Alien Nation
Posted by srahfox@reddit | GenX | View on Reddit | 157 comments
Please tell me I’m not the only one who remembers and loved this weird show. I swear I’ve only met a couple of people who remember the movie, much less the fact it was a show. I know it was effectively a one season wonder, but it apparently liked enough to get a mini series kinda second season.
Yeah it wasn’t perfect, but they tried with it what they did with Trek, using it as a vehicle to talk about things like race and sexuality, and I always kind of wished it had survived longer. I love the scene in the first episode with Matt defending Emily at the school.
The only other people I know who have even heard about it are also GenX so I figured if anyone else remembered it, I’d find you in here. ;)
Open_Mortgage_4645@reddit
Mandy Patankin was in that one. I never got really into the show, but I absolutely love Patankin so I can only assume it was phenomenal.
elcad@reddit
So phenomenal I didn't even recognize him. He was in the movie version.
aethelberga@reddit
I loved the TV show. I remember there were three sexes and it took all three to have a baby. I liked the idea of a so-called 'slave race' being both stronger and smarter than humans. It had so many interesting takes.
Briollo@reddit
Love the movie.
Organic_Tradition_94@reddit
I remember watching it but the only memory I have is the aliens getting drunk on sour milk.
United_Relative_9106@reddit
It was one of my favorites. The worldbuilding and detail was way better than it needed to be, and the show was better for it.
Salty-Pack-4165@reddit
I loved movie and the show.i was the ecstatic when part of the plot was incorporated into District 9.
Visible-Plenty-1202@reddit
Loved it!
Charliesmum97@reddit
I loved that show. I was sad when it got cancelled. It was really clever.
Grizzl0ck@reddit
Rewatched the whole series and the sequel films last year, having not seen it this century. Was a bit of a slog, but it was ok.
Kestrel_Iolani@reddit
Watched the movie last year. Mandy Patinkin was on point, but Caan was phoning it in.
TheJokersChild@reddit
I have the box set. Remember this being on Fox around what, 1990?
s_schadenfreude@reddit
Yup. Remember the movie and the show.
ChrisRiley_42@reddit
I liked the show.
JanetWD78@reddit
The movie was good, put me off milk for a week but a good movie, I had no idea there was a show.
phillymjs@reddit
I watched the show, but didn’t enjoy it as much as the movie. The movie is my second favorite Mandy Patinkin performance.
Fearless_Street5231@reddit
It was a movie first, but I loved the show.
Apprehensive-Cat-421@reddit
I remember it! It came on on Monday nights! Loved it!
myboyfriendsback777@reddit
I liked this show.
connain@reddit
I have the DVD set. Recently started watching it with one of kids thats into shows like that
PeanutTimely6846@reddit
I remember it and yes, i loved it too.
I was very amused when it was revealed that the alien race (I can't remember what they were called. (gen-x too)) required three people to conceive a child.
MrRetrdO@reddit
I LOVED that show!!!
ghost_suburbia@reddit
I remember! Loved it. Gary Graham had a recurring role on Star Trek and passed away recently. In my neck of the woods, Eric Pierpoint does commercials for an ambulance chasing law firm.
maddog2271@reddit
Yeah I remember it and I loved that show.
RoyalPuzzleheaded259@reddit
I remember watching the show with my mom but I don’t remember much other than it was. Sci-fi cop show.
Neren1138@reddit
😂 remember when he had to give birth
foodweneedfood@reddit
While he was coaching a little league baseball team.
GratefulDad73@reddit
I remember the TV show but never got into it. I also remember the 1983 miniseries called V. I thought it was ground breaking at the time but a lot of people don’t remember it from the 80s. I didn’t realize that they made another TV show of V in 2009 until recently.
missmarimck@reddit
I loved the V miniseries. The remake was good, too.
srahfox@reddit (OP)
Yeah I didn’t catch that there was a remake until a couple of years ago. I was fond of V.
digdugnate@reddit
i remember! i liked the movie a little better than the show, tho. my mom was nuts for the show.
