Timothy Olyphant on His 'Alien: Earth' Character: "Whose Side Is Kirsh On?"
In FX's Alien: Earth, Timothy Olyphant plays the enigmatic synth Kirsh, a character whose true loyalties are increasingly unclear. With the show nearing its season finale, Olyphant hints at potential parallels between Kirsh's ambiguous nature and the complexities of modern A.I., questioning, "Whose side is it?"
Kirsh's Shifting Allegiances
Initially presented as a loyal servant to Boy Kavalier (Samuel Blenkin), the CEO of Prodigy, Kirsh's actions in recent episodes have raised suspicions. Specifically, at the end of Alien: Earth Episode 6 “The Fly”, Kirsh deliberately withholds critical information from Kavalier, suggesting a possible hidden agenda.
This behavior, combined with his interactions with Weyland-Yutani lieutenant Morrow (Babou Ceesay), has fans wondering where Kirsh’s true loyalties lie. He has been observed listening to Morrow's secret conversations with the hybrid Slightly (Adarsh Gourav) without intervening, even as Slightly plots to steal the aliens for Weyland-Yutani.
A Potential Alliance?
The dynamic between Kirsh and Morrow further complicates the situation. Olyphant describes a scene where their relationship seemed almost like a potential alliance. "Did you kind of feel they could? Because I kind of felt they could there for a little bit,” Timothy Olyphant said, highlighting their shared understanding as "two working class guys." Babou Ceesay agreed, emphasizing "A bit of understanding...A lot of respect for one another."
The Road Ahead for Kirsh
With only two episodes remaining in Alien: Earth Season 1, the true nature of Kirsh's allegiance remains a mystery. Will he remain loyal to Prodigy, betray them for Weyland-Yutani, or pursue his own objectives? As Olyphant teases, viewers will have to wait and see. Is he loyal or a traitor?
