Resident Alien (TV series)

Resident Alien is an American science fiction comedy-drama television series created by Chris Sheridan, based on the comic book by Peter Hogan and Steve Parkhouse, that aired for four seasons from January 2021 to August 2025 on Syfy. It stars Alan Tudyk in the title role as an extraterrestrial who crash-lands on Earth with the intent to destroy the planet but develops a moral dilemma. In July 2025, it was confirmed that the fourth season would be its last.

Premise

After crash-landing on Earth in a small Colorado town, an extraterrestrial sent to wipe out humanity kills a vacationing physician and takes on his identity. 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 and ends up defending 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 (seasons 1Ã¢ÂÂ2), a corrupt doctor and assassin involved with a crime syndicate who killed the previous town doctor, Sam Hodges
Stuntman Keith Arbuthnot portrayed the alien for the first season while in his true form: an androgynous humanoid Octopodiform-like being. For the second season onwards, Tudyk performed the alien scenes using a practical effects-created mask.
David Bianchi portrays Goliath (recurring season 2), Harry's future self, who traveled back in time to save humanity from destruction. 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 (guest season 1) and Zara Bacic (guest 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 Cletus, his former partner's pet and the town's police dog.
Alice Wetterlund as D'arcy Bloom, owner of the town pub, 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 (guest seasons 2Ã¢ÂÂ3) and Olga Petsa (guest season 4) portray 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. Since childhood, he has been regularly abducted by Grey aliens.
Lukas Goas (guest seasons 2, 4) and Jude Wylie (guest 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 (seasons 2Ã¢ÂÂ4; 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 since she was a child, when she witnessed what appeared to be a UFO.
Jessica Halliburton (guest season 2) and Camme Clarke (guest season 4) portray young Liv in flashbacks
Meredith Garretson as Kate Hawthorne (season 4; recurring seasons 1Ã¢ÂÂ3), Ben's wife and Max's mother, who works as a schoolteacher

Recurring

Ben Cotton as Jimmy (season 1; guest seasons 2, 4), Asta's abusive ex-husband and Jay's father
Kaylayla Raine as Jay, Asta's teenage daughter who works part-time at the Patience health clinic
Deborah Finkel as Abigail Hodges (seasons 1Ã¢ÂÂ2), 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
Mandell Maughan as Lisa Casper (seasons 1Ã¢ÂÂ2), a sociopathic government agent who works for General McCallister
Alex Barima as Lieutenant David Logan (seasons 1Ã¢ÂÂ3; guest season 4), an officer in the U.S. Air Force. After piecing together clues about Harry's crash landing, McCallister recruits him to find the alien and partners him with Agent Casper.
Jenna Lamia as Judy Cooper, Asta and D'arcy's childhood friend who works at the local bowling alley. She is sexually adventurous and often trades barbs with D'arcy.
Lilly Dean (guest season 2) and Gwenna Cooper (guest season 4) portray young Judy in flashbacks
Sarah Podemski as Kayla, Asta's cousin who is a mother and a lawyer
Acahkos Johnson (guest season 2) 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
Gracelyn Awad Rinke as Sahar Karimi, Max's adventurous classmate and close friend. She believes him regarding Harry's alien identity, and is the more mature and responsible of the two.
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.
Linda Hamilton as General Eleanor McCallister (nÃÂ©e Wright) (seasons 1Ã¢ÂÂ3; guest season 4), a high-ranking U.S. military officer who secretly works for an unknown organization dedicated to hunting extraterrestrials, having spent her life seeking proof that aliens exist
Alix West Lefler (guest seasons 1Ã¢ÂÂ3) and Ava Anton (guest season 4) portray young Eleanor in flashbacks
Michael Cassidy as Dr. Ethan Stone (season 1; guest seasons 2, 4), who replaces Harry as the new town doctor
Nathan Fillion as the voice of 42 (season 2; guest season 1), an octopus stranded in a restaurant tank (and on its menu) who can communicate telepathically with Harry
Alvin Sanders as Lewis Thompson (season 2; guest seasons 1, 4), Mike's elderly father who moved with him to Patience due to his worsening condition
Trevor Carroll as John Baker (seasons 2, 4; guest seasons 1, 3), Liv's husband and an avalanche-control team member
Terry O'Quinn as Peter Bach (seasons 2Ã¢ÂÂ4; guest season 1), an "alien experiencer" who hosts the popular podcast Alien Tracker. Like Max, he can also see Harry's true form.
Dylan Sloane (guest seasons 1Ã¢ÂÂ2) 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 (seasons 2, 4; guest season 3), Peter Bach's son, who was abducted by the Greys from his pregnant mother's womb and raised by the aliens
Enver Gjokaj as "Joseph Rainier" (seasons 2Ã¢ÂÂ3; guest season 4), a Grey alien-human hybrid working for the Greys, and later, with Harry for General McCallister
Nicola Correia-Damude as Detective Lena Torres (seasons 2Ã¢ÂÂ4), a detective based in Jessup, the neighboring town to Patience, who becomes romantically interested in Mike
Kesler Talbot (season 2) and Andrea Geones (seasons 3Ã¢ÂÂ4) as the voice of 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.
Talbot also portrays the real Bobby Smallwood (season 2) in flashbacks
Edi Patterson as Heather (season 3; guest season 4), a Blue Avian alien from the Galactic Federation, who becomes romantically involved with Harry
Clancy Brown as the voice of the Mantid alien (season 4; guest season 3), a dangerous alien fugitive who escapes from captivity and takes Harry's place in Patience
Jewel Staite as Jules Gardner (season 4), an FBI agent who grew up in Patience and begins investigating a series of strange murders in the town

