DISCLAIMER: This recap of the Resident Alien episode “An Alien in New York” has spoilers. Reheat that day-old pizza, cue up the Law & Order reruns and proceed at your peril.
Welcome back, residents of Patience! It’s hard to believe we’re past the halfway point in Season 2 of Resident Alien. “An Alien in New York” feels like vintage RA — zany, hilarious and chock full of heart. Corey Reynolds steals the show, churning out a heartbreaking, tender, utterly vulnerable performance. Mike hits the nail on the head regarding grief, and it profoundly resonates with me, as I’m sure it does with countless others. Bravo.
But it’s not all tears and drama — “An Alien in New York” boasts some of the funniest scenes in Resident Alien history, from Octopus’s untimely death at the jaws of a cute dog to Harry tripping on LSD. This show is truly hitting its stride, and I’m here for it.
Ready to dig deep into “An Alien in New York”? Let’s get to it.
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We open with Sam Hodges (Jan Bos) visiting Human Harry (Alan Tudyk) at his secluded home. Sam shows Harry a series of photos featuring his family, including Asta. He believes this mysterious organization will pursue his loved ones. Harry and Sam traveled to New York, searching for money for Patience’s clinic, but now Sam feels like he’s in over his head. Harry vows to remedy the situation, asking that Sam give him two months to do so.
After Sam departs, Harry calls said mysterious organization, informing them that Sam’s hot on their trail.
Now, we’re back in the present, with Sheriff Mike (Reynolds) telling Ben (Levi Fiehler) about Jessup’s planned acquisition of some property to build a new resort. However, it’s not a done deal. Mike encourages Ben to consider buying the land himself and utilizing it to Patience’s benefit.
Meanwhile, Harry asks Octopus (voiced by Nathan Fillion) for fashion advice while he packs for New York. Asta (Sara Tomko) arrives and reveals when they fly to The Big Apple. Asta worries about finances since she maxed out her credit card. But cast those fears aside — it’s Harry to the rescue! He procures a duffel bag chock full of wads of cash.
Asta finds documents inside the bag, including Sam’s medical records and files under the name “The Galvan/Powell Group.” A law firm?
Asta riffles through the stack of photos, and we even see images of Sam with Human Harry. Could this be a case of extortion? Asta questions if she knew Sam at all.
Next, Liv (Elizabeth Bowen) believes everything’s linked to UFOs, much to Mike’s dismay. He urges her to research aliens on her time. D’Arcy (Alice Wetterlund) belts out an energetic rendition of “I Think We’re Alone Now” to one lone patron at the pub. Ben catches the tail end of the performance. He asks D’Arcy for permission to use an ATV to survey some land.
However, the town only authorized D’Arcy to drive the ATVs, so she must escort Ben on his mission. He’s not a fan of this.
Sahar (Gracelyn Awad Rinke) visits Harry; he hopes she has his alien tech ball. Unfortunately, she doesn’t, revealing that someone stole it. That means he gets to keep the puppy! Oh, well!
While they’re hurling thinly-veiled insults, Octopus calls for help. Harry discovers the dog destroying his alien friend.
Much to Harry’s abject horror, Octopus dies, but not before imparting his final wish. He wants Harry to consume him like a seafood dish you’d eat in a five-star restaurant. Harry sobs uncontrollably; however, he thoroughly enjoys Octopus’s savory succulence.
This scene kills me. Tudyk is hysterical. Only on Resident Alien will you watch an alien masquerading as a human trying to give CPR to his dying pal, who happens to be a talking octopus. It’s a hell of a trip.
Later, Harry and Asta travel to NYC, a.k.a. the home of Lennie Briscoe! Harry experiences sensory overload as he navigates the mean streets of The Big Apple. He even loses Asta at one point.
Eventually, they arrive at the pizza place that dialed Harry earlier. But the employee they chat with doesn’t seem “in the know” regarding the whole alien thing. But Harry does get a plethora of pizza out of it, so not all is lost.
While they’re outside, Harry spots an invisible mural on the side of a building. The name “Goliath” is on it. Asta, elated, decides to follow this lead.
Meanwhile, D’Arcy and Ben clamber up a mountain and sit on the top of the world, enjoying the gorgeous view of Patience below them. They talk about Ben and Kate’s marriage, namely that she doesn’t allow him to do certain things. Therefore, he doesn’t fully express himself or try to broach anything she might loathe. D’Arcy apologizes for kissing Ben.
Then, Asta researches Goliath, an enigmatic, reclusive artist a la Banksy. According to her research, nobody’s met Goliath, but they’ve tried.