-Granby-@reddit
Don't care for the show but the movie was great. My boy Inigo Montoya as Sam Francisco
PurplePenguinCat@reddit
My husband was just talking about this last night! I don't remember watching it though.
samebatchannel@reddit
The books were good too
lisnter@reddit
I was very disappointed at the unresolved cliffhanger just before the cancellation.
WaterwingsDavid@reddit
I remember this show, but had forgotten the series name. Now I know!
CountHonorius@reddit
I remember it well and re-watched it last year, matter of fact. Loved the earth names that the Tenctonese would adopt. Matt's Newcomer girlfriend / neighbor was something, too.
666ForMySorrow@reddit
"Your mother mates out of season!"
Zapp_Rowsdower_@reddit
I loved the movie….i honesty can’t recall seeing much of the show.
subibrat85@reddit
This would be a good reboot if done right.
ThermalIgnition@reddit
That's the whole problem. It will be too heavy handed, just like the original.
PapaTua@reddit
Loved it. It was so nasty that ROTTEN MILK got them drunk.
Phantomtastic@reddit
And they ate beaver…
umbathri@reddit
Man, how could anyone forget it? Drinking spoiled milk is like an intrinsic fear because of that show.
OldManThumbs@reddit
I remember the show but my TV access was sporadic during the 90s so I didn't see much of it.
postprandialrepose@reddit
Saltwater Russian Roulette gambling. Yikes. Saltwater to the chest. Ouch!
Waffuru@reddit
I love this show, loved the movie as well. Bit of trivia: The movie had a bar scene, it was filmed in Monty's in Los Angeles. I know because the owner was one of my family members. She got me a prop from the scene that I still have to this day. =)
jawshoeaw@reddit
Movie was awesome, show was ok but I still watched
PurpleSailor@reddit
Just don't take them to the beach for a swim!
lordhumongous40@reddit
I'm aware of the show but only watched the movie. Wasn't the show on Fox?
srahfox@reddit (OP)
Probably, they do love to green light weird/sciFi shows and cancel them. 😂
dreaminginteal@reddit
I think I remember snippets of it. Didn't the aliens get intoxicated by drinking rancid milk?
I don't think I watched it much, though.
srahfox@reddit (OP)
Yep, that’s the one.
Acceptable_Mirror235@reddit
I loved this show . Is it streaming anywhere?
srahfox@reddit (OP)
Not for free sadly, I ended up buying a copy.
Zen_Coyote@reddit
You can watch the whole series for free at Archive.org
thelimeisgreen@reddit
I liked the movie with James Caan and Mandy Patinkin. The TV Series that came later, I just never got into and the couple made for TV movies that showed up in the early 90s were not great. And I love sci-fi.
Grafakos@reddit
I do remember it, but I was in college and didn't have a TV, so I don't think I caught more than a few episodes. Forgot all about it until you mentioned it!
BigV19762076@reddit
I remember watching it the first time it aired. I lived for sci-gi on tv
DarklyDominatingDocs@reddit
I adored it
Serious-Mongoose-387@reddit
i remember that the show existed but never watched it
Capnhuh@reddit
Bought the movie and box set for my mother a couple of years ago. Good stuff.
Substantial_Layer_79@reddit
Gary Graham
Zen_Coyote@reddit
You can watch the whole series for free at Archive.org
Glad_Mathematician51@reddit
My husband and I loved this show. We were heartbroken when it was cancelled.
NahNah-P@reddit
Yes, haven't thought about it in years though. The alien having the baby set my dad on edge! I'll never forget that part 😆
Resident_Sea9868@reddit
I watched both, the movie & tv show.
ErringGlarer@reddit
I never saw the movie but I really enjoyed the show! It was fascinating to me. I was sorry it got canceled!
absyrtus@reddit
All I remember is some male alien giving birth or something. Maybe I'm misremembering but it's been decades
srahfox@reddit (OP)
Nope, you got it. That was the show.
absyrtus@reddit
Now I feel compelled to watch it again
srahfox@reddit (OP)
It’s dated, but I still enjoy it.
Kokodhem@reddit
I mainly remember: "God, why did it have to be spoiled milk..."
babj615@reddit
Hated to see it go.
