‘Resident Alien’ Recap: ‘Bye Bye Birdie’

3/21/2024

Written by John Edward Betancourt

RESIDENT ALIEN -- "Bye Bye Birdie" Episode 306 -- Pictured: Alan Tudyk as Harry Vanderspeigle -- (Photo by: James Dittiger/SYFY)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 306 of ‘Resident Alien’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.

When we last settled in to discuss the wondrous SYFY series, Resident Alien, we talked at length about how the show was taking Harry, and the audience into fascinating storytelling territory. All by having Harry fall in love with Heather (Feather). Since she was clearly his first major love and vice versa and well… that was designed to explore, how that always brings forth disaster. Courtesy of actions that are toxic, hurtful, and of course, their love was barreling toward an ugly end and likely a breakup for the ages. The kind that would devastate and shatter Harry in a concerning manner because that’s how that first hard breakup goes and well… it didn’t take long for that to be showcased in this week’s tale.

For ‘Bye Bye Birdie’ saw Heather take a moment to steal Harry’s DNA via cleaning his gills, and once she was done… she flew the coop. Which of course, Harry didn’t catch onto at first, but through a hilarious sequence involving a carrier pigeon and a return visit from his love, Harry got the message. She was done with him, and he was alone again and just like that… he sunk and sunk fast. Because that’s what happens when we lose that first, toxic love. We think the world is going to end, we think our heart will never recover and well… we will stay in that state for a long time when love number one is all done. Unless of course, we get some solid support to help us see how this love was nothing more than a learning experience, and Harry had that here.

Because Asta and D’Arcy were indeed there to try and support him, which in turn led to more hilarious sequences. Mainly because Harry was indeed caught in that teenage mentality here and stomped about akin to one. But that didn’t stop his friends from trying their best to help him find a peace in this and get back to what was important. Which in this instance, was saving all of humanity from the Greys evil plan, and this duo were so concerned, they even reached out to the General. Who offered up a Bird of the Night for Harry to find calm around, and well… their best efforts didn’t work at first, and that meant… they needed more to show Harry how this love wasn’t worth fretting over.

RESIDENT ALIEN -- "Bye Bye Birdie" Episode 306 -- Pictured: (l-r) Edi Patterson as Heather, Enver Gjokaj as Joseph Rainier -- (Photo by: James Dittiger/SYFY)

While they searched for that, some positive things were happening around town. Wherein Mike was forced to face some truths about his own behavior in love and where Kate finally stepped up to the plate and worked to understand her abduction. Not to mention, Liv finally found agency in this story with Mike’s support. Since she taught her Nana quite the lesson in humility via a foul-mouthed tirade that ended with a heart attack for Nana. But while scary, all of this was lovely to see because growth is the name of the game on this show, and it would also seem we are at the bare beginnings of growth for Asta and D’Arcy’s friendship as well. Because these Best Friends For Life grated often in this story and fought, and while that likely won’t last… it’s clear this laid down the foundation for growth for them as they face some hard truths about themselves and their BFFLship.

But while it was lovely to see those moments play out and see growth take place, eventually… what Asta and D’Arcy needed to help Harry arrived. For Judy was able to capture the moment when Heather handed over the DNA to Joseph, giving rise to proof that Heather did indeed make a choice to hurt and did not value Harry in the manner that he hoped she did. Which was precisely what Harry needed in that moment. And while that didn’t heal his wounds or bring him joy, truth was enough to get him off the mountain he was sulking upon and get back to life and get back to work, and this could not have come at a better moment. Since clearly, the Greys are ready to clone Harry and use his DNA to use his own toys against us and of course… that tiny threat that’s growing, is on its way to deal with daddy.

But while we wait to see what comes out of those revelations, we can celebrate one amazing tale. One that completed a journey into the world of our first and most toxic love, and how the end of it has a great impact upon us and truly screws with us. But not to make fun of it, or us for going through it… but to point out that’s part of being human. Part of growing as a person, because we learn a lot from that crappy first love, about love, about ourselves and we are better for going through it. Which means a new Harry should emerge from the maelstrom, and this episode deserves a round of applause for exploring this in such an accurate and hilarious manner. Because once again, the laughs came fast and furious here and Alan Tudyk shined again, and it really will be joyous to see a resurgent Harry move forward in life and handle the big challenges ahead in a more mature manner. Until next time.

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