What is the Eyeball Monster in Alien: Earth, and how are they different from Xenomorphs? 

Alien: Earth may have raised the bar, but the Alien series has always had an abundance of nightmare fuel. Xenomorphs have become the most recognizable predators in movies, from Ridley Scott's 1979 original to the egg-laying queen in Aliens and the hideous hybrids of the following sequels. Yet, by bringing in a new face (or, better yet, a single, bulky eye with tentacles), FX's new prequel series Alien: Earth has outdone itself, don't you think?

This parasitic oddity ("Species 64" or Trypanohyncha Ocellus) already made THE first impression in Alien: Earth Episode 2 when it popped from the eye socket of a dead cat. While the creature's eyes might have been borderline cute, fans were probably not feeling it when it sprang for its next host!

With a creature as disturbing as it is clever, the Eyeball Monster proves that this series is changing the rules rather than returning to Alien lore.

The Eyeball Monster in Alien: Earth sees (and controls) everything

Body horror has always been a theme in the Alien series, but Species 64 takes it to an entirely new level. This parasite uses a more cognitive strategy against xenomorphs, just like apex predators created to hunt.

In Episode 3, a computer readout says that the creature links itself to hosts by removing their eyeballs, then uses ocular pathways to control their nervous system. The body becomes its puppet once it's inside of it.

The worst part is that this thing is smart!

The Eyeball Monster has human-level problem-solving skills based on reports from the wreckage of the exploration ship that carried it, aka the USCSS Maginot. That is a frightening change from the instinctive Xenomorphs, who already look awful due to their efficiency and hive-like structure.

A creature that outsmarts you rather than stalking you? Yikes.

What's scarier? Having spent decades in confinement, it has lived for long periods without a host while it waits for the right moment to attack. Thus, Species 64 becomes more of a patient invader and less of a predator.

Eyeball Monster is different from Xenomorphs

While fans argue whether Species 64 fits in the evolutionary tree of Xenomorphs, Alien: Earth seems determined to prove its supremacy. Xenomorphs hunt prey, defend eggs, and instinctively destroy anything that stands in the way.

But control is the key to the Eyeball Monster. Rather than using force, it relies on body control, intelligence, and stealth.

By not just reusing the Alien universe's famous chestbursters and facehuggers, showrunner Noah Hawley developed the alien biology of the universe. This approach gives the franchise new life and turns what might have been just another "bug hunt" into something much darker.

Xenomorphs are the ideal organism. Species 64 is a perfect infiltrator.

Also, the ruined cargo of the Maginot suggests that Weyland-Yutani's obsession with aliens went far beyond Xenomorphs. There were multiple alien species on board, including a bloodsucking tick. The question arises whether these creatures are of the same biological lineage or belong to entirely different levels of the intergalactic food chain. What we do know is that Alien: Earth is starting to look like an ecosystem of nightmares and not a single monster!

The Eyeball Monster stands out as Alien: Earth's unlikely breakout star thanks to its terrifying abilities and creepy look --- a floating eye surrounded by writhing tentacles. It might also be the most intelligent and terrifying creature in the franchise due to its mind control ability.

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Watch FX's Alien: Earth on Hulu.

NEXT UP: What Alien: Earth’s tadpole means for the Xenomorphs

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