MiMiinOlyWa@reddit
Loved the series, didn't see the movie. Wasn't Mandy Patakin in it
srahfox@reddit (OP)
Yep, he was Fransisco in the movie.
Ollyollyoxenfreed10@reddit
I loved the show! I have rewatched it several times as well. The movie was ok, but the writing on the show made it for me.
srahfox@reddit (OP)
Me too. It’s honestly one of my comfort shows.
PapaLob@reddit
I was super pissed when they ended the show on a cliffhanger.
srahfox@reddit (OP)
Oh yeah, I freaking hate that. But at least that’s where they picked up for the mini series continuation.
SkirtTheBudgie@reddit
Movie & show. They don't make shows like they used to.
srahfox@reddit (OP)
They truly don’t.
Im_the_Rhymenocerous@reddit
Watched it every week. Loved the movie, too
LandoDupree@reddit
Yep. I went as the alien guy for Halloween 1 year- oversized bald cap w brown spots and stuffed w polyester pillow stuffing. Haven't seen the show since 1st run but rewatched the movie in the last decade and really enjoyed it
srahfox@reddit (OP)
That’s awesome!
WinterExisting5076@reddit
TIL it was a movie
srahfox@reddit (OP)
And some of the show intro was from the movie, not that you’d ever catch it unless you’d seen the movie.
Worldly_Possible2925@reddit
The movie and the TV Show. 🙌🏻❤️🫶🏻
Nathan_Saul@reddit
I remember both movie and tv show.
Here's a tidbit if you also watch The Pitt. The alien in the movie that gets thrown into the ocean to be dissolved like it's acid is the same actor who played Duke on season 2 of The Pitt, Jeff Kober.
Signal_Reputation640@reddit
Is that the one where the alians drank lots of curdled milk?
emtdavis@reddit
...and ate uncooked squirrel meat for protein and could be fatally stabbed in the hearts with two-pronged daggers (they had two hearts) and had exceptional strength compared to humans...yeah I remember that show.
Loved it!
Necessary_Memory8826@reddit
And salt water was like acid for them.
The fact that the actor who played Detective Sikes in the TV series was later cast as Ambassador Soval in Enterprise makes my sci-fi heart happy!
srahfox@reddit (OP)
Yep.
Signal_Reputation640@reddit
I really liked it! Nice memory unlocked.
BigDogTusken@reddit
Great movie. I remember watching the show and I liked it but I don't really remember much more about it than that, lol.
notabadkid92@reddit
My people remember
MoodyLiz@reddit
Loved this show, was a little creepy and over my head at the time
CitizenChatt@reddit
They can have all my sour milk and get drunk 😄
JinnyWinny@reddit
Totally loved this show!
Rogan_Creel@reddit
Enjoyed the movie more than the show but the show wasn't bad
darkest_irish_lass@reddit
Yep, those were good times for a big sci Fi nerd like me. Police procedural with aliens? Love it
Slitheytove1031@reddit
There was even a series of comic books from DC and Malibu Comics.
LASER_Dude_PEW@reddit
The show was great, I was bummed when it ended, on a cliffhanger I recall.
Prestigious-Thing716@reddit
Liked the show more than the movie. There was even a set of books written based off the show that I read.
srahfox@reddit (OP)
I didn’t know about the books, I’ll have to dig those up!
simsjunkiegamer@reddit
You should they were great. Theres like 8 books in the series I believe.
TheWalkingDev@reddit
This was one of those shows that had a great hook but didnt quite expect the popularity and couldn't sustain it.
simsjunkiegamer@reddit
I loved this show so much that I got all the books that came after. This show was so ahead of its time and yet Fox network threw it away like many other drcent shows. The original movie was great to!
I believe you can stream the show on Pluto or tubing for free.
bendingoutward@reddit
Ye olde internet archive has a reasonable copy of the show available.
srahfox@reddit (OP)
Good to know, thank you.
MassCasualty@reddit
Awesome show. Probably the funniest part was the character names.
gbr1976@reddit
Liked the movie, loved the series. The TV movies were pretty good, too.
grandma-activities@reddit
LOVED. IT. Yeah it got a little preachy sometimes, but it was still a fascinating show.
dewihafta@reddit
I hated the movie, but was really into supernatural stuff at the time (still am), and loved the show.
