This week’s Resident Alien takes a mini trip to one of the nations most scenic national parks. Harry accompanies Mayor Hawthorne and his family to Yellowstone hoping to uncover the nefarious plot of the Greys who want to takeover Earth.
It’s entertaining to watch Law & Order fan, Harry, unleash his inner detective. Despite his super intelligence, it still comes off more as Inspector Jacques Clouseau with how bumbling and inept he is. His investigation moves along the narrative bringing insight on the Greys’ master plan and identifying the stakes.
However, “141 Seconds” feels too crammed with side stories that it doesn’t give enough time to let each breathe and develop. For example, the cold opening explores Kate Hawthorne’s trauma at the hands of the Greys. It effectively sets a darker and more twisted tone, but unfortunately, we don’t come back to that in this episode of Resident Alien until near the end. When we do, there isn’t much advancement other than what we already know.
Back in Patience, Deputy Liv and Sheriff Mike’s own investigation is making progress. There are some nice tie ins into Mike’s complicated personal life with his ex, and it also provides a secretive and conspiracy like mood with the roadblocks they encounter. Though the drama between Liv and her nana comes out of nowhere, and feels like an attempt to manufacture sentiment for the deputy. Liv is a strong and complex character on her own, and she doesn’t need artificial means to get the audience on her side. We’re already there.
One Resident Alien regular that stands out is Judy. Jenna Lamia embodies hot mess as her character with her typical outlandish performance. Judy’s affection for Sheriff Mike is sweet in a Fatal Attraction kind of way. But the biggest surprise is how much sympathy you have for Judy following the break up. You can see past the overeagerness and to the heart and good intentions her actions come from. It’s a difficult task to make someone like Judy, who can come off as one note, someone that you didn’t realize you were invested in.
But Judy isn’t even the most off the wall part from “141 Seconds.” That comes in the closing moments with an unexpected visitor. Her presence alone expands the science fiction world of Resident Alien, and she brings with her another conflict to overcome. The funny part is that in light of how out of left field things are, it is all bogged down by typical human bureaucracy.
The latest Resident Alien moves the narrative along from different angles, but seems too filled with subplots to properly give time to each to fully develop.
New episodes of Resident Alien air Wednesdays on Syfy.
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