Resident Alien Season 4: The Mantid's Big Problem - A Finale Showdown!
Resident Alien Season 4: A Ticking Clock for the Mantid's Plans!
Resident Alien season 4 is here, bringing a seriously awesome new villain, the Mantid! This shapeshifting insectoid (voiced by the amazing Clancy Brown) left Harry Vanderspeigle (Alan Tudyk) stranded on a ridiculously cool spaceship at the end of season 3, adding a truly formidable antagonist unlike previous seasons! And this dude is already proving a huge threat.
The Mantid is capable of shifting appearance and thus this power allows for that stealth needed to escape and hide. The potential for chaos remains as there could be an entirely different appearance created! That’s the kind of stuff the writers love!
But there's a HUGE problem brewing; one the writers need to consider, and is explored below, because this could have a major impact on what could transpire in future episodes and it deserves careful planning and implementation to retain consistency and generate exciting conflict throughout!
The Alien Tracker vs. The Mantid: A Showdown That Needs to Wait
Remember Peter Bach (Terry O'Quinn), aka "The Alien Tracker"? Thought to be dead? Nope! He's back; upgraded by the government. Now a highly advanced tool. His ability to see through disguises is seriously OP; crucial in the upcoming fight against the Mantid, and one many viewers would eagerly wait to witness!
Now here’s that huge problem; an early confrontation would not be productive! Once the Mantid’s deception is revealed, Peter (using his killer new tech) is going to find Harry—that much is obvious and almost immediately assumed from season 3! And yet that would seriously undermine the tension and this exciting buildup needed throughout season 4. The Mantid’s best defense? His ability to change appearance; it would make for an outright slaughter to make such a quick ending and a clash should really be saved for the season finale; creating even more unexpected developments later. Even his brutal attacks probably would fail because he cannot utilize these if taken by surprise.
The Mantid's Dilemma: Max, Sahar, and a Deceptive Game of Cat and Mouse
Season 3 ended with Max and Sahar discovering the Mantid posing as Harry! Several developments could then occur. The pair escape, alerting everyone? Nope. This is bad and needs careful planning! This immediately causes the confrontation between Peter and the Mantid! Would they die? Unlikely; the series would never do that, especially regarding two major players!
What then would occur if neither of those previously considered options occur? What else can the Mantid do? Perhaps kidnapping; which creates immense plot issues; It’d be impossible to keep that cover. He cannot convince others he is Harry and simultaneously control both Max and Sahar as he cannot maintain those many separate identities. If captured; the result would greatly reduce Max and Sahar's impact throughout the season which could become a major story problem which isn't easily addressed later.
The Mantid's Greatest Weapon: The Power of Deception
The Mantid's shape-shifting? This remains the absolute best way he can win in this ongoing fight. With Max presumably sidelined by capture (or simply staying at Harry’s place), and Peter's changed appearance confining his presence; keeping him out of town in this particular situation, that gives the Mantid a perfect chance to completely deceive everybody. That deception is what works so far; this also highlights that being unable to predict his movements creates suspense for all.
The biggest question is; what might transpire once everything changes? Is the Mantid's main aim to stick around Patience? Or might the plot twist suddenly, adding an unexpected departure toward the series finale? If discovered, it opens the opportunity to completely evade those antagonists, using those skills to his maximum extent by changing into something entirely new.
Conclusion: Resident Alien Season 4 Needs That Calculated Slow Burn
Season 4 needs to use that perfect blend of suspense, excitement and intrigue in its overarching plot elements; a key reason for that initial success is demonstrated here. This suspense created is generated perfectly through those mysterious changes. Rushing things— a showdown too soon—is an enormous problem; yet there's many developments in this new storyline; adding another reason why season 4 remains a delight for viewers! The Mantid's power comes through subterfuge, using a calculated delay in confrontations, it allows this season's greatest enemy and greatest strength to fully take effect. This kind of careful planning makes those unexpected changes, twists and turns so perfectly possible!
