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COLLECTION · Series · 1989

Alien Nation

Detective Matthew Sikes, a Los Angeles police officer reluctantly works with "Newcomer" alien George Francisco. Sikes also has an 'on again off again' flirtation with a female Newcomer, Cathy Frankel.

Source: TMDB
* 7.0 (135)ActionAdventureDramaFantasyScience FictionUnited States
Creators
Kenneth Johnson · Rockne S. O'Bannon
Countries
United States
Studios
FOX · Kenneth Johnson Productions · 20th Century Fox Television
Release
18/09/1989
Score
7.0 / 10 (135)
Where to watch
Buy
Amazon VideoAmazon VideoApple TV StoreApple TV StoreFandango At HomeFandango At Home
Seasons and episodes
Specials
Specials
7 episodes · 1988
Episode 1. Alien Nation (Theatrical Movie)
1988-06-02 · 89 min

A few years from now, Earth will have the first contact with an alien civilisation. These aliens, known as Newcomers, slowly begin to be integrated into human society after years of quarantine but are victims of a new type of…

Episode 2. Dark Horizon
1994-10-25 · 92 min

Picking up where the "season finale" left off, Emily and Susan are on life support after being contaminated with a virus, which is found to be from a Purist group. The Purists have created a mass of it to spray over LA to kill all…

Episode 3. Body and Soul
1995-10-10 · 90 min

Sikes and Francisco are called in to a case when a mysterious young girl, who looks part Newcomer, part human, appears. Her huge, brutish counterpart tries to free her from the precinct, and their bizarre relationship turns out to be the…

Episode 4. Millennium
1996-01-02 · 90 min

It's 1999, and as the end of the millennium approaches, people are attempting to find spiritual enlightenment. But a few people want to skip all the work that entails, and a holy Tenktonese relic in the hands of a heretic is giving them a…

Episode 5. The Enemy Within
1996-12-12 · 90 min

When detectives Sikes and Francisco is presented with the mysterious death of an Eeno, Matt is stupefied to discover that George rudely snubs the case. He, like most newcomers, reviles the outcast Eenos. As the case unfolds, George has to…

Episode 6. The Udara Legacy
1997-06-29 · 90 min

Matt and George investigate a series of strange occurrences involving newcomers, who are found to be programmed to carry out someone's dirty work. The method by which they are brainwashed dates back to the slave ship's rebellion group,…

Episode 7. Alien Nation Behind the Scenes
2000-09-02 · 4 min

Behind the Scenes look at the people behind the show.

Season 1
Season 1
22 episodes · 1989
Alien Nation: The TV Movie
Episode 1. Alien Nation: The TV Movie
1989-09-18

When the Francisco family move into a rich suburban part of L.A., they get to experice hate and racism spread by the radical Purists.

Fountain of Youth
Episode 2. Fountain of Youth
1989-09-25

Sikes and Francisco (Gary Graham, Eric Pierpoint) investigate a doctor who is killing Newcomers to benefit human patients.

Little Lost Lamb
Episode 3. Little Lost Lamb
1989-10-02

Sikes and George (Gary Graham, Eric Pierpoint) uncover a prostitution ring after a Newcomer prostitute, on the run from her pimp, is murdered in Sikes' apartment.

Fifteen with Wanda
Episode 4. Fifteen with Wanda
1989-10-09

Sikes' (Gary Graham) daughter (Cheryl Pollak) visits, accompanied by her radical boyfriend (Wayne Pere), and Buck Francisco (Sean Six) faces expulsion from school. With Eric Pierpoint.

The Takeover
Episode 5. The Takeover
1989-10-16

During heavy rioting, the precinct is near deserted & Sikes & Francisco must stop criminals who attempt to take the precinct over and raiding the evidence lockers for drugs, money and weaponry.

The First Cigar
Episode 6. The First Cigar
1989-10-23

George (Eric Pierpoint) accepts a loan from a Newcomer loan officer before discovering she is a drug czar

Night of the Screams
Episode 7. Night of the Screams
1989-10-30

The method of a serial killer stalking Newcomers re-creates one of their most grisly legends.

Contact
Episode 8. Contact
1989-11-06

While investigating a famous doctor's murder, Sikes and George (Gary Graham, Eric Pierpoint) discover he was attempting to contact a probe seeking the Newcomer slave ship.

Three to Tango
Episode 9. Three to Tango
1989-11-13

George and Sikes (Eric Pierpoint, Gary Graham) search for a Purist radical who has been murdering special Newcomers.

The Game
Episode 10. The Game
1989-11-20

George is confronted with his past as a slave on the spaceship, when it appears that an old Russian Roulette style game he was once forced to play has returned. Will George take revenge for his brother, who died being hit by a bolt of…

Chains of Love
Episode 11. Chains of Love
1989-11-27

George (Eric Pierpoint) goes under cover as a client at a computer-dating service for Newcomers to locate a female Newcomer killer.

The Red Room
Episode 12. The Red Room
1989-12-18

Sikes and George (Gary Graham, Eric Pierpoint) become involved in a federal search for a Newcomer who was programmed to kill while in the quarantine camps.

The Spirit of '95
Episode 13. The Spirit of '95
1990-01-15

George and Sikes (Eric Pierpoint, Gary Graham) discover a Purist plot to sabotage an election while investigating the bombing of a Newcomer voter campaign office.

Generation to Generation
Episode 14. Generation to Generation
1990-01-29

Sikes and George (Gary Graham, Eric Pierpoint) follow the trail of a mysterious Tenctonese box which is deadly for those who fail to comprehend its powers.

