Resident Alien Theory Suggests Harry Met Season 4's New Villain Over 3 Years Ago

Warning: Spoilers ahead for the Resident Alien season 3 finale.

Summary Harry's previous encounter with the Mantid hints at a deeper history that may be explored in future Resident Alien seasons.

The presence of the Mantid challenges the show's traditional storytelling methods, potentially leading to more complex storylines.

The possibility of exploring Harry's past exploits with the Mantid introduces a new personal threat, adding depth to both characters.

Resident Alien's new antagonist may not be as unfamiliar to Harry Vanderspeigle as the season 3 finale implied, with a throwaway line of dialogue from season 1 suggesting he has met the potential Resident Alien season 4 villain before. While a fourth installment of the Syfy show has yet to be officially confirmed, the ending of Resident Alien season 3 made it clear the writers have plans for more episodes. If a fourth season does happen, season 3's last-minute addition to the Resident Alien cast could create some very interesting storylines going forward.

Generally speaking, Resident Alien tends to have a fairly linear narrative structure that rarely delves into Harry's past. The show's Goliath twist notwithstanding, it's a formula that has served Resident Alien well since it began in 2021. However, the terrifying insectoid bad guy who debuts in Resident Alien season 3, episode 8, "Homecoming," could mean the show deviating from its storytelling methods, and it all comes down to a snarky comment from Alan Tudyk's character in Resident Alien season 1.

Related Resident Alien Season 4: Will It Happen? Everything We Know The Syfy Channel's quirky series Resident Alien raised the stakes in season 3, but will Alan Tudyk return as Harry in season 4?

Harry Says A Mantid Owes Him Money In Resident Alien Season 1

The Mantid in "Homecoming" could be the same character Harry mentions in the show's first season

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Before Resident Alien season 3, there hadn't been many on-screen extraterrestrials outside Harry and the Greys. However, several alien races were mentioned in passing. Specifically, Resident Alien season 1, episode 9, "Welcome Aliens," introduces the Mantids by name only. The moment is fleeting, with a convention speaker declaring the Mantids as a genuine species, and Harry leaning in and telling Asta, "One of them owes me money." Therefore, "Homecoming" isn't Harry's first encounter with the Mantids. In fact, the Mantid revealed in the Resident Alien season 3 finale could be the same one Harry is referring to in "Welcome Aliens."

At the same convention in "Welcome Aliens" where Harry mentions the Mantid, a speaker at the convention also talks about an alien race called the Blue Avians.

It's possible the reference to the Mantids in "Welcome Aliens" is just a throwaway gag, but it could also have been foreshadowing the Mantid's appearance in "Homecoming" three years later. The mention of a specific Mantid who owes Harry money is the only time the race is mentioned in Resident Alien before one is finally seen on-screen in the season 3 finale. As such, it seems unlikely that the writers wouldn't be keenly aware of this, but instead are now willing to pay off the joke in Resident Alien season 4.

The Mantid's Hood Stopped Harry From Recognizing Him Aboard The Greys' Ship In Resident Alien Season 3

Mantids can alter their physical appearance at will

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If Harry was so keenly aware that a specific Mantid owed him money, then it stands to reason that he would know what the other alien would look like if they were to cross paths again. However, Harry never sees the Mantid's face in "Homecoming" due to the large hood covering its entire head. So, if the Mantid imprisoned on the Greys' moon ship in the Resident Alien season 3 finale is indeed the one being referenced in "Welcome Aliens," then Harry has no way to visually confirm this.

While there's the argument that Harry should have recognized the Mantid's voice, it must be considered that Mantids can drastically alter their physical appearance by taking the shape of someone else entirely. This transformation isn't just limited to the visual aspects of a Mandtid's appearance, but they can also change their voice. This is proven when the Mantid impersonates Harry in "Homecoming," with the show's last-minute villain being indistinguishable from the real Harry Vanderspeigle. Therefore, even though Harry hears the Mantid's voice, he may have been masking it.

Mantids also have psychic abilities that include mind-reading.

Additionally, Harry also never mentions when and where he had his run-in with a Mantid that ended up in the insectoid being in his debt. It could be that the money the Mantid owes to Harry is the result of a decades-old deal that massively predates the events of Resident Alien. If so, Harry's memory is fallible, and he may simply have not recognized the Mantid due to the distraction of the high-stakes affair of the season 3 finale and the amount of time that has passed since their last run-in.

Harry's Shared History With The Mantid Could Lead To An Exciting Resident Alien First In Season 4

Little is known about Harry's pre-Resident Alien life

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Although Harry has made passing references to his life before Resident Alien, it's never been shown. The presence of the Mantid could finally be a reason for the history of Tudyk's character to be shown firsthand. Flashbacks aren't commonly used in Resident Alien, but the Syfy show could reveal Harry's exploits before he came to Earth, even if the sequences are limited to why the Mantid owes him money in the first place.

Related Resident Alien Season 4's New Villain Means It's Even More Important That 1 Character Doesn't Return Resident Alien season 3 introduced new characters as well as bringing back old faces, but its new villain means one figure needs to stay away for now.

One of the most rewarding outcomes of Resident Alien season 4 would be if Harry and the Mantid have a storied past, meaning their shared history could present a very personal threat to Harry rather than the fate of the planet being at risk. Resident Alien largely focuses on Harry's present, and to a certain extent, his future. Adding in scenes that include his exploits with the Mantid would add an extra dimension to both characters and highlight the growth Harry has experienced since.

Heather's Resident Alien Season 3 Debut Was Also Foreshadowed In Season 1

The Blue Avians are also mentioned in "Welcome Aliens"

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The Mantid isn't the only Resident Alien season 3 character whose introduction to the show was teased back in 2021. At the same convention in "Welcome Aliens" where Harry mentions the Mantid, a speaker at the convention also talks about an alien race called the Blue Avians. In addition, there's also a hand-drawn picture of what the Blue Avians look like. Despite the species being mentioned so early in Resident Alien's run, the first Blue Avian doesn't appear until Resident Alien season 3, episode 3, "141 Seconds," when Heather enters the fray.

Of the other species named at the convention, only the Arcturians and the Little Green Men are left to make their Resident Alien debuts. However, the fact that Heather's introduction means the Blue Avians are now solidified into the show's canon means it may only be a matter of time until Resident Alien continues its season 3 trend of introducing more aliens into the show's universe.

Heather has turned out to be a pivotal character, both in her contributions to the story's worldbuilding and in Harry's romantic and personal journey. So, her character is proof that the show benefits from a wider array of alien life. As such, the Mantid should bring the same level of quality to Resident Alien season 4, especially if he and Harry are already acquainted.

Resident Alien seasons 1-3 are available to stream on Peacock.