Alien: Earth Episode 3 recap: Why is Kersh acting like a leader?

Episode 3 of Alien: Earth, titled “Metamorphosis,” truly lives up to its title by centering on transfirnation. Just like how a caterpillar transforms into a butterfly, this episode focused on both physical and emotional transformations of several characters.

From Nibs struggling with her identity, to Kersh starting to see himself as superior, and poor Joe being turned into a cyborg, this episode captured the idea of change in its rawest form.

“Metamorphosis” explored not just alien mutations but inner change—some characters embraced it, others resisted, and that tension gave the episode its weight.

Nibs didn’t appear a lot this week, but her scenes were powerful. After narrowly escaping death when Species 64 nearly attacked her, she began questioning everything: why she had to change, why she couldn’t keep her name, and most importantly, what she even was now.

It’s easy to forget that hybrids are basically children’s minds placed inside synthetic adult bodies. Nibs used to be a terminally ill child, and now she’s trapped in a body that doesn’t feel like her own. By the end, she stared into a mirror, remembering when she asked, “When do we get to go home?” only to hear, “You don’t.” That hit hard.

The chilling moment came when she poked her eye, revealing it wasn’t real. Just like the alien she saw in the jar earlier, she too realized she was no longer human—just another “specimen” in a bigger jar.

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The harsh reality of hybrids in Alien: Earth

One of the darkest truths revealed here is that hybrids cannot die. Cavalere even mentioned this. That means Nibs is essentially trapped in this unwanted body forever. It is a prison without walls.

Kersh was front and center in this episode. Cavalere told him, “I thought you were supposed to be better than a man, but all I hear are excuses.” That comment clearly got to Kersh. From then on, he started acting like he truly was above humans.

When Morris asked who looked after the hybrids, many looked to Kersh. He even watched Smei and Slightly with pride, almost like a father. He began to view himself as their caretaker and maybe even their leader in Alien: Earth.

But his treatment of Joe revealed something darker. He experimented with Joe’s organs, mixing them with alien cores, as if Joe was nothing more than spare parts. This hints that Kersh may eventually rebel against Cavalere and declare cyborgs as the superior species.

Joe was reduced to little more than test material. With each replacement part, his cyborg transformation felt more like punishment than progress.

Cavalere may be in charge, but no one really respects him. Kersh clearly dislikes him, Curly envies Wendy, and Wendy herself doesn’t follow his orders. His grip on power feels weaker by the episode in Alien: Earth.

Morrow’s backstory added a lot of depth. Once tasked with collecting specimens 65 years ago, he sacrificed his crew for the mission. Unlike humans, he erased his guilt by uploading it into the database. This made him less human, more machine.

He confessed he once had a daughter, but now everyone he loved is gone. He’s rootless, and this obsession makes him a danger to Cavalere in Alien: Earth.

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Wendy’s arc in Alien: Earth

Wendy had one of the coolest scenes, her fight with the alien. Standing with a blade covered in acid, she looked fierce and unstoppable.

But her arc went deeper in Alien: Earth. She seemed connected to the aliens in ways others weren’t. She could hear their cries, almost as if she shared their pain. This might be because, like them, she’s trapped in Prodigy HQ, tested on, and denied freedom. They’re not enemies; they’re mirrors of her own suffering.

Curly’s envy of Wendy is hard to miss. She wants to be Cavalere’s favorite and will likely go to dangerous lengths to prove herself.

From the very start, the question has been: who is superior — humans, hybrids, synthetics, or cyborgs? Episode 3 made it clear that humans are slowly being left out of the equation. The real fight is between the creations.

The visuals were stunning in Alien: Earth. The fight with the alien, the acid-scorched blade, and even the quiet, eerie moments all looked cinematic. The music stood out too. One guitar riff gave off retro 80s vibes, which made the scene both somber and energizing.

When the specimens were finally captured, the mood shifted to dread, reminding us of the horror at the heart of this story.

This episode of Alien: Earth asked some big questions: What defines a life? Is it the body, the mind, or both? And if you’re immortal but trapped in a body you don’t want, is that really living?

Episode 3 of Alien: Earth was a standout. Honestly, this could be one of FX’s best sci-fi shows since Shogun. The characters are layered, the themes are deep, and the visuals are top-notch.

Nibs’ quiet breakdown, Wendy’s fierce fight, and Kersh’s growing superiority complex and all of it connected beautifully. This was more than just a sci-fi episode; it was a study of identity, control, and survival.

Alien: Earth Episode 3 pushed the story into darker and more emotional territory. With hybrids questioning their existence, cyborgs challenging their creators, and hidden rivalries brewing, this episode set the stage for bigger conflicts ahead. “Metamorphosis” wasn’t just a title—it was the essence of every storyline.

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