Ep 3. Rocket Club

Aliens in America season 1 episode 3, "Rocket Club," follows Raja as he attempts to join his high school's rocket club. However, he is met with ridicule and discrimination from the other members, who purposefully exclude him from all the club's activities. Meanwhile, Justin is tasked with writing a paper on Islam and turns to Raja for guidance. As they work together on the paper, Justin begins to realize the difficulties that Raja faces as a Muslim in their small town.

Throughout the episode, Raja's attempts to join the rocket club are thwarted by the other members, who make it clear that they do not want him in their group. They even go so far as to lock him out of the building when they have meetings. Despite this, Raja perseveres and eventually gains the respect of the club's leader. He proves his worth by fixing a broken rocket and successfully launching it.

Meanwhile, Justin struggles with his assignment on Islam. He is hesitant to ask Raja for help, as he worries that it will make him look bad in front of his friends. However, after witnessing the discrimination that Raja faces, Justin realizes the importance of learning about other cultures. He approaches Raja for guidance and finds that they have more in common than he previously thought.

Throughout the episode, the themes of acceptance and cultural understanding are explored. Raja faces discrimination because of his race and religion, but he refuses to let it bring him down. Justin learns the importance of open-mindedness and the value of learning from people who are different from him. The episode ends with Justin and Raja's newfound friendship and a renewed sense of hope for their small town.