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.
Where to Watch Alien Nation
Alien Nation Ratings & Reviews
- flavo43November 22, 2025Alien Nation the TV series had all the ingredients to be great, especially if you loved the original film’s blend of crime/police procedural and immigrant allegory with aliens thrown in for good measure. At its best, the show does explore prejudice, family life, and cultural clashes in thoughtful ways, giving the “Newcomers” more depth than a one-off movie ever could. But over time, it struggles to keep the same momentum and grit. The central premise gradually feels more like a gimmick, with some episodes leaning too heavily on quirky alien culture jokes instead of tight detective stories and hard social commentary. It’s a real shame, because you can see glimpses of a much stronger, more grounded series peeking through. Ironically, the follow-up TV movies manage to recapture more of that original tone and purpose, delivering the kind of stories the weekly series only sometimes lived up to.
- CallumOctober 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.
