Alien: Earth “delivers scares and thrills as it considers the evolution of humanity,” writes the television critic David Bianculli. From director Noah Hawley and executive producer Ridley Scott, the new series is set in 2110, two years before the original Alien film takes place; in other words, this show is a prequel. The first two episodes were released on August 12 to impressive reviews, and the series continues with weekly installments. The story follows Wendy (Sydney Chandler) and a band of soldiers as they investigate the crash of a Weyland–Yutani spaceship. The collision has released deadly alien specimens on Earth. The team must race against time to stop them before they destroy life on the planet. —Frankie Budworth