Warning: Spoilers ahead forResident Alienseason 4, episode 10, “The End Is Here.“Even thoughResident Alienis officially over, showrunner Chris Sheridan snuck in some last-minute narrative seeds that would only have the chance to blossom if the sci-fi dramedy were to be revived. While the show’s finale,“The End Is Here,” wraps up the saga nicelyfor every member of theResident Aliencast, there are some intentional loose ends left dangling.
Resident Alien’s endingis the finale the show deserved after four seasons of anxiously awaiting renewal decisions. The story could now easily end for good. However,it’s clear that Sheridan isn’t completely done with the show’s universe, and so made sure thatResident Alien’s best characterscould all hit the ground running if a revival were to ever happen.
7D’arcy’s Career As A Ski Coach
Alice Wetterlund’s D’arcy Bloom beganResident Alienas a character whose purpose was pretty much purely comedic. Given Wetterlund’s background in stand-up comedy, this wasn’t entirely surprising. That said, D’arcy’s arc gradually became more emotional and revealed why she hid behind quips and sarcasm. Her story turned into one that saw her seeking a sense of meaning.
One of the biggest underlying causes of D’arcy’s alcoholism and general emotional turmoil has been the heartbreaking events that saw her crash out of the Olympics years beforeResident Alien’s pilot episode. “The End Is Here” not-so-subtly implies that she’s on the cusp of returning to the skiing world.
After noticing the early warning signs of another young skiing prodigy about to become self-destructive, D’arcy intervenes and gives her the advice she needs to hear. Althoughthe show doesn’t confirm D’arcy’s new career as a ski coach, it’s pretty obvious that’s what’s about to happen for Wetterlund’s character.
6Mike & Liv’s New Role As Secret Agents
Resident Alienseason 4 is especially transformative for Sheriff Mike (Corey Reynolds) and Deputy Liv (Elizabeth Bowen), as their respective relationships with alien life shift quite significantly. While Mike finally comes to terms with the existence of life from beyond the stars,Liv’s experience with the Mantid severely dampens her enthusiasm for all things extraterrestrial.
The return of David Logan (Alex Barima) and his new partner sees him recruiting both Mike and Liv to be cloak-and-dagger operatives for their secretive organization. Patience’s sheriff and his deputy both accept the exciting new position, and they’re instructed to keep an eye on alien activity in the area.
Given thatMichael Cassidy’s Ethan is the only confirmed alien in Patienceby the end ofResident Alienseason 4, he would likely be Mike and Liv’s biggest surveillance target. However, I’m sure the show could easily include some additional challenges to keep them both busy - asSheridan has already implied.
5Peter “The Alien Tracker” Bach & His Adventures
Terry O’Quinn’sResident Aliencharacter doesn’t appear in the finale, but he does have a small role in the penultimate episode, “Tunnel Vision.” When returning to help save his son,Peter makes a deal with the government that he’ll help them with alien threatswhenever they need him. His services aren’t required in “The End Is Here,” so he doesn’t show up.
The Alien Tracker’s return in such a dramatic way inResident Alienseason 3 made it seem like O’Quinn’s character was set for a much bigger role in season 4 than he turned out to have. I think the show’s cancellation probably contributed to him taking a backseat in the final season, as more pressing farewells needed to be made.
So, ifResident Alienseason 5 were to ever happen, concentrating far more on Peter’s sporadic collaboration with the government would be a great way to make up for his scarcity in season 4. On the other hand, reuniting him with his son serves as a great stopping point to Peter’s story, so maybe bringing him back wouldn’t be necessary.
4The Existence Of Fairies In The Resident Alien Universe
Resident Alien’s identity has always been that of a sci-fi dramedy show, but"The End Is Here” quietly introduces fantasy elementsto the canon. While discussing her new job, Liv tricks information out of her employer regarding the existence of fairies. While it’s primarily a moment that’s played for laughs, it’s also something of a game-changer.
Resident Alien’s fairy reveal makes the show a sci-fi/fantasy hybrid, broadening the lore even further. If fairies exist, it’s not unreasonable to assume that other supernatural creatures are also present within the show’s canon. This opens up countless storytelling opportunities and the chance to introduce many new characters and settings.
This storyline could even cross over with Mike and Liv’s new roles. While Liv was told she doesn’t have the clearance for the fairy files in “The End Is Here,” it seems like too much of a tease forResident Aliennot to pay this off - especially with Liv looking for a new interest after falling out of love with aliens.
3Alien Ethan’s Journey To Becoming More Human
Resident Alienseason 4 ended in a way that was intentionally reminiscent of season 1’s first episode. WithAlan Tudyk’s Harry Vanderspeigleset to leave Earth behind, Michael Cassidy’s return to the show - this time as Alien Ethan - meansResident Alienseason 5 would likely place him as the main character.
Only the earliest stages of Ethan’s life on Earth are shownin “The End Is Here,” but it doesn’t take a genius to see that he’s about to follow a path very similar to Harry’s. Instead of carrying out his mission to kill all humans, he’s going to gradually become one himself and find a sense of belonging on Earth - just like Harry.
Resident Alienseason 4 received a 100% score onRotten Tomatoes.
While there are bound to be startling similarities between Harry’s arc and Ethan’s, it would be strange if they were identical. For starters,Ethan will be living in Patience without Asta(Sara Tomko), who also leaves at the end of season 4. Tomko’s character was instrumental in turning Harry from a villain into an ally, so Ethan will need a different best friend.
Thankfully,Resident Alienhas already replaced Asta, with Jenna Lamia’s Judy Cooper being revealed as Ethan’s closest companion near the end of the show. Ethan, with Judy as a friend instead of Asta, will invariably turn out differently from Harry, and other variables will also influence his development and the stories that manifest as a result.
2Asta’s Humanitarian Work
Asta initially plans to spend time in Amsterdam after theResident Alienseason 4 finale, but her nursing skills are ultimately called upon to make a difference in other parts of the world. Although this isn’t a particularly genre-heavy storyline on the surface, it could easily become one.
There have been several comments and context clues throughoutResident Alienthat suggest Harry is definitely not the only extraterrestrial living on Earth. So, as Asta moves around in her new role, she can discover more and more aliens in various nations across the globe. An eventual return to Patience would be nice, but not necessary.
1Harry’s New Life With Heather & His Alien Family (& His Eventual Return)
Harry endsResident Alienby leaving Ethan in his placeand heading to a new planet to spend his life with Heather (Edi Patterson) and their alien offspring. It’s an incredibly wholesome ending to Harry’s arc, and one that arguably doesn’t need revisiting. On the other hand, the opportunity to see a world full of aliens would be too big a chance to pass up.
It would be difficult to connect Harry’s new life with the storylines unfolding on Earth, but there is one clear way it could be done.Harry left Max (Judah Prehn) a device that could be used to reach himin case of an emergency. Specifically, Harry told Max to call him if Ethan’s development took an unexpected and villainous turn.
So, what’s perhaps more likely is that Harry would initially be absent fromResident Alienseason 5, or at least be held to a reduced role. Then, if and when Ethan starts to become a threat, Harry’s return would be a landmark moment inResident Alien’s theoretical revival.
