Prisoners is the thirty-fifth episode of the science fiction comedy television series Resident Alien and the premiere episode of the fourth season. It premiered on June 6, 2025 on both USA Network and Syfy.
Synopsis[]
Harry must escape an outer space prison to stop a dangerous threat in town.
Plot[]
Worth it[]
The Mantid posing as Harry
A flashback of one month ago shows Harry Vanderspeigle inside the Grey moonbase with his son, Bridget, searching for D'arcy Bloom. He encounters an imprisoned man, Pizza Joe of Mama Sap's Pizza. He tells him he's been abducted, offering him pizza to help him out. Harry suggests he could be the Mantid trying to trick him, but he tells him he's a man of his word, offering him a half-off coupon. Harry admits to Bridget that there's a chance he's lying, but he thinks it's worth it. He releases the man, who does turn out to be the Mantid and imprisons Harry in the cell, copying his DNA in the process. Transforming into his image, he calls him a dickhead and walks off laughing.
It is now a month later and a heavily-bearded Harry remains imprisoned beside Peter Bach's son, Robert Hutchins. Hutchins has been drawing sketches of Harry's friends and Harry demands more of it. Hutchins tells him he will take his time, that if he doesn't like it, he shouldn't have let the Mantid trick him. Harry tells him that he couldn't help being tricked by the pizza. He says that it doesn't matter, that there is no way the Mantid can pose as him, that nobody will believe it. On Earth, however, his hair slicked back, the Mantid Harry Vanderspeigle struts about the sidewalks of Patience, smoking a cigarette. He happily exchanges greetings with the town's residents, those whom Harry has come to know so well. Mayor Ben Hawthorne asks him if he's looking forward to their therapy session and he blows smoke in his face, telling him he'd rather eat a human head. He laughs and Ben and Kate take it for his sense of humor as a trash can smokes in the distance.
The Mantid, still smoking heavily, arrives at the Patience Health Clinic. "Decide to come to work today?" questions D'arcy and he quips in return that she decided to wash her hair today. Asta tells him that a patient is in for a mammogram and he flicks away the cigarette, calling it "Titty Tuesday." D'arcy asks if it isn't Thursday and Asta agrees that it is.
A kindness in murder[]
Robert Hutchins sketching portraits for Harry
Harry lies on his cot on the Grey moonbase, thinking to himself that your world is very small in prison. He thinks that many beings don't bother with prison, that they just kill people, that there is a kindness in murder. He studies a picture of Asta and Robert Hutchins asks him if he's forgetting something. He hands over payment, saying he shouldn't have to pay him, that he's his father and Bridget is his brother. Robert protests that this isn't the case. Harry tells him to not disrespect prison, that Bridget is the boss of the prison yard, even having a bitch named "Maurice." He thinks that he's proud of Bridget, but he misses his life and Asta.
In Patience, Asta wakes up to find a man's hand on her face. "Oh, shit," she curses, realizing that Joseph Rainier has just slept over after the two of them had a hookup. She tells him he wasn't supposed to sleep over, that D'arcy is there. She heads out into the kitchen and D'arcy asks if she isn't supposed to be at work. She tells her she was up all night looking at medical files, but she can't tell her what, that it's HIPPA. She tells her that she doesn't need her proficiency in CIA lie-detecting techniques to know she's lying because she has hookup hair. Joseph appears, shirtless, saying he looks Asta's "hooker hair." D'arcy tells Asta she thought she was done with it. She protests that Joseph has a "hot, dumb face." He says he'll show himself out.
From next to the counter there is crying. D'arcy picks up a crib, revealing Kate Hawthorne's baby. "Who slept through the night?" she coos. Joseph comments that he did and Asta tells him to keep moving. Asta tells D'arcy that the baby's being comfortable may not be the best thing and D'arcy agrees she should be with Ben and Kate. "You know you can't do that," Joseph tells her. A flashback shows D'arcy on the doorstep of the Hawthorne family home, holding the baby. It is one month ago. She knocks on the door and Kate opens it, only to find nobody there. Back in the present, they agree that they can't risk it, that if they give the baby to Kate, the Greys will just come and abduct her again. D'arcy says that she knows, telling Joseph not to talk like he's not one of the bad guys. He insists that he doesn't work for the Greys anymore, but he knows how they operate. He finally leaves and D'arcy tells Asta she's at least glad she's finally getting some, even if he is half-alien.
