FARE THEE WELL, RESIDENT ALIEN

I find SyFy's cancellation of Resident Alien a heedless verdict, but then perhaps it's just as well, allowing it to end on a bang instead of a whimper. 

On the other hand, that doesn't mean that the finale was explosive by any means. I had assumed Season 4 would have been more cosmic driven (with lots of garish, outer-space effects), but as it turned out, it was more grounded than anything else. In other words, it was sentimental. 

That tradition can be found in other embraced finales, with M*A*S*H and Little House on the Prairie being the big, stand-outs, but then there are those famous, polarizing goodbyes, such as The Prisoner and The Sopranos. Resident Alien falls somewhere between the extremes: solid enough to prod the senses, but not too radical to spark impassioned debate. 

At any rate, there were many fine novelties to enjoy within Patience, Colorado's continued, Northern Exposure context this season, the Mantid problem being a strong highlight, and the goofy, baby-abducting Greys were always pushing the ambivalent laughs, but that 1970s, time-travel bit with Harry and D'arcy was cool, too, even if brief. (I mean, the concept could have carried an entire season.) 

Even so, I suppose it was the season's emotional strand that resonated most, in particular when Max's parents learn the truth about Harry, or when Harry's dad becomes impossibly judgmental (not to mention murderous), and yet Harry's rejection of and reconciliation with Heather, his feathery lady, were the season's best aspects. Through such, our Earth-preserving extraterrestrial showed that, despite all the "bullshit" he had to endure (and man, did wee Bridget ever layer it on), he still could muster a human heart, and a heart, no less, that harbored all the foibles that any human would have. Kudos to the pliable Alan Tudyk for making it work, in what goes down as his signature role. 

It would be neat if SyFy (or some source) produced occasional, Resident Alien movies, building a sequel string, much like Fox did decades ago for Alien Nation. (Resident Alien's mastermind, Chris Sheridan, has even suggested the prospect.) Then again, I guess that sort of reasonable continuation isn't in the bag these stodgy days. Still, what exists of Resident Alien is mighty special. Like My Favorite Martian and Mork & Mindy, it'll be remembered, discovered and re-discovered for years to come by those who appreciate quirky, fish-out-of-water sojourns, and believe me, those of that ilk are many, indeed.

RESIDENT ALIEN: NEW SEASON DELAYED?

I became a huge fan of Syfy's Resident Alien (a neo My Favorite Martian/Mork & Mindy) when my friend, Robert, recommended it. I got all caught up on the series and couldn't wait for Alan Tudyk's "Harry Vanderspeigle" and the gang return for Season 4. With the show's three seasons hitting higher popularity through Netflix, the next season's advent seemed not only inevitable, but real near. 

Alas, the big buzz now indicates that Resident Alien may not resume until 2026. (How's that for "some bullshit"?) Okay, I guess it's better than if the show died on the vine, especially considering that Season 3 ended on a major cliffhanger, but all the same, big gaps between seasons is never a good sign for a show's longevity.

Significant gaps between seasons for Boardwalk Empire and Gotham hurt more than helped, leading interest (and plot details) to wan in both cases, so that their long-term extrapolations were truncated, with their final seasons being more obligatory than not, and far shorter than desired. 

Will Resident Alien suffer the same fate? I sure hope not. Maybe some compassionate exec will intervene and mend the matter. Yeah, I know I sound naïve, but can one really blame me for keeping that otherworldly faith? 

I saw Resident Alien: A Far-out, SYFY Diversion

Thanks to my friend, Robert (Marines Don't Have Curlers) Matuzsan, I was inspired to delve into SyFy's Resident Alien, created by producer/writer virtuoso, Chris (Family Guy/Titus) Sheridan, based on the irreverent, Dark Horse comic by writer Peter (Terra Obscura/Robo-Hunter) Hogan and artist Steve (Doctor Who Weekly/Judge Dredd) Parkhouse. 

There are three seasons available, with each episode bringing laughs, intrigue and quirky characterizations, as Resident Alien is a fine blend of My Favorite Martian, Northern Exposure, A Visit to a Small Planet, Green Acres, It Came from Outer Space, Monk and perhaps from a marginal stance, The Day the Earth Stood Still. 

Alan (I, Robot/Tucker and Dale vs Evil/Doom Patrol) Tudyk, who's made a strong mark in particular on the DC multiverse (as both a physical and voice presence), plays the titular persona, ersatz Dr. Harry Vanderspeigle. The doc has become the extraterrestrial's genetic cloak, reinstated after his accidental demise, which leaves our resident alien to assimilate as fast as he can, harnessing English (thanks to Law & Order reruns), social customs and all the snags that follow such in humble Patience, Colorado. (Incidentally, it appears that the genuine Vanderspeigle harbored an unsettling secret, and if revealed, it could spell disaster for his anxious counterfeit.)

