RESIDENT ALIEN — “Prisoners” Episode 401 — Pictured: (l-r) Alan Tudyk as Harry Vanderspeigle, Paul Piaskowski as Robert — (Photo by: James Dittiger/USA Network)
If you were like me, you were a little nervous that SYFY’s Resident Alien wasn’t going to get a season four after some months had passed after season three’s finale, since we didn’t have word of a renewal. Then, it was announced that season four would be premiering on USA Network instead of the SYFY channel and we all collectively cheered. Who cared if it was switching networks, as long as we were getting more of this great show.
After watching the premiere episode of season four, we can say that you can’t tell there was a network change. This still feels like the Resident Alien we know and love and it’s good to have Harry and the crew back. Season three ended with a lot going on, with the biggest cliffhanger being that the real Harry was stuck on the moon, while Mantid was on Earth, assuming Harry’s shape.
What to Expect
Does season 4 start with a bang? No. Instead, it’s a gentle slide back into the world of Resident Alien. A gentle reminder of who the players are, what we’re dealing with, and the pressures at stake. The show extends its reach, where minor characters become more important to the overarching story, as opposed to background characters. In a way, it reminds me of when everyone finally found out about zombies in iZombie. Everyone knows about aliens, even if Sheriff Mike denies it; which, makes everyone working together more feasible and easier.
Alan Tudyk is a True Character Actor
The biggest takeaway of this episode is how good of a job Alan Tudyk does at playing both Harry and Mantid. As Mantid, he’s a chain-smoking cool guy who likes assuming the role of Harry within the town, but is also disinterested in the idea of replicating Harry’s personality to a T. However, due to Harry being a bit odd at all times, Mantid’s change of behavior is hardly noticed, even by his closest friends. We then have the real Harry, who never disappoints, caught between being genuinely poignant and just wanting pizza.
The Standouts
Sheriff Mike and Deputy Liv’s partnership continues to be a standout of the show, with their moments in episode one sticking out in second place to Harry’s storyline. We have the deeply stubborn Sheriff denying the existence of aliens, even after personally encountering one. Then we have Liv, who is always kind and optimistic. At this point, she knows how to get through to Mike, and it was good to see that she did so in one episode, so we have him on board moving forward.
Of course, Asta and D’Arcy provided some good moments in this episode, with a heavy emphasis on D’Arcy’s growing bond with Kate’s baby. These moments definitely add deeper layers to D’Arcy, who has gone through her own troubles over the last couple of seasons. While Asta doesn’t take as big of a role in episode 1, we do see Kate and Ben preparing for the next alien invasion, with some funny mishaps involving these two throughout the first episode.
It’s a Good Start
Overall, episode 1 was a good introduction to the new season that lays down the groundwork for the rest of the episodes. Episode 1 ends with a well-deserved standoff, and we can’t wait to see what sort of hijinks this season has in store for us.
Overall, episode 1 was a good introduction to the new season that lays down the groundwork for the rest of the episodes. Episode 1 ends with a well-deserved standoff, and we can't wait to see what sort of hijinks this season has in store for us.
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Rating
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