SyFy’sResident Alienshow currently holds a 97% positive rating onRotten Tomatoesahead of its fourth season. Since its debut,Resident Alienappeared to get better and better, and was subsequently nominated for seven awards in 2022 aloneafter season 2 aired. However, SyFy reduced its episode count from 16 to eight in the third season, and bythe end ofResident Alienseason 3, it faced an uncertain future with SyFy.
Alan Tudyk’s excellent performance as an alien out of his depth is at the heart ofResident Alien.
After fears that the series would be canceled, it was announced thatResident Alienwould be renewed for a fourth season, but was moving from SyFy to sister network USA. Althoughwriting forResident Alienseason 4 has already begun,this move has reportedly come with a major budget reduction. For a science-fiction-based show involving special effects, this could potentially cause problems.The move away fromSyFymight not necessarily be bad news though, asResident Alienis following a path already forged by another extremely successful science fiction series with a 95%Rotten Tomatoesrating.
Resident Alien Is Following A Similar Path to The Expanse By Leaving SyFy In Season 4
The Budget Cuts Resident Alien Will Take Might Not Matter
Science fiction dramaThe Expansefocused on a wider world conspiracy, with the central characters finding themselves in turmoil after discovering alien technology. It was praised for its scientific accuracy and, likeResident Alien, had a loyal fanbase, but,SyFycanceledThe Expanseafter three seasons, citing a lack of viewers. After protests from fans and celebrities, including George R. R. Martin, under the hashtag #SaveTheExpanse,The Expansefound a new home on streaming giantAmazon,where it thrived,withseasons 4 and 5 gaining a 100% rating onRotten Tomatoes, and a wider audience.
Jeff Bezos announced thatAmazonwould be streamingThe Expanseand renewing the show for multiple upcoming seasons, during the 2018 International Space Development Conference.
While, with an undisclosed but estimated budget of $1-5 million per episode,The Expansecould probably not have continued without the allowance afforded byAmazon. However,being less special-effects-heavy and set in a small town where most characters are human,Resident Alienis likely to adapt to the necessary budget cutsasAlan Tudyk’s excellent performance as Harry Vanderspiegleand his relationships with the town residents is the heart ofResident Alien.Even with budget cuts and the degree of uncertainty that often comes with major change, leavingSyFyis a great opportunity forResident Alien.
Why Resident Alien Season 4 On USA Is A Great Opportunity
Resident Alien Is Likely To Reach An Even Wider Audience With USA
In USA’s early 2000s to mid-teens ‘Blue Sky era,’ in which it aired several quirky and original series, it was the highest-rated cable channel for over twelve years.USA,which currently airs just one original scripted show, (the horror series,Chucky,)is attempting to bring back this past glory with a return to showing original scripted series. USA picking upResident Alienis a reflection of its current success and future potential, as the network’s focus on character-driven stories shows thatResident Alien,which centers on character relationships, is getting mainstream recognition.
I’m Worried About A Resident Alien Theory Predicting A Major Season 4 Character Death
Resident Alien season 4 is sure to be a thrill ride, but I’m concerned one of the main characters won’t make it to the end of the story.
Resident Alien’s quirky science-fiction and comedy themes made it popular among SyFy viewers, and its emotional punches and strong performances, especially from Alan Tudyk and Sara Tomko, gainedResident Alienan average of $3.3 million total viewers.With USA’s new focus on original shows, the network has a vested interest in the success ofResident Alien, making it very likely to receive heavy promotion. As the USA network is currently the ninth most popular channel on TV (while SyFy is the twenty-fourth), airingResident Alienseason 4 on USA will likely expose it to an even wider audience.
Resident Alien
Cast
A television adaptation of the comic book series, Resident Alien is a sci-fi comedy that stars Alan Tudyk as an alien who crashes on Earth with one mission - destroy humanity to save the planet. When Tudyk’s character takes the identity of a doctor, he arrives at a small town and begins to act the role preparing his plan. As time passes, he develops human emotions against his will - but his plans are further complicated when he meets the son of the mayor - who can see his actual appearance.
