

On BBC Radio 3 on Tuesday afternoon the following was played. 

BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra conducted by Nicholas Carter from the 2019 Lammermuir Festival

Stuart MacRae: Prometheus Symphony for soprano, baritone and orchestra
(Jennifer France - soprano)
(Paul Carey Jones - baritone)

 A new work which I really enjoyed but what fascinated me was the simple introduction of the Myth. The Titan that fashioned Man out of Clay and provided him with the Gift of Fire. So that's in the story through

 1) The transmission sequence of bringing the liquid and earth element together to make Clay. 

 2) The visits recorded in the Pictograms.

However, the passing of the sacrificial bowl by the Origin Engineer to the Acolyte/Chosen one, echos the sacrament.

Just a simple example of how Greek Mythology and Christian ritual in this story refract the truth. One could go on but the proposition is the footprint is a mosaic. As we know in the earthbound religions all sorts of people maintain they own God at the expense of others.

This story is saying your all wrong no one owns him/her it or they, indeed we haven't met God yet and the Gods wouldn't even describe themselves as Gods.

I have a problem imagining the Juggernaut carryng the same eggs that were found on LV 426. The scale is wrong.

I like the idea of the eggs being like cosmic barnacles of sorts though.

Maybe the ship just landed on top of the big nest as Giger originally imagined. Maybe LV 426 is the Xeno planet or moon that was asleep and awakened after the Juggernaut landed on its hive. Then it went dormant again until the Alien crew came along?

Just finished it!

Wow...vicious book! Really good.

Would love to see this made into a movie.

Necromorph is really cool.....Don't want to spoil too much?

BigDave is on the right track. ;-)

Black goo is mentioned! 

It's worth 5.99$ .......support the franchise at least? Buy it!

I'll discuss it more in a couple of months. Let everyone read it.

Chili 

Genre 

I am encouraged by your remarks after all this is a subforum of a science fiction forum which was much more active at one time so it's difficult to tell if it represents the wider audience. I know my contacts outside of this forum went to see Prometheus but not Covenant. I recall seeing a poster on P.com who described the franchise as multi-generational that would suggest to me a broad palette does make sense.            

Cont... 

"At one point, Fox were toying with the idea of ret-conning Alien 3 and Resurrection entirely with Blomkamp's Alien 5 project before it was indefinitely shelved."

Rightfully so!

I think it would be a BAD idea to coin in some Alternative Universes,  for example with BATMAN we have the 89/90's Movies, then we have the DARK KNIGHT Alternative Series, and then we have the JUSTICE LEAGUE Franchise.  I just dont think something like that would be IDEAL for the ALIEN Franchise.

Or a Camerons like Retcon Terminator 2 Sequel.

I think Blomkamps Ideas could be used in another Movie in the Franchise.... but NONE that would bring back RIPLEY.

I dont think we even need to have Miss Weaver again...

Unless its a ALIEN V set after Alien Resurrection..

Exploring a Amanda Ripley in TV Series Format, or referencing Ellen Ripley would not be a Problem though.

I do HOWEVER have a idea for HOW they could introduce a PLOT where we have Amanda Ripley reunited with her Mother... or so she thinks... that would GET around the Age of Ripley ;)

A Plot that would be after the Conclusion of Amanda and her Mission to RID the Galaxy of the Xenomorph, where she is recovered Stranded in Cryo-sleep.

A Plot say in the TIME-LINE of Post ALIENS but FAR before Alien Resurrection ;)

I think going back to the OT...

Then i would say that MOST did-not like the Direction that Alien Covenant had taken, but going back Prior i think that about 30-40% only had a Few Bones to pick with Prometheus.

When looking prior to that then the WHOLE how do you do a Prequel and have the Humans involved was a STICKING POINT...   The Root Cause for Spaights to offer the Chariots of the Gods like PLOT.... however such a PLOT had made the Space Jockey Tale something that was NOT really ALIEN enough... for quite a % of people.

I think with Gavin, you had shown that there are other ways to SET-UP a Plot to HOW-COME any Humans would End Up at a Location that is Connected to the Space Jockey and Eggs...  without it being a Simple Accidental/By Coincidence or a First Discovery of the SOS.

I think another STICKING POINT would be how ALIEN is the Space Jockey, and then it would be HOW/IF they can communicate with Each Other and more so the Humans.

