The Best X-Men Knock-Off Is Streaming For Free And All Sci-Fi Fans Need To Check It Out
If you’re itching for some superhero content to watch in between episode releases of Gen V, might we suggest another X-Men rip-off, Alphas, which is currently streaming for free on Vudu? Similar to how The Boys and Gen V take certain inspiration from Marvel’s team of mutants, Alphas also follows a group of people with non-average abilities, and like X-Men, this series also builds up to a war between people with superhuman abilities and those without.
Alphas, a short-lived SyFy series about a team of super-powered individuals operating in a world that hates and fears them, is streaming for free on Vudu.
In the never-ending stream of superhero content, Syfy’s Alphas often gets overshadowed by more prominent franchises. Created by Zak Penn and Michael Karnow, this American superhero drama was released in 2011 and it managed to carve a unique niche in the genre before its demise following the second season. Centered around a group of individuals with extraordinary abilities, known as “Alphas,” the series received great reviews from superhero fans but didn’t pull a big enough punch to continue the originally planned 5-season arc on the network.
In the series, a group of Alphas is led by the brilliant neurologist and psychiatrist Dr. Lee Rosen (played by David Strathairn), and they investigate criminal cases involving other Alphas. Their mission is to prevent crimes committed by their fellow superhumans and help those in need while stopping those who pose a threat to society.
Rosen and his team operate under the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, the criminal investigative arm of the U.S. Department of Defense. As they delve deeper into their cases, they discover the resurgence of a group known as “Red Flag,” which uses other Alphas to commit crimes. The show explores the moral and ethical dilemmas that arise when those with extraordinary abilities must confront their own kind.
Like X-Men, part of the appeal of Alphas are the individuals who make up the group and the powers that make them unique. Strathairn’s Dr. Lee Rosen is a specialist in the study of Alphas, though he is not an Alpha himself. Ryan Cartwright plays Gary Bell, an autistic man with the ability to see electromagnetic radiation of all wavelengths and process information as fast as a computer.
Alphas continually found creative ways to use science to explain powers that would be right at home on the X-Men.
Other characters who make up the ensemble include Warren Christie as Cameron Hicks, a former Marine with “hyperkinesis,” giving him superhuman reflexes and perfect accuracy with firearms. Azita Ghanizada plays Rachel Pirzad, a former CIA linguist with heightened senses, which she can control to an extreme level. And Laura Mennell gives a stellar performance as Nina Theroux, a young woman who can mentally “push” people into doing her bidding.
Other Alphas include Malik Yoba as Bill Harken, a former FBI agent with enhanced strength from his endocrinal fight or flight response, and, introduced in Season 2, Erin Way as Kat, a new addition to the team with a unique ability to acquire skills instantly but at the cost of her long-term memories.
Upon its release, Alphas was an immediate hit with those brave enough to watch it. Unfortunately, prior to its premiere, the series received a bad rap for being an X-Men and Heroes rip-off and debuted to only mediocre viewership. However, by the end of its first season, word of mouth had spread, and the series made enough money to get greenlit for a second season.
Despite having some obvious crossover with other superhero shows and movies, Alphas was lauded for giving a fresh take on superhero storytelling. The show provided viewers with compelling characters and storylines, exploring the moral complexities of individuals with extraordinary abilities. Meanwhile, David Strathairn’s performance as Dr. Lee Rosen received particular praise for anchoring the series.
A fan campaign to save Alphas ultimately faltered, and the series has now been largely forgotten.
Unfortunately, the praise for acting and storytelling wasn’t enough to gain the amount of viewership the series needed to be renewed for a third season. So, even though Alphas was originally planned for a 5-season run, it was canceled on a cliffhanger at the end of Season 2. This cliffhanger ended up being an inspiration for the writers of Big Bang Theory, who used it as fuel to write a plot around Sheldon’s difficulty with closure in Season 6, Episode 21, “The Closure Alternative.”
Sheldon Cooper wasn’t the only fan who was disappointed by Alpha’s abrupt ending. In fact, the series’ loyal following rallied online to save the show. Unfortunately, neither a campaign on Canceled Sci Fi nor a Facebook group filled with more than 2K people could convince Syfy or any other network to continue the series.
Alphas may not have reached the iconic status of some other superhero series, but it undeniably brought something fresh and thought-provoking to the genre. Despite its cancellation, the show remains a hidden gem worth exploring for its unique approach to storytelling and its diverse range of characters. While fans may not have been able to save Alphas, its legacy continues to resonate with those who appreciated its innovation in the world of superheroes, and it’s the perfect show to act as a crutch until new episodes of Gen V or The Boys are released.
