> White Savior moment
???
???
/s, but I think I'm accurately describing the viewpoint you're responding to.
However in this example the contribution of the alien, not just to the whole saving the universe business, but to the actual story, the book, was huge.
Hard not to see once you know about them, and they are indeed common.
But what should replace it? Good Nuanced writing? Good luck with that!
American film having a single white male lead = not good.