Then this is NOT so much a Sticking Point as with the Predator Franchise our Alien Hunters do-not seem to communicate with us, but can Mimic/Repeat what we say, so thats in effect like taking a Amazon Rain Forrest Native who has NO outside Contact with other Cultures and dropping him off to say CHINA and then how they would Communicate.

But then and i guess the same applies with the Predators, if you wish to continue to explore a Alien Intelligent Species and cover their Agenda and History then does having a Language Barrier become a Problem?   You could have Sub-Titles between say Predators interacting with each other, and so the same could be done with the Space Jockey Race....

But then its HOW does any Interaction come with said Alien Race and Humans?

Maybe there is NO Need or its BEST to not really explore in Depth the Space Jockey Race?   I mean would Fans want to Discover more about the Predators.. or are we Content that this Species just go around HUNTING different Species for Sport/Trophy with no other Depth apart from that this is Seen as a Honor and Coming of Age Ritual for that Species.

In Closing..... 10+ Years ago i guess none of us really would Fathom that the Space Jockey Species had any Interaction with Mankind, or maybe any Intention to do so.

What we had is what at that Time was considered a ALIEN Species who had that Cargo of Eggs and became Infected, we NEVER knew WHY or for what Purpose...

It was indicated by RS back 10+ Years ago and longer that what we had here was a SHIP that was Carrying Bio-Logical Warfare...

so then we had to ASK...

*Did they Engineer/Create these Bio-Weapons?

*Did they discover these Organisms and intended to use them for Bio-Logical Weapons?

Then it was a case of for WHAT Reason? WHO had they had any Conflict with, what other Race? Or was it a Conflict Between themselves?

THIS ^^^ would be the Main thing to Explore if we wanted to explore the Space Jockey more, but then this is a Tricky Subject as far as HOW, because its a case of is this CONFLICT something that is LONG GONE or some place FAR FAR away and so without Flash Backs, then exploring this in Depth/Real Time is TRICKY as far as HOW do you Bring the Humans into play!

I think HENCE is why we had Jon Spaights Plot (Chariots of Gods) to get around such things...

I think that its a MAJOR HURDLE when we explore a ALIEN Species from a Franchise in any Origins/Agenda Capacity and then HOW does that interact with Humanity.

By that we could take The THING... its ok doing a Prequel that shows HOW/WHEN the Organism was Dug Up from the Ice.

However.... to take it further back and ask things like.

*What is The THING'S Origin, where did it come from?  Is it a Natural Organism, a Bio-Weapon?

*Was that Flying Saucer its OWN Ship, or a Ship of another Race that had Encountered The THING.. and if so then WHO was this Unfortunate Species and HOW did they come into Contact with The THING?

And the Problem becomes.... HOW do you cover those Questions and have it relate to Humans?

Should such Details had REMAINED a Secret?

Or do you offer a SIMPLE route, which would be to have a Movie (does not have to be Prequel) where they re-discover the Flying Saucer and Manage to Activate some Record System that gives some Indication of WHAT happened, and HOW that Ship then ENDED UP heading towards Earth?

So in CONTEXT to ALIEN what i am saying is that maybe, a Prequel should have (does-not have had to be a Prequel) but should we have had a Movie where they go to the Derelict and Explore it more...

Activated some Record Device that would Indicate what the Space Jockey Fate was (Pretty Obvious) but then also Records that would indicate this was a Bio-Logical Warfare Mission, maybe even indicating a STAR Location to the Intended TARGET that could be explored in a Future Movie... or from WHERE the Derelict had Originated.

Such a Plot could then take us to another World where we would get some more Clues to HOW the Xenomorph was obtained... such as Engineered, or Discovered as it was.

And so to Negate the Reason to Explore in Depth WHO the Space Jockey was and WHAT conflict they was involved in...   simply showing that the RACES involved had been LONG GONE... Tens of Thousands of Years ago.

Showing Remains of a Powerful Race had attempted the Destruction of the Space Jockey, who had came to USE/CREATE the Xenomorph as a means to Combat a Race who had more Superior Fire Power, leaving the Space Jockey Race having to Resort to the USE of a Horrid Bio-Weapon...

So we only get clues via the Space Jockey World, that is MAYBE Destroyed by some Conventional Weapon (Nuke, Energy Weapon) and the Aggressors either fell Victim to the Xenomorph after a Successful Mission by the Space Jockey Race and so the Aggressors World is NOW a Xenomorph HIVE!

