Sheriff Mike: Yeah, I don't recommend citizens taking the law into their own hands, but that was – that was some real hero shit the two of you did in there.
Episode description: “On the verge of completing his mission, Harry confronts his own humanity.”
Whoever writes the descriptions for Resident Alien for marketing purposes doesn't do a good job. Fortunately, the writers of the actual show do much better, and this episode was a great end to a fun season.
In the last episode, Sheriff Mike arrested Abigail Hodges for the murder of Sam Hodges. But this episode begins by showing us that the actual murderer was Harry Vanderspeigle – not alien Harry, but the original human edition. We don't know why original Harry killed Sam, but he did. This murder has at least two implications. We know that Sheriff Mike made a mistake – perhaps a reasonable one, but a mistake that Deputy Liv would not have made. Also, although we are supposed to dislike alien Harry because he killed original Harry, original Harry's murder of Sam Hodges makes Harry's killing of original Harry feel less bad. Instead it appears to be karmic justice. At least that's what I felt, even though we know alien Harry has been planning to kill all humans on the planet.
Still, at the end of the last episode, D'Arcy discovered the original Harry's dead body. There's much to like and to dislike with respect to D'Arcy in this episode. She insists she saw a dead Harry, and then, since Harry appears to be alive, continues to insist she saw a dead body (despite her admitted drug taking). I like her for this, for insisting, for kicking up a fuss, when she thinks something is really wrong. Later in the episode I liked her heart to heart with Ben – he admires her fearlessness – and then she kisses him, which is so inappropriate, but consistent with her character.
But – and this is something I cannot forgive – D'Arcy sends Jimmy's car down the road. This is made to look funny, like a great way to get revenge, but it is the most irresponsible thing I have seen on this show. I don't care about the property damage. I care about sending a car without a driver down a hill, when it could easily hit a pedestrian or another car. This is treated like a joke when it is seriously dangerous. You're supposed to laugh when we hear the sound of the car crashing into something. Resident Alien doesn't display any video, however, possibly because it would be expensive but maybe also because the audience would realize this is horrible and not funny. D'Arcy deserves to be locked up for this. Or maybe the writers do.
Weird how I can suspend disbelief in most of the show – for example, I enjoy the rest, even the other homicidal tendencies. It doesn't bother me that Harry is planning to kill the entire human race with his device. I can accept that, from his point of view, the action is reasonable. It doesn't strike extra fear in me (even though this planet has many buttons that when pushed would kill thousands of people, although not everyone). The General's minions feel like the bad guys, going after Harry – but they, especially David, are right. Harry is planning to kill everyone, and they convince Sahar and Max.
Anyway, let's rewind a bit. Near the start of the episode, D'Arcy tells best friend Asta about finding dead Harry. Asta seems to blow it off, but Asta knows human Harry is dead and that a dead Harry in alien Harry's freezer means that alien Harry knew about it. Especially after she gets confirmation when she looks at the dead Harry's foot. Asta confronts alien Harry about it. Alien Harry says that dead Harry started it, but Asta is angry and says they are no longer friends. This abandonment is what triggers Harry's decision to move ahead with killing the entire human race. Yet even then he is reluctant, pausing his plans to enjoy some pizza.
Mayor Bob may feel fear, but I rather like him. He does what he can to buck up D'Arcy, until she goes too far. He gets up and goes straight home. And then, when he realizes people are attacking his family, he first calls for backup and then unlocks the door and goes inside. I really liked how Resident Alien treated this, with Ben and Kate defending the kids and beating up the intruders with random items they grabbed from the house. I liked, too, how this seems to get them past the marital problems they were experiencing.
The intruders escape and head to the clinic because Max told them the alien was the town doctor. Max is right, the alien was the town doctor, but he isn't anymore. I had wondered about the creative decision to replace Harry as the town doctor, as this meant that our Harry would interact less with the residents of Patience, but this means that the handsome Ethan Stone is now kidnapped by the General's minions and taken away.
Max enlists Asta's help and they go and manage to persuade Harry not to kill everyone. I like how Resident Alien sometimes skips the boring bits, with apparently the kids letting the adults know where Harry's ship is. I liked, too, how Harry was able to get rid of dead Harry's corpse, just by pushing a button on his kill-all-humans device but directing it just to dead Harry. That means that plot point could be permanently resolved. Even if they found the clothes, which remain, there's nothing really suspicious because alien Harry could claim the clothes as his own.