Outside, Max is with Sahar, watching the house with binoculars. He calls Joseph "suspect one" and Asta "suspect two," that she's a double agent. She tries to take the binoculars and he tells her only the leader gets him. She protests that she saved his life from the Mantid, that she told him he screamed because he stepped on a bee. He surrenders the binoculars. Back inside, D'arcy comments that it's hard, that Daisy should be at home with her family. Asta questions D'arcy having named the baby and she says she looks like a Daisy, like a pretty flower. Asta says that maybe they should find somewhere safer for the baby, not somewhere five minutes from Ben and Kate's house. D'arcy tells her there is nowhere safer, that they have nothing to worry about. Elsewhere, the Mantid snacks on a man's head.
Radiation hallucinations[]
Deputy Liv confronts Sheriff Mike
In prison, Robert Hutchins continues to sketch portraits for Harry. Harry thinks to himself that he is beginning to miss people he doesn't even like, such as Ben Hawthorne. He thinks that Kate is probably so depressed at having her baby stolen that she cannot even get out of bed. The scene cuts to Kate, doing an intense exercise workout with a punching bag. Ben tells her that there's good news, that a woman who sued the town reported seeing a mysterious being and he's talking to her today. Kate is not impressed, saying that maybe a raccoon stole their baby. He says he knows she's frustrated, but that they have to follow all leads. He asks if the punching bag looks like him, if she made changes to it, but she says it was bought like that. She tells him she's training for anything, that if the Greys come for her again, they will get "Killer Kate." He tells her not to worry, that the Greys will abduct her soon and she has to stay positive.
Deputy Liv Baker pays a visit to Sheriff Mike Thompson, who is eating at Joe's Diner. She tells him that she knows he's on extended leave, but she needs him to sign off on a new uniform, that her current one doesn't fit anymore. He says it looks fine and she asks if she doesn't know anything different. He says the only thing that's different is she bothers him so much and she tells him it's because he used to come in to work. He tells her he's on medical leave because he's hallucinating. She tells him that he didn't, that he really did see an alien. He agrees he thought he did, and put it in a bag, but she saw the bag and it was empty.
He tells her he imagined the whole thing, that it was hallucinations from a radiation. She tells him it's a coverup, but he says he can't do his job if he doesn't know what's real, that she may not even be real. Mayor Hawthorne walks in and she asks him what he thinks about the uniform. "Looks great," he tells her and she scoffs and leaves. He sits down with Mike, calling it a close call, that he almost said "she looks great." He tells Mike he knows he's been going through some things, asking how he is, and he says he's okay. He then tells him that he knows he saw Harry for a therapy session three times in the past week and the town only covers two. Mike calls him the Grinch and he says the Grinch only comes at Christmas, so he can't be. Mike wonders what the Grinch does the rest of the year.
Bruce the alien[]
Deputy Liv with Peter Bach
In prison, Harry thinks to himself that you cannot see the goodness in humans if you look directly at it. He thinks that Sheriff Mike was a good and fair adversary. A Grey comes in, giving some food. Harry says he's not the normal guy and the Grey tells him it's budget cuts, that the other guy was laid off. He says he can't believe he's meeting someone from Earth, that he's a big fan. Hutchins says he's from Earth too, but the Grey says that they took him before he was born, that he doesn't count. The Grey introduces him self as Bruce, saying he named himself after Earth's number one movie star, Bruce Dern. He tells Harry he would do anything to go to Earth and leaves. Hutchins tells him that it's incredible, that the alien said he would do anything to get to Earth. Harry doesn't get it, and Hutchins notes that the Grey has the key to their cell. Bridget speaks up and Harry finally gets it: they can use the Grey to help them escape.
Harry stares at a picture of Deputy Liv that Hutchins drew, thinking that there is something in her eyes he did not see before: strength. He thinks that when beings know each other for a while, they can't help but see more good in them. Meanwhile, Liv is in the woods. She enters a cave, where Peter Bach, the alien tracker and Robert Hutchins's father, is living. He is surprised but thrilled that she came back, that he thought she forgot him. She tells him she never would, that it took a while to get the ingredients to make his favorite fried chicken. He eats hungrily, declaring the smell delicious. He then spits it out, telling her he wishes he had a stomach.
She tells him she couldn't find anything online about how to put together a robot man, but there were instructions for a Chinese robot dog, that maybe they could make the legs hinge the other way. He tells her she's a good friend, that he thought he was done for when his legs failed. She tells him that she should be thanking him, that hiking up and down the mountain daily has been great exercise. She tells him she wishes she could find out more about what happened to him and where the bullets came from that hit her legs. He tells her he just can't, that it could put her in danger, and he doesn't want that. He just wants to get better and go find his son. He tastes some soda and then spits it out, telling her it hit the spot.