Or the Aggressors after Defeating the Space Jockey Race, had came across their Planned Bio-Weapon Cache and taken some of this to their HOME-WORLD to Study and see how they can put it to USE in their Conquest...

But the HUBRIS being that they FELL PREY to the Bio-Weapon and it Destroyed their World/Race!

Such a PLOT would keep a lot of Enigma and Mystery about the Space Jockey Race and the Aggressors they had a Conflict with.

It WOULD-NOT matter about showing Interaction between Humans and these Races, or even giving away Details and Dialog between these Races.

We could have some Flash Back Scenes... but we dont need FULL Details about the Races, Culture etc..

What we would GET from this is WHY/HOW and maybe WHEN the Xenomorph was Obtained/Created by the Space Jockey and that this Act of Desperation by this Species for Defense, had Defeating a Aggressor but also had been a Downfall for their Species...

And Mankind are NOW left with the Consequences of a Marooned Failed Mission (Derelict) and the Discovery of a Another World (or Few) that this Bio-Weapon had Ravaged!

I think it would be Great to Explore something Different.

And so the Traditional Looking Egg, Face Huger and Adult etc that we have seen in Alien, Aliens especially and the AVP Movies and also Alien Covenant are something i HOPE that each Anthology Series is NOT about.

Because all we are doing then like the Comics/Games and Novels is just coming up with different ways that the Unfortunate Humans Discover... a EGG, a Face Hugger, a Infected Host or Queen.

Because if its about THEM... then every Movie, Game, Comic and Novel has basically covered ALL the Avenues on Multiple Occasions.

Not saying we cant have Xenomorphs... but HOW do they get Introduced in a way that has NOT been covered before?

Then if you did this... i think each other Season has to have a Different Horror, or Experiment, Mutation that is Different....  because if the only DIFFERENCE is

WHERE, WHEN and HOW the Humans come into Contact with a EGG, FACE HUGER or Infected HOST then it would just get Repetitive...  and we are just going to Re-Hash things from Games, Comics and Novels into a TV Format.

Does Disney have any BALLS to try something Different? I will say Ridley Scott did... but then seems Powers to Be had attempted to Castrate his Balls ;)

Necromorph is Interesting i think it depends on WHAT its purpose would be that Warrants such a Name!

A Hybrid/Evolution that Does-Not Die?

Ridley Scott had said about the Xenomorph that you have to Evolve it and Explore different kinds of Procreation.

So looking at that and if someone came to me and said right, we gonna introduce a Different Xenomorph that we are going to call the NECROMORPH. and so what ideas do you think we should look at.

I would SUGGEST that this Hybrid/Evolution can INFECT a Dead Host and so we dont need a Alive Host.. 

The Dead Host would then Be Infected by the Necromorph and either.

1) Its Body Mutates into a Egg.

2) Multiple Eggs Spawn from the Decomposing/Infected Corpse.

3) The Infected Dead Corpse Produces a Chest Buster like Organism inside.

4) The Infected Dead Corpse would come back to LIFE and Mutate into a Xenomorph like Horror.

This would be something NEW and would Warrant being called a Necromorph.  It would also make the Organisms Procreation Options not as Limited as the Originals... thus MORE of a Threat ;)

I will say that a Anthology Series where each Season would be about a Different Story, does sound Interesting but there could be a FEW Problems.

1) The Franchise does-not have to Center around the Usual Xenomorph Egg, and our Typical Eight Fingered Friend and the Typical Outcome of this..... as well as QUEENS.

Because i think Ridley Scott was right when he said there is ONLY so much Face Hugging and Chest Busting that you can do, and if every Movie, Comic, Game, Novel and TV Series would be about the Traditional Egg, Face Huger, Chest Buster and Xenomorph that we have Especially seen in Alien, Aliens and the AVP Movies, then eventually it could become STALE and so Overcooked..

The Prequels with other Horrors offers us many Fresh Avenues...  Also the ALIEN Franchise could be about more than Eggs, Queens and Ripely and Marines.

2) The Reaction to the FIRST Season would be Important, if it SUCKS and Bombs... would we get a Season 2.. if it does-not do well and yet tries to cover MORE than Queens, Eggs etc (especially if these are a lesser role or do-not appear).... then would it FORCE a Season 2 to be about Eggs and Queens?

On the FLIP-SIDE if it does very WELL but the First Season is about Eggs and Queens, then would they (Disney) not want to RISK making another Series that offers something different?

