Making 'sense' of Alien and Aliens

Films aren't at fault, but a certain decision caused mayhem.

Alien (1979)

Diagram of galaxy in the original 1976 screenplay (formerly called Star Beast) by Dan O'Bannon and Ronald Shusett states:

As of 2087 AD 14 Earth colonies on planets of other systems in Earth vicinity space...

Film NEVER states which year 'Jaws in space' is set, apart from suggesting that it's at some point in the distant future.

Oh, that also goes for all marketing and publicity material.

In fact, running time only contains this visual reference.

As MU-TH-UR boots up the Nostromo, monitor very briefly displays:
Actual time: 3 Jun
Flight time: 5 Nov

From Kane giving birth, sci-fi horror classic takes place on 4 June.

Aliens: Colonial Marines Technical Handbook repeatedly places sequel in 2179.

1995 in-universe guide evolved from Technical Readout, a regular feature in Aliens: The Magazine.

Year was later officially canonized, and because Aliens takes place 57 years after Alien; original is set in 2122.

Although dialogue omits century, year was derived from Burke's transmission 6/12/79, which led to the deaths of 157 colonists on Hadley's Hope.

Nostromo Crew Profiles in 1999 box set Alien Legacy are allegedly based on Ridley Scott's production notes while making Alien in 1979.  Back in the scripting phase, O'Bannon had planned to work on character intricacies, but only if he was director, but when main man came on-board...

"What I usually do, even if it's only for my peace of mind, is draft a short bio of each character and give it to the actors before I go to work with them. I quietly sat down just for myself and wrote out seven bios. And it's funny, it's amazing - suddenly you're writing a two page bio from birth through death. It starts to take on solidarity, three dimensions ... I found myself arguing (with the actors) about very abstract ideas a few times and had to point out, 'I've written the bios for me, not you. It has no bearing on the plot, but I just figured this is where you came from. So let's just forget it, alright?' But the bios did help, because they immediately started the actors thinking about their characters."

Even though some information was embellished, crew (less Ripley and Jones) died on June 04, 2122.

Ash was activated in 2118 and described as Negative Capability, a la Bishop in Alien³.

Mister Jones was born in 2116 and last vaccinated on Jan 14, 2121.

Chapter 1 (Our Guest) of Christopher Golden's 2014 novel Alien: River of Pain

briefly recalls the Nostromo incident.

Alien: Isolation contains a folder which states original occurred in 2122.

Read all about it.

I don't really get 'Kane (or is it Cain?)' though.

We've known since 1979 that name is spelled Kane, so what's the fucking point?

Aliens (1986)

For shits and giggles.

16 May, 2179¹

²Jernigan's deep-salvage crew locate Ripley's shuttle.

12 June, 2179³

Van Leuwen strips Ripley of flight officer licence.

¹Ripley's Nostromo Crew Profile and River of Pain.

²Name is not revealed until River of Pain.

³River of Pain.

Alright sweethearts, canon is about to fuck things up.

Special Edition

Being a total geek, Ripley learning of her daughter's death was first edited back into heavily censored 1989 TV version.

Most of us experienced that (and a whole lot more) either on LaserDisc (1991) or VHS (1992).

Anyway, here's what film tells us.

Photograph is actually of Sigourney Weaver's mother Elizabeth Inglis.

Amanda Ripley-McClaren died aged 66 on 12.23.20.

'20' is obviously year, but century is purposely left ambiguous.

However, because she went to a better place two years ago, Aliens is set in 22.

It can't be 2022 and 2122 is too early, so for argument's sake, let's say 2222, meaning 'Amy' was born in 2154; placing original in 2165.

At the time, script was never intended to make sense, and so it proved.

History may have been changed, but because nobody had the intelligence to digitally replace 20 with 77, canon is irrelevant.

Let's sieve out the interesting parts of Ripley's profile (from The Alien Legacy).

Ripley, Ellen Louise
Born - Jan 07, 2092, Olympia, Luna UA
Aug 10, 2120 to Jun 04, 2122 - USCSS Nostromo
Offspring - Ripley, Amanda (b. Jun 24, 2111 d. Dec 23, 2177)
Missing presumed dead - Jun 04, 2122 to May 16, 2179
Died -  Aug 11, 2179 (Fiorina 161)

Considering box set was released in 1999 (bonus feature exclusive to DVD version), there is simply no excuse for not doing what needed to be done.

Either version

During court of enquiry, Brett's profile displays 2/17/34. 

Ignoring unknown century, canon claims event occurred nearly 12 years AFTER he and others were killed by xenomorph.

Maybe profile details miraculous feat?

(Nervously smiles).

Brett, Samuel Elias
Born - Jul 11, 2069, Houston, TX, UA
Sep 10, 2120 to Jun 04, 2122 - USCSS Nostromo
Treatment for alcoholism - successful Dec 04, 2096
Failed blood alcohol test - Nov 10, 2111
Suffered minor brain damage during cerebral detox - Jan 09, 2112
Died - Jun 04, 2122 (USCSS Nostromo)

That's a negative.

One more.

Special Edition only

As Van Leuwen determines that Ripley acted with 'questionable judgment', blurred somewhat on monitor is birthdate 6/10/03.

Well bugger me with a facehugger.

Anybody born TWICE earns my respect (and a drink).