Alien Nation
Alien Nation
Detective Matthew Sikes, a Los Angeles police officer reluctantly works with "Newcomer" alien George Francisco. Sikes also has an 'on again off again' flirtation with a female Newcomer, Cathy Frankel.
Callum reviewedOctober 22, 2025
⭐⭐⭐⭐ (out of 5) Alien Nation – When buddy cops meet immigration allegory, and the galaxy learns to live together… awkwardly.
“Alien Nation” takes the classic 1980s cop formula and throws it headfirst into social commentary — then somehow makes it entertaining. Set in a world where an alien race integrates into human society, it pairs a grizzled detective with a newly naturalised extraterrestrial partner, blending Lethal Weapon camaraderie with a hefty dose of cultural tension.
It’s a buddy-cop show at heart, complete with banter, busts, and the occasional explosion, but beneath the quips lies something far more substantial. The series tackles racism, prejudice, and fear of the unknown — all through the lens of late-’80s sci-fi allegory. You can feel its age in the pacing and tone, but its sincerity still lands, especially when it quietly mirrors the social anxieties of its time, from systemic inequality to veiled nods toward the AIDS crisis.
While modern series like The Rookie sparkle with optimism and heartfelt resolutions, Alien Nation takes the opposite tack — it looks at humanity’s flaws under fluorescent lighting and asks, “Can we actually do better?” It’s the difference between a fresh coat of paint and the foundation beneath it: one makes you smile, the other makes you think.
Yes, it’s dated — the hairstyles prove that — but the themes remain strikingly relevant. For every rubber forehead and practical effect, there’s a moment of reflection that hits harder than expected. Alien Nation may come from a time of shoulder pads and synth music, but its message still feels light-years ahead.