Sci-Fi Comedy Series 'Resident Alien' Canceled After Four Seasons — Here's Why

Over the course of four seasons, Resident Alien made audiences fall in love with Harry Vanderspeigle. The character, portrayed by Alan Tudyk, was actually an alien in disguise. The visitor from another planet killed the real Harry. The creature eventually attempted to become more human by taking over the doctor's identity.

The USA Network series kept viewers glued to the screen with the creative ways in which Harry learned how to live like a human being.

Unfortunately, the television industry can be unpredictable. TV Insider first reported that the show would be coming to an end with the finale of its fourth season.

Chris Sheridan might've had more plans for Harry's story, but the network didn't share his sentiment. Why was Resident Alien canceled? Here's what we know about the fate of the television comedy that entertained viewers for four years.

The USA Network did not provide a precise reason for canceling the series, but the context surrounding the situation can give audiences clues regarding the channel's decision.

The Hollywood Reporter states that Resident Alien was moved to the USA Network to reach a bigger audience. The comedy was originally a Syfy project, and it launched three seasons on the network.

While this hadn't been confirmed by any outlets, the fact that Resident Alien was canceled after reaching for a bigger audience probably means that the comedy didn't meet the viewership standards desired by the USA Network.

In a highly competitive entertainment landscape, studios give priority to titles that can maintain a constant fan base. The USA Network hasn't revealed which project will be taking over Resident Alien's spot in the schedule.

As expected, fans were saddened by the network's decision to cancel the show, no matter the reason.

"Resident Alien was one of the funniest shows and this season the show has gotten even better. So bummed more people didn't give it a look. Alan Tudyk is a delight and the rest of the cast were great," one viewer tweeted.

Another agreed, adding, "I’m honestly so sad for Alan. He carried this show with so much heart, he deserves better. First Firefly, now Resident Alien? The universe clearly has a problem with brilliant sci-fi. Feels like watching another ship go down too soon… again."

Alan Tudyk stole the show in Resident Alien as the impostor who took over Harry Vanderspeigle's life, but the Andor star was joined by talented performers who rounded out the cast of the comedy.

Sara Tomko appeared as Asta Twelvetrees. The assistant to the town doctor turned out to be a very complex character. Asta was only the second person to discover the truth behind what happened to Harry Vanderspeigle.

A surprise addition to the cast of Resident Alien was Nathan Fillion.

In Resident Alien, Nathan was introduced as the voice of 42. The octopus is shown to be stranded in a restaurant tank. The role of 42 allowed Alan and Nathan to experience a Firefly reunion, more than two decades after that story was seen on the screen for the first time.

Resident Alien premiered in 2021. With guest stars such as Stephen Root and George Takei, audiences never knew what to expect from every step of Harry's story.

The alien was just starting to learn how to experience life on Earth when the USA Network decided to stop airing new episodes of the comedy.

Fans of Resident Alien will now have to relive their favorite moments from the show through streaming platforms.