Alien Nation was a television series based on the 1988 movie of the same name. It ran for a single season (1989 - 1990), plus five made-for-TV movies. The story of Alien Nation revolves around the Newcomers (Tenctonese), an alien race whose ship crash-landed in the Mojave Desert in California. The aliens--including George Francisco, a police detective--must learn to integrate into human society, and the humans to accept them. While its main plots are that of a police procedural, Alien Nation also provides social commentary on issues of tolerance and racism.
Episode 1: Alien Nation
Originally Aired September 18, 1989
It is five years after the crash of the Newcomers' ship, and the aliens still face prejudice from humans. Detective George Francisco (Eric Pierpoint) and his partner, Matthew Sikes (Gary Graham) investigate the mysterious deaths of a newcomer and Sikes' former partner. Meanwhile, George's wife Susan (Michele Scarabelli) and their children must adjust to being the only Newcomer family in their neighborhood.
Episode 2: Fountain of Youth
Originally Aired September 25, 1989
When it's discovered that Newcomers age much more slowly than humans, George and Matthew suspect that a doctor may be harming Newcomers to benefit humans.
Episode 3: Little Lost Lamb
Originally Aired October 2, 1989
When a Newcomer prostitute is murdered in Matthew's apartment, George goes undercover to investigate a prostitution ring exploiting Newcomers. George struggles between human values and Uncle Moodri's (James Greene) Tenctonese traditionalism.
Episode 4: Fifteen with Wanda
Originally Aired October 9, 1989
Matthew's daughter arrives unexpectedly with her boyfriend, and the Franciscos must deal with Buck's (Sean Six) rebellious attitudes when he risks expulsion from school.
Episode 5: The Takeover
Originally Aired October 16, 1989Matthew and George must protect the precinct when criminals attempt a takeover during a city-wide riot.
Episode 6: The First CigarOriginally Aired October 23, 1989
Human and Newcomer ethics collide when George accepts a loan from an influential Newcomer who is involved in illegal activities.
Episode 7: The Night of the ScreamsOriginally Aired October 30, 1989
George's daughter Emily (Lauren Woodland) wants to go to a schoolmate's Halloween party, but can't find the right costume. A serial killer is murdering Newcomers in the same way as a frightening creature of legend.
Episode 8: Contact
Originally Aired November 6, 1989
A murder investigation leads to the discovery of a probe searching for the Newcomers' spaceship. George and Susan talk about having another baby, and Matthew grows closer to his Newcomer neighbor, Cathy (Terri Treas).
Episode 9: Three to Tango
Originally Aired November 13, 1989
The Newcomer race has a third gender, binnaum, necessary for successful reduction. When binnaum are murdered, George worries that someone is trying to stop Newcomers from breeding. Meanwhile, George and Susan want Albert Einstein (Jeff Marcus) to be the binnaum for their child.
Episode 10: The Game
Originally Aired November 20, 1989
On the Day of Descent, the memorial of the Newcomers' arrival to Earth, George discovers that some Newcomers are still forced to play a deadly roulette game that killed his brother.
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