Alien: Earth episode 1 is available on August 12 on Hulu, FX and Disney Plus from 5:00 PM Pacific/8:00 PM Eastern. That's on August 13 at 1:00 AM BST in the UK. The second episode will also be streaming at that time, with it also airing on FX at 9:30 PM Eastern.

Expanding the ever-growing Alien universe with fresh layers of depth and nuance, the first two episodes — “Neverland” and “Mr. October”— are packed with references, Easter eggs, and subtle callbacks to previous films, along with clever nods to other corners of pop culture.

"Alien: Earth" is Noah Hawley's latest silver-to-small screen project. But if you want to watch all the film entries which preceded it, here's what you need to know.

Before we go on, be warned that this article contains spoilers for the first episode of Alien: Earth, so make sure you've seen it first if you want to go in fresh.

Viewers without cable can watch "Alien: Earth" live and on demand for free by signing up for the 5-day trial offer from DirecTV. Sling and Fubo ($30 off first month) offer access to FX without a free trial. Episodes will also stream on Hulu. New Hulu subscribers can take advantage of the platform’s 30-day free trial to watch for free.

The TV prequel to the Alien movies calls back to the best elements of those original films — including questions about corporate exploitation and technological advancements.

It's also a proper work of Hawley's, a mish-mash of his Marvel masterpiece Legion and other prestige sci-fi of the last ten years, from Westworld to Severance. "Neverland" is a long, labored inhalation for what is a simple inciting incident.

How can I create those feelings in an audience by telling a totally different story?” Hawley told The Hollywood Reporter in July. “With Alien: Earth, it has to be a great dramatic show. Then the monsters become this bonus that you get,

Earth for years, FX and Hulu have settled on releasing the first season of the show through a weekly schedule. The model will allow fans to unveil the mysteries of the series throughout the fall of 2025.