Warning: SPOILERS ahead for Resident Alien season 4, episode 10!
Harry’s emotionalResident Alienending had a heartwarming real source, reveals series creator Chris Sheridan following the series finale.Resident Alienendedwith Harry deciding to leave Earth after defeating the many extraterrestrial threats it’s faced. He and Bridget depart to be with Heather and her children, leaving Patience and its many beloved characters to their own new beginnings.
In an interview withScreenRantfor theResident Alienseries finale, Sheridan revealed the real-world inspiration behind Harry’s departure in the series finale. The creator explained howSara Tomko, who plays Asta, celebrated her birthday on set, with multiple cast members showing upby coincidence. It helped him decide everyone had to be together when Harry left the planet:
ScreenRant: Now, in TV, endings are never a guaranteed thing, but at the same time, some creators do go into a show with an endgame in mind, so I’m curious, going into this, if you had one, and if so, how it may have changed throughout the course of this show.
Chris Sheridan: Great question. What I knew was that Harry had to leave. I knew that I couldn’t get him to leave until he learned his lessons about humanity, and got as human as effectively we’re going to get him, which we were able to do. But I also knew the whole cast had to be there. I’m not 100% sure why I knew that, but part of it was there was an event that happened on the pilot where we were all shooting. And one of the days, we were shooting with people wrapping at different times, and we’re all staying in the same hotel. But when I arrived back from set, there was two of the cast were there, and it was one of their birthdays, I think maybe Sara Tomko’s birthday was coming up. So we started singing happy birthday, and by the time the happy birthday song ended, five more cast members, not together, but separately, entered and came in. One came through an elevator, one came down a set of stairs, two came from outside, having gotten food. In a span of three minutes or two minutes, just somehow, miraculously, most everyone was together again. And it was the weirdest, most ridiculous thing in the world, because it wasn’t planned. It just was coincidence. And at the end of it, we took a picture, but it was one of the craziest things, and in that moment, I’m like, “The show has to end with everyone being together.” And it is fitting, because over the years that we did this, from the pilot to the end, everyone was incredibly close, and hung out outside of work, and supported each other at work and outside of work. It was really only fitting by the end that everyone was together to see Harry go.
What Sheridan’s Story Says About Harry’s Departure In Resident Alien Season 4
After completing his mission from the Galactic Housing Council, saving the Hawthorne’s baby, and defeating the Mantid, Harry decided to leave the othercharacters inResident Alienbehind. Learning the lessons he has about being human, his decision to be with Heather shows how he’s taking agency in his life after making so many deep and resonant connections with others.
Of course, the town will still have an alien presence: one of Harry’s people pretending to be Dr. Ethan Stone arrived to destroy the planet. However, he’s already acclimating to humanity before the show ends, indicating Earth will be safe from destruction for a long time to come.Resident Alienseason 4’s group ending serves to emphasize this point.
Sheridan’s statement underscores howeveryone’s presence when Harry left the planet was a necessary way to end the show. Having everyone together emphasizes the important lessons they all imparted upon him about what it means to be human. This makes his final scene with them an important reminder that he’s become just as human as they are.
Our Take On Harry’s Departure In The Resident Alien Series Finale
Harry leaving Earth is a fitting conclusion to his story. He’s become more human because of his journey, from becoming best friends with Asta to falling in love with Heather. His decision to pursue a life with her while leaving his human friends behind on good terms shows how they are still his family, no matter where he goes.
AlthoughResident Alienwas technically cancelled, the show still provided a fitting conclusion for Harry and his friends. Everyone sharing one last scene together was a fitting way to finish up his time on Earth, showing he’d completed his character arc. The lessons he learned will no doubt continue to permeate his life even after his leaving.
