Season 1 of Resident Alien was a ride I honestly didn’t expect to enjoy this much. What starts off as a quirky sci-fi comedy about an alien crash-landing in Colorado quickly turns into something deeper, with murder mysteries, small-town drama, and one of the funniest rivalries I’ve seen on TV. The show finds the perfect balance between laugh-out-loud moments and emotional storytelling, and by the finale, I was hooked.
Resident Alien Season 1 Episodes
Here’s the full lineup of episodes (each can link back to individual recaps):
- Welcome to Earth
- Homesick
- Secrets
- Birds of a Feather
- Love Language
- Sexy Beast
- The Green Glow
- End of the World as We Know It
- Welcome Aliens
- Heroes of Patience
The Setup: Harry Comes to Paradise
The story begins when an alien crash-lands on Earth and kills Dr. Harry Vanderspeigle, taking over his identity. His mission is straightforward: retrieve his lost device and wipe out humanity. Simple enough, right? Except life in Paradise, Colorado, has other plans for him.
From Episode 1, Harry is thrown into town life after Dr. Sam Hodges, the local physician, is found dead under mysterious circumstances. Suddenly, Harry is the “new doctor,” forced into interactions with townsfolk he never wanted to meet. The comedy practically writes itself—Harry studies human behavior by watching Law & Order reruns, stumbles through conversations, and constantly misreads emotional cues.
And then there’s Max—the kid who can actually see Harry’s alien form. That changes everything.
Key Storylines of Season 1
Harry vs. Max
If there’s one thing I’ll never forget from Season 1, it’s the rivalry between Harry and Max. Here’s a super-powered alien capable of destroying the planet, and yet he spends most of his brainpower trying to eliminate one stubborn elementary school kid. The irony is hilarious.
Harry comes up with ridiculous “accident” scenarios to get rid of Max, while Max, terrified yet determined, tries to expose him. Their cat-and-mouse game is one of the funniest threads of the season, and it adds a unique flavor to the story.
The Murder Cover-Up
Another big arc of Season 1 is Harry’s attempt to cover up the fact that he killed the real Dr. Vanderspeigle. The sheriff and deputy keep circling the mystery of Dr. Sam’s death, and Harry is forced into increasingly desperate and bizarre schemes to protect himself.
The highlight here has to be the DNA cover-up. To throw the sheriff off, Harry gives him baby circumcision skin as a DNA sample. Yes, you read that right. It’s as insane as it sounds—and somehow it works, which makes it even funnier.
The murder mystery side of the show gives it stakes, keeping Harry constantly on edge. Every interaction with the sheriff feels like a ticking time bomb, and yet the comedy never gets lost in the tension.
Harry and Asta
If Max is Harry’s comedic foil, Asta is his emotional anchor. Throughout the season, Asta shows him genuine kindness and trust, which slowly chips away at his alien detachment. Their bond feels natural, even as Harry fumbles through pretending to be human.
This relationship reaches its breaking point in the finale, when Asta learns the truth about Harry. Watching her face as she realizes what he is—and what he’s planning—was one of the most powerful moments of the season. It gave the comedy-heavy show a serious emotional punch, and it left Harry conflicted in a way he never expected.
The Green Glow and Harry’s Mission
By Episode 7 (The Green Glow), Harry finally gets closer to his alien device, the key to wiping out humanity. The build-up to this is excellent—he juggles small-town doctor duties, schemes against Max, and dodges the sheriff’s questions, all while chasing the glow in the mountains.
By the time Harry recovers the device in Episode 8, the tension is at its peak. He has what he came for, but he’s no longer the same alien who crash-landed. His experiences with Asta, Max, and the rest of Paradise have softened him, even if he refuses to admit it out loud.
The Finale: Heroes of Patience
Everything comes to a head in Episode 10, Heroes of Patience. The town gathers for Dr. Sam’s memorial, the sheriff presses harder on the investigation, and Asta finally learns the truth. Harry reclaims his ship and prepares to carry out his mission to destroy humanity—only to hesitate because of his growing connection to Asta.
The final twist is perfect: Harry blasts off in his ship, only to find Max stowed away onboard. It’s the ultimate payoff for their rivalry and a cliffhanger that guarantees you’ll be back for Season 2.
Final Thoughts on Season 1
Looking back, Season 1 of Resident Alien nailed everything I want in a first season. It introduced an unforgettable main character, balanced humor with real heart, and built momentum with storylines that kept me laughing, guessing, and even tearing up.
For me, the highlights were:
- Harry vs. Max’s ridiculous rivalry.
- The sheriff’s murder investigation and Harry’s wild cover-ups.
- The emotional weight of Harry and Asta’s relationship.
- The suspense of Harry finding his device and facing his mission.
By the end, Harry isn’t just an alien trying to wipe out humanity—he’s a character torn between duty and the messy, hilarious, emotional reality of being human. Season 1 set the stage perfectly for the chaos and heart that Season 2 promises to deliver.
