On the previous Resident Alien, it looked as though Harry’s stay on Earth would be coming to an end since he broke interplanetary law with his dealings with the Grays. This week, through the efforts of his friends, he is able to delay his expulsion, and maybe find a little romance.
One of the main themes of “Avian Flu” is love. Harry can’t help falling for the Blue Avian lawyer that served him his papers. It’s such a wacky delight to watch the good doctor run awkward and childish game. You have to admire his directness. Still, on a deeper level, Harry’s courtship reminds you how far the character has grown and become more human. The fact he can feel this way for another person and how vulnerable he is towards Heather demonstrates how much of a softy he is.
It takes a talented actor to play opposite Alan Tudyk’s Harry, and Resident Alien might have found a good comedic match in Edi Patterson. If you’ve watched The Righteous Gemstones, you know how hilarious she can be. You can see the potential in Patterson and Tudyk’s on screen chemistry once they have more scenes together and can play off of each other better.
Also, Resident Alien might not have the biggest budget of a television series, but there can be improvements in Helen in Blue Avian form, especially we’ve seen better costuming and makeup for aliens, even in this episode. But the look of Helen just adds to her character and the campiness of the show.
Love is shown in other forms as well including amongst family. Asta has many heartfelt moments with Jay, and it’s particularly touching how she helps her daughter feel connected with her indigenous roots. On the other spectrum are failed romances such as D’Arcy and Elliot’s relationship. D’Arcy’s reflections are one of the few times she isn’t seen as an immature hot mess, and you can’t help feel sorry that such a catch is single. Tying the different storylines around the theme of love helps connect the narratives while providing opportunities to deepen the characters.
In addition, Resident Alien continues to develop the conspiracy theory side of the show. Sheriff Mike and Deputy Liv continue their investigation that only builds a bigger mystery behind the motives of the Greys. We also don’t know what General McCallister’s play is around everything, and she brings back an unexpected person from the past. The general has her own shady plans, and like last week, we’re left with a bomb of a cliffhanger. Recently, the show has been doing a good job making you anxious for the next episode.
“Avian Flu” uses the recurring theme of love to place its protagonist in entertaining situations while also adding to the complexity of the other residence of Patience. Despite all the fun, the reveal at the end will have you waiting to see how much more explosive things can get.
New episodes of Resident Alien air Wednesday nights on Syfy.
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