Warning: Spoilers ahead forResident Alienseason 4, episode 5, “The Human Condition.“Resident Alienseason 4 has been pretty different compared to earlier runs due to various behind-the-scenes factors, but the last-minute twist forAlan Tudyk’s Harry Vanderspeiglein episode 5,“The Human Condition,” sets up a thrilling second half for the current batch of episodes. With 5 more installments still to air, there is plenty of time for said twist to be heavily addressed.
Harry is one ofResident Alien’s best characters, even when he’s stuck in human form, as has been the case in recent episodes. While Tudyk’s performance has been brilliant as ever,Harry’s current arc has been fun but a little unrewarding. Thankfully, the leader of theResident Aliencastexperienced another unexpected twist in “The Human Condition,” which is just what the show needs.
Harry’s Shocking Disappearance In Episode 5’s Ending Is Fixing Resident Alien Season 4’s Uneven Story
“The Human Condition” caught me off guard with its cool ending
Harry’s storyline inResident Alienseason 4 has revolved heavily around his recent transformation into a full-blooded human, and “The Human Condition” pays the most attention yet to this arc. Just as he seems at peace with his new state of being,Harry disappears right before the eyes of Asta Twelvetrees(Sara Tomko).
Harry’s vanishing act is, I think, the first time this season thatResident Alienhas genuinely surprised me.The return of Heather (Edi Patterson)and the reveal of her and Harry’s alien babies also shocked me, but not to the same extent. Away from those two twists, season 4 has been very uneven and, at times, a little uneventful.
RecentResident Alienepisodes have still made me laugh, and the emotional moments have landed well, but the story hasn’t really been pushed forward in many meaningful ways.
RecentResident Alienepisodes have still made me laugh, and the emotional moments have landed well, but the story hasn’t really been pushed forward in many meaningful ways. Part of the reason for this, of course, is the show’s reduced budget after the switch from Syfy to USA Network.
As a result of this behind-the-scenes change, showrunner Chris Sheridan has been forced into getting creative when makingResident Alienseason 4, and the results have been mixed but entertaining. Now that Harry has vanished in the blink of an eye, this season has a more definite direction in which to head.
Why Did Harry Vanish In “The Human Condition” & What Does It Mean For Season 4?
Harry’s father may be behind his son’s disappearance
“The Human Condition” doesn’t explain how or why Harry vanishedat the end of the episode, but I do have some theories. The first one involves Harry’s father, who has been confirmed to appear at some point in season 4.Harry’s dad will be played by Stephen Root, and after the heavily parenthood-based storyline in “The Human Condition,” the time seems right for Root’s debut.
Some has been revealed about whatHarry’s people inResident Alienare capable of, but there’s been no mention of them being able to make people vanish. However, it could just be that Harry’s dad has arrived in orbit and has transported Harry to his ship. The alternative revolves around Harry’s new biological identity.
Now a proper human,Harry ends “The Human Condition” seemingly at peace with the fact that he is no longer an alien. While this is a pretty wholesome and mature attitude for Tudyk’s character, there’s no telling what letting go of his alien heritage would do to him. It could be that he blips out of existence due to not being complete anymore.
Harry’s disappearance could mean Tudyk is absent from the cast inResident Alienseason 4, episode 6, but I think this would be an overly bold move.
For instance, think about Tobey Maguire’s Peter Parker in 2004’sSpider-Man 2, who lost his powers due to a simple shift in his thought process. It’s not an exact comparison, but there could be some crossover. That said, I think Stephen Root’sResident Aliendebut as Harry’s father is the more likely explanation for Tudyk’s character disappearing.
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