I guess what i am trying to say is that IF the First Season is a HIT both in Terms of Critical Response and How Many Viewings...  say the PLOT is Good, Characters work etc.

Then would they be Reluctant to do something DIFFERENT with Season 2 and play it SAFE and Continue with the Same Characters/Plot?

IF we have a Successful Season 1 and Season 2 explores something different and New Characters and Settings and IT does not do as well as Season 1, would then then make Season 3 and on-wards a Continuation of Season 1?

I say this because if feel that DISNEY would stick to something that Works/Does well and then MILK IT... or if something is Different and does-not quite work, i feel they would go back to the Eggs, Queen and Ripely Formula and MILK that.

Dont mean to be Pessimistic ;)

I am hopeful we get a TV Series and then it should be Judged on its own Merits, i think what ever happens it will please some Fans...   I just hope they are NOT afraid of Mixing Things up and Changing things... but then looking at the Back Lash of the Prequels..

And looking at the Many Novels and Games i do wonder if they see these kinds of Plots as Playing it SAFE!

Cont . . .

Gender and Robots

Apart from the biological instincts of females to be drawn to men who either radiate or have factual power, a handsome manservant with both intellectual and physical power who fulfils a woman’s every need - without an obligation of nocturnal “payment” must be a dream come true? :)

There is already on the market, I think, a “female”, good looking robot who can fulfil a man’s every dream, and without a shred of nagging. :)

I says lets wait and see and Fingers Crossed... i think MAYBE this is True.... i am not so sure on the Status of a Alien Covenant Sequel though.

If these Series are to take into Account the Prequels, then i think that means they would either NOT cover anything from the Prequels, so they DONT contradict/conflict them or SET-UP some Information that FORCES a Prequel Continuation down a SET PATH..

However who knows if Disney/FOX are 100% behind what Ridley Scott had on his mind for the Prequels and so ANY kind of TV Series would NOT conflict these?

They did say they had Produced a 10 PAGE Rule Book that Future Movies etc would have to Reference to, so to AVOID any Conflicts/Contradictions... but if so then these (RULES) can be SCRAPPED

"....as in Blackwinter Witch's ship of the same name?!"

Conspiracy lol...  i never did read her stuff, i have to make the Effort to do so ;)

Pirate Ship is Interesting as a few times i mentioned as far as making a NEW Alien Movie, that some kind of Space Pirates or Space Scrap Junkers who encounter a Stranded Ship and attempt to STEAL or SALVAGE from the Ship, soon encounter the Reason the Ship in Question became a Space Hulk..

So as far as this Novel goes i guess it seems Interesting, but for me the Problem i have is the Novels and Comics seem to be about the Same/Similar thing...

Discovery of a Egg/Eggs, Face Huger or Infected Person with Said Face Hugger and then this leads to a Xenomorph/Xenomorphs that are Very Similar/Same as from either ALIEN/ALIENS or the AVP Movies.

Thats not knocking the Novel... there is a Market for these, i just would like to see a Novel/Comic that has something different.  Because just as Ridley Scott had said, there is only SO MUCH of the Face Hugging, Chest Bursting that can be done before you have to think of something FRESH.

I think the Prequels with the Various Horrors within (aside from Xenomorph) offer a Variety of Different things to cover.  So you can have that ALIEN VIBE without the Xenomorph we are used to from the Original 4 Movies and AVP's.

The Plot does seem similar to what i Interpreted that Alien Awakening could be about, maybe he is using some Elements that he realized he may have to DROP with his AC Sequel?

Here is what i read into it... and AC2 Connection.

TWO Androids Tasked with Raising Children on a Virgin Planet, this indicates that a Mission to Colonize a New World was underway where the Colonist would be Children, maybe they are Raised from Birth (Embryo).

We have to ASK why would the Androids be Tasked with taking ONLY Children?  Because Knowledge and Teaching Corrupts and Religions cause  Conflict, and so to START a New World that is Free from the Various Aspects of Religion and Difference of Political Spectrum should see a World where these Children are Raised without Outside Interference and Conflict.

I then assume another Ship with Humans with Various Religious Beliefs comes in and ENDS up on this Virgin World and the Androids Face the Task of how do they Contain the Influences of these Humans from Earth and Various Religious Views, from Effecting the None-Religious Haven the Androids have been Building with those Children.

Thats my Interpretation of Raised by Wolves...

