D'arcy: What are talking about?
Ben: That night the kidnappers came, I was standing on the front porch, waiting for Mike to get there, and I thought, you know, "What would D'arcy do?" That's what I did.
Episode description: “Harry and Asta travel to New York looking for one of his people, but things go horribly wrong.” This time, the episode description is spot on.
Harry and Asta know the phone number sent to him belongs to a pizza place in New York City. So they go to New York and they go to the pizza place. I love how completely confused they are because the owner is adamant he knows nothing about aliens. Only when they go back outside and look up and see the mural does Harry understand where the messages are. They track down an exhibition of the artist's, Goliath, only to discover no one knows who he is.
But that's not the only thing that goes horribly wrong. They also attempt to do some investigation into Sam's death. Asta goes to Galvan Partners while alien Harry hides in a diner. But into that diner comes someone who knows human Harry, and he wants to know what on earth Harry is doing in New York, where Harry is not supposed to be!
A sad event that takes place in Patience is the death of Octopus (aka 42), after a dog mauls him. Perhaps Nathan Fillion had other commitments? Although it's sad and funny at the same time, it is one of the few instances when Alan Tudyk's acting was not quite up to snuff. But it's gotta be a challenge when your costar is a rubber toy, and on top of that you have the extra hurdle of doing this through the filter of the character of an alien.
Again, Resident Alien rehabilitates D'arcy. She is brave. She takes risks when others will not. And she and Ben have a history. Ben really admires her and she has probably always sensed this admiration. Ben was right; if D'arcy knew kidnappers were in her house, she would charge straight in. I not only get Ben's admiration of D'arcy for this, but it also explains how he was able to do it. Because his rushing into fight seemed out of character. On the other hand, I'm not sure Ben is giving himself enough credit. He does act when it's necessary.
My favorite couple is Sheriff Mike and Deputy Liv, in part because I adore whoever is coming up with Mike's dialogue. Even though they drive each other a little crazy, they are both learning from each other. And they are both protective of each other. Mike is large and male, so he feels physically responsible for Liv. Liv is perceptive, and thoughtful. In this episode she handcuffs him to a bench, goes away and comes back and makes him talk. He needs to talk, and we finally get some of the back story on the partner who died.
Ugh, I don't like seeing the murderous Lisa Cooper, one of General Wright's minions. She never bodes well!
Title musings. “An Alien in New York” is the title of the episode. There are songs and shows with other similar titles, such as “Englishman in New York” or “Werewolf of London”, which make the phrase “An Alien in New York” sort of familiar. The title is apt, as Harry is an alien in New York City, and having the wonderful reactions to so many people and things (LSD). Moreover, this episode is not just about alien Harry, but about alien Goliath, who sent the message to Harry but whom they are having trouble finding. In many respects, Goliath is the true alien in New York. A good title.
Bits and pieces
It is likely that an alien in New York City would not cause a stir. It is probably much easier to hide there than in a little town like Patience, where everyone knows everything about everyone.
I like how the octopus wants be honored by being eaten (even though avoiding it earlier when trapped in the restaurant). So much better than burying a body and taking up valuable space in a cemetery for centuries.
Resident Alien seems to have many art shows (Isabelle was an artist).
It is so much fun to watch Harry get high!
Like how the “Ghost of New York” rips off of Banksy.
Ben may have some residual attraction to D'arcy, but he would be just as intimidated by her as he is by his own wife. Although I finally get the attraction and the bond, I don't think Ben and D'arcy belong together.
There's something called obeying in advance that you are not supposed to do if you don't want tyranny in your country. Ben does a lot of obeying in advance in his marriage.
Quotes
Sheriff Mike: Damn it! You're supposed to be an officer of the law.
Deputy Liv: Sir, I just have a strong feeling in my gut here, and you always told me I should trust my gut.
Sheriff Mike: Deputy, look, I appreciate mystical creatures, all right? I really do. Well, except for mermaids. You know, where they get off sitting up on the rocks all high and mighty, expecting you to ask them out on a date? I mean, why they so stuck up? I mean, if you have fish, you gonna smell all like fish, you understand? Gross. Look, here is the deal. You want to hunt for aliens? That's fine. You do it on your time, not mine.
Octopus: Honor my life by – eating my dead body in a butter sauce with a – a nice – like, a really nice Chardonnay.
Asta: Did that mural mean something?
Harry: No, but aliens do not paint images on dirty walls for decoration. Everything he does has a purpose.
Asta: Which is?
Ben: And with Kate gone, I don't have to worry about holding in my farts.
D'arcy: You don't fart around your wife? What's the point of being married if you can't fart around your wife?
Harry: Where is shit for brains? Did you get a divorce?
Sahar: Divorce is against my religion unless it's initiated by the man, which is why I'm never getting married.
Harry: That is good news for men everywhere.
D'arcy: I'm sorry that I kissed you that night. I shouldn't have done that. It was a shitty thing to do.
Deputy Liv: You said I could trust my gut when I was off duty. Well, I'm off duty. And I think there's something going on with you.
Sheriff Mike: Okay, you know what? Fine. Fine! Six years ago, I lost my partner in D.C. He was shot and killed in the line of duty.
Harry to self, observations on New York: This is awful. Too many people. The last island that had this many humans on it was Atlantis, and that did not turn out well. That man has so many pigeon pets and not one of them is on a leash.
Violinda: (to Asta) It wasn't just about art, though. I think Goliath needed me. Tell me – how long have you known Harry is an alien?
Overall rating
I really enjoyed this jam-packed episode. Three and a half out of four slices of New York City pizza, with everything on it. Hand me a napkin, please!
Victoria Grossack loves math, birds, Greek mythology, Jane Austen and great storytelling in many forms.
Victoria, I loved this one. I especially loved Alan Tudyk trying to resuscitate the Octopus. I laughed myself sick.
ReplyDeleteI do love Harry, Asta and D'Arcy, but Sheriff Mike and Deputy Liv are special, aren't they? They're perfect. Mike always makes me laugh and Liv always makes me just -- like her for who she is.