I liked too, how Resident Alien dispenses with a complicated dashboard or weapons system in Harry's ship and our Harry just makes motions with his arms and fingers to attack those who are attacking him. Just as believable and much cheaper!
In the end, Harry chooses not to wipe out the human race, mostly due to his affection for Asta. He even wants Asta to come with him to his planet. She refuses, but shortly after Harry takes off, Harry discovers he does have a human on board. Max, when Asta yelled at him to hide, chose to hide on Harry's ship.
Title musings. “Heroes of Patience” is the title of the episode. We have several humans in Patience who display heroic behavior. Most obvious are Kate and Ben Hawthorne, who defend their son and his friend Sahar by fighting the intruders. But there's also Sahar who risked her life to slow down the General's minions. Sheriff Mike and Deputy Liv rush to the rescue. And Max and Asta chase after Harry in order to convince him not to destroy the human race. And D'Arcy, although she's not heroic in this episode, has displayed plenty of physical bravery before this. I liked the title.
Bits and pieces
It is interesting that D'Arcy has an escape plan in case she needs it. I wonder if this will show up later. I'm predicting not, as it would take us out of Patience, but it's there in case we need it.
Sahar is great, not only slowing down the agents but also getting money out of them for her bike.
D'Arcy takes drugs. Not a surprise. I guess a lot of people do.
I always enjoy how Resident Alien combines the mundane with the distressing. Before hitting the button to destroy all humanity, Harry stops at Patience's new pizza place and orders many pizzas to go.
It's interesting that alien Harry feels guilt, not just for killing original Harry, but for the fact that Isabelle lost her husband. Even though I didn't much like Isabelle, it's good to acknowledge that she does feel pain and that alien Harry knows this too.
Quotes
Harry: Everyone has to die. It is the normal cycle of life for beings across the entire universe. Some may live longer than others, but every organism comes into being and then ceases being.
Sheriff Mike: Sorry about this, Dr. V, but, uh, D'Arcy broke into your cellar last night and she thinks she saw a dead you in the freezer. I told her it was probably just some meat in there that looked like you, like a frozen pig or something.
Harry: I am more handsome than a pig.
D'Arcy: I know what I saw. Stop trying to gaslight me. I know I'm not crazy.
Lisa/Sarah: Great, you distracted me, now we're losing the little shit.
David/Dick: Oh, my God. Are–are you all right?
Sahar: Watch your language, please. And you owe me $100 for the bike.
Mayor Ben: (to D'Arcy) No, you matter. You're smart and funny. I – I wish I was like you. I'm terrified of pretty much everything. But sometimes I look at you, and – you're so fearless.
Jay: I don't know what to do. She's my mother, and I don't even know how to act in front of her. Not to mention my father.
D'Arcy: Oh. Right. Jimmy.
Asta: You killed Harry Vanderspeigle.
Harry: No, I didn't.
Asta: Do not lie to me.
Harry: Okay, I killed him, but he started it.
David: Wait, are you – are you guys men in black?
General Wright: Oh, would you stop it. They're not called that. You've watched too many movies. And if I wanted them involved, I would've told my superiors. And then we wouldn't have an alien, would we?
David: Who's we?
General Wright: This is bigger than anything you could imagine. Too bad you won't be here to see how it all plays out. Get rid of him.
Lisa: I told you. I have different orders.
Harry: (on discovering the stowaway Max on his ship) This is some bullshit!
Overall rating
I'm having trouble with scoring this. I liked many of the artistic choices, and I really enjoyed the episode, and I like where it started and where it ended. But I am still really angry about D'Arcy sending a driverless car down into traffic. Between three and four pizzas to go, and I'm looking forward to the next season.
Victoria Grossack loves math, birds, Greek mythology, Jane Austen and great storytelling in many forms.
Victoria, I had exactly the same reaction to D'Arcy and the car. My god, it was like shooting into a crowd -- not funny at all. I couldn't understand what the writers were thinking.
ReplyDeleteBut I really enjoyed the rest of the episode. This was the first time I liked Max's parents. And I loved Harry and the pizza. There is clearly some things about Earth that he loves, and it's not just Asta. :)
Thanks for confirming that my reaction to that "prank" was not over the top. I was concerned that my background in insurance was making me too risk averse, but I could not shake it.
ReplyDelete