Resident Alien

An enigmatic extraterrestrial crashes into a quiet Colorado town and assumes the identity of its new doctor. The visitor, who calls himself Harry Vanderspeigle, keeps a low profile while keeping a lid on a secret mission; he tries to practice medicine and blend in, but the job rarely goes as planned. When a murder rocks the community, Harry finds himself drawn into the mystery as he learns human rules, quirks, and habits. His outsider perspective surfaces in dry wit and odd choices, from how he treats patients to his puzzling ethics. Across small-town life, he weighs a radical question what it means to save a species that seems so complicated. The show blends science fiction with comedy and heart.

Released in 2021, the series was developed for television by Chris Sheridan and is based on the Dark Horse Comics miniseries created by Peter Hogan and Steve Parkhouse. It stars Alan Tudyk in the title role, grounding the odd premise with warmth and wit.

Awards: The show has not been a major awards magnet, with no landmark nominations or wins to date. Critics did praise Tudyk's dry delivery and the way the alien character balances deadpan humor with earnest moments, but the ensemble and writing rarely snagged high profile accolades.

Cultural impact: The show has a modest footprint in sci-fi comedy circles, with Tudyk's dry sarcasm and the small town setting giving it a distinct vibe that fans echo on social media and in fan gatherings. It nudges viewers to consider belonging, mercy, and the costs of choosing humanity.

Reception & themes: Critics praised the blend of genre and the moral questions at the heart of the story. The show quietly probes assimilation, ethics, and humanity through humor, mystery, and a fish-out-of-water premise that feels oddly restorative, inviting discussions about who we become when we improvise new lives together.