Spoilers Alien: Earth Spoiler Thread

[Snarf Zagyg]

Someone’s Law: In real life, people do stupid things all the time. In fiction it’s bad writing.

I mean ... I think that a lot of this goes to suspension of disbelief- which can be very subjective.

To give you some examples- most of the time when I watch something "law-adjacent," I can give it a pass. I'm used to the fiction tropes surrounding how "the law works" that I can suspend my disbelief. But there are times (usually when something is egregious, or, more often, when a show is attempting to be "realistic" and gets something wrong) when I'm just ... naw, I'm out.

Or, for some people, the whole "pew pew pew" in space might throw them out of it, while for others ... it's just how it is.

A common example is what I call the "cop rule." Cops will show up to an event depending on the needs of the fiction, not based upon ... what is actually happening on-screen. Most of the time we overlook it because we are caught up in the story. But there are times when the cop rule becomes noticeable for us- and that moment can differ from person to person.

I think I've pushed back on some of what @Clint_L has stated. Some of the criticisms (IMO) were not examples of bad writing at all. But I think he was also spot-on for some. When Nibbs woke up with Wendy there ... it was jarring for me as well. It really tugged on my own suspension of disbelief. It bothered me, even though the rest didn't.

But that's okay! We all have different subjective levels. Personally, I am enjoying the show so much and I am so caught up in it that I'm probably a lot more tolerant than another person might be because I'm caught up in the fiction. Another person might not be. It's all good!

 

[Morrus]

I think for somebody who doesn't like fiction with the hubris of people making terrible choices and dying horribly as a consequence as it's basic premise, the Alien franchise probably won't appeal. That is, after all, what Alien is basically about.

 

[Snarf Zagyg]

I think for somebody who doesn't like fiction with the hubris of people making terrible choices and dying horribly as a consequence as it's basic premise, the Alien franchise probably won't appeal. That is, after all, what Alien is basically about.

Good point. If you don't like "cringe" or "uncomfortable" comedy, you probably will not enjoy Larry David or Tim Robinson.

I love Cronenberg, but body horror isn't for everyone.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

I think for somebody who doesn't like fiction with the hubris of people making terrible choices and dying horribly as a consequence as it's basic premise, the Alien franchise probably won't appeal. That is, after all, what Alien is basically about.

I think that’s common element in horror. The audience knows they are safe, because they aren’t dumb enough to go up into the dark attic alone, so they can enjoy the misfortunes of people who are not as sensible as them.

 

[Stalker0]

I think for somebody who doesn't like fiction with the hubris of people making terrible choices and dying horribly as a consequence as it's basic premise, the Alien franchise probably won't appeal. That is, after all, what Alien is basically about.

yeah to me its always about internal consistency. If the universe is consistent to itself, or characters are consistent to themselves, than that's fine.

Alien has created a universe where workers have horrific safety standards compared to our modern day. Its more like early industrial era where no one gave two craps about workers, and so basically anything goes. That does not work with our modern sensibilities, but could I imagine a future where corporations care so little for workers that the safety culture has gone out the window, and workers are so disenfranchised that they don't think about it either.... yes I can. And so if the universe continues to portray conditions like that, ok I buy it.


Why the Nibs scene doesn't work to me, is that our "mother" figure not only cares about the kids, but she is supposedly a trained Psychologist and Therapist. So the idea that your going to do this mind wipe, and not prepare both Nibs afterward and the children....is just so antithetical to what her character should think to do that its jarring.

 

[Snarf Zagyg]

Why the Nibs scene doesn't work to me, is that our "mother" figure not only cares about the kids, but she is supposedly a trained Psychologist and Therapist. So the idea that your going to do this mind wipe, and not prepare both Nibs afterward and the children....is just so antithetical to what her character should think to do that its jarring.

Yeah, I mentioned that above as well, and I agree on all counts. It threw me out for a bit (and I'm in for just about everything A:E is serving) ... and even the person I'm watching it with, who is only half-watching (they aren't into it like I am) was like, "What? That doesn't make any sense?"

I'd argue that it was a weird and unnecessary misstep simply because it was so out of character. Look- it could be explained (everyone is under pressure, the "Mother" (name escapes me) had a lot of stuff to do and her husband was just fired, etc. etc. etc. but it didn't ring true and it didn't work).