Who Are The Key Antagonists In 'Colony' And Their Motives?

The antagonists in 'Colony' are a chilling mix of human collaborators and alien overlords. The Proxy Alphas, like Alan Snyder, are humans given power by the alien Occupation to enforce their rule. They're motivated by self-preservation and a twisted belief that collaboration is humanity's only chance to survive. The real threats are the mysterious Hosts—the alien rulers who see humans as resources to exploit. Their motives are opaque, but their actions show a cold, calculated agenda of control. They don't want to exterminate humanity; they want to break it, reshape it, and use it. The Resistance fights them, but the Hosts always seem steps ahead, making them terrifyingly effective villains.

In 'Colony', the antagonists operate on multiple levels, creating a web of oppression that feels terrifyingly real. At the top are the Hosts, the alien force behind the Occupation. Their motives aren't fully revealed, but their methods suggest a long-term plan beyond simple conquest. They build walls, segregate populations, and use proxies to maintain control, indicating a strategy of systematic domination rather than outright destruction.

The human collaborators, particularly the Proxy Alphas, are almost more unsettling. Characters like Snyder aren't mustache-twirling villains; they're pragmatists who believe submission is survival. Snyder's intelligence and adaptability make him particularly dangerous—he isn't just following orders, he's playing a game where he intends to win. The show excels at showing how ordinary people can become complicit in tyranny when faced with impossible choices.

The most fascinating antagonist might be the Occupation itself. The system pits humans against each other, creating a hierarchy where betrayal becomes routine. Even minor figures like the Red Hand insurgents blur the line between resistance and villainy, showing how oppression warps morality on all sides.

What makes 'Colony' compelling is how its antagonists defy simple categorization. Take the Proxy Alphas—they aren't just power-hungry traitors. Some genuinely believe they're shielding humanity from worse fates. Snyder, especially, is a masterpiece of moral ambiguity. His calm demeanor hides a ruthless calculus; he sacrifices thousands to save millions, convinced history will vindicate him.

The Hosts are even more intriguing. Unlike typical alien invaders, they don't revel in destruction. Their quiet efficiency is scarier—they treat Earth like a corporate takeover, optimizing human labor with cold precision. Their ultimate goal remains cryptic, but clues suggest they're preparing for something bigger, possibly a war or existential threat we don't yet understand.

Then there's the systemic evil of the Occupation's bureaucracy. The everyday fascism of checkpoints, rationing, and informants creates antagonists out of ordinary people just following procedures. It's a dystopia where the machine of oppression grinds forward, powered by countless small betrayals rather than a single villain's malice.