Guest

Jan Bos as Dr. Sam Hodges (seasons 1Ã¢ÂÂ2), the former town doctor for Patience, who is replaced by Harry
Michael Adamthwaite as Howard Wright, Eleanor McCallister's father, whose obsession to prove that aliens exist drove him insane. He only appears in flashbacks.
Giorgio A. Tsoukalos as himself (seasons 1Ã¢ÂÂ2), 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
Tommy Pico as Drew (seasons 2Ã¢ÂÂ3), a member of Asta's extended family who lives in the city
Grace Dove as Sunny (seasons 2, 4), a member of Asta's extended family who is heavily pregnant
Lini Evans as Bethany Bloom (seasons 2Ã¢ÂÂ3), D'arcy's mother
Barclay Hope as Gerald Bloom (seasons 2Ã¢ÂÂ3), D'arcy's father
Taylor Blackwell as Liza Vanderspeigle (seasons 2Ã¢ÂÂ4), the estranged teenage daughter of the real Harry. In the third and fourth seasons, 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 "Goliath"
Robert Moloney as Tanner Corrington (season 2), a criminal associate of the real Harry
James Gallanders as Jack Sennett (season 2), D'arcy's former skiing coach
Karina Logue as Mary-Ellen Taylor (seasons 2Ã¢ÂÂ3), 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
Rachel Colwell as Lieutenant Hill (seasons 2Ã¢ÂÂ4), an officer in the U.S. Air Force who works for General McCallister
Jennifer Podemski as Rachel (season 3), Asta's cousin and Kayla's sister
Hwaa Hawk as Leo (seasons 3Ã¢ÂÂ4), a member of Max's alien club
Grace Sunar as Mari (seasons 3Ã¢ÂÂ4), 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
Linden Porco as Dale (seasons 3Ã¢ÂÂ4), an alien technician who specializes in fixing portals
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.
Jinkx Monsoon as the voice of Bruce (season 4), a Grey alien prison ward who is fascinated by Earth
Casey Camp-Horinek as Lona (season 4), a Ute elder who befriends Harry at a powwow
Jed Rees as Sedrick (season 4), an alien attorney who represents the Grey aliens during Harry's trial
David Nykl as Gary (season 4), the alien leader of the Galactic Housing Council, who acts as a judge during Harry's trial
Stephen Root as Ed (season 4), Harry's ruthless and overbearing father

Episodes

Season 1 (2021)

Season 2 (2022)

Season 3 (2024)

Season 4 (2025)

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, and was split into two eight-episode parts; the second half premiered on August 10, 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. On June 18, 2024, it was announced that the series was renewed for a fourth season and would be simulcast on USA Network which premiered June 6, 2025. On July 24, 2025, Sheridan confirmed that the fourth season would be the final season of the series.

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. Filming for the fourth season began on December 2, 2024 and concluded on March 31, 2025.

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.