What’s the Deal With Ice Age and Peter Pan in Alien: Earth?

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Viewers of the latest series “Alien: Earth” might have anticipated gruesome alien chest-burstings and spooky robots. Instead, they were met with an unexpected character – Sid, a sloth from the less sophisticated CGI children’s films, “Ice Age”. The incongruity between the mature sci-fi horror of series creator Noah Hawley and this goofy cartoon creature became viral. While it’s amusing to speculate about the symbolic significance of “Ice Age”, the real contrast lies between it and another children’s movie that plays a crucial role in “Alien: Earth” – “Peter Pan”. The different contexts of these two kid-oriented stories subtly comment on childhood, stunted growth, and common storytelling motifs.

Continental Drift”, is introduced in the story instead of being facehugger-attacked by a character from “Alien: Earth”. Although characters in “Alien: Earth” recall watching “Ice Age: Continental Drift” when they were children, despite it being set far into the future. Wendy (formerly Marcy) and her brother Joe have fond memories of this movie, particularly a famous quote by Sid that they turned into an inside joke. However, in “Alien: Earth”, they are separated, and Joe believes his sister to be deceased.

Among all the potential films that could have strengthened their bond, choosing “Ice Age: Continental Drift” seems quite unexpected. Granted they’re watching an animation from a century ago instead of something contemporary for them in the 22nd century, one may wonder why opt for “Ice Age“? Why the fourth installment rather than the first one? While “Continental Drift” grossed almost $900 million upon release, critics’ reviews were average at best. Notably, none of the “Ice Age” films are celebrated as cinematic classics.

The reasoning behind including “Ice Age” in the series isn’t straightforward, but there are some valid explanations. Firstly, Disney, who airs “Alien: Earth,” owns both the network and the Ice Age franchise since they acquired Fox. Similarly, Disney also obtained the rights to the Alien IP during the same merger. It’s worth noting that Continental Drift came out in the same year as Prometheus, a prequel to the Alien movies that isn’t part of this TV show’s storyline; therefore, featuring it might be a nod to the non-existence of this movie within this world.

Thematic reasons for including “Ice Age” are also present. The Ice Age franchise revolves around characters struggling with the end of an era that could lead to their extinction and dealing with dangerous predators. Conversely, “Alien: Earth” explores mankind’s efforts to become obsolete through cyborgs and synthetic bodies, while facing Xenomorph hunters.

A shared element between Ice Age and Continental Drift is the presence of pirate-like characters, such as Captain Glutt from the scene Joe and Wendy are watching, which also appears in Peter Pan, another kids movie featured in “Alien: Earth.” However, it’s the contrast between Ice Age and Peter Pan that makes Ice Age particularly relevant to this series.

In the sci-fi series ‘Alien: Earth’, a young girl and boy both cherish the movie ‘Ice Age’, while another boy named Kavalier (Samuel Blenkin), who’s the youngest trillionaire and CEO of Prodigy Corporation, is fascinated by ‘Peter Pan’. Although immature in many ways, Kavalier is a grown adult. With his ambitious project to create immortality technology, it’s fitting that he finds relevance in ‘Peter Pan’. He shares the 1953 Disney movie with Wendy and the other children during the transfer process, frequently reads the book to them, and refers to his hybrid creations as the Lost Boys. All of their names-Wendy, Slightly, Curly, Nibs, Tootles, and Smee-are inspired by ‘Peter Pan’.

In essence, Kavalier’s deep affection for Peter Pan seems quite explicit and uncomfortable, given that he’s an adult obsessed with a children’s tale. His attempts to showcase his admiration feel overly contrived, hinting at an unsettling attempt to prove his uniqueness. It’s almost as if he’s signaling a distorted self-image, instead of enlightenment, and the message that comes across is more akin to “I am an oddball.”

It’s important to note that the Disney version of Peter Pan is notoriously racist, making Kavalier’s fascination even more disconcerting. Real-life tech CEOs aren’t typically associated with maturity, and this kind of obsession seems like something one might expect from a self-proclaimed ‘boy genius.’ The narrative itself takes a backseat to the symbolism and what Kavalier believes these references say about his identity.

Instead of grown-up Wendy and Joe finding themselves engrossed in an “Ice Age” sequel, reminiscent of their childhood days – even though Wendy’s physical form may suggest otherwise, she remains a child at heart. Parents who once harbored dreams of cultivating their children’s tastes to classic, enriching media during screen time may relate to this reality. Children, after all, tend to gravitate towards what appeals to them most – sometimes even opting for content that mature audiences might deem as less sophisticated, such as “Ice Age: Continental Drift,” which garnered a 37% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Surprisingly, it’s shows like these that often leave a lasting impression on young viewers rather than the so-called ‘classics’ like “Peter Pan.” For Wendy, her affection for “Ice Age” isn’t rooted in any deep, symbolic meaning to enhance her persona – she loves it simply because it was something she shared with her brother.

In a more simplified and conversational manner, Alien: Earth hints that it recognizes kids prefer genuine children’s entertainment. By making Wendy cherish “Ice Age” and Kavalier deeply connected to “Peter Pan,” Alien: Earth underscores the true childhood of its characters; regardless of how mature Wendy appears or how childlike Peter Pan’s counterpart behaves.

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2025-08-21 20:06