Mike catches Liv interviewing a woman who claimed to spot a UFO. Of course, he’s irritated — he told her to dig into the extraterrestrial stuff while off the clock.
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Asta and Harry stumble upon the headquarters for The Galvan/Powell Group. Asta heads inside, alone, to sniff around for pertinent information. Harry descends a staircase to a small establishment boasting about serving “the world’s best pie.” Who can say “no” to pie?
While munching on some pie, one angry man approaches Harry. This person knew Human Harry, and he proceeds to chastise Harry for showing his face in New York. He was supposed to stay away! But Harry had to visit the home of Law & Order!
After the man leaves, Asta sits across from Harry. The Galvan/Powell Group barred her from entering, so no dice. Harry punctures holes in the map of the city, marking the locations of Goliath’s murals. He divulges that said holes create the constellation, Ursa Major.
Goliath is trying to communicate with him. Harry points to one particular mural, which sits where Goliath’s sun would be. That’s where they might find the elusive alien artist.
D’Arcy and Ben smoke old weed the former hid in Max’s bedroom. Ah, closet devil’s lettuce!
Later, Harry and Asta attend one of Goliath’s art exhibitions. They meet a woman who’s throwing the shindig, and she informs them that Goliath isn’t there. Harry vows to fly under the radar and be as normal as possible.
Meanwhile, Liv handcuffs Mike to a bench and demands he discloses why he’s acting strangely. But first — time for frozen yogurt and one of Liv’s signature “boss girl” poses!
D’Arcy and Ben get higher than kites in Max’s room. Ben reveals he doesn’t want more children, so he keeps tabs on Kate’s ovulation cycle. D’Arcy believes she’s a depressed nobody, a burnout loser with no direction or place in life. But Ben elevates her, citing that if it weren’t for D’Arcy, his family might be dead. Ben channeled D’Arcy to save his loved ones from Lisa Casper and David Logan.
D’Arcy falls asleep in Max’s bed, so Ben tucks her in, all safe and cozy.
Harry tries to emit a signal that’s inaudible to human ears, but he obnoxiously does this in typical Harry fashion, and it’s hilarious.
Asta notices the date on one of Goliath’s paintings: 2011. He might look more human than alien if he’s lived on Earth for a decade.
Asta branches off to continue searching for the enigmatic Goliath while Harry takes LSD, as one does. Hey, free is free, y’all.
Next, Liv returns from her froyo trip. Mike reveals all — Jesse’s death and how it affected him. Mike even regales Liv with the tale of how they met and how their inseparable friendship spanned two decades. I never thought Sheriff Mike would make me weep, but here we are. Reynolds delivers and then some. It’s a moving, visceral, gut-wrenching performance.
It explains Mike’s behavior, especially how overprotective he is of Liv.
Back at the gallery, the LSD kicks in, and Harry embarks on the trip of a lifetime. He notices his alien form attempting to break through his human skin. Harry eventually flees the scene in terror.
Asta chats with the party thrower, who reveals that Goliath painted her artwork. Then, the woman asks Asta how long she’s known that Harry was an alien. Plot twist!
Meanwhile, Lisa Casper (Mandell Maughan) appears at the pizza joint where Harry received that phone call. Harry takes an LSD-fueled jaunt through Times Square, and we see him completely transform into his extraterrestrial self amid the throng of people.
“This is some bullsh*t.” Maybe for you, Harry Vanderspeigle, but it’s entertaining for us!
RELATED: Catch up on all the extraterrestrial antics with our Resident Alien recaps!
Do you think we’ll see Goliath’s identity in next week’s episode? How does The Galvan/Powell Group factor into the overall narrative? Will the show try to make D’Arcy and Ben a thing (I hope not — don’t cheat on Kate, Ben!)? What Broadway show would LSD Harry watch? Join me next time while I recap Resident Alien here on Geek Girl Authority.
Resident Alien airs Wednesdays at 9 pm on your Syfy affiliate.
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What I do: I'm GGA's Managing Editor, a Senior Contributor, and Press Coordinator. I manage, contribute, and coordinate. Sometimes all at once. Joking aside, I oversee day-to-day operations for GGA, write, edit, and assess interview opportunities/press events.
Who I am: Before moving to Los Angeles after studying theater in college, I was born and raised in Amish country, Ohio. No, I am not Amish, even if I sometimes sport a modest bonnet.
Bylines in: Tell-Tale TV, Culturess, Sideshow Collectibles, and inkMend on Medium.
Critic: Rotten Tomatoes, CherryPicks, and the Hollywood Creative Alliance.
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