Is Alien: Earth’s Eyeball Midge the franchise’s first antihero monster? Details explored as fans debate wild theories

In Alien: Earth, the Eyeball Midge, officially known as T. Ocellus or Species 64, has emerged as a subject of intense debate among fans. While previous Alien creatures were straightforward antagonists, this new entity's ambiguous motives have led some viewers to consider it an antihero.

Its actions, such as taking control of a sheep's body and enhancing its cognitive functions, suggest intelligence and purpose beyond mere parasitism. Creator Noah Hawley has indicated that,

"all these creatures are here to stay,"

Hinting at a deeper role for the Eyeball Midge in the series' evolving narrative.

---

Eyeball Midge's Design and Abilities

Species 64 is a small, tentacled creature with a central eye, capable of inserting itself into a host's eye socket. Once inside, it overrides the host's nervous system, granting itself control.

In a memorable scene, it takes over the nervous system of a sheep, deepens its problem-solving skills and makes it as intelligent as humans. This activity is against the behavior of a normal parasite, implying some sentience and purpose.

---

Fan theories and discussions around Alien: Earth

The Alien: Earth fan community has been active in discussing the Eyeball Midge’s potential role. One Reddit thread, “Questions about the Ocellus in Alien: Earth” suggests that the creature doesn’t just mimic hosts’ eyes but may change its own eye shape to match what it’s observing.

A Reddit user CryptographerFar934 writes,

“I think it’s one thing to say there’s convergent evolution and that’s why it’s got eyes but it’s another thing entirely to say that’s why it has exactly the same eyes. Personally, I think it can mimic the eyes of the thing that’s looking at it in real time … After it leaves the cat, I feel like you can see its ‘eye’ shift … when it left the body, it’s eye shifted into a more round human pupil.”

Another fan FinanceVarious9398 supposes that the eyeball midge is good and probably has good intentions,

"I think that "the eye" is good. She tried to help the medic and fought with the xenomorph. I stand for the eye!"

A third fan idea appears on Reddit, where user "Magnus919" speculated,

"Nibs exposed herself to the eye midge voluntarily and it doesn’t go as planned for either of them."

Such theories highlight the creature's unpredictable nature and the uncertainty surrounding its intentions.

---

What has the creator said about the creature’s role?

Noah Hawley, the creator of Alien: Earth, has emphasized the importance of introducing new alien species to maintain the franchise's sense of horror and discovery. In an interview with Deadline, he stated,

"All these creatures are here to stay. The reason there are new creatures is because you can't [give viewers today] the newness of the Xenomorph."

Hawley further explained that the traditional Xenomorph's surprises have been exhausted over the course of several films, making it necessary to create fresh threats to evoke the same level of fear and tension.

According to Deadline, Hawley noted,

"Now it falls off. Okay we’re good. Now, something bursts out of your chest and then it’s 10 feet tall. So the only way to create that awful burgeoning discovery is with these new creatures."

This strategy is meant to bring energy back into the franchise with the introduction of new and frightening things, including the Eyeball Midge, that confront both the characters and the viewers.

---

The Eyeball Midge's complex behavior and the ongoing discussions among fans suggest that it may not be a traditional villain. Its intelligence and potential for both harm and aid position it as a morally ambiguous entity, possibly the franchise's first antihero monster. As the show progresses, further developments may clarify its role in the broader narrative.