Starring: Michael Socha, Michaela Cole, Jim Howick.
The Aliens, follows the story of humans vs aliens... although it's hard to tell who is who.
E4 has created yet another amusing and original show. Somewhat comparable to Misfits, with it being both oddly believable and too strange to be true.
To me the show isn't about aliens. There was a line that went something like "if they wanna come over here and work and behave, great" and it immediately made me view the show as a metaphor for migrants. The humans view the aliens as less than them and are disgusted by them which is what we hear about migrants daily. When viewing the show from the perspective, it becomes a lot more interesting.
The writing was some of the best. The idea as a whole is brilliant and the way they chose not to make the aliens into a more sci-fi situation makes it much more relatable and enjoyable. The structure of the show and the witty writing style offers a more intelligent programme that is clearly well thought out.
One thing that always stands out about E4 shows, is the cinematography. They're always visually stunning and the sets are well detailed. The aliens, is no exception. The ghetto land that has been created for the Aliens is perfectly designed and really captures how their lives differ to the humans. The whole series is also beautifully colour graded which is only accompanied by nice shot types and camera work.
Acting wise, Socha's humorous and lovable personality makes him a perfect fit for the show. It's very different from his character Harvey in Chanel 4's - This is England but he manages to bring a real tone to his character and makes him instantly likeable. The other characters are well performed but nothing noteworthy springs to mind.
Overall, The Aliens is the perfect fit for E4. It will entertain it's usual viewers and I like that it's taking more risky scripts. Whilst claims have been made that the show is dull, I can see why they think that but it's not a show for everyone. If you liked Misfits, then chances are you'll like this
