Paula Hammond - Features EditorThe first season of Resident Alien was the surprise hit of last year and, if Season 2 is anything to go by, it looks like this is a show that still has lots to offer.
Slated as a comedy/murder mystery/sci-fi, Resident Alien is based on the Dark Horse comic book by Peter Hogan and Steve Parkhouse and was adapted for television by five-time Emmy nominee Chris Sheridan, who has been a writer on Family Guy for 20 years. Along the way, the series pays homage to various sci-fi hits with guest actors, this season including Linda Hamilton (The Terminator) Terry O’Quinn (Lost) and George Takei (Star Trek TOS). Eagle-eyes comic book aficionados will also spot Dark Horse Founder, Mike Richardson, who is also one of the executive producers of the series.
After crash-landing on Earth, an alien (Alan Tudyk) takes on the identity of a small-town Colorado doctor, Harry Vanderspeigle, in order to complete his secret mission. However, when he’s forced to deal with humanity, up close and personal, Harry is increasingly compelled to consider the possibility that humans might be worth saving after all.
Those who know Tudyk as the lovable Wash in Firefly will be surprised how utterly unrecognisable he is as the titular alien. His performance straddles the line between the dark, the oddball, and the genuinely menacing.
Season 2 of this fan-favourite has been a long-time coming, but it delivers in spades. Resident Alien is fun, intriguing, with a big dose of heart. Season 3 arrives on our screens this Autumn, so now is the perfect time to catch up on Harry, Asta, Mike and the gang.