Privacy concerns[]
Sheriff Mike has a session with the Mantid
In the mayor's office, Mayor Hawthorne speaks with Mrs. Brown, the woman who reported an unusual sighting. He tells he wants to follow up, that she reported a loud being in her backyard. He asks how she would describe it, but she claims that she never said that, that she said someone was being loud in her backyard. He asks what she's covering up, but she tells him it's nothing, that it was her cousin going through her empties. He tells he's throwing her a safety line, but she just looks him funny. He closes the door, saying the might be more comfortable with privacy, but she tells him she feels less comfortable. He tells her it's just him, and she asks why his fly is open. He tells her it's just a broken zipper, but she leaves.
The Mantid Harry stands around outside in Patience, still smoking, and thinking to himself that he always knew he would like the Earth, that it's a blank slate his people haven't infiltrated yet and he can find a mate. "Lookin' good!" he shouts to Judy Cooper, who tells him she knows and walks away. He enters the clinic and Asta asks how he's feeling. "Pretty sexy," he tells her. She tells him she knows he's still upset about Bridget and that it wouldn't help to talk to someone, that there's a good therapist in Braddock. Harry thinks to himself that Asta might have the right bone structure for an egg sac containing 300 nymphs. He tells her he will give the therapist a call and she agrees it's healthy to talk to someone. She tells him she doesn't know how she's been feeling, that it's something about being in space, but he's gone.
Mike has a session with the Mantid Harry, telling him that he wants to work and not be in therapy. He says that he can't be sheriff if he can't trust his brain, that he thought he saw an alien. The Mantid agrees that aliens obviously do not exist. Mike continues that a man can't just go around believing in anything, that the world is black and white. He says that it must be the radiation poisoning and the Mantid thinks that his head looks delicious, that it would be so easy to just lean over and nibble it off, but it would draw too much attention, that he likes living in Harry's cabin. He tells Mike that the most important thing is to remember that aliens are not real.
Well into illegal[]
Harry and Bruce
D'arcy returns home and Asta asks her just where she went. She sees Daisy and reminds her that they're not supposed to take her out, that she may see someone she knows. D'arcy says the story is that it's her cousin's kid, that she had to go to go to Michigan for a work opportunity and her husband died just after the baby was born. She pretends to take a call from said cousin. She tells Asta that none of it is perfect, that they need information to find out what's going on at Ben and Kate's. She pulls out a laptop, revealing a video feed of the Hawthorne family living room. She tells Asta that the outdoor cameras weren't catching alien activity, so she invited herself inside for dinner and set up indoor ones. Asta points out that they're now well into illegal, and D'arcy counters that as the mayor and part of the government, Ben has been spying on them for years. She tells her that if the Greys show up, they'll see them, that it's recording and they can review the footage. Asta notes that Daisy is now wearing a The 59 shirt, asking D'arcy just how attached she is.
In prison, Harry thinks to himself that human connection is a powerful thing and that some are so afraid that they pretend it isn't happening. He asks Hutchins to rework one of his drawings. Hutchins, however, points out that Bruce is coming and that they should just talk about how amazing Earth is. Bruce presents Harry with Girl Scout cookies, telling him they abducted an entire troop the night before just for them. Hutchins tells him that Harry has been busy talking about Earth, that he doesn't have time for cookies. Bruce says he wants to hear everything, but Harry just says he dislikes the cookies, offering one to Bridget. Bruce says that he would do anything to go to Earth, that it has been his dream his whole life. Hutchins tells him that he has an idea, that if he lets them out, Harry could bring them to Earth with them. Bruce tells them he doesn't want to impose. He starts to walk away and Harry, at Hutchins's prompting, shouts to him that if he lets them out, they will take him to Earth. Bruce tells him not to lie to a Grey, that they can tell, but then admits that he actually can't. He asks if he's lying and he promises that he's serious. Bruce opens their cells. Hutchins asks if they can get to the escape ships without anyone seeing them and he tells him not to worry, that the guards are on strike. "Power to the people," comments Harry and they take off.
