Reviewed by Colin Jacobson (March 18, 2026)
Stories of extraterrestrials who live among humans go back many decades. For a new spin on this theme, we head to 2021’s Netflix series Resident Alien.
This Season One set includes all 10 episodes from that year. The plot synopses come from the series’ official website.
Pilot: “Stranded in the town of Patience, Colorado, an alien inhabits the body of Dr. Harry Venderspeigle (Alan Tudyk) — but one resident can see past his facade.”
As always, all I really ask of a pilot is that it introduce the characters and situations in a reasonably efficient manner. The first episode of Resident accomplishes this.
Does it muster entertainment beyond exposition? Yeah, for the most part.
I can’t claim that “Pilot” does much to deviate from the “stranger in a strange land” concept, but it still manages to create intrigue. Throw in some comedy and “Pilot” opens the series on a positive note.
Homesick: “Harry devises several clever methods of silencing Max (Judah Prehn), but he's soon got bigger problems when two mysterious agents arrive to look for him.”
Two episodes in and the arc of Resident - for Season One, at least – seems clear. It appears we will follow how Harry becomes “more human” along with intrigue related to his attempts to keep his extraterrestrial status hidden and the pursuit of his goals.
Does any of this seem new? No, but that doesn’t mean Resident won’t succeed, and so far, so good. “Homesick” develops the characters and narrative in a positive manner.
Secrets: “Agents Lisa Casper (Mandell Maughan) and David Logan (Alex Barima) find an eyewitness who is less than reliable, while Harry races to conceal evidence of his real identity from the authorities.”
The introduction of the investigators adds an obvious complication that one assumes will progress through the rest of S1. They play a minor role in “Secrets”, though
Instead, the episode focuses mainly on the same threads of the first two programs. It develops these well and pushes ahead matters in a satisfying way.
Birds of a Feather: “Max's parents Ben (Levi Fiehler) and Kate (Meredith Garretson) invite Harry to dinner in an effort to convince their son that the doctor is not an alien, but the night goes in a different direction.”
While most child actors prove annoying at best, Prehn proves surprisingly effective as Harry’s youthful nemesis. Their scenes turn into some of the best so far and add spark to the shows.
“Birds” also develops Harry’s “human side” and does so in a manner that hints at a romantic connection with a less than surprising character. Well, that will need to wait until later, and it may never happen.
But color me shocked if it doesn’t. In any case, “Birds” turns into another solid show.
Love Language: “When the real Harry’s wife Isabellle (Elvy) visits, the alien asks her for a divorce. Sahar (Gracelyn Awad Rinke) persuades Harry and Max that a truce is in both their interests.”
Not only does the introduction of Isabelle create a new complication for Harry, but also this allows us a flashback to “real Harry’s” life. That delivers an interesting little spin.
It remains to be seen how this develops down the road, of course. Nonetheless, “Language” helps add some curveballs.
Sexy Beast: “Harry experiences jealousy when kindhearted new Dr. Ethan Stone (Michael Cassidy) arrives in town. General Eleanor McCallister's (Linda Hamilton) agents seize Harry's spaceship.”
The arrival of Hamilton adds an intriguing turn of events, as she presents a shifty new character. Dr. Stone also means amusing shades from Harry, as he finds himself threatened by the handsome physician. A good mix of comedy and a deepening plot, “Beast” becomes an appealing episode.
The Green Glow: “After he makes a mess of his human life, a depressed Harry gets drunk. Deputy Liv Baker (Elizabeth Bowen) quits the force when Sheriff Mike Thompson (Corey Reynolds) fails to credit her for solving a crime.”
Personal trivia: Reynolds’ career started as a singer/dancer in a pop revue at the Kings Dominion theme park in Virginia. I became oddly obsessed with that show and others so I got to know Reynolds in a minor manner.
Which makes me pleased to see that he’s enjoyed a pretty decent run in Hollywood. This probably leaves me as less than objective but I nonetheless find Reynolds’ Sheriff Mike a delightful character, as Reynolds creates a hilariously self-absorbed persona.
“Glow” allows the persistently ignored and put-upon Liv some new agency, as she reaches the end of her rope with Mike’s amusingly arrogant behavior. Add to that more development of Harry’s quest and his grudging truce with young Max and “Glow” turns into another productive episode.
End of the World As We Know It: “Asta Twelvetrees (Sara Tomko) saves a badly injured Harry after they fall into a glacial crevasse — and in the process learns a shocking secret.”
While I won’t reveal the “shocking secret”, it doesn’t take much thought to figure out the revelation in question. This theme and Asta’s addition bond with Harry makes “World” more dramatic than usual.
Nonetheless, we get some comedy, and other character domains develop as well. Though not as frisky as the typical program, “World” provides a good progression of the various domains.
Welcome Aliens: “To repair his planet-killing device, Harry visits an alien convention to harvest implants from UFO abductees. Mike asks Liv to rejoin the department.”
As much as I love arrogant Sheriff Mike, “Welcome” allows him a bit more depth and this works. He remains cocky but the episode gives him some other facets.
Harry and Asta’s visit to the convention boasts some wackier moments and also helps deepen the plot. This turns into a solid show that helps push us toward the season finale.
Heroes of Patience: “Brokenhearted when Asta ends their friendship after discovering the real Harry’s fate, the alien decides to fulfill his original mission.”
Does it exist as a spoiler to reveal that Harry doesn’t destroy all life on earth via “Patience”? Given that Resident Alien ran four seasons, it seems safe to indicate that he doesn’t do so – yet.
Who knows? Maybe Resident wraps with the destruction of humanity. We’ll find out eventually.
“Patience” needs to offer a satisfying finale to S1 without a formal “wrap-up” of the overriding narrative beats. Does that mean it feels incomplete?
No, for even with an expected cliffhanger ending, “Patience” still sums up S1 well. It concludes a good season on a positive note and prompts me to look forward to Season Two.
