In this episode of “Midday Movies,” hosts Laura, Stephen, and special guest Bryon dive into the 2017 film “Alien: Covenant,” the second installment in the 21st-century Alien franchise. Joined by Bryon Kershaw from the “Spirits and Monsters of Old Seattle Podcast”, the discussion ranges from reflections on David the Android's theological journey, the film's rich religious subtext (as embodied by Billy Crudup & Katherine Waterston’s characters), and connections to previous Alien installments.
The podcast explores character dynamics, particularly between David and Walter (both played by Michael Fassbender), as well as the evolution of the Alien series under Ridley Scott's direction. Light spoilers are present, and the team delves deeply into themes of creation, love, and antagonism in the context of the Alien universe.
00:00 Introduction to Midday Movies Podcast
00:16 Introducing Alien Covenant and Special Guest Brian Kershaw
00:43 Initial Reactions and Spoilers Warning
01:47 Discussing the Characters and Plot of Alien Covenant
02:29 David and Walter: The Androids' Journey
04:22 Exploring the Themes of Faith and Creation
09:49 The Crew's Dynamics and Relationships
17:44 David's Descent into Madness24:08 HR Giger's Influence and Fun Facts
26:58 Adorable Baby Xenomorphs and Timeline Changes
27:59 David's Medieval Alchemist Lair
28:28 Engineer Technology and Ancient Scrolls
28:59 Dr. Shaw's Distress Signal and Engineer Tech
30:37 Walter and David's Relationship
30:54 Advanced Human Technology in Alien Covenant
31:57 Colonists' Backstories and Motivations
34:42 David's Perspective on Humans
35:12 Ridley Scott's Exploration of Creation and Mortality
36:25 Studio Influence on Alien Covenant
44:04 David's Cliffhanger Ending
45:43 Final Thoughts and Future Speculations
And look forward to our Alien-themed RPG “Facehuggers and Friends,” featuring members of the Umbrella Podcast Collective (https://www.rainydayrabbitholes.com/umbrella) as players. Releasing in June, in advance of FX’s “Alien: Earth” series (2025).
Follow the Umbrella Podcast Collective on IG at @umbrellapodcastcollective for updates on “Facehuggers and Friends: An Alien RPG.”
We want to know what you think about our podcast! Let us know in this brief survey here.
Listen to us on your favorite podcast platform and follow us on social media to stay up to date on upcoming shows and announcements! Instagram Facebook Linktree
Check out our new merch shop here for tees, totes, stickers and more!
Popular Podcasts
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.