‘Resident Alien’ Season 2 Tackles Global Warming, Sexual Taboos, and Real-Life Problems
The TV show Resident Alien does the job of having audiences stay invested in its comedic and extraterrestrial storyline. But the sci-fi show has a unique quality that grounds it in reality. Resident Alien Season 2 tackles and fleshes out common real-world problems from sexual desire, trauma, global warming, and what it means to be a family. Fans will find the series seamlessly interweaves concepts of feminism, Native American history, and more to depict humanity.
[Spoiler alert: This article contains spoilers for Resident Alien Season 2.]
‘Resident Alien’ Season 2 addresses sexism and sexual fantasies
The episode ‘Girls’ Night’ in Resident Alien Season 2 was heavily centered on the female image in society. The female characters in the series have a night out to themselves. It soon turns into a realization of what is really wrong in town. They learn Liv has never been given a raise and her boyfriend makes more than her. When they break into town hall, they learn all the male employees in town, even a crossing guard, make more than all of them.
In anger, they storm the mayor’s bedroom demanding a change. But the episode also took on sexual misconduct in the workplace with a guest character. Carlyn (guest star Alex Borstein) explains her lab supervisor sexually harasses her. Near the end of the episode, Harry morphs into her to steal an item from her lab and experiences the harassment.
Resident Alien Season 2 also served as a sexual awakening for Ben and Kate. After the break-in in season 1, they realize having excitement in the bedroom works wonders for them. The series delves into Kate being open and unafraid of talking about her and her husband’s sexual preferences that delve into BDSM.
‘Resident Alien’ Season 2 continues the discussion about global warming
A huge part of the series storyline is why Harry ventures to Earth. His people sent him to kill humanity to order to save the planet. His alien race once helped humans flourish but have become angered by their disregard and polluting the Earth.
While at a baseball game in Resident Alien Season 2 Episode 4, Harry comments about how humanity functions. He monologues that humans have an endless hunger and dispose of trash wherever they want. He explains, “Earth is like a house they lit on fire, but continue to live on it.” Harry also expressed his distaste for humans using Earth’s resources to make unnecessary items.
But season 2 has Harry realizing some people care for Earth. In a Syfy Wire interview, Chris Sheridan explains, “One of his problems is that humans don’t respect the planet. One of the things that we wanted was for him to see that that’s not the case for all humans. One of the reasons we wanted to take them to the reservation was for him to see there are some humans who care for the Earth the way I do.”
In episode 4, audiences see a touching moment when Harry goes off at night into the forest and connects with a bison. Harry has an inherent profound connection to an animal that lives on Earth the right way.
The Syfy series takes on what it means to be a part of a family
In Resident Alien, fans learn that Asta got pregnant as a teen but gave the child away. She felt she was not ready to take care of a child. In Resident Alien Season 2, fans see more of a complex family dynamic. She watches her teen daughter from afar at the baseball game with a motherly protectiveness. Asta feels she cannot intervene because she has no claim over being a mother.
While at the reservation, Asta’s way of thinking changes. “She gave away this child years ago because she didn’t think she could do it. What she realizes on the reservation is that there’s a whole community here that would have helped her, and she second guesses if she did the right thing,” said Sheridan.
In episode 4, Harry meets one of Asta’s cousins who feels out of place on the reservation. He feels more in tune with city life. After Asta, her father, Harry, and other members help deliver a baby, Asta’s father hands him the umbilical cord. Saying it is part of Native American tradition to keep the cord somewhere in the house, so someone does not wander too far.
