In Episode 5 of the first season of Alien: Earth, viewers gain new insight into the character of Morrow, played by British actor Babou Ceesay. Written and directed by series creator Noah Hawley, the episode titled “In Space, No One…” dives deep into Morrow’s personal motivations and moral complexity.
Prior to this episode, Morrow remained largely a mystery. Audiences knew he piloted the research vessel Maginot when it crash-landed on Earth and that he was an enhanced human, a cyborg. Beyond that, little about his character had been revealed. Episode 5 changes that, offering both horror and humanity.
A flashback shows Morrow aboard the Maginot before the crash, grieving the death of his daughter from an incurable disease. The episode also reveals a betrayal aboard the ship. Crew member Petrovich, played by Enzo Cilenti, plans to deliver the alien specimens on the ship to CEO Boy Kavalier, played by Samuel Blenkin. Kavalier’s pilot program involves embedding human consciousness into hybrid synthetic bodies. The corporations vying for control over these alien beings, including Kavalier’s Prodigy Corporation and the familiar Weyland-Yutani, are locked in a battle for the future of Earth.
As the ship’s security officer, Morrow abandons his post to stop Petrovich, allowing the Maginot to crash on Earth while safeguarding the alien life. The sequence emphasizes the horror of the series, showing another crew member confronted by a Xenomorph. Morrow’s actions reveal a calculated moral compass: he prioritizes the aliens’ protection over human safety, illustrating both his ruthlessness and his hidden humanity.
Ceesay, speaking from Gambia where he directed a Wolof-language production of Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, described the challenge of portraying a character that is both human and enhanced. “I did some research on cyborgs,” he said. “I watched an artist named Neil, who had a cyborg attachment on his head. He hears color. He feels like he’s more than human. That idea of someone evolving beyond normal humanity helped me understand Morrow.”
Noah Hawley’s pitch for the episode also helped shape the performance. Ceesay explained that understanding Morrow’s grief over his daughter gave the character a moral depth. “There’s something human about this guy that I wanted to cover up as much as possible until the moment,” Ceesay said. “People want to put you in a box. I wanted viewers to feel uncertain about him until Episode 5.”
The actor also revealed a personal connection to the story. The actress playing Morrow’s daughter is his real-life child. Using her letters and a baby picture in the scene elevated the emotional authenticity. “It goes to another level,” Ceesay said. “Even talking about it now affects me.”
Ceesay highlighted how the episode nods to the original Alien films. Early scenes show the crew performing everyday tasks—smoking, eating, and interacting naturally—which mirrors the Nostromo’s workaday atmosphere. “We had a moment of giddy excitement,” Ceesay said. “The Maginot is designed to feel like the Nostromo. That comfort allowed us to act naturally, speaking over each other as real crew members would.”
Episode 5 took over five weeks to film, making it one of the most intense parts of production. “It’s like shooting an ‘Alien’ movie in the middle of a series,” Ceesay said. He acknowledged the personal sacrifices, noting he saw little of his children during that period.
Looking ahead, Ceesay teased potential developments for future seasons. He hinted that the second season could be “epic,” building on the strong foundation laid in the first season. Hawley’s guidance and the secrecy around plot twists have allowed the actor to pitch his character effectively while keeping viewers guessing.
Alien: Earth Episode 5 provides a pivotal look at Morrow’s layered personality, balancing cyborg efficiency with deeply human emotion. For fans of the series, this episode marks a turning point, revealing the complex motivations behind one of the show’s most enigmatic characters.
