Resident Alien

:

Season 1
  • Network: SyFy
  • Series Premiere Date: Jan 27, 2021
Season #: 4, 3, 2, 1
Metascore
70

Generally favorable reviews - based on 15 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 15
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 15
  3. Negative: 0 out of 15
Watch Now

Where To Watch

Buy on
Stream On
Stream On
Stream On
Expand

Critic Reviews

  1. The Times
    Reviewed by: Carol Midgley
    Jan 29, 2021
    60
    It's a nice send-up of various genres, based on the Dark Horse comic books. However, it feels too slight to warrant hour-long episodes and would perhaps be snappier in half-hour bites.
  2. The Telegraph
    Reviewed by: Anita Singh
    Jan 28, 2021
    60
    It’s the sort of show where offbeat things happen: when the town’s doctor is murdered, the mayor instantly appoints Harry as his replacement despite not knowing a thing about him, and Harry carries on the charade despite knowing nothing about medicine. And if it had stuck to that, it would be a winner. But at times it shifted uneasily into more downbeat territory. ... The show needs to give us less of that and instead mine the comic potential, because the set-up here is appealing.
  3. The Hollywood Reporter
    Reviewed by: Daniel Fienberg
    Jan 26, 2021
    40
    The TV incarnation of Resident Alien struggles to find a consistent tone, layers in more artificial storytelling obstacles than the premise requires and only occasionally figures out how to use its appealing cast. ... After seven episodes I'd grown tired of wading through the half-dozen plotlines I didn't care about for the one or two that I did.

Awards & Rankings

67
#67 Most Discussed TV Season of 2021

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 33 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 22 out of 33
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 33
  3. Negative: 2 out of 33
  1. OlivierPiel
    Apr 10, 2021
    8
    Oh, Metacritic deleted my comments? How Beijing/Pyongyang/Rangoon of you!
    I was merely praising a show that had the audacity to attack woke    Oh, Metacritic deleted my comments? How Beijing/Pyongyang/Rangoon of you!
    I was merely praising a show that had the audacity to attack woke culture in the stealthiest way possible. It is basically dealing with the same ideas as this sentencious, moralizing and ultimately disgusting HBO show "Eliminate all the brutes", but show the flawed humanity of all, colonizers and colonized alike.
    Under cover of a silly story, littered with unassumig, Oprah-like, feel-good tropes and bromides, rhe writing, tongue-in-cheek, cleverly hides some devastating asides that would be banned on almost all American TV networks as most people can't read between the lines.
    The on-liner remark on the Wizard of Oz is a simple yet necessary commentary on the stupidity of the current American culture.    … Full Review »
  2. manningn15
    Apr 8, 2021
    10
    Resident Alien was amazing, my favorite new comedy of the year so far. Alan Tudyk's performances was outstanding, he was hilarious andResident Alien was amazing, my favorite new comedy of the year so far. Alan Tudyk's performances was outstanding, he was hilarious and delivers his lines perfectly but loved that he still gave some more complex and deep moments. Sara Tomko, Alice Wetterlund, Elizabeth Bowen, Corey Reynolds, Meredith Garretson, Judah Prehn, Levi Fiehler, Gracelyn Awad Rinke, and Gary Farmer gave great supporting performances. The writing is phenomenal especially the screenplays and Alan Tudyk's lines also loved how the show dipped into more series and drama fueled moments at times. The special effects makeup on Alan Tudyk was exceptional, so cool and real looking. The visual effects were excellent. An A+ first season.… Full Review »
  3. viroodiem
    Feb 24, 2021
    8
    Such a promising show that does its best to fill the horse shaped hole in our hearts from the loss of Happy! though much softer around theSuch a promising show that does its best to fill the horse shaped hole in our hearts from the loss of Happy! though much softer around the edges. Toned down but a lot of the same dark, edgy humor. It is far from perfect. The show is built on an incredibly well worn path in the model of Northern Exposure and other "stranger in a strange land" type themes. With a touch of mystery and drama that plays out similar to Wayward pines and a character construct loosely modeled on a combination of Invader Zim and Dexter. That said, comfortable can be good too. Outside of a few of the jokes failing to land in the first 3 episodes, for the most part the assemblage of its various parts is a well made and well acted cobbling together of favorite entertainment comfort food.

    Definitely my favorite new show of 2021 so far. However given that this is a comic book property that is not owned by SciFi channel, there is every likelihood that this too will suffer the same fate as others before it such as the aforementioned Happy!, Deadly Class, Dark matter, etc. So enjoy it while it lasts cause even though its really good, all signs point to it not being long for this world. Or maybe I am just cynical and jaded after being burnt by Scifi channel so many times like this. Which, yanno, is the target demographic for this type of programming.

    I would say 7.5-7.75 out of 10 Rounded up to 8. Hope it gets a proper run with several more seasons    … Full Review »
See all user reviews »