Eyewitness News
Episode 15. Eyewitness News
1990-02-05

Sikes and George (Gary Graham, Eric Pierpoint) trail a man (Hugh MacGuire) who is obsessed with a Tenctonese porn star (Deborah Goodrich).

Partners
Episode 16. Partners
1990-02-12

Sikes (Gary Graham) attempts to prove George (Eric Pierpoint) innocent in a drug case as Susan (Michele Scarabelli) prepares to transfer the pod to her husband.

Real Men
Episode 17. Real Men
1990-02-19

A violent confrontation with a drug suspect (A.D. Muylch) causes George (Eric Pierpoint) to give birth prematurely.

Crossing the Line
Episode 18. Crossing the Line
1990-02-26

Sikes (Gary Graham) vows to capture a serial murderer who once eluded him when it appears he has killed again.

Rebirth
Episode 19. Rebirth
1990-03-12

Sikes (Gary Graham) vows to capture the Newcomer convenience store robber (Brian Thompson) who attacked him and left him near death

Gimmee, Gimmee
Episode 20. Gimmee, Gimmee
1990-04-09

George (Eric Pierpoint) searches for the killer of a Newcomer corporate executive (David Selburg) who invented a durable synthetic fabric.

The Touch
Episode 21. The Touch
1990-04-30

Sikes and George (Gray Graham, Eric Pierpoint) uncover an overseer rejuvenation plot when they investigate the dramatic behavior change of a boy (Mitchell Allen, Jonathan Brandis) Cathy (Terri Treas) knew on the slaveship.

Green Eyes
Episode 22. Green Eyes
1990-05-07

While investigating a series of mysterious Newcomer deaths, Sikes and George (Gary Graham, Eric Pierpoint) discover a plan to eliminate the Newcomer population with a lethal bacteria.

Cast by season
Gary Graham
Gary Graham
Matthew Sikes
Eric Pierpoint
Eric Pierpoint
George Francisco
Michele Scarabelli
Michele Scarabelli
Susan Francisco
?
Lauren Woodland
Emily Francisco
?
Sean Six
Buck Francisco
Terri Treas
Terri Treas
Cathy Frankel
?
Jeffrey Marcus
Albert Einstein
Ron Fassler
Ron Fassler
Bryon Grazer
Jeff Doucette
Jeff Doucette
Burns
Molly Morgan
Molly Morgan
Jill Molaskey
Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs
Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs
Sergeant Dobbs
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User reviews
misubisu
★ 9.0 / 10
**Score: 9/10 — A Pioneering, Profound, and Perfectly Portrayed Sci-Fi Masterpiece** *Alien Nation* is that rare gem: a television sequel that not only honours its source film but deepens, enriches, and transcends it. Premiering in 1989, this series was decades ahead of its time, using the brilliant, high-concept premise of alien integration as a flawless lens to examine the most pressing and permanent human issues. It is a **grossly overlooked** classic that deserves to be ranked among the greats of socially conscious science fiction. **A Seamless, Superior Continuation:** The transition from James Caan's film detective to **Gary Graham's Matthew Sikes** was a masterstroke. Graham was **perfectly cast**, bringing a more nuanced, world-weary, yet open-hearted humanity to the role. His **chemistry with Eric Pierpoint's George Francisco was second to none**—a partnership built on growing respect, clashing perspectives, and a profound, unshakeable loyalty. Their dynamic was the show's beating heart, a buddy-cop blueprint elevated by genuine dramatic heft. **The "Perfectly Portrayed" Premise:** The show’s enduring genius lies in its execution. Its depiction wasn't just good; it was scrupulously thoughtful and consistent. * **Co-existence:** The daily reality of the "Newcomers" in Los Angeles—their jobs, their homes, their attempts to blend or maintain their culture—was rendered with tangible, lived-in detail. * **Relationships:** From the deep friendship of Sikes and Francisco to the complex, beautiful human-alien romance of Sikes and Cathy (the superb Terri Treas), these connections were treated with absolute sincerity and emotional truth, never as gimmicks. * **Speciesism (Alienism):** The prejudice faced by the Newcomers was the show's central, unflinching focus. It mirrored real-world bigotry with startling clarity, exploring it on systemic, violent, and casually personal levels. * **Political & Social Issues:** Every episode was a compelling sci-fi parable for issues like immigration, racism, addiction, terrorism, and assimilation. It was never preachy, always letting the powerful allegory speak through its engrossing police procedurals. **Legacy and Resolution:** While the series was tragically **cut short by network cancellation, leaving a myriad of unexplained situations**, its passionate fanbase was rewarded. The subsequent **series of five tele-movies** (1994-1997) provided the necessary closure, tying up arcs and delivering the emotional payoff the characters and audience deserved. This completed the journey, making *Alien Nation* a rare example of a franchise that got to finish its story **cleanly and brilliantly**. **The Verdict:** From its bold movie to its groundbreaking single season to its satisfying movie sequels, *Alien Nation* is a complete, brilliant triumph. It is a masterpiece of world-building, character-driven drama, and social commentary disguised as a police procedural. Gary Graham and Eric Pierpoint delivered one of television's finest partnerships. It earns its **9/10** for its fearless intelligence, its emotional depth, and its timeless, humane vision. To overlook it is to miss one of sci-fi television's most important and rewarding treasures. **Watch if:** You love intelligent sci-fi, social allegory, perfect buddy-cop dynamics, and deeply developed alien world-building. **Skip if:** You require non-stop action or prefer your science fiction devoid of earthly politics. This is thoughtful, character-first storytelling of the highest order.
TMDB
Keywords
detectiveculture clashpoliceextraterrestrialalienlos angeles, californiapolice detectivealien racebased on moviebuddy cop
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