Many Months before this was announced, i had Interpreted and Assumed that Alien Covenant's Sequel would be about....

David taking the Colonist to Origae-6, they Set-Up and Build a Somewhat Basic Village (Wooden Buildings etc) once some Infrastructure is set up, i assume David would then KILL-OFF the Adults and take the SHIP to another Part of the Planet (Adults could be used for Horrific Experiments).

David then Engineers those Human Embryo's to create a more Superior Human Species that he would Raise under his Rules and History that he gives them, which they would be TOLD that he was their Creator.... the Covenant Mission and Adults would be KEPT a Secret from them.

so we have these Engineered Humans (from Embryo's) that live in a kind of Ancient Basic, Cultist Society, like the Amish People but there Religion/Beliefs are Influenced by David as the Creator and whatever he wishes to Teach them/Have them believe.

Then another Human Ship arrives who are also looking to get away from Earth and have a New Life.... and then David is Facing a Difficult Task of what happens when these Humans arrive, and Discover the Society that David has Built...

What do his Creations then think when they see other Humans who may be slightly different, and they come with another being who LOOKS exactly the Same as their Creator?

They discover their True Origins and History are NOT what they had been Taught by David and that their So Called Creator is actually a Creation of their True Ancestors?

This in PART is what i thought that AC2 would be about... its what i then had explored with my TWO sequels.. Alien Ascension and Alien Absolution which i abandoned.

But News of AC2 went into Limbo, then we got this Raised by Wolves Announcement and looking at the Synopsis etc i think its NOT FAR off the Plot i predicted that AC2 may have...  it seems it shares a number of Elements.

So i wondered is Ridley Scott using some ideas he had for AC2 in Raised by Wolves out of Fear that AC2 will not be made or that if we got a Sequel then a lot of what RS had planned would have to be SCRAPED?

I think it could be a Interesting Sci-Fi Series, i think its worth giving it a Chance for the First 4 Episodes

Not sure its what ALIEN fans would like to see, they may prefer a ALIEN Bug Hunt Series.  But lets see what the ALIEN Series would also bring... i just think it should not be about Eggs and Face Hugers every Season.

Are you still awake MonsterZero reading the novel or have you finished yet?

I Raptus...I had a dog and his name was Bingo.

There has to be more than robots babysitting church kids.

Manticore

A ship in the story has a name that sounds very familiar, below.

"This had started as another routine smash-and-grab job. The Manticore was a pirate vessel, and the crew had thievery down to a science."

....as in Blackwinter Witch's ship of the same name?!

It sounds interesting, but the synopsis sounds like it confirms what most people already know. Pass.

People going nowhere, taken for a ride
Looking for the answers that they know inside
Searching for a reason, looking for a rhyme
Snow White's mirror said "partners in crime"- Black Sabbath

Collider.com

"Created by writer Aaron Guzikowski, whose masterful 2013 Prisoners ranks among the best thrillers of the decade, the series will be a 10-part story. Guzikowski will also serve as showrunner.

Here’s an official synopsis:

The series centers on two androids tasked with raising human children on a mysterious virgin planet. As the burgeoning colony of humans threatens to be torn apart by religious differences, the androids learn that controlling the beliefs of humans is a treacherous and difficult task." (source)

So glad Fox is continuing these Alien novels!

Just bought for my Kindle...will start to read tonight.

You're most welcome dk.

The novels are great and it's a pleasure to report.

Thanks- I am only tracking on the movies and Isolation game.

The Necromorph

I think what we might be looking at is called the "Necromorph" dk...and the slime (resin) is mentioned too.

"The Necromorph was calmer."

"There it would find a host, and take the human to a secluded area. It would seal the human in resin--leaving the mouth exposed, of course--and then it would produce an Ovomorph."

Alien: Prototype, page 274.

Given the time line, it seems Amanda being found and involved would be a good way to go about it. On the other hand, it may risk becoming a story with Ripley Lite. 

The additional slime (nice enhancement) that seems to cover the xeno body makes me wonder more about its purpose/function.

I'm sorry I Raptus because I have to strongly agree with Leto.  

Another Life is in the Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome file right beside Eyes Wide Shut.   

"will be an anthology series on Hulu, with each season taking place in a different part of the Alien universe."

This could be very great news.  In the comics, a team sets down on LV-223 a century after David 8's severed cadmium head bounced off Peter Weyland's conventional skull.  

