Alien: Earth expands the Alien universe with three artificial human types, details revealed

Because of their acid blood, double jaws, and almost zero on-screen survival rate, xenomorphs have always taken center stage in the Alien franchise, but that changed with Alien: Earth. Being the first TV series set in Ridley Scott's universe, it features three humanoid robot types that might seal humanity's fate.

The Noah Hawley-led series, which debuted on August 12, turned up the mystery and dialed down the chest-thumping --- at least for the time being.

The title card reads:

"In the future, the race for immortality will come in three guises."

Those disguises? Cyborgs, hybrids, and synths.

And whichever wins will make one of five corporations (Threshold, Lynch, Dynamic, Weyland-Yutani, or Prodigy) the sole ruler of this universe. Did you think interstellar monsters are scary? Think again because boardroom ambition paired with cybernetics might be THE source of anxiety.

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The artificial human types on Alien: Earth

1) Cyborgs

The archetype for this horrifying category is Morrow, Chief Security Officer aboard the doomed USCSS Maginot, played by Babou Ceesay.

Cyborgs are humans who have been cybernetically enhanced; they are part machine and part flesh. They are made to be accurate and strong.

Morrow is the Swiss Army knife of security chiefs in Alien: Earth, thanks to his built-in, invisible blowtorch and forearm blade. These characters are relatable yet unpredictable because, unlike synths, they have a human foundation.

Their corporate origin is unknown, but their battle value is obvious.

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2) Synths

You know the drill if you've seen any Alien films: Humanoid androids called Synths work for corporate honchos. The line between helpful and frightening has always been fuzzy in these pieces, from Michael Fassbender's eerie David in Prometheus to Ian Holm's calculating Ash in the original 1979 Alien.

Timothy Olyphant plays Kirsch, a synthetic who carries on this tradition in Alien: Earth. The Synths are the most identifiable artificial humans in the franchise, and Weyland-Yutani is still heavily involved in how they are created.

They might not grow old or get sick, but loyalty is deeply rooted in them --- and not always in a good way.

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3) Hybrids

The Prodigy Corporation's pet project, hybrids, is the real wild card. These androids are fueled by human consciousness, regardless of their synthetic looks. The test's face is Sydney Chandler's Wendy, a terminally ill child who is reborn at the Neverland facility in an eternal adult synthetic body.

Because they function in artificial vessels while holding onto the soul and memories of their human ancestry, hybrids pose an ethical quandary. Do they still have human characteristics? Or are they just shiny, uploaded ghosts?

Audiences are both fascinated and horrified by the founder, Boy Kavalier's, use of children as test subjects, which distorts moral lines.

Beyond Alien: Earth, the introduction of these three artificial types has consequences. Crossover potential is hinted at in Dan Trachtenberg's upcoming film Predator: Badlands, which stars Elle Fanning.

Weyland-Yutani's logo is visible in the eyes of Fanning's character, Thia, in a trailer, which strongly suggests that she is a Synth. This connection only bolsters the Alien/Predator shared universe's web of characters.

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What comes next on Alien: Earth?

Hawley is laying the groundwork for a battle between corporations fighting for control of life itself, as well as humans and xenomorphs. With only two episodes aired, the eight-part series is already teasing more twists.

Here are the official summaries for the next two episodes:

• Alien: Earth Episode 3: Metamorphosis (Aug 19) -- The team returns home with unexpected cargo. An unsettling experiment occurs, and a new talent is discovered. Written by Noah Hawley and Bob DeLaurentis; Directed by Dana Gonzales.
• Alien: Earth Episode 4: Observation (Aug 26) -- An unexpected connection is formed while a covert plot puts everyone in danger. Written by Noah Hawley and Bobak Esfarjani; Directed by Ugla Hauksdóttir.

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Watch Alien: Earth on Hulu.