One of the more low-key shows to premiere this year,Syfy’sResident Aliendidn’t have the hype of something likeWandaVisionor the dedicated fanbase ofZack Snyder’s Justice League, but nonetheless, it has managed to be an entertaining and often heartfelt dramedy about a stranded alien trying to blend in after crash-landing on Earth.
Starring Alan Tudyk as the Alien of the title, the 10-episode series isbased on a Dark Horse published comicof the same name. After crash landing his spaceship on Earth, he is forced to take on a human disguise and attempt to blend in, all while searching for pieces of his ship that will allow him to complete his mission. At the end of the first episode, it is revealed that he has come to wipe out humanity, believing them to be a dangerous, underdeveloped species.
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In his attempts to interact and disguise himself among the residents of a small town, however, he develops a fondness for some aspects of humanity and begins to connect to the people around him. As a result, he gets into all sorts of comedic hijinks, posing as a doctor with no real medical training, and also starts to bond with the people he sees day-in and day-out, becoming invested in their struggles despite his attempts at indifference.
Resident Alienhas gotten a decent receptionso far and fans will be happy to hear that Syfy has decided to renew the program for a second season, remarking that it has been their highest-rated drama in 6 years. SYFY has been slowly moving away from original shows for a while now, so it’s nice to hear that at least this particular program is going to continue running for the time being.
Resident Alienwas originallygreenlit and developed by Syfy’s former president Chris McCumber and head of originals Bill McGoldrick, both of whom have left the company since, leaving some question of whether the series would continue under new leadership. Executive Lisa Katz spoke highly of the show in the renewal announcement, however, declaring: “The appeal of this show transcended the sci-fi genre in a way that enabled us to bring in a broader audience.”
Whether it’sTudyk’s captivating performanceas a visitor from another world or just the basic fish out of water premise, it seems audiences are resonating with the show’s particular view of the world around it. Hopefully, asResident Alienmoves into its second season, that audience will continue to find something special in the show, however long it runs.
