Resident Alien mixes sci-fi and comedy. It’s about an alien who crashes on Earth and pretends to be a doctor in a small town, all while hunting for a device to blow up the planet. He meets strange locals and dodges a pesky government agent. Premiered on Syfy in January 2021, it quickly became a favorite.

Meet the characters from Resident Alien

Harry Vanderspeigle

Okay, Harry is the hot-mess genius alien who’s pretending to be a small-town doctor and honestly you can’t help but root for him — he’s awkward, brilliant, and weirdly endearing. He’s constantly learning human things (toast etiquette? nightmares about taxes? yes), and he approaches emotions like a science experiment that keeps backfiring in the best way. He’s got this deadpan observational humor but also these sudden naive moments that make you want to hug and/or lecture him. Also he probably has a mug that says “World’s Best Doctor” and he’s not sure why he keeps it.

Asta Twelvetrees

Asta is the quiet powerhouse of the town, fierce, grounded, and totally in tune with the weirdness around her — she’s the one who actually sees people, and she sees the alien, obviously. She’s equally capable of throwing a hand grenade of sarcasm or offering you tea and a real, deep conversation; contradictions are her specialty. She’s got a streak of stubbornness that’s almost poetic, and sometimes she’s absurdly sentimental about old things like cassette tapes or family recipes. Also she knows how to fix guns and feelings, not necessarily in that order.

Sheriff Mike Thompson

Mike is the small-town sheriff who tries very hard, bless him, to be in charge while secretly being a cinnamon roll with a gun and a clipboard. He’s steady, weirdly compassionate, and even when he’s bewildered by alien science he keeps a calm front — sort of like a marshmallow of law enforcement. He’s protective, a little slow on the uptake sometimes, but his heart is enormous (and he drinks bad coffee with conviction). Also I’m 60% sure he once cried over a pie and absolutely would not admit it.

D’Arcy Bloom

D’Arcy is like your chaotic-fabulous friend who runs the bar and also reads the town better than anyone; she’s loud, sassy, and unexpectedly tender when it counts. She has a meltdown streak and a moral compass that only points to honesty; she’ll roast you then bail you out at 3 a.m. with a sandwich and a plan. She’s dramatic, creative, and probably has a boyfriend who’s both an improvement and a disaster — also she can DJ a surprisingly emotional playlist. Honestly, she’s the human glitter bomb this show deserves.

Mayor Ben Hawthorne

Ben is the classic small-town mayor who smiles a lot and hides secrets like collectible spoons — he’s political, slightly slimy, but also weirdly charming when he’s flustered. He’s protective of the town (read: controlling), and he tries to look wise but often just looks flustered, which is kind of his vibe. He’s got dignity, a touch of desperation, and a soft spot for his kids that breaks him in the best way. Also he probably owns too many jackets and has a ceremonial hat somewhere.

Max Hawthorne

Max is the adventurous kid who’s like a tiny whirlwind of curiosity and probably knows more than the adults want him to, which is both dangerous and adorable. He’s enthusiastic, heroic in a way that makes no sense for his age, and he asks all the questions that everyone else is too polite to ask. He’s loyal to his family, impulsive, and likely to start a backyard expedition with improvised gear and snacks. Also he might have a secret collection of shiny things and a surprising penchant for dramatic monologues.

Kate Hawthorne

Kate is the teenage activist/heart of teenage energy — brooding, earnest, and secretly soft, she looks like she’s wearing emotional armor and also vintage band tees. She’s smart, morally furious about injustice, and occasionally baffled by the messy adults around her (which is fair). She toggles between sarcasm and full-on leadership mode and has a playlist that could save the world or start a protest. Also she’s probably allergic to nonsense and collects protest stickers like treasure.

Deputy Liv Baker

Liv is the young deputy trying to prove she belongs, bright, functionally competent, but with a streak of vulnerability that makes her surprisingly relatable. She’s practical, sometimes painfully literal, and she’s learning to juggle loyalty with doing the right thing — it’s messy and I love it. She’s tough in training but soft in texts to her friends, and she definitely has an emergency snack drawer in her patrol car. Also she has a point where she smiles at very inconvenient moments and it’s adorable.

Alien Harry Double

The Double is the unsettling mirror version of Harry who’s a little too polished, a smidge too funny, and absolutely gives “trying to mimic humanity but missed a beat.” He’ll do the right thing because it’s the logical choice (or because someone programmed him to), and sometimes he feels more honest than the original — very confusing for viewers and for the original Harry, obviously. He has bizarre little habits like tapping his spoon three times before stirring and sometimes stealing socks for reasons unknown. Also you’ll find yourself oddly sympathetic to a synthetic conscience, don’t fight it.

Lisa Casper

Lisa is the town’s quirky wild card — I can’t always predict her but that’s the point; she’s impulsive, sparkly in an unexpected way, and probably owns exactly four good jackets. She has an annoying habit of dropping truth bombs mid-conversation and then acting like she didn’t, which is both chaotic and cathartic. She’s warm, sometimes exasperating, and totally capable of surprising heroics (also accidental ones). Also she bakes muffins that will make you cry and then laugh, and I’m not over it.