Resident Alien Review: Heroes of Patience (Season 1 Episode 10)

Patience, and the rest of the planet, is saved on Resident Alien Season 1 Episode 10, “Heroes of Patience.” The season finale wastes absolutely no time dropping bombshell after bombshell as Harry continues to find reasons not to kill everyone on the planet.

It starts with a flashback to Harry, the real Harry, injecting Sam’s insulin with the botchulinum toxin that killed him. To say that wasn’t what we were expecting is an understatement, and immediately has us asking more questions.

It feels so out of left field to introduce this idea that Harry had plotted a murder right before he was killed by an alien, but considering how little we know about Harry it makes sense that we wouldn’t know the full story.

As the finale brings us back to the main plot though, it continues to infuse some of the humor the series is known for with darker moments. 

One of the best bits in the finale is Harry’s first experience with pizza. Considering that Harry always lamented that he ended up in a town that didn’t have a decent pizza place this felt like a must for the finale. Alan Tudyk gives a great performance as Harry experiences pizza for the first time. Enhancing it with the voice over moment when he brings home enough for a house party, because he learned it from squirrels is even better. 

The moment when Harry goes to test the device and finds himself talking to the dead Harry is a strong continuation of Resident Alien Season 1 Episode 7, “The Green Glow.” The confirmation that Harry is actually taking on the characteristics of humanity is something that we knew was coming but that we needed to see play out. 

It’s one of many moments on “Heroes of Patience” that shows character growth. 

While Harry is procrastinating on ending the world, Max and Sahar are attempting to figure out the men in black situation. These two have made a great pair over the course of the season. However, it is refreshing that they also get to be kids.

Instead of letting them fight Lisa and David, Max’s parents take the lead. This is the kid of moment that we needed to see from these two. After showing the friction between them, it was a good move to have them come together protecting their son. 

Then you have Jay and D’Arcy, who seem to be the forgotten characters on Patience. After D’Arcy discovers Harry’s body in the freezer and everyone gaslights her, it’s not hard to see why she’s angry. D’Arcy cares about her friends, and the fact that they haven’t clued her into what’s going on has left her listless. Alice Wetterlund does very well slipping into the more serious parts of D’Arcy, and it’s great to see it 

D’Arcy still doesn’t know Harry’s secret, but letting D’Arcy in on the fact that Asta is Jay’s mom is a great way to break the ice and clue her in a little bit. The moment when they team up to prank Jimmy is a bit of levity the episode deeply needed.

While all this is going on, Harry is having a breakdown that causes him to set off his device. His confession to Asta about how he loves her feels forced. I never saw Harry and Asta as a couple. I’m not entirely sure they belong together. However, that’s probably due to the fact that Harry has been a stiff, awkward alien, that can’t express love like a human. 

It is Asta’s rejection that makes him activate his device, and that decision feels like the most human one of all. 

It is the same with the standoff in the hanger. It’s a huge payoff watching Harry board his spaceship and attempt to take off, only to stop when he sees Asta and Max are being held prisoner. The decision to use “O-o-h Child” by The Five Stairsteps as the soundtrack to the rescue is perfectly on brand for the series, and makes the moment hit in just the right way. 

The final moments, when Harry takes off and drops his device in the atmosphere are heartbreaking, until we see that Max has stowed away in the ship. 

This revelation leaves us with lots of questions for Season 2. Are we gonna see Harry’s home planet? What will happen when Harry gets there? Has he become too human for his people? Does Sahar’s mother think the mayor is nuts? Does Sheriff Mike come to like the Nespresso machine?  

Overall, this is a strong end to an interesting freshman series. If the writers can keep up the comedy and continue to push and entwine the storylines, Resident Alien has potential. 

Stray Thoughts:

• Harry’s interface for his spaceship is the stuff of gaming dreams! 
• Thinking “damn you forgot the pizzas” is probably the most human thing that Harry could have though of during takeoff, because seriously
• Please, tell me David is going to join the good guys in Season 2. 
• Underneath is all I really think that Sheriff Mike is just a big softy. 

What did you think of this episode of Resident Alien? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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You can watch Resident Alien Season 1 on Syfy.com

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