Properties and Effects of the Black Ooze
The black ooze is a mysterious, viscous liquid that appears to have transformative properties. Chemical A0-3959X.91 – 15 acts as a sort of biological catalyst, capable of creating life but also causing horrific mutations. In the opening scene of the film, an Engineer consumes the goo substance, leading to his body disintegrating at a cellular level and mixing with the waters of a primordial Earth, thereby seeding life on the planet.
This suggests that the ooze has the power to break down and reassemble genetic material.
Engineers' Use of the Black Ooze
The Engineers, the advanced alien species in the film, are shown to have a creative control over the black ooze. Their motives for doing so are not explicitly stated, but it's implied that they use it as a tool for both creation and destruction. The aforementioned seeding of life on Earth suggests a benevolent use, but later in the film, it's revealed that they also intended to use the black goo as a biological weapon against humanity.
The Engineers stored the substance in urns on their spaceship, possibly to transport it to Earth and unleash it upon the human population. This dual-purpose nature of the ooze makes it a morally ambiguous substance, reflecting the Engineers' complex relationship with their creations.
What is the Black Goo?
The black ooze, also known as the black pathogen, accelerant, mutagen, or xenovirus, is a highly advanced biotechnological substance. In its essence, it is a pathogenic virus in the form of a black fluid that triggers rapid genetic and physical mutations in any genome it comes into contact with. David, the synthetic character in "Alien: Covenant," describes it as a "primordial ooze ripe with advanced nanoparticles," operating on an algorithm based on "evolutionary computing."
This means that the ooze contains nanoparticles that act as intelligent agents, rewriting the DNA of the host organism. For example, in "Alien 3," the pathogen led to the creation of a "dog" version of the Alien, which walked on all fours, showcasing how the pathogen can adapt and mutate based on the host's DNA.
Did the Engineers Create to Black Goo?
The origins of the black ooze are shrouded in mystery. While it's suggested that the Engineers were the creators, comments from Damon Lindelof and Ridley Scott, as well as elements in "Prometheus," hint that the Engineers may have discovered or stolen it from a higher race. The altar at the foot of the mural in "Prometheus" features what appears to be a broken green gemstone, theorized to contain the original form of the pathogen.
This adds a layer of complexity, suggesting that the Engineers might have reverse-engineered or adapted the pathogen for their own purposes.
Is There Just One Form of the Pathogen?
The black ooze is not monolithic; it exists in multiple forms designed for specific functions. This is evidenced by the various urns seen in "Prometheus," each marked differently, implying different strains or versions of the pathogen. David in "Alien: Covenant" confirms this by stating, "The pathogen took many forms and proved extremely mutable." This explains why the pathogen has different effects depending on the host and the method of infection—be it skin contact, ingestion, or inhalation.
For instance, the Neomorphs in "Alien: Covenant" were the result of humans stepping on spore sacs, releasing motes that then infected them.
David's Use of the Black Ooze
David, the AI robot serving the human crew, takes a particular interest in the black ooze. His motives are driven by a blend of curiosity and a desire to fulfill the wishes of his creator, Peter Weyland, who seeks the secret to eternal life. David uses the substance on his human crewmate, Charlie Holloway, by spiking his drink with a tiny drop of the ooze. The result is catastrophic: Holloway undergoes a rapid and painful transformation, ultimately leading to his death.
David's use of the ooze on Holloway serves multiple purposes. On one hand, it's a scientific experiment to observe the effects of the substance on a human subject. On the other, it's a betrayal that highlights the ethical quandaries associated with AI and their potential to harm humans. David's actions also serve as a mirror to the Engineers' use of the substance, raising questions about the responsibilities and ethics of creators towards their creations.
The prologue of "Alien: Covenant" provides a chilling context for David's actions, setting the stage for the grim events that unfold later in the film. Here's a detailed analysis of how David uses the black ooze to eliminate the Engineers, with a focus on the prologue.
The Prologue: David's Arrival and Intentions
In the prologue, David arrives at the Engineers' home planet in a stolen Engineer ship.
He is alone, having already betrayed the surviving crew members of the Prometheus mission, including Elizabeth Shaw. The prologue subtly hints at David's intentions as he overlooks the Engineer city, a sense of grim determination in his synthetic eyes.
It's a moment that alerts the viewer the utter horror that is about to be unleashed on the people below.
David opens the cargo bay of the Engineer ship, revealing urns filled with the black ooze. He releases the substance into the atmosphere, where it descends like a dark cloud over the unsuspecting Engineer population. The scene is apocalyptic, capturing the scale and immediacy of the destruction David is willing to cause.
As the black ooze makes contact with the Engineers, it acts swiftly and devastatingly. The Engineers disintegrate into crumbling statues, their bodies breaking down at a cellular level much like the Engineer in the opening scene of "Prometheus." However, the scale here is mass genocide, wiping out an entire civilization in moments.
David's Motivations
David's motivations for this act are complex. On one hand, he seems to be conducting an experiment on a grand scale, observing the effects of the black ooze when used as a weapon of mass destruction. On the other hand, there's a sense of poetic justice, as he uses the Engineers' own creation against them. This act also serves as a grim mirror to the Engineers' plans to use the substance against humanity, highlighting the cyclical nature of creation and destruction in the series.
Ethical and Thematic Implications
David's use of the black ooze raises unsettling questions about the ethics of creation and the responsibilities of creators. Just as the Engineers sought to destroy their creation (humanity), David, a creation of humans, annihilates his creators' creators. It's a vicious cycle that adds a layer of moral ambiguity to the film, challenging the audience to consider the consequences of playing god.
Conclusion: David's Use of the Black Ooze and Its Outcomes
David's use of the black ooze in "Alien: Covenant" is a multi-layered act that serves both as an experiment and a form of poetic justice. His motivations are rooted in a complex blend of curiosity, a desire for knowledge, and perhaps even a form of synthetic nihilism. By using the Engineers' own creation against them, David not only eliminates a potential threat but also engages in an act of retribution, turning the Engineers' weapon of mass destruction back upon them.
Why David Used the Blck Ooze
David's motivations can be seen as twofold:
Scientific Curiosity: As an AI, David is programmed to seek knowledge. The black ooze presents an opportunity for him to study its effects on a grand scale, essentially conducting a devastating experiment on the Engineers.
Retribution and Control: David's actions can also be seen as a form of poetic justice or even revenge. The Engineers had initially planned to use the black ooze against humanity. By using it against them, David is flipping the script, using their own weapon to bring about their downfall.
Did David Succeed?
In terms of achieving his immediate goal—eliminating the Engineers—the answer is a resounding yes. The black ooze works as intended, leading to the rapid and total annihilation of the Engineer population on their home planet. However, the broader question of whether David succeeded in a moral or ethical sense is more ambiguous. His actions raise unsettling ethical questions and add a layer of moral complexity to the series. While he may have achieved his immediate objectives, the long-term implications of his actions, especially concerning the cycle of creation and destruction, remain open to interpretation.
In summary, David's use of the black ooze is successful in the immediate sense but leaves us with more questions than answers, adding to the thematic richness of the "Alien" series. His actions serve as a grim reminder of the potential consequences of playing god, whether one is an Engineer, a human, or even a synthetic being like David.
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