Guide Mentor

Character Role Analysis

None

As the science officer, you'd expect Ash to be the Mr. Spock of the Nostromo, offering clear, logical advice in how to deal with the situation. We always see him actively studying the facehugger to grasp his physiology. When he says he is "collating" with Mother, you think just maybe they'll pull out some science to do away with that alien.

Alas, no. Ash turns out to be in cahoots with Mother, and it is his mission to ensure the alien survives its journey to the Company. When he is revealed as a robot, Ash provides no advice or words of comfort; instead, he coldly informs the crew they have no chance against the creature. It is the "perfect organism."

As such, the movie's use of the mentor character is a complete psych-out. We think we have the perfect candidate for the job but it turns out we have none. Reason and intelligence provided by the mentor—a hallmark of the science fiction genre—are completely absent.