On the Planet Zagreus, in Alien: Echo, a xenomorph hoard devours everything cosmopolitan in the city and on the space station bought on the cheap to expand the colony (a real party), Alien: The Cold Forge provides tangible agony to those that read it and now wait for the contents to make it to screen in any form...   

Any of the above scenarios could bring a great season on Hulu in my opinion...and I haven't mentioned the Alien: River of Pain (LV-426) story because I suspect that may be related to what James Cameron is working on (source).

It seems that Ozymandias by Percy Bysshe Shelley was referenced in The Weyland-Yutani Report, below.

Ozymandias 

I met a traveller from an antique land, 

Who said—“Two vast and trunkless legs of stone 

Stand in the desert. . . .

Percy Traveller

Bad news.

"Following statements made by former Comics Alliance EIC Laura Hudson regarding the behaviour of Brian Wood to her several years ago, Dark Horse has confirmed to Bleeding Cool that the upcoming Aliens: Colonial Marines: Rising Threat written by Wood scheduled for September will no longer be published and they will no longer be pursuing new comic book projects with Wood." (source)

Michelle

Genre

I think “The Alien Universe” is big enough for different genres as well as different stories to be told within it. There is, of course, the problem of “canon” but the franchise has become so muddled with books and films pointing in different directions that it’s almost impossible to say that something is “canon”. It’s up to each one of us what we choose to believe.

Intelligent Design

Instead of showing a dystopic future of evil, death and destruction, and a universe saturated of mere chance and blind evolution, an optimistic view (a soul and meaning) is refreshing and encouraging, as long as there is no agenda behind it with organizations wanting to ban the teaching of evolution in schools etc.

This is definitely exciting. The alien universe has so much to explore and revisit. 

and Jonesy deserves his own episode.

chli

Stockholm Syndrome 

I was very pleased you made this connection. 

To me, there was an obvious dramatic potential in their relationship from the moment that David begins to remove her cross in quarantine. Whilst the Caserean is to come we have reached a crossroads where Ripley's condition in ALIEN 3 can be revisited and recalibrated.

I say crossroads because you can take the trope road, which means someone will have got there before you, or you can go on and further examine the themes of hosting particularly where the person responsible is making a journey next to/with you.

One of my readers quite rightly pointed out the 'birthing machine' riff. The key is to remember the story if you are going to react to that kind of concern. In order to further examine the issue, I deconstructed the component parts.

Spoilers  

David has been seeking a solution from the get-go.

David suffers rage at the outcome, quite the opposite of Ash's smugness.

Elizabeth is ambivalent but errs more to the side of being taken in. That's partly a comment on modern woman's preoccupations with Vanity.  

It has a psychological dynamic which eventually reverses everyone's roles.    

The ritual happens once on the page and I take the opportunity to poke some gentle fun at Covenant and then reverse the outcome.       

Mercifully that seems to have worked and no one has suggested I went into birthing machine territory. 

Woman and Robot.

There is a slight sense that they are like the woman with the gay friend, the fantastic company, good looking (once the Lawrence quiff is buried) very caring, respectful but with no 'play' made at the end of the evening.  

However, I also felt their relationship was a comment on how they're so much more to relationships than the sexual dynamic and it turns out in this universe the latter is seen to be driven by very particular idiosyncratic reasons.

In general, I think Ridley from Giger onwards has been very very good at exploring man's hostage to all of that stuff. Giger was himself far from comfortable in his thinking.

Even asking the sacrificial chosen one to wear a monastic cloak airs the sexual narrative. It's like we don't do all the pumping and grinding we are serious we do creation big time and when I looked at the more closely I decided that's how to interpret it.   

Genre

In a way, our conversation and others I have had have reinforced the notion that placing the big chap in A L I E N within a story with a profoundly philosophical narrative is a commercial non-starter. If you go to any website connected to this franchise their preoccupations are a million miles away from the above. I understand and accept that but that is not the same as saying it doesn't have value it does and I am really grateful for everything said by others to me about this work just as I love Ridleys Seven Worlds which manages with just a Lizard in the desert.

Two other quick things:

1) the Sugata Valley is as I describe but so is the opening moving landscape of the movie referencing Scott Free and Dune.

2) David is playing the Chopin we hear in the movie.  

Christopher McQuarrie - Lots of experience with action movies.

I think the Alien 40th Anniversary  shorts series make a solid blue print.

Each to their own. Arms like cotton earbuds aren’t my idea of scary / evolved / superior.