Critical reviews
"Neverland" received positive reviews from critics. Clint Gage of IGN wrote, "A lot of ink has been spilled about how this fits in with the franchise and which parts of the canon are being accounted for. But this opening sequence is crafted in such a way that Hawley and his team are saying “yes” to all of it. There is a familiar setting, in a familiar timeline, but they're doing some new things within that structure." [6]
Matt Schimkowitz of The A.V. Club gave the 2-episode premiere a "B–" grade and wrote, "With “Neverland,” Hawley, again, looks beyond the title and splits the difference between Scott's beloved sci-fi masterpieces, Alien and Blade Runner , offering a ruthlessly efficient remake of the former and the childlike, electric dreams of the latter." [7]
Alan Sepinwall of Rolling Stone wrote, "Primarily, though, “Neverland” is concerned with Hawley's major concepts for the series: the ongoing battle for supremacy among the five corporations that control the planet, and their race to perfect a form of immortality before the competition can." [8]
Noel Murray of Vulture gave the episode a perfect 5 star out of 5 rating and wrote, "Writer-producer Noah Hawley's new Alien: Earth quickly finds its own lane, with an opening episode that is one of the best chapter ones of a TV series that I've seen in a good long while." [9] Shawn Van Horn of Collider gave the episode a 9 out of 10 rating and wrote, "They live, and then they die. Wendy doesn't want to hear that, though, because her brother isn't going to die. She's going to save him. With that, Alien: Earth has introduced its new badass heroine." [10]
Eric Francisco of Esquire wrote, "In its kick-off episode, Alien: Earth may not offer more than the most essential who, what, where, and when—and certainly the "why" is how it plans to keep us interested until the finale. But as a whole new TV show that wears the menacing skin of a familiar franchise, Alien: Earth makes a great first impression, and that "Play Next Episode" button is harder to resist than a facehugger to the mug." [11] Johnny Loftus of Decider wrote, "With the slow turning title cards and clean, eerie music cues, its matching film stock, the look and feel of the ship, the crew's uniforms – even the typeface of the close-captioning – Alien: Earth in these early scenes is bringing its franchise's past into its present." [12]
Sean T. Collins of The New York Times wrote, "The year is 2120, and the planet is controlled by five gigantic, unaccountable corporations? Perhaps the Earth part of Alien: Earth doesn't sound so far-fetched. The Alien element, however, remains gloriously alien." [13] Paul Dailly of TV Fanatic gave the episode a perfect 5 star out of 5 rating and wrote, "The most impressive part? This doesn't feel like TV. The production design, the soundscape, the way the camera lingers in tight spaces until you're ready to claw your way out — it's pure cinematic tension." [14]