I made a tape with some of the music, the chanting stuff, and then later on actually found a cd soundtrack! Still have it somewhere.
TheJollyHermit@reddit
I loved both the movie and the show. Think I liked the show a bit more even.
srahfox@reddit (OP)
I liked the show more personally, you got to see more.
Toasted_chef1965@reddit
On Tubi?
srahfox@reddit (OP)
The movie might be, last I checked no one had the show for free.
Mobile_Aioli_6252@reddit
I always get Alien Nation and "V" mixed up
PoorGovtDoctor@reddit
I always found V to be more scary while Alien Nation was more interesting, as a young nerd
srahfox@reddit (OP)
I agree with that break down honestly.
srahfox@reddit (OP)
Some time period so I can see that.
afriendincanada@reddit
I remember the movie. James Caan. I don’t remember the show at all.
inot72@reddit
Hooooooly shit! I had completely forgotten about this. I never watched it. I just remember my older brother making fun of me for wanting to watch it.
robsker@reddit
Yes, loved the movie!
Ilfor@reddit
Same!
InvaderHouse@reddit
There was also that episode that was The Deer Hunter where the 'gun' shot out a stream of salt water (like acid to a Newcomer).
Cobra-Lalalalalalala@reddit
I remember the original movie and the one season of the show. I didn’t watch the subsequent TV movies that continued from the show at the time, but finally watched them all a few years ago. Good stuff.
srahfox@reddit (OP)
Yeah I’m pretty sure I didn’t see the continuation on TV the first time around either, I think I stumbled upon it later.
Julian_Thorne@reddit
I remember it. Never really got into it though
machinegunmonkey1313@reddit
I remember the show, don't think I watched the movie, but I knew it existed. Key thing I member was when the alien dude was preggers and that whole scene of it happening.
chihuahua2023@reddit
And he had to take his prenatal Lead supplement (this is a core memory that comes to me OFTEN whenever the topic of lead poisoning appears- my brain remembers this)
North_Artichoke_6721@reddit
This episode occurred right when I had my first sex ed in school and I was super confused. I asked my poor mother a bunch of awkward questions.
North_Artichoke_6721@reddit
Love love love this show. I bought the whole series when it came out on DVD years ago.
srahfox@reddit (OP)
You and me both, hard to hell to find to watch any other way.
R808T@reddit
They drank spoiled milk like booze.
danjouswoodenhand@reddit
And died in salt water.
killslikeaninja@reddit
I remember the movie, I don’t remember the TV show. But I did smoke a lot of weed during that time. Soooooooooo there’s that.
DPax_23@reddit
Great show. Movie was awesome though.
NelsonMuntz3@reddit
Sam Francisco. I think there were several sequals, too. I only vaguely remember the show.
AusGeno@reddit
Is this the one where the aliens getting punched in their armpit is like us getting punched in the nuts?
killslikeaninja@reddit
Yes
CommunicationNew3745@reddit
Yes, I watched it religiously, even though I never saw the movie. I was really p'o when they cancelled - it was really good.
Born_Motor_9624@reddit
I remember when he was pregnant. Loved that season.
AliVista_LilSista@reddit
Loved it. Raw meat and sour milk.
KrofftSurvivor@reddit
I thought it was totally awesome
shitty_advice_BDD@reddit
It was the shit!!!
PhiloLibrarian@reddit
Oh, I remember this show - the weird heads!
giantstrider@reddit
I watched the movie but was late on the tv show
dubgeek@reddit
Never got into the show, but I really liked the movie.
BubbaPrime42@reddit
I loved it!
LongYTOfficial@reddit
I loved it. The aliens drank spoiled milk to get a buzz.
therealdocturner@reddit
I loved the movie but I just couldn't get into the show. My brother was a rabid fan.
Reddiculusness@reddit
I watched it when it came out . It wasn't terrible , but I doubt I would try and find it on a streaming service today to watch it again .
bcrock02@reddit
You can find all the episodes on YouTube. I enjoyed the rewatch
RedGhost2012@reddit
I remember both.
Dazzling_Flamingo568@reddit
I really enjoyed it!