Resident Alien (TV series)

Resident Alien is an American science fiction mystery comedy-drama television series created by Chris Sheridan, based on the comic book of the same title by Peter Hogan and Steve Parkhouse, that premiered its 10-episode first season on January 27, 2021, on Syfy. It stars Alan Tudyk in the title role. In March 2021, it was renewed for a second season which premiered January 26, 2022. The second season consists of 16 episodes, split into two eight-episode parts; the second half premiered on August 10, 2022. In July 2022, it was renewed for an eight-episode third season, which premiered February 14, 2024.

Premise

After crash-landing on Earth in a small Colorado town, an alien sent to wipe out humanity kills and takes on the identity of a vacationing physician. He is asked to do an autopsy on the town's doctor, who has died in unknown circumstances, and eventually takes over for the doctor at the town's clinic. He wrestles with the moral dilemma of his secret mission, while also dealing with the mayor's young son, who can see his true alien appearance. He develops compassion for humanity over time and ends up having to defend them from other extraterrestrial threats.

Cast and characters

Main

• Alan Tudyk as "Harry Vanderspeigle", the titular alien with an unpronounceable birth name who has crash-landed in Patience, Colorado, killed the real Dr. Harry Vanderspeigle, and assumed his identity. He has been sent to Earth to destroy the human race, believing that this would benefit the planet, but he begins to question the morality of his mission after involuntarily forming human emotions. He is fascinated by humans and has learned how to speak English, as well as how to masquerade as a medical examiner from watching reruns of Law & Order. Although he attempts to blend in with people, he consistently stands out because of his misunderstanding of social cues and awkward speech and behavior. As the series progresses, he learns more about human emotions, behavior, and interactions, often closing episodes with a narration about what he has learned. He possesses superhuman strength, durability, and agility as well as advanced intelligence, shapeshifting abilities, and the power to alter or remove human memories. In the second-season finale, Harry is implied to be millions of years old, as he recalls seeing live dinosaurs.
  • Tudyk also portrays the real Dr. Harry Vanderspeigle, a corrupt doctor and assassin involved with a crime syndicate who killed the previous town doctor, Sam Hodges.
  • Stuntman Keith Arbuthnot portrays the alien in his true form: an androgynous, humanoid Octopodiform-like being.
  • David Bianchi portrays Goliath (recurring season 2), Harry's future self, who traveled back in time in an attempt to correct his mistakes. Goliath's artwork was created by Joe Vaux, storyboard artist and animation director for the TV show Family Guy.
• Sara Tomko as Asta Twelvetrees, the assistant to the town doctor at the Patience health clinic and a member of the Ute Native American tribe. In high school, she had an abusive relationship with classmate Jimmy and placed their daughter Jay for adoption. She is the first person after Max to discover Harry's true identity.
  • Brylee Smith (season 1) and Zara Bacic (season 2) portray young Asta in flashbacks.
• Corey Reynolds as Sheriff Mike Thompson, the town's sheriff, who refers to himself by the nickname "Big Black". He masks his insecurities by trying to control every situation. His career as a police officer in Washington, D.C., ended as a result of the death of his partner, leading him to eventually move to Patience. He also looks after the town's police dog, Cletus.
• Alice Wetterlund as D'arcy Bloom, the owner and bartender of the town pub, The 59, a local mountaineering expert and Asta's best friend. After a skiing accident at the Olympics, she returned to her hometown, and now spends her days tending bar and making questionable life choices. She discovers Harry's true identity after learning that the real Harry killed Sam Hodges.
  • Elle Rivas portrays young D'arcy in flashbacks.
• Levi Fiehler as Ben Hawthorne, the town's young mayor. While he is charming and people-pleasing, his wife Kate tends to dominate their relationship. He previously dated D'arcy in junior high and high school, although they still seem interested in each other. He is a hobbyist candlemaker, but his work goes unappreciated.
  • Lukas Goas (season 2) and Jude Wylie (season 3) portray young Ben in flashbacks.
• Judah Prehn as Max Hawthorne, Ben and Kate's son, the only resident of Patience who can see through Harry's human disguise. Max is also able to see the "green glow" that is emitted by Harry's alien technology. Harry at first repeatedly threatens to kill Max, then plots to get him to move away; eventually, they reach a truce but continue trading insults.
• Elizabeth Bowen as Deputy Olivia "Liv" Baker (season 2–present; recurring season 1), the town's only deputy, who works with Sheriff Mike. She is underappreciated and ignored by the sheriff, although he gradually learns to appreciate her over time. After she briefly quits the force, Sheriff Mike, with some help, comes to recognize her skills and the two begin to work together more in harmony. She has been fascinated by the possibility of extraterrestrials existing ever since she was a child when she witnessed what appeared to be a UFO.
  • Jessica Halliburton portrays young Liv in flashbacks.

