How are the Cyborgs in Alien: Earth different from Synths and Hybrids? Details from the FX series, explored

Noah Hawley's Alien: Earth's world introduces us to a bunch of different beings, like AI, Synthetic humans, or a sick combination of both. FX's latest science fiction show, a prequel series to Ridley Scott's original Alien film, debuted on Hulu and Disney+ on August 12, 2025, opening a world of different life forms.

The good old-fashioned Xenomorphs and other extraterrestrial creatures are not the only futuristic and sci-fi elements in Hawley's world. The prequel series is set in the year 2120, two years before the events of the original film, where the government has been overtaken by five ruling companies, called the Prodigy.

Samuel Blenkin's Boy Kavalier, the youngest trillionaire in human history, is the owner and operator of Prodigy, who are developing a new life form. In addition to Cyborgs and Synths, Prodigy is also working on the first-ever Hybrids, a combination of Synths and humans.

Here is a breakdown of all three beings in Alien: Earth.

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Decoding the mystery behind the three beings in Alien: Earth

Like every science fiction universe, Noah Hawley's series also consists of many beings, in addition to the extraterrestrial species that poses a threat to 'humanity'. The show's universe is largely divided into three beings: cyborgs, synths, and hybrids, which are introduced in Episode 1 as:

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

1) What are cyborgs in Alien: Earth?

Cyborgs are the most common beings in the science fiction universe, who appear in many movies and TV shows. They are biological humans who are enhanced with artificial/robotic parts to give them specific strengths. Cyborgs have a robotic demeanor and strengths with a human brain.

Babou Ceesay's Morrow is an example of a cyborg in Hawley's series, the head of security onboard the USCSS Maginot. Morrow has a human brain but with a Swiss Army Knife in place of one of his arms, which is equipped with a blade and other tools.

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2) What are Synths in Alien: Earth?

Synths or synthetic humans are another form of life in Alien: Earth, which are man-made with an artificial brain. These humanoid robots are equipped with near-human consciousness, which makes them eerily similar to humans. Ian Holm's Ash from the original Alien film was a synth.

In the prequel series, Timothy Olyphant's Kirsh is the central synth who works for Prodigy and helps in the development of hybrids.

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3) What are Hybrids in Alien: Earth?

Hybrids, the central being in the show, is one of the latest developments by Prodigy, operated by Boy Kavalier. According to an official description by the show, hybrids are:

"Synthetic being downloaded with human consciousness.''

Hybrids can be understood as genetically modified versions of Synths, which are crossed with humans. Sydney Chandler's Wendy is the first hybrid prototype in Alien: Earth, tasked with saving humanity from extraterrestrial threats.

Hybrid Wendy is at the center of the show, formed after Marcy's date, ie, consciousness was copied and pasted onto her brain. The premiere revealed how Prodigy was in contact with many terminally ill children, whose consciousness was downloaded into many Synths, making them into hybrids.

Wendy was formed after a transfer procedure, where Marcy's (a terminally ill 12-year-old girl) consciousness, neurological pathways, and brainwave activity were transferred into Wendy's synthetic body. While hybrids like Wendy have grown-up bodies, they are equipped with the brains of children, which is why they behave like preteen children in the prequel series.

Alien: Earth Episode 3 will be released on August 19, 2025.

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