Resident Alien season 4 has switched networks from Syfy to USA Network, and comments from the showrunner suggest the show will share huge similarities with its inaugural outing back in 2021. The Alan Tudyk-led show didn’t actually have to wait too long to be renewed, but rumors surrounding its cancelation made the delay seem much more ominous. Thankfully, the Resident Alien cast is coming back to continue the saga, and the story could return to an arc very similar to its earlier episodes.

Resident Alien season 3’s ending included a handful of compelling cliffhangers, all of which can now be paid off in the coming season. One of the last-minute introductions to the show presents a huge threat to Harry’s way of life, and also the residents of Patience, Colorado. As a result, two characters will have even more pronounced roles as the story of Harry Vanderspeigle and his friends continues.

Resident Alien Showrunner Teases That Season 4 Could Be Another Murder Mystery

Mike & Liv could be called into action again

The Mantid is shaping up to be Resident Alien season 4’s new villain, with the Greys’ presence still looming large in their moonbase. Speaking with TV Line, Resident Alien showrunner Chris Sheridan referenced the Mantid’s murderous ways, as the sinister new alien has already been shown to have killed and eaten innocent people. Going on to describe how this could influence the structure of Resident Alien season 4, Sheridan said, “It’s been a while since Sheriff Mike and Depuity Liv had to solve a murder, so maybe it’s the right time.”

Mike and Liv were called into action to find Sam Hodges’ killer in Resident Alien season 1, opening the show with a murder mystery vibe. Since then, the show has reinvented itself a couple of times, with the stories including increasingly high-stakes affairs. While those enormous threats aren’t going to go anywhere overnight, seeing Resident Alien return to a storytelling style that worked so well for the show the first time around is an exciting prospect. It also puts Mike and Liv even further into the spotlight, and their dynamic has evolved for the better since their last murder investigation.

Resident Alien Season 4’s Murder Mystery Story Would Be Different To Season 1’s

The audience will know more than Mike & Liv this time around

In Resident Alien season 1, the audience was watching the case unfold in real time. In other words, the viewers didn’t initially know who killed Sam Hodges. In Resident Alien season 4, it’ll be pretty clear that it’s the Mantid responsible for any murders in Patience. Plus, his ability to shapeshift makes him an even greater adversary. So, those watching will probably have an advantage over Mike, Liv and the other characters when it comes to knowing what the Mantid is up to.

There’s also the matter of Harry’s role being much different this time around. Presuming he and Bridget can escape from their cell on the Greys’ Star Wars-esque moonbase, his presence in the story won’t be as the villain this time. In Resident Alien season 1, Harry’s main goal was to destroy Earth. Since then, he’s grown to love his new home, actively risking death to save his friends. So, Harry will get to witness a murder investigation from the side of the heroes, rather than being wrapped up in the case himself.

Sheriff Mike’s Season 3 Revelation Opens Up The Investigation Massively

Patience’s sheriff now has no choice but to believe in aliens

Resident Alien has been very clever in gradually introducing its characters to the existence of alien life. By the end of season 3, Sheriff Mike was the last main character not to believe in extraterrestrials. However, that all changes when he stumbles across the body of a dead Grey Alien. Before that scene, Mike would likely still have scoffed at the suggestion that a shapeshifting insectoid was hiding in plain sight and eating Patience’s residents. Now, he has no choice but to believe, and get on board with the investigation.

Of course, Mike is still very stubborn. So, it may take some time for him to come to terms with what he witnessed in the season 3 finale. When he finally comes around to the idea of life from beyond the stars threatening his home world, then the entire cast will be able to team up, find the Mantid, and defeat it. Even if Harry returns and rumbles the Mantid, the villain can simply escape and take someone else’s form. Then, Mike and the other heroes in Resident Alien may even need to start from scratch.

Source: TV Line