Recurring

• Meredith Garretson as Kate Hawthorne, Ben's wife and Max's mother, who works as a schoolteacher. She becomes pregnant in the second season, but later believes it to be a false pregnancy, not knowing that her child was abducted by Grey aliens. She later begins to suspect the truth, despite their attempts to repress her memories that ends up being confirmed under hypnosis with Harry who allows her to retain the memories of her abductions.
• Ben Cotton as Jimmy (season 1; guest season 2), Asta's abusive ex-husband and Jay's father.
• Kaylayla Raine as Jay, Asta's estranged, surly daughter who works part-time at the Patience health clinic.
• Deborah Finkel as Abigail Hodges (seasons 1–2), the wife of Dr. Sam Hodges, the previous town doctor.
• Gary Farmer as Dan Twelvetrees, Asta's adoptive father and a Vietnam veteran, who owns the town's diner, Joe's Diner, which he has named in honor of a friend and fellow soldier he lost in the war. Asta informs him of Harry's true identity so he can save the alien's life.
• Mandell Maughan as Agent Lisa Casper (seasons 1–2), a sociopathic government agent who works for General McCallister. She has no problem killing anyone she encounters and looks forward to her next kill. Like McCallister, she secretly works for an unknown organization dedicated to hunting extraterrestrials.
• Alex Barima as Lieutenant David Logan, a lieutenant in the U.S. military who works for General McCallister. After piecing together clues about Harry's crash landing, General McCallister recruits him to find the alien before her superiors do. He is unfortunately partnered with Lisa Casper and is tormented by her. Although he is eventually separated from her, he continues searching for Harry.
• Jenna Lamia as Judy Cooper, who works at the local bowling alley. She is sexually adventurous and often trades barbs with D'arcy.
  • Lilly Dean portrays young Judy in flashbacks.
• Sarah Podemski as Kayla, Asta's cousin and close friend who is a mother and a lawyer.
  • Acahkos Johnson portrays young Kayla in flashbacks.
• Diana Bang as Ellen Cho, a nurse at the Patience health clinic who is disrespectful to almost everyone she encounters, none more so than Asta, whose name she knowingly mispronounces.
• Elvy Yost as Isabelle Vanderspeigle (season 1; guest season 3), the real Harry's estranged British wife and an artist who won her husband over at a New York City art exhibition. In the third season, Harry's son Bridget uses her physical appearance as a disguise.
• Gracelyn Awad Rinke as Sahar, Max's adventurous friend and classmate and a devout Muslim. Sahar joins Max in his efforts to help Harry after he convinces her that Harry is an alien, and she often acts as the more mature and responsible of the two.
• Linda Hamilton as General Eleanor McCallister (née Wright), a high-ranking U.S. military officer who secretly works for an unknown organization dedicated to hunting extraterrestrials. McCallister saw a spacecraft firsthand as a child, and she has spent her life seeking more proof that aliens exist.
  • Alix West Lefler portrays young Eleanor Wright in flashbacks.
• Michael Cassidy as Dr. Ethan Stone (season 1; guest season 2), who replaces Harry as the new town doctor. He is abducted by General McCallister's agents after Max tells them that the alien is the "town doctor" but released after McCallister confirms he is human.
• Nathan Fillion as the voice of 42 (season 2; guest season 1), an octopus who can communicate telepathically with Harry. Their conversation suggests that Harry's species and octopuses are closely related, something Harry himself later states to Asta, and is further reinforced when Harry describes his own alien species as a kind of Octopodiform. 42 is initially stranded in a restaurant tank until Harry gives him a new residence in a tank inside his cabin.
• Alvin Sanders as Lewis Thompson (season 2; guest season 1), Mike's elderly father who moved with him to Patience due to his worsening condition.
• Trevor Carroll as John Baker (season 2; guest seasons 1, 3), Liv's husband and an avalanche-control team member.
• Terry O'Quinn as Peter Bach (season 2–present; guest season 1), an "alien experiencer" who hosts the popular podcast Alien Tracker. He and his wife came into contact with extraterrestrials 30 years ago, when their unborn son was abducted. Like Max, he can also see Harry's true form. He eventually teams up with Harry to locate his son.
  • Dylan Sloane portrays young Peter Bach in flashbacks
• Justin Rain as Elliot (season 2; guest season 3), a Native American archaeologist who starts an on-and-off relationship with D'arcy.
• Paul Piaskowski as Robert Hutchins (season 2; guest season 3), Peter Bach's son, who was abducted by the Greys from his pregnant mother's womb. After being raised by the aliens, he is later captured by General McCallister but rescued by his father and Harry.
• Enver Gjokaj as "Joseph Rainier" (season 2–present), a Grey alien-human hybrid working for the Greys, and later, with Harry for General McCallister.
• Nicola Correia-Damude as Detective Lena Torres (season 2–present), a detective based in Jessup, the neighboring town to Patience, who works with Mike and Liv when a murder is committed on the town border. She soon bonds with Mike over their respective pasts working in major cities and becomes romantically interested in him.
• Kesler Talbot (season 2) and Andrea Geones (season 3) as the "Humalien" / "Bridget", the human-alien offspring of "Goliath", Harry's future self. He initially disguises himself as Bobby Smallwood, a boy who went missing decades prior. After saving him from General McCallister's military base, Harry sends him to his home planet for safety. He returns in the third season to kill his father out of revenge but ultimately joins him in his efforts against the Greys.
  • Talbot also portrays the real Bobby Smallwood in flashbacks.
• Edi Patterson as "Heather" (season 3), a Blue Avian alien from the galactic federation, who becomes romantically involved with Harry.

