Alien: Earth has been steadily building tension across its debut season, and Episode 7’s ending, titled “Emergence,” pushes the story into its most emotionally charged territory yet. After all, Joe Hermit made his toughest choice yet. What starts as a daring escape plan quickly turns into heartbreak, betrayal, and a revelation about where his true loyalties lie.
Why does Hermit shoot Nibs and stop Wendy in Alien: Earth Episode 7’s ending?
Joe Hermit has always played the reluctant protector, trying to keep his sister Wendy and her hybrid companions safe. With the help of Arthur Sylvia, who disables the trackers on the hybrids, Hermit finally sees a chance to get them off Neverland for good. But instead of salvation, the group walks into a trap laid by Prodigy soldiers—including Hermit’s old security allies, Siberian and Rashidi.
Nibs becomes frantic, using her stuffed doll, Mr. Strawberry, to endanger the soldiers. In her rage, she kills a guard and then goes after Siberian, forcing Hermit into an impossible decision. He chose to protect Siberian instead of standing by Nibs, which changes everything.
On the surface, Hermit’s actions seem like a practical reaction to stop further bloodshed. But the moment carries a bigger meaning. By stunning Nibs, he shows where his instincts still lie, meaning with humans over hybrids. Wendy sees this instantly, her voice breaking as she asks, “What have you done?” Her devastation makes it clear that Hermit’s split-second judgment has cut their bond in a way that may not be repairable.
Actor Alex Lawther explained that the choice reflects Hermit’s unfinished journey toward truly understanding the hybrids. Though Lawther imagined Hermit living by the mantra “I am human, and nothing that is human is alien to me,” Episode 7 exposes that he hasn’t yet extended this belief to those who aren’t fully human. (via Decider)
All in all, Alien: Earth Episode 7 ending showed Hermit’s attempt to balance his loyalty to his sister and his humanity has backfired. In the aftermath, leaving Wendy heartbroken and the hybrids’ trust fractured.