Drama
Alien: Earth
FX’s ‘Alien: Earth’ is just the latest graphically violent entry in the already graphically violent ‘Alien’ franchise.
Miles is depressed. He’s not exactly excelling at his job. And he and his wife haven’t truly connected in a long time. He knows it’s his fault, but he feels powerless to solve his problems.
But one fateful day after a big presentation goes poorly at work, Miles’ formerly dreary coworker, Dan, gives him a card to an exclusive spa: Top Happy Spa. It’s a place where the mind, body and soul are the main focus. A place where all the bad stuff in life—sadness, pain, fear, inadequate genetics—is reprogramed, and you have the ability to become the best version of yourself.
Seems too good to be true. But Miles is desperate. So he calls the number on the card, brings 50 grand in cash as instructed, and drives to a worn down strip-mall to see what this “spa” is all about.
He’s not told much, only that he will be made into his best self. Hours later, he wakes up in the middle of a forest, wrapped in plastic and clawing his way out from underground. Frightened and confused, Miles walks for hours and finally makes it home. But he arrives, not to an empty house, but to a house where that promised better version of himself is already present …with his wife.
Turns out, Top Happy Spa has made its first critical error ever. Original Miles was supposed to be buried underground, dead. And new-and-improved-Miles, well, he’s supposed be taking over original Miles’ life.
But original Miles obviously isn’t OK with any of this. And new Miles can’t accept that he’s the clone. It seems unfair. After all, he is the better version. Better at work, better in bed, better at everything.
Yet, only one real Miles can exist. And if they can’t figure out how to work together, then one of them must go.
Living With Yourself is built upon an intriguing, creative premise. It’s an introspective show that looks at humanity and the hustle of life and asks penetrating questions: What’s the point? Why are we working so hard? What is this all for, if we’re not enjoying it? And if we we’re the best versions of ourselves, would we love life more? Or would we hate what we saw?
Those are hard questions. And they’re not answered in the first episode. In fact, the series obviously wants to answer each of them gradually, pulling viewers along for the existential ride.
Interesting and important as those questions may be, however, this MA-rated Netflix series includes significant content issues as well. Language, sexual content (though not extremely graphic) and sticky moral situations are all present early on.
(Editor’s Note: Plugged In is rarely able to watch every episode of a given series for review. As such, there’s always a chance that you might see a problem that we didn’t. If you notice content that you feel should be included in our review, send us an email at letters@pluggedin.com, or contact us via Facebook or Instagram, and be sure to let us know the episode number, title and season so that we can check it out.)
Miles, depressed with himself and worried about his job and marriage, takes a coworker’s advice and visits an exclusive spa where he’s promised to become the best version of himself.
Miles and his clone share a story about unstrapping a girl’s bra in the seventh grade. Miles makes a crude reference to “a hand job.” Miles’ wife, Kate, wants him to get his sperm tested. Kate takes a shower, and we see her from the shoulders up. Miles runs around in an adult diaper. A man makes out with a random woman.
Miles digs his way from underground, where he’s been wrapped in plastic and buried. He attempts to hit his clone with an axe. Spa owners admit that they’ve buried many bodies in a state park.
A group of friends grabs mixed drinks at a local restaurant. The f-word is used once, the s-word is heard three times, and a man crudely references the male anatomy.
Kristin Smith joined the Plugged In team in 2017. Formerly a Spanish and English teacher, Kristin loves reading literature and eating authentic Mexican tacos. She and her husband, Eddy, love raising their children Judah and Selah. Kristin also has a deep affection for coffee, music, her dog (Cali) and cat (Aslan).
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