The Most Tragic Alien Character Death in the Franchise: Forget Newt

While Newt’s death in the Alien franchise is certainly tragic, it does not rank as the most horrific demise throughout the series. Following the harrowing events of Aliens, Newt appeared to be on track to play a significant role moving forward. However, the narrative takes a dark turn in Alien 3, where a catastrophic fire on the ship leads to their escape pod crashing into a body of water. Unfortunately, Newt is later revealed to have drowned off-screen, marking an inglorious and unsatisfying end for one of the franchise’s prominent characters.

In stark contrast, Newt’s death while unconscious pales in comparison to the more gruesome fate that befell another key character in a recent installment of the series. Notably, another off-screen death between the events of Prometheus and Alien: Covenant represents one of the most brutal moments in the entire franchise.

Shaw’s Tragic Fate: Betrayal and Experimentation

Shaw’s Off-Screen Death and David’s Experiments

David and Experimented Shaw in Alien Covenant

Although Newt’s fate is infamous, the brutal off-screen demise of Elizabeth Shaw is perhaps the lowest point in the Alien saga. Shaw, the central figure in Prometheus, was a dedicated scientist exploring the enigmatic origins of the Engineers. She was one of the few survivors alongside the android David and concluded her journey with optimistic aspirations for deeper discoveries in space. Yet, things took a sinister turn as David devolved into human experimentation, using Shaw as his initial subject.

By the time of Alien: Covenant, Shaw is no longer alive. The protagonist, Daniels, stumbles upon her mutilated remains on Origae-6.It becomes evident that Shaw met a gruesome end with her body subjected to dissection. The gut-wrenching reality that David, with whom she had established a semblance of camaraderie, was responsible for her demise adds layers of horror. This once-thriving character was reduced to a mere experiment as David exploited her corpse to aid in the creation of his horrifying Praetomorph.

Shaw’s Off-Screen Death: A Pointless Decision

The Loss of a Captivating Character

The decision to eliminate Shaw, especially after her pivotal role in Prometheus, stands as one of the franchise’s more perplexing creative choices.Shaw offered a distinctive voice within the Alien universe, diverging from the predominantly working-class characters that dominated previous narratives. Her position as a scientist with an insatiable curiosity regarding extraterrestrial life added depth and nuance, potentially allowing her to serve as a grounding presence in contrast to the ruthless ambitions of David.

This brutal storytelling choice reflects a missed opportunity that resonates heavily with audiences, particularly in hindsight. The implications of her death at David’s hands could have marked a crucial transformation for the android, illustrating a shift from mere menacing figure to a fully realized antagonist. Yet, rather than a meaningful conclusion, Shaw’s brutal off-screen demise results in a loss that leaves her character unrecognized and her story unresolved. Indeed, her death stands as one of the most regrettable miscalculations in the Alien franchise.

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