Earth" Episodes 1-2. Of all the big, ambitious swings that "Alien: Earth" takes, none are riskier than the parallels that showrunner Noah Hawley chooses to draw between his new sci-fi series and "Peter Pan.

For Hawley, overlaying Peter Pan onto Alien: Earth ‘s science fiction made sense because of the idea of trapping children’s minds in immortal bodies that were created, and ruled over, by a literal boy genius. Moreover, because Barrie’s work isn’t quite as anodyne and sweet as Disney’s animated film.

Earth,” batters viewers expecting Xenomorph horror from an additional, less expected angle: The series is practically drowning in “Peter Pan” metaphors that don’t quite work. That’s partly by design;