Resident Alien season 4, episode 9 soars high after ups and downs throughout its final season. While Resident Alien was canceled ahead of the season 4 finale, the show is in a position to finish strong. It’s great to finally see all the central cast together, really emphasizing the chemistry and cohesive nature of these performers.

As Harry and his friends from Patience head into the Mines to find the Mantid, the show delivers some of the most ambitious action sequences to date. The episode’s pacing slows down as everyone struggles to find Officer Liv and save her from a terrible fate. There’s emotion, high stakes, and a beautiful resolution for the episode and the series.

Resident Alien Pushes The Limits In A Compelling Penultimate Episode

The brawl between Harry in his alien form and the Mantid is certainly ambitious, and with a TV budget, it fails to be as great as it could’ve been, but it accomplishes what it sets out to do. It’s action-packed, it’s laced with humor, with the scene is photographed repeatedly by Mayor Ben, and it provides an ending to the conflict between Harry and the ruthless Mantid.

A unique plot, excellent comedy delivered by outstanding talent, and well-developed characters.

The rest of the episode digs deeper into the ties between the characters. Asta is on the brink of death and Liv missing. There are twists and turns and the trademark comedy that makes the show shine, which is best delivered by Harry and Sheriff Mike. Spliced between the jokes, the emotional beats — such as D’Arcy speaking to Asta — and Asta’s father connecting with Harry and D’Arcy, all appear balanced.

This is another strong outing for the series, and it showcases the best of what Resident Alien has to offer. A unique plot, excellent comedy delivered by outstanding talent, and well-developed characters. A lot happens in a short span, but it doesn’t feel rushed, and every moment gets a chance to shine.

Where Can Resident Alien Go From Here?

One of the issues season 4 faced early on was that the entire season’s arc was wrapped up by episode 4. One episode before the finale, Resident Alien again coaxes the audience into a false sense of security. The episode amounts to an ending, though it closes with a cliffhanger.

Resident Alien season 4, episode 9 delivers everything the show does best.

Season 4’s biggest problem is that the flow of the series is interrupted. This is most obvious with the penultimate episode. After making it seem like the characters have resolved their biggest issues, it’s revealed that all is not well. Harry returned the Mantid body to the Galactic Housing Council, and the Mantid offspring was burnt to a crisp. Despite this, Asta wakes up in a panic as she declares “They’re here.”

While the episode itself is great, the odd cliffhangers’ season placement is unsatisfying. And now that the next episode is set to be the final of the series due to the series’ cancelation, it seems unlikely to be resolved fully. Regardless, Resident Alien season 4, episode 9 delivers everything the show does best, even as I worry for its future.