Why you should watch... Resident Alien
A witty show, full of comedic chops & chemistry... a cosmic-scale mystery, with twists and turns that keep coming... an encapsulation and celebration of what 'local community' can mean...
Every now and then you get one of those shows that’s unlike anything else on television — with a rich mixture of story, mystery, locale, themes, and a rich ensemble cast of characters — that consistently delivers on its premise from the first frame of the pilot, through every second of its run.
Resident Alien is that show that makes me want to not just binge it back to back, but also share it with others over the months (or years) that arise between its seasons being released.
This show has achieved the awesome feats of not just bringing in true ‘character actor’ royalty, but giving every member of its roster an equal & earned place in the spotlight… allowing them to grow, become beloved in their own unique ways, all while still serving the same strong through-line of the main (and side) story…
“…Resident Alien knows what it is doing and does it with admirable sincerity. It deploys well-worn tropes without cynicism and plays with others without winking exhaustingly at its audience…”
—Lucy Mangan, The Guardian
(January 28, 2021)
Adapted from the Dark Horse Comics publication of the same name, Resident Alien takes what are well-trodden tropes (an alien crashing to Earth, a stranger moving to a small town, a ‘big city doctor’ in a ‘small town locale’, local community drama & comedic folly) and gives them all fresh life, all without losing what makes it magic… its irreverent, self-aware humor.
Putting humanity & community front-and-center, Resident Alien manages to (and in no small part thanks to Alan Tudyk’s all-in characterization) give a true ‘outsiders welcome’ to a bevy of community and social groupings at play, in its snowy rural setting. Beyond the alien mysteries unfolding, or the nigh-apocalyptic dangers the characters face, this show frames its grand narrative against the consistent backdrop of the universal human experience… all while highlighting the key differing challenges that affect its diverse array of people, communities, and cultures.
From jumping to plot-lines that see the fate of all humanity at play… to a child dealing with everyone thinking they’re ‘crazy’ for warning against an alien danger… to native communities protecting and celebrating their heritage… to small-town political ‘drama’, and contrasting personalities… to a middle-aged couple finding their relationship’s ‘second wind’… Resident Alien makles all these threads feel respected, with a ‘grounded-yet-whimsical’ comedy to the proceedings.
There’s a certain kind of magic that writers, directors, actors, and all creatives involved have to work for something to come across this effortless, and yet feel so refined and intentional in every scene.
“…Resident Alien's strength lies with its ability to develop characters. It's a rarity among comedies to have so many fully-fleshed characters you wholeheartedly support…”
—Melody McCune, Geek Girl Authority
(January 26, 2022)
When it comes to the ‘vibe’ of Resident Alien, the best way I can describe it is something that has perfectly distilled the camp-adjacent nature of 60s alien invasion and abduction media… but brought it forward for contemporary audiences, without losing any of the comedic gold that comes from such a premise.
From tackling ‘Men in Black’ tropes, to old conspiracy theories, to local bureaucracy, Resident Alien wields comedy like a finely tuned instrument… enhancing and perfectly blending with every plot-point and story-line within it, without every over-powering (or under-cutting) its heavier, dramatic, and sometimes downright heart-breaking moments.
The stand-out performance of every actor in this series can not be over-stated.
It’s rare to see such a wide ensemble cast be so perfectly utilized in modern television shows, but Resident Alien knows how to make perfect, thorough use of every character — from the main leads, to every supporting actor — giving them all space and room to be true leads of their own, interconnected stories.
But as our main hero ‘Harry’ might say, “It’s human nature… not alien nature.”
You should watch Resident Alien if you…
Have a passion for well written comedies, that are still able to hit dramatic, emotional beats with poise and intention
Love to see actors just eating up their roles, not being afraid to full embody their characters
Are a fan of ‘small town comedies’, where every resident is a true character unto themselves
Enjoy a good, ever-evolving mystery that gives earned pay-off to the audience, while adding new elements season after season
Want to find a show that has multiple seasons ready to binge, but is still in-production (with a new season dropping later this year)
Where to Watch
Comedy/Drama • 2021- • 3 Seasons • TV-MA • English
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