Contains spoilers for “Alien: Earth” Season 1, Episode 1 — “Neverland”

The “Alien” series perpetually features eerie, slimy monsters eager to drool over, attack, and infiltrate human forms at any moment. However, in the debut of “Alien: Earth,” the most unsettling figure isn’t an extraterrestrial foe — it’s Wendy (Sydney Chandler), a hybrid synthetic holding the memories of a deceased child.

Seeing her try to grasp adult notions with a child’s bewilderment, while she prepares to confront a ship filled with lethal creatures, is undoubtedly disturbing. Moreover, her observation of her brother Hermit (Alex Lawther) through video feeds, coupled with her almost nostalgically affectionate remarks about him, adds another layer of discomfort.

The episode also features a cyborg security officer named Morrow (Babou Ceesay), who annihilates his team and crashes the Weyland-Yutani-owned Maginot into Earth to safeguard its collection of alien creatures, despite their clear peril, including the infamous xenomorphs. Yet, it’s Wendy’s aura that takes the cake for eeriness, and the series seems fully aware of the unsettling nature of its central figure.

It’s essential to acknowledge that both Wendy and the show’s makers are fully conscious of her non-human status. The storyline skillfully leverages this aspect, portraying her intense, childlike curiosity as a potential major liability. Even if she’s the key to conquering the alien threat, her actions might endanger her colleagues as much as they help them find safety. This tension likely complicates her attempts to connect with her team, making any bonding efforts quite challenging, if not entirely futile.

Crucially, assuming it does not become another of the franchise’s narrative gaps, Wendy’s ability to swiftly adjust to her environment could make her the xenomorph’s formidable adversary. Her potential to seamlessly adapt to any situation and manage arising threats could be the most uncanny trait about her — and “Alien: Earth” — above all else.