Fixing Prometheus: Addressing 2 Major Issues Over a Decade After the Alien Prequel Release

The Alien franchise has experienced notable ups and downs throughout its history. Despite facing criticism, particularly with the Prometheus prequel, recent installments within the series appear to address and rectify these concerns. When Ridley Scott returned to helm the series in 2012, the original timeline, spanning from the acclaimed 1979 Alien to Alien: Resurrection in 1997, had already seen its share of critical failure. This downward trajectory led to diminishing enthusiasm among both critics and fans alike after the less favorable outings of the franchise. To review the box office performance and ratings of the films in the series provides context to this claim.

Overview of the Alien Movie Performances

While the original Alien and its 1986 sequel Aliens received widespread acclaim, later entries such as Alien 3 and Alien: Resurrection resulted in discontent among viewers. The Alien vs. Predator movies struggled even more critically, with both Alien vs Predator (2004) and Aliens vs Predator: Requiem (2007) landing notably poor reviews. In this context, the response to Prometheus was relatively positive, as it represented the best reception the franchise had seen in years—although it was not without its significant flaws.

Key Issues with Prometheus

Flaws in Character Decisions and Lore Complexity

Two primary issues hindered the experience of Prometheus for many viewers. Firstly, the characters—depicted as a skilled team of scientists and engineers—often made illogical and reckless decisions that detracted from their realism. Their actions appeared inconsistent with their supposed expertise, leading to frustration among audiences. Secondly, the film complicated the established Xenomorph lifecycle with its thorough exploration of the Engineers and the Black Goo, leaving many viewers puzzled.

Improvements Seen in Alien: Romulus

Character Portrayal in Alien: Romulus

Fortunately, Alien: Romulus, set to release in 2024, effectively addresses these previous issues. The characters in this installment, depicted as inexperienced colonists, make decisions that align more realistically with their lack of knowledge and exposure to the dangers they face. Unlike their predecessors in Prometheus, the young cast in Romulus is able to elicit empathy for their tragic fates, enhancing audience engagement.

Clarifying the Xenomorph Lifecycle in Alien: Romulus

The film simplifies the confusing Xenomorph lifecycle narrative. A notable character named Rook provides clear exposition, explaining how Weyland-Yutani is experimenting with Xenomorph DNA in pursuit of creating resilient workers for space exploration, ultimately linking it back to the failed experiments of David from prior films. This narrative choice resolves lingering questions derived from Prometheus and Alien: Covenant, making David’s actions more coherent in retrospect.

Retrospective Clarity on Prometheus

Prometheus Context Within the Franchise

As the Alien series evolves, Romulus positions Prometheus within the larger narrative with greater clarity. Set within a framework that connects it to the original Alien, viewers now have a clearer understanding of character motivations and plot significance. This progress allows future films to explore new directions without being encumbered by the complexities of the previous prequel.

Alien is ready to continue delivering thrilling experiences that align more closely with its roots. By adopting effective storytelling techniques that resonate with audiences, the franchise is poised for renewed success without relying on excessive ambiguity that detracted from the overall enjoyment of earlier entries.

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