What's Up - Your guide to what's happening in Fayetteville, AR this week!
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T2 WHATS UP! August 7 - 13, 2022 TV FEATURE BY DANA SIMPSON TV Media W hen the SyFy se- ries "Resident Alien" first land- ed on the net- work in early 2021, it, like its main character, was unlike anything viewers had ever seen before. Now partway into its second season, the out-of- this-world dramedy continues Wednesday, Aug. 10, following a five-month hiatus. Starring voice and comedy actor Alan Tudyk ("Firefly") in the leading role, "Resident Alien" follows an alien — whose real name is largely un- pronounceable due to a com- plicated series of clicks and whistles — after he crash- lands on Earth. Caught off guard while searching the Col- orado mountainside for his lost space vessel, the alien winds up assuming the body of one Dr. Harry Vanderspei- gel, a physician who lives part time in a lakeside cottage in the small, nearby town of Pa- tience. As the show's pilot pro- gresses, the alien/Harry, who has so far managed to fly un- der the town's radar for four months due to the real Harry's seasonal visitor status, be- comes pulled into a sinister murder case when Patience Sheriff Mike "Big Black" Thompson (Corey Reynolds, "The Closer") and his deputy, Liv Baker (Elizabeth Bowen, "Upload"), ask for his help in a medical capacity. While the human Harry is dead and no longer has control over any as- pect of his corporeal form, alien Harry agrees to help and immediately becomes inter- ested in the gruesome details of the crime. While part of this interest could be based in the alien's sinister interests and overall lack of humanity, it seems more likely that his interest in the murder stems from his fa- vorite human pastime: watch- ing "Law & Order" to learn English. Having modeled himself af- ter the show's lead, played by Jerry Orbach ("Dirty Danc- ing," 1987), alien Harry learns to assimilate into Colorado culture by "becoming human" to the best of his ability — his alien form still sneaks through occasionally, though he does well to ensure he always ap- pears as Harry when in the presence of other humans. As the sci-fi dramedy con- tinues across its premiere sea- son's 10 episodes, viewers learn many of the intricacies behind the alien living among the residents of Patience, Col- orado. From his complete lack of understanding when it comes to basic human func- tions — think emotion and so- cial convention — to the de- tails of the mission that acci- dentally landed him on Earth, Harry's alien side slowly be- gins to reveal itself to the audi- ence. (That said, most of the humans in his immediate vi- cinity have yet to figure out his true identity.) One person who does gain insight into his secret over the course of time is Asta (Sara Tomko, "Once Upon a Time"), the nurse Harry meets in the Bentonville Acupuncture 5 x 5 continued on page T10 Alan Tudyk in "Resident Alien" Down to Earth www.nwaonline.com Did you know those images are available for purchase? IT'S EASY! Just go to nwaonline.com, click on "Photos" in the top menu bar and use the search to fi nd the photo you want. Then just click "Purchase" for sizing options. You can also have the image put on a coff ee mug, mouse pad, key tag, holiday ornament and more! Did you see a photo in our newspaper or on our website that you would love a copy of? Check it out!