Alan Tudyk stars as an E.T. who cannot go property in new Syfy sequence

Turning a principle as old as “My Preferred Martian” into a little something fresh new and funny isn’t effortless, but “Resident Alien” someway manages that, fueled by its dim, offbeat tone and Alan Tudyk’s otherworldly ability taking part in the title character as a stranger in his very own pores and skin. Regular twists also assistance, in a serialized dramedy that turns the Darkish Horse comic into a beautifully addictive series.

© SYFY/Episodic/James Dittinger/SYFY
Alan Tudyk in Syfy’s ‘Resident Alien’

The only minimal cautionary note is that despite the broad character of the comedy — Tudyk’s awkwardness falls someplace in between “Starman” and the masquerading aliens in the movie “Galaxy Quest” — the at times-raunchy product isn’t for young youngsters, who if not would likely enjoy it. More mature ones, by contrast, may possibly establish with this weird visitor’s unfamiliar bodily sensations, which approximate a belated brush with puberty.

Tudyk’s “Harry” has occur to Earth on a magic formula mission, but his ship crashed, and he missing his valuable cargo. He hides out near the city of Endurance, Colorado, as he looks for the device that will let him to fulfill his aim — an E.T. who cannot go house, and just one who’s really cranky about the complete predicament.

Even more complicating matters, Harry has inadvertently inhabited the overall body of a physician and is sought out by regional authorities to help examine a entire body soon after what seems to be a scarce murder.

The mystery forces Harry to interact with individuals, a little something he has primarily prevented for months whilst educating himself to speak by looking at “Regulation & Buy” reruns. Of class, the cop show does not definitely assistance with his dreadful, explosive chuckle, or little issues like how to take in a incredibly hot doggy and his 1st brush with alcoholic beverages.

After in city, other problems arise, the most vexing staying a regional child (Judah Prehn) who — in a little something of a fluke — can truly see Harry in his alien guise where other human beings cannot. The alien’s 1st assumed, naturally, is to destroy him, although letting all people assume the boy’s nuts — such as his mother and father — could get the position carried out just as nicely.

Possibly even extra uncomfortably, Harry actually commences to feel a degree of fondness for some of the townsfolk, particularly Asta (Sara Tomko), a nurse at the area clinic. Staying a medical professional, he’s also observed as oddly qualified, bachelor-intelligent, regardless of his penchant for making use of crude slang at inappropriate instances, this kind of as when he is talking about professional medical conditions.

Tailored by “Relatives Person” author Chris Sheridan, “Resident Alien” possesses the quirky features of a stay-action cartoon, capitalizing on Tudyk’s weirdly endearing functionality, which will make you root for Harry even with his occasional homicidal tendencies. The actor’s voice-above talents (from animated sequence to the robot in “Rogue One particular: A Star Wars Story”) provide him, and the substance, rather well.

There is certainly also a contact of “Northern Exposure” in the roster of modest-town eccentrics, which can make it a very little simpler for Harry to hide in simple sight. Incorporating to the intrigue, afterwards episodes introduce people investigating the alien threat, 1 of them played by “The Terminator’s” Linda Hamilton.

Specified the twists and turns, there’s often the chance that “Resident Alien” could commence to exhaust its premise however, if the writers can sustain the inventive orbit recognized by its opening batch of episodes, it seems like the type of sequence that could prolong its keep indefinitely.

“Resident Alien” premieres January 27 at 10 p.m. ET on Syfy.