6 days ago
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TV Review: RESIDENT ALIEN Season 4
He's back, and this is, in fact, not some bullsh*t.
Harry Vanderspeigle (Alan Tudyk) is having a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day (as is his son, Bridget), but at least his misery is entertaining. When last we saw Harry in Resident Alien , he was stuck on the Greys' Moonbase, with the Mantid (also Tudyk) returning to Earth with Asta (Sara Tomko), D'arcy (Alice Wetterlund) and Ben/Kate's baby. Now, in Season 4, Harry must find a way to escape and defeat the alien impostor masquerading as him in Patience.
Recently, I had the privilege of screening the first four episodes of Resident Alien Season 4. Does it pass muster? Does it exceed expectations? Read on for our spoiler-free review.
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Here's a synopsis per Syfy:
'The fourth season starts with Harry (Tudyk) and his baby Bridget stuck in prison on the Grey Moonbase, while a shape-shifting Alien called a Mantid (also Tudyk) has taken over his body on Earth, passing himself off as the real Harry Vanderspeigle. Harry manages to escape the Greys and arrives back on Earth for a showdown with the Mantid Alien, but soon finds he may not have what he needs to finish the job.
Asta (Tomko) and D'arcy (Wetterlund) struggle to keep a secret from Ben (Levi Fiehler) and Kate (Meredith Garretson), who are both desperate to find answers to what has been happening to them. Sheriff Mike (Corey Reynolds) and Deputy Liv (Elizabeth Bowen) attempt to solve some mysterious deaths in Patience that Sheriff Mike is beginning to think aren't caused by anything human.'
Season 4 boasts a somewhat shaky start, with some storylines feeling rushed. Of course, the stakes are high. The Mantid is a formidable foe for our heroes and poses a significant threat to the people of Patience. As usual, though, the series tackles the Mantid issue with its signature quirkiness and wit.
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Alan Tudyk knocks it out of the park, showcasing his versatility while playing Harry and the Mantid. He's still the comedic crux of Resident Alien . His scenes are always laugh-out-loud funny, and I'm someone who, while I watch more comedies than anything else, seldom laughs out loud. Tudyk is a slapstick aficionado — the king of physical comedy. He squeezes every drop out of a word, a line, even a glance. Nothing is wasted. If there's room for a laugh-inducing moment, Tudyk successfully swings for the fences.
Corey Reynolds continues to kill it as Mike Thompson, the self-described 'no-nonsense' yet conspiracy theory-fueled sheriff who just had his own alien experience in the Season 3 finale. Reynolds walks that fine line between heightened comedy and realism. He knows how to make this over-the-top character, who could be merely comedic relief, feel grounded and honest. And the comedy blooms from that honesty.
Alice Wetterlund shines in episode three, in particular, especially when opposite Tudyk. D'arcy is at her comedic best when focused on a mission, and she gets a lot of fun material in Season 4. Sara Tomko is still delightful as the 'straight man' character (and our human perspective) amid a roster of zany players, but she, too, stretches her comedic muscles this season. Not that Asta has never been funny; however, she doesn't fall squarely into that straight man category as much in Season 4. Tomko is at her funniest with Tudyk and/or Wetterlund. Those three are comedy dynamite together.
RELATED: Read our Resident Alien recaps
Enver Gjokaj plays off Tudyk well and gets his time in the limelight in episode two. He has fantastic comedic chops and should appear in more comedies if I have anything to say about it. Jenna Lamia is somehow even more hilarious as Judy this season, too. Finding Its Footing RESIDENT ALIEN — 'Prisoners' Season 4 Episode 1 — Pictured: (l-r) Levi Fiehler as Mayor Ben Hawthorne, Meredith Garretson as Kate Hawthorne — (Photo by: James Dittiger/USA Network)
Circling back to my earlier remark about the rocky start, part of this is down to the initial separation of the cast. To me, this show is at its best when Harry interacts frequently with the human cast — his very alien demeanor bouncing off the springboard that is the more grounded characters. We get less of this in the first four episodes, along with pacing issues with certain arcs.
However, Season 4 also introduces intriguing new storylines and, ultimately, begins finding its footing after a few episodes. These respective plots start to gel better further into the season and, after some bumps, everything flows with more ease. It also takes a beat to rediscover the show's heart and balance its trademark blend of humor and heart.
Resident Alien Season 4 takes a hot minute to reorient itself and return to the hysterically heartfelt series we all love. Still, when it fires on all cylinders, it's truly, well, firing on all cylinders. Mind you, this is only having viewed episodes one through four. As with anything, there's room for improvement, and the new narrative threads are ripe with potential. I can't wait to see where we go from here.
Be sure to have pepperoni pizza (and your emotional support human bestie) on hand when Resident Alien Season 4 premieres on Friday, June 6, 2025, at 11 pm EST/PST on USA Network and Syfy. New episodes will be available to stream one week later on Peacock.
Syfy Renews THE ARK for Season 3 Contact:
[email protected] What I do: I'm GGA's Managing Editor, a Senior Contributor, and Press Coordinator. I manage, contribute, and coordinate. Sometimes all at once. Joking aside, I oversee day-to-day operations for GGA, write, edit, and assess interview opportunities/press events. Who I am: Before moving to Los Angeles after studying theater in college, I was born and raised in Amish country, Ohio. No, I am not Amish, even if I sometimes sport a modest bonnet. Bylines in: Tell-Tale TV, Culturess, Sideshow Collectibles, and inkMend on Medium.
Critic: Rotten Tomatoes, CherryPicks, and the Hollywood Creative Alliance.