Mayor Hawthorne wanders through the town, making random comments to people. Suddenly, he spots Joseph emerging from a flower shop, a bouquet in his hands. He hides behind a tree and puts in a call to Kate, telling her he has eyes on Joseph. Joseph turns and spots Ben. He curses. He raises an umbrella and Ben tells Kate that the situation is still unfolding. He tells her to stay in the salon, only to watch her run outside and confront Joseph, only to discover that she has knocked down an elderly woman that was under the umbrella. Kate tells her she thought she was someone else and starts to help her up, but Ben stops her, telling her he read about shapeshifters, that it's why she has the umbrella and flowers. She tells him that a nice, handsome man gave them to her. She says it's not illegal to be kind and Kate helps her up, apologizing, but she tells her she'll be hearing from her attorney. Ben tells Kate it's okay, that she was probably going to sue him anyway.
Manticide[]
Liv speaks with a man wearing a Richard Nixon mask
Meanwhile, Max and Sahar are in the woods, Sahar telling Max that they're almost to the cabin and it's time to get ready. He tells her he is ready and she pulls out a squirt gun from her bag, telling him it delivers one gallon of Mantid spray in a minute. "Manticide, patent pending." He protests that he's the alien tracker and should have the weapons. She reminds him that he doesn't because Harry took his taser. He asks if she has a gun for him and she says she assumed they were both developing such weaponry. He picks up a stick,, saying he's going to sharpen it. Elsewhere, Liv gets in her car, only for a man in Richard Nixon mask to pop up behind her. He tells her not to scream, but she does so anyway. He tells her he's there to give her important information. She protests that she almost shot him and that she almost peed herself. He tells her that Joseph the alien is back in town, that he saw him himself and it's her job as town constable to arrest him. He tells her she can use any resource she needs. She tells him the mayor has to sign off on it, and he says the mayor can't be involved, that she's using her discretionary budget. "This meeting... is over," he tells her, and tries to get out, pleading with her to disengage the child lock. "What a ding dong," she comments.
D'arcy is out and about in Patience, now spinning a story to Judy about Daisy's father having passed away before she was born. Elsewhere in the bar, Sheriff Mike is shooting pool when Deputy Liv approaches him, telling him that they have a problem: that Joseph is back in town. "Joseph? Joseph?" he asks and she tells him he has to come back to work, that she needs his help to track him down. He tells her that it's not his problem, that Joseph might not even exist. He asks why she's wearing civilian clothes and she tells him that the town needs him and so does she, that he didn't hallucinate anything. She tells him she's wearing civilian clothes because she refuses to wear a uniform too big for her because her boss is too blind to see what's right in front of him. "Hello, Mr. President," Liv comments to Ben Hawthorne as she leaves.
Spotting Ben and Kate, D'arcy curses. She tells Judy she needs her help with something, asking her to take Daisy out back and not let anyone see her. Judy agrees, asking her if she wants her to breastfeed her. D'arcy rushes her out and goes to greet Ben and Kate. Meanwhile, Asta brings the man she believes to be Harry a box of Mama Sap's Pizza. The Mantid Harry is busy watching a documentary about insects on TV. Asta tells him she brought pizza, saying it's been so long since they had a chance to hang out. He thinks to himself that he was going to avoid mating with a local human, but she's clearly attracted to him and it would speed up his hunt for a mate. He tells he's not hungry, thinking that her head looks delicious. She suggests they sit and catch up, that she knows how hard it was losing Bridget.
A prison of their own creation[]
Asta shields Max and Sahar
She tells him she's been feeling lost ever since they were in space, that she can't look at the moon the same way anymore and left a part of herself up there. Mantid Harry puts on some music and starts to dance. He lights two cigarettes, offering one to her. She asks if he should be smoking so much as a doctor and that people have been complaining about him touching their Band-Aids. He comments that she's showing affection for him and she agrees he's one of her closest friends. He tells her she's ovulating and they should mate. She declares she has to go and rushes outside, only to encounter Max and Sahar crouched by her car. She asks what they're doing there and what's going on with Harry. Max greets her coldly, calling her the "alien sympathizer." She asks what he's talking about and Sahar says they know she's working for the Mantid. "The who?" she asks. "She said the Mantid," the Mantid Harry says, appearing behind Max and Sahar. He tells her that now he's going to have to kill her too. "Maybe she's not working for the Mantid?" suggests Sahar.
