It was Halloween in Patience on Resident Alien this week, and Harry was beginning to grow uncomfortable with his human “costume,” fearing once again that his inability to find the Alien Baby, and his growing sentimentality, meant he was no longer recognizable as a member of his species. As a result, he decided he would renounce his human form. Meanwhile, Ben revealed his proposal to build a resort to the town; Thompson and Baker concluded their investigation into Galvan/Powell; and “Bobby Smallwood” turned up at Max’s school.
1. Oh This is Too Much Fun
If I had to rank Resident Alien episodes, this would be listed as one of the funniest: Tudyk — and his alien body double, Keith Arbuthnot — are especially great in this installment, beginning with the former’s stifled delivery of Harry sincerely telling D’Arcy he wishes her all the best with her return to skiing. Harry’s revulsion at his uncontrolled display of sweetness (“What kind of monster have I become?!”) causes him to flee into the frozen mountains resembling his homeworld, so he may be finally rid of his human form and its emotions, only to realize there’s no food up there. (I sympathize, I would become one with nature myself were it not for, well, everything.)
This leads us to the hilarious sight of Harry trying to use his home as his giant original self, repeatedly knocking his head like Gandalf in Bag End, breaking the shower curtain, and forced to relieve himself outside. (For some reason, I found this even funnier when it was happening offscreen.) After determining he needs Sahar’s help finding the Baby, he plots to kidnap her to continue to suppress his empathy, only to be thwarted as she’s willing to go along; I just love how this guy keeps getting outwitted by kids. It was cool seeing Harry and Sahar team up without Max this time round, and it was rather sweet as well as funny how his narration was in denial about how he much he cared about her.
2. Thompson is (and Leaves Us) Speechless
Thompson and Baker investigate what they learned from the interviews with the families of Hodges’s patients, confirming that Galvan/Powell conspired to cover up the poisoning of Hawthorne Creek. (A place which Ben unsurprisingly wants to prioritize renaming.) The FBI takes over the investigation of the firm’s deceased henchmen, meaning Torres will return to Jessup, which leaves the motormouth Sheriff actually speechless, unable to say goodbye or ask her out on a date.
Afterwards, Thompson tells Baker the case made him realize he missed the excitement of investigating murders in D.C., and wants to move back there, leaving her pretty stunned. As Harry’s end narration makes clear, Thompson doesn’t actually want to move back to D.C.’s “whole forest of [murders], in constant bloom,” he just misses the exhiliration of solving crimes with a partner who truly understands him. To be honest, Liv shouldn’t feel too bad given Mike is an egocentric dick, but if he told her how he really felt, it would absolutely sting.
3. Girls’ Night 2: Kate Has Friends After All
Everyone in town objects to Ben’s proposal for a host of economic and cultural reasons, and so during the trick-or-treat festivities, D’Arcy invites Kate to join her, Asta, Kayla, and Liv to see the bridge that would be demolished if the resort was approved. They show her the piece of wood everyone carved their names into as children, and invite her to add her name (next to Ben’s), to help her understand what they risk losing, and to persuade her into convincing Ben to abandon the project. I can understand why Kate can feel she doesn’t have any friends in her husband’s hometown — they all approached her because she is the mayor’s wife — but they’re all so sweet and welcoming, how can she feel that way?
4. OH NO BABY
McCallister goes undercover at the school as Lunchlady “Agnes,” and while Sahar — who deduces she’s military from her watch — suspects she gave Max food poisoning to plant a tracking device inside him, it transpires she actually planted bugs around the school to spy on them. Logan hears Sahar mentioning the Baby, and uses a clip of her saying the word to lure it to his RV — the one the kids had been hiding out in — and a squad of commandos waiting to grab him. Poor Baby: how ironic it is that he would be safe and sound if Harry hadn’t asked Sahar to leave the school with him either.
Continued below5. What the Actual Hell
Goliath is Harry’s future self.
Alright, let’s back up and lay out what we learned: Harry received a book of Goliath’s paintings from Violinda, one of which depicts him and Asta in the first episode. 500 years into the future, Harry still wandered a world devastated by the other aliens, when he discovered a portal in one of the planet’s ley lines, which deposited him in Brazil 33 years ago. From there, Harry assumed his new guise, and planned out everything that would bring his past self to New York.
Even I wasn’t expecting time travel on this show. So, this officially makes Bobby Harry’s son right? Wow.
Bonus Thoughts:
– I bet it wouldn’t help Harry’s mental state if he knew some humans would find bird-like aliens attractive.
– What are the odds Harry’s forgotten to pay all his bills ignoring his letters?
– Damn, imagine roasting your mayor as hard as Ellen does.
– (Snigger) “I got stew babe.”
Well that’s all for now folks: see you all next time for the very appropriately named “Harry, A Parent.”