Guest

• Jan Bos as Dr. Sam Hodges (seasons 1–2), the former town doctor for Patience, who is replaced by Harry
• Giorgio A. Tsoukalos as himself (seasons 1–2), a ufologist who hosts a panel on Ancient Aliens at a UFO convention
• David Lewis as Mitch Green (season 2), the mayor of Jessup
• Alex Borstein as Carlyn (season 2), a laser physicist and Kate's cousin, who gets romantically involved with Harry
• Lini Evans as Bethany Bloom (seasons 2–3), D'arcy's mother
• Barclay Hope as Gerald Bloom (seasons 2–3), D'arcy's father
• Taylor Blackwell as Liza Vanderspeigle (seasons 2–3), the estranged teenage daughter of the real Harry Vanderspeigle. In the third season, Harry's son Bridget uses her physical appearance as a disguise.
• Maxim Roy as Violinda Darvell (season 2), the owner and operator of a prestigious art gallery in New York who was romantically involved with the artist named "Goliath", who is Harry's future self, having traveled back in time to save humanity from destruction. She is also the human mother of the "Humalien".
• Karina Logue as Mary-Ellen Taylor (seasons 2–3), Asta's biological mother who abandoned her when she was an infant
• George Takei as the voice of a Grey alien (season 2), who speaks to Harry about the Greys' planned invasion of Earth
• Hwaa Hawk as Leo / Bishop (season 3), a member of Max's alien club
• Grace Sunar as Mari (season 3), another member of Max's alien club
• Mary Walsh as Patty Baker (season 3), Liv's emotionally abusive grandmother
• Erin Karpluk as Dr. Wendy Beasley (season 3), a former military chemist and acquaintance of Peter Bach
• Clancy Brown as the voice of a Mantid alien (season 3), who takes Harry's place in Patience
• Peter Hogan as Mr. Hogan (season 3), an agent working under General McCallister. Hogan is also one of the co-creators of the Resident Alien comic book series.

Episodes

Series overview

Season 1 (2021)

Season 2 (2022)

Season 3 (2024)

Production

Development

Series creator Chris Sheridan stated that he was inspired to start the Resident Alien television project after reading the novels and comic book series of the same name. Upon being interviewed at a Television Critics Association panel in January 2020, he also stated that his real inspiration came from an aerial phenomenon "close encounter" he and his wife witnessed while honeymooning in the Bahamas twenty years ago.

On May 31, 2018, Syfy announced that the TV adaptation of Resident Alien was given a pilot order with Chris Sheridan as the show creator and Universal Cable Productions, Dark Horse Entertainment, and Amblin Television developing the pilot. On February 28, 2019, Syfy gave a series order with production starting in Vancouver, and David Dobkin directing and serving as an executive producer for the pilot. Robert Duncan McNeill executive produced and was producing director for the remaining episodes. On March 17, 2021, Syfy renewed the series for a second season, which premiered on January 26, 2022.

On July 21, 2022, Syfy renewed the series for a 12-episode third season. On November 15, 2022, Syfy reduced the number of episodes in the third season from 12 to 8.

Casting

On September 20, 2018, Alan Tudyk was cast as the main character "Dr. Harry Vanderspeigle" in the pilot, along with Sara Tomko, Corey Reynolds, Alice Wetterlund, and Levi Fiehler. On January 31, 2020, Linda Hamilton, Mandell Maughan, and Alex Barima were cast in the recurring roles in the series. On February 12, 2020, Elizabeth Bowen was cast in the recurring role of Deputy Sheriff Liv Baker in the series.

Filming

Principal photography for the first season began on September 10, 2020, and concluded on October 14, 2020, in Delta, British Columbia, Canada. Filming for the second season began on August 3, 2021, and concluded on April 1, 2022. Filming for the first half of the second season took place in Ladysmith, British Columbia, with filming for the second half taking place from February 27, 2022. Filming for the third season began on January 30, 2023, and had concluded on May 2, 2023.

Release

On February 13, 2020, Syfy announced that the series would premiere in summer 2020. However, on October 9, 2020, the premiere was moved to January 2021, specifically January 27 in the United States. Internationally, the series premiered in Canada on CTV Sci-Fi Channel on January 27, 2021, and in the United Kingdom on Sky One the following day.

Reception

Critical response

For the first season, review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reported an approval rating of 94% based on 31 critic reviews, with an average rating of 7.8/10. The website's critics consensus reads, "Resident Alien takes a minute to settle into its skin, but once it does it finds fresh humor in a familiar framework and proves a perfect showcase for Alan Tudyk's singular comedic skills". Metacritic gave the first season a weighted average score of 70 out of 100 based on 15 critic reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews". For the second season, Rotten Tomatoes reported an approval rating of 100% based on 5 critic reviews, with an average rating of 7.7/10.

Ratings

Season 1

Accolades

Notes

References

External links

• Official website
• Resident Alien at IMDb