Mantid Harry has forced the group back into the cabin. Max stares at the taser that was taken from him and the Mantid tells him that if he tries taking it, or if they try to escape, he will kill them before eating them and that he'd rather eat them alive. Asta puts her hands around Max and Sahar, telling him to not to dare touch them and asking him what he's done with Harry. He tells her not to worry, that Harry is very far away. He says after he eats them, nobody will know who he is. Sahar dares him to eat them, that Mantids only eat heads and they'll know he did it. He tells her that this is wrong, that they can eat bodies, it's just that they prefer the heads, that it's like eating off the top of the cupcake. Just then, Harry enters with Bridget. The Mantid tells him that he's impressed he's escape and Harry tells him he's stronger and smarter than him. "Is that pepperoni?!" he asks, dropping Bridget and going for the pizza. Max asks why they are calling him Harry. "Because he's Harry," Sahar tells him, but Max is only seeing his human form, not the alien. He says that he's just a guy. Harry tells the Mantid he's tempted to kill him in his human form, but it will be more fun alien to alien.
Harry, however, tries to transform into his alien form, only for nothing to happen. He declares he's going to need a minute and tells Bridget to kill the Mantid instead, but the Mantid just kicks him away. Harry says it's disappointing and tells Bridget to take a rest. He says he has this, but remains unable to transform. Sahar asks if he lost his alien powers and he claims to just be jet-lagged. He strains to transform again and the Mantid declares he will eat all four of them, but just then Max, tases the Mantid, having grabbed the device while he was distracted. Asta shouts for them all to run and Harry declares that she is driving. They take off.
Harry thinks to himself that humans live in a prison, one they create for themselves. Sheriff Mike is shown returning to work, placing his nameplate back on his desk. Deputy Liv welcomes him back. She spots a uniform hanging up with a note from Mike - "This one should fit." Harry thinks himself that there are many things that keep humans from moving forward. At the Hawthorne family home, Kate is surrounded by blue lights. She sits down on the couch, telling them that she doesn't have her and she doesn't know. D'arcy brings Daisy to the Ute Reservation, the folks there telling her they'll take good care of her. Harry thinks that sometimes it just takes a little faith in others to help you and faith in yourself. The Grey Bruce stares in awe at Earth, as sometimes Harry thinks that sometimes the prison walls are too high to escape, especially if the prison you are in is your own body.
Cast and characters[]
Starring:
- Alan Tudyk as Harry Vanderspeigle
- Sara Tomko as Asta Twelvetrees
- Corey Reynolds as Sheriff Mike Thompson
- Alice Wetterlund as D'arcy Bloom
- Levi Fiehler as Mayor Ben Hawthorne
- Elizabeth Bowen as Deputy Liv Baker
- Meredith Garretson as Kate Hawthorne
- Judah Prehn as Max Hawthorne
Guest starring:
- Terry O'Quinn as Peter Bach
- Gracelyn Awad Rinke as Sahar Karimi
- Jenna Lamia as Judy Cooper
- Sarah Podemski as Kayla
- Jinkx Monsoon as Bruce (voice)
with
- Clancy Brown as Harry Vanderspeigle (mantid) (voice)
and
Co-starring:
Quotes[]
"In prison, your world is very small. It is made difficult by how little you have, and worse by what you do not have at all. Prison is a concept that many beings in the universe do not bother with. If you do not want someone in your way, you just kill them. There is a kindness in murder."
- Harry Vanderspeigle
"I don't work for the Greys anymore, but I do know how they operate. The whole baby-stealing thing is their bread and butter."
- Joseph Rainier
"The world is black and white, right? It's like, it's like night and day. Salt and pepper. You and me."
"And I am the white one."
"Very much so."
- Sheriff Mike and the Mantid Harry
"Humans already live in a prison. A prison they create for themselves. A prison of beliefs that hold them back from being the best version of who they are."
- Harry Vanderspeigle
Trivia[]
- This is the first-ever episode of the series to be directed by show star Alan Tudyk (Harry Vanderspeigle). He directed the following episode as well, due to the show's practice of always filming episodes in pairs. He stated that the cast was very nice to him but it was tricky trying to direct himself.[2]
- Beginning with this episode, Meredith Garretson is credited as starring cast for her role as Kate Hawthorne. She had been credited as a guest star in all previous episodes, despite appearing in almost all episodes.
- The song that plays when the Mantid Harry is first shown strolling through Patience is "Somebody Stole My Thunder" by Georgie Fame.
Gallery[]
Still images[]
Videos[]
References[]
- ↑ Alan Tudyk Looks Like Harry... But Isn't Harry. Syfy (May 28, 2025). Retrieved on May 29, 2025.
- ↑ Nelson, Samantha (June 3, 2025). Alan Tudyk, master of disguise, just faced his greatest challenge. Polygon. Retrieved on June 7, 0202.