I’m Delighted By Resident Alien Season 4’s Renewal, But One Thing Makes Me Nervous

With Resident Alien season 4 now confirmed, I can stop worrying about that massive cliffhanger being left unresolved, but there’s still something else that concerns me about the show’s renewal. Resident Alien season 3’s ending made it clear that showrunner Chris Sheridan wasn’t done with Harry Vanderspeigle’s story, but I was among the nervous group of fans dreading the Alan Tudyk-led show being axed. The massively reduced episode count when compared with the previous two seasons felt like the first nail in the show’s coffin, but thankfully, it turned out my worries shouldn’t have run as deeply as they did.

Resident Alien season 4 will be produced by USA Network rather than Syfy, marking the first network switch in the show’s history. While I’m obviously thrilled that the Resident Alien cast is coming back to continue the saga, it’s tough not to be apprehensive about certain reports regarding how the coming season will be made. On the other hand, I’ve always found the show’s premise to be incredibly strong. So, I’m confident Resident Alien can overcome most obstacles it encounters.

Resident Alien Season 4 Was Needed After Season 3’s Ending

“Homecoming” finished with multiple loose ends

The Mantid is looking to be Resident Alien season 4’s new villain, with Alan Tudyk having to play an alien, playing an alien, pretending to be human. I’ve no doubt that Tudyk is up to the complex acting task, and I’m so relieved that I’ll get to see it unfold thanks to the show’s renewal. The Mantid looks as though he’s going to be a great antagonist, and Max’s fate being left so open-ended is, I think, part of what encouraged Resident Alien‘s new home to pick the show up.

The Star Wars-esque reveal of the Greys’ moonbase presents a threat to the entire planet, not just to Harry and his friends. While the main characters were largely successful in their mission at the end of the Resident Alien season 3 finale, the looming threat of the Greys doesn’t seem to be going anywhere. So, with a ground-level threat in the Mantid to deal with alongside the high-stakes affair of the Grey Aliens, I cannot wait to see what happens in Resident Alien season 4.

Resident Alien Season 4’s Potential Budget Cuts May Hurt The Show

USA Network’s new acquisition needs to maintain its high standards

Now, it’s not all unbridled joy when I think about Resident Alien‘s comeback. Various reports have hinted at the strong possibility that next season’s budget will be lower than its predecessors. This seems like a wild move to me, as the sets for the Greys’ ship interior are part of what made the season 3 finale so exciting. That being said, I suppose those sets are already built, so reusing them is perhaps the most cost-effective option. However, it could limit the opportunities for similar sequences in other locations.

Generally speaking, the salary costs tend to rise the longer a show is on the air, and I expect Resident Alien will need to navigate this particular issue too – especially with Alan Tudyk. USA Network will need to be very careful to balance actor salaries with other production costs. Otherwise, everything needed will be in place other than the means to make the comeback entirely worthwhile. Of course, I could just be over-worrying, as I’m sure everyone involved will want to make Resident Alien season 4 – and hopefully beyond – as good as it can possibly be.