In the meantime, our bumbling visitor plans to carry out a monumental mission to eradicate Earth, but as he merges with its inhabitants (all the while developing a penchant for pizza), Earth's erasure seems less worth while. In other words, he begins to side with the Earthlings and their lifestyle, becoming more human through his empathetic encounters with them. This, in turn furthers his madcap exploits, some of which would give the likes of Jerry Lewis and Jim Carrey a run for their comedic money. (Little Greys, with "their meatball heads and spaghetti arms," influence much of the goofiness.) 

Those our cosmic foreigner comes to embrace (most of whom are human, though a few are fellow aliens) include Sara Tomko's relatable Asta Twelvetrees (our alien's best buddy); Gary Farmer's nurturing Dan Twelvetrees (Asta's dad); Alice Letterlund's would-be gold-medalist, D'arcy Bloom; Levi Feihler's well-meaning Mayor Ben Hawthorne; Meredith Garretson's concerned Kate Hawthorne (the mayor's wife); Judah Prehn's Max Hawthorne (their inquisitive son and the first to detect the doctor's underlying identity); Gracelyn Awar Rinke's Sahar (Max's partner in crime and secrecy); Jenna Lamia's love-starved Judy Cooper; Corey Reynolds' politically incorrect Sheriff Mike Thompson (aka "Big Black"); Elizabeth Bowen's downtrodden Deputy Liv Baker; Edi Patterson's driven but smitten Heather (an otherworldly Azure/bird lady); Kesler Talbot's alien tyke, Bridget (aka Bobby Smallwood when in human guise, and for most sequences, nicely puppetized); Terry (The Stepfather/Lost) O'Quinn's ever-searching celebrity, Peter Bach (aka "The Alien Hunter"); Linda (The Terminator/Beauty and the Beast) Hamilton's hardened General Eleanor McCallister; and a slew of gifted others who help make an already nuanced layout even more so. 

Resident Alien, like the best fish-out-of-water ventures, allows viewers to look at themselves in a fresh way through "Vanderspeigle'"s eyes. The charm of the premise bids a fourth season, with a dicey cliffhanger having capped the prior. 

Resident Alien is worth a view, so check out its segments (a copious thirty at present) on SyFy, Peacock, Netflix, Hulu and other streaming services. Don't be surprised if this sardonic sojourn reels you in and, as with the most absorbing, mind-control experiments, doesn't let go.  

Harley Quinn: The Animated Adventure Continues

DC Universe's "Harley Quinn" may have been prompted as a promotional sideline to the big-budget "Birds of Prey", but it succeeds in its own right, perpetuating Harleen Quinzel's iconic position in Batman's mythology and beyond. 

The animated series jives because it's unapologetic. It's not intended for today's impoverished, Potterheaded boys or delusional, Disney-princess girls. It's aimed at adults (or anyone with a basic pair of balls), piled with cursing, crassness and no-way-did-that-happen shocks. In this respect, it's entertaining, erratic and impetuous. In other words, it's good. 

The first and now-in-motion second season present quite a vocal cast: Kaley Cuoco as Quinn; Lake Bell as Poison Ivy; Tony Hale as Dr. Psycho; Ron Funches as King Shark; Jason Alexander as Sy Borgman; Matt Oberg as Kite Man; J.B. Smooth as Frank the Plant; Christopher Meloni as Jim Gordon; James Adomian as Bane; Jim Rash as the Riddler; Wayne Knight as the Penguin; Rahul Kohli as the Scarecrow;  Andy Daly as Two-Face; Alfred Molina as Mr. Freeze; Wanda Sykes as Queen of Fables; Jason Tremblay as Robin (i.e. Damian Wayne); Alan Tudyk as the Joker and Clayface;  Diedrich Bader as Batman; and many more to help aggrandize the catchy queue. 

The chemistry between Quinn and Ivy has never been better, and let's face it, they do hold a lively legacy that goes back to the '90s. So engaging are the exchanges that at times it's easy to forget that they're bad gals. 

To accentuate the show's crafty chemistry, Bane is a dry-humored hoot, while Tudyk's Clayface is as endearing as his Joker is sadistic. Dr. Psycho, however, might be my fave, if only for his tell-it-as-it-is spurts.

It should be noted that on occasion the series does emulate others. Think "Doom Patrol" meets "Ash vs Evil Dead". But even if its tonality isn't always original (and why must it be?), it compensates with exquisite animation, giving viewers the exceptional eye candy they crave. 

And speaking of eye candy, Quinn is the smokin' epitome of such, opting for a "slutty clown" look that for any impassioned, middle-age guy like myself is perfectamundo. Sorry if that offends, but if this series has taught me anything, it's to tell it like it is. Thank you, Dr. Psycho.

Though "Doom Patrol", "Titans" and (the sadly cut-short) "Swamp Thing" are damn good reasons to subscribe to DC Universe, "Harley Quinn" is the source's sweetest icing on the cake.

So, what are ya waitin' for?  Check out the series' samples online if you've any doubts, but be warned: Once you get a taste, you're in for some big-binge gluttony.