Warning: Spoilers ahead forResident Alienseason 4, episode 1, “Prisoners.“The Greys have been part ofResident Alien’s story for a while now, but it has taken the recent introduction of Jinkx Monsoon to the show’s cast for the nefarious race to reach their potential. Debuting inResident Alienseason 4, episode 1, “Prisoners,“Monsoon voices Bruce, the Grey Alien who liberatesAlan Tudyk’s Harry Vanderspeiglefrom his incarceration aboard the Greys' moon ship. Bruce also fixesResident Alien’s Grey Aliensin a way that I feel has long been necessary.
After appearing asDoctor Who’s Maestroin 2024,Bruce is another big and recent sci-fi role for Jinkx Monsoon. Although he initially seems as though he’s going to be a minor character,Resident Alienseason 4’s premiere ends with the strong suggestion that Bruce will have a prominent arc as the show continues. With any luck, the influence he has already had onResident Alienwill continue to grow.
Bruce Is Just What The Greys Needed In Resident Alien
The Grey Aliens lacked proper characterization until Bruce’s debut
Despite being so pivotal toResident Alienso far,the Greys have developed no real identity beyond being villains. Sure, they’re intimidating, but they’re also just a nameless mass of individuals, none of whom have been characterized in any notable way. George Takei’s cameo as an unnamed member of the race has probably come the closest to giving a Grey Alien some personality, but even the brief voice role from theStar Trekicon didn’t make much of an impact. So, Bruce is incredibly important.
While Bruce is an alien who wants to be human, Harry is currently stuck in human form and wants to become an alien again.
Jinkx Monsoon’sResident Aliencharacter has a name and a personality, making Bruce someone to root for and follow through the story. He doesn’t look all that unique when compared to other members of the Grey Alien race, but I’m sure that will change as he starts to live out his dream of exploring the surface of Earth. Plus, Bruce’s story is an artful opposite of what’s going on with Harry in season 4. While Bruce is an alien who probably wants to be human, Harry is currently stuck in human form and wants to become an alien again.
Bruce’s Resident Alien Introduction Has Another Great Difference From The Other Greys
A non-villanous Grey is very exciting for Resident Alien’s future
Understandably, all the other Greys that have come before Bruce have been villains. This has made it even trickier to tell them apart, as they all share the exact same motivation, which was revealed inResident Alien3 to be the transformation of Earth’s atmosphere so they can take the planet for themselves and rid it of human life.Bruce is a comical and wholesome presence, so it means the Greys aren’t all the same, even if Monsoon’s character is unique among his people.
WhileBruce is set to become a massive ally to Harry and his friends, there’s still a big obstacle in Bruce’s way: Greys can’t spend long on Earth. The atmosphere isn’t suitable for them to breathe on a prolonged basis, and the planet’s gravity is too strong for the Greys' spindly physiques. So, Bruce can only really stay on Earth indefinitely if the Greys succeed in transforming it to accommodate them, which would be bad news for the humans. Therefore, Bruce will need to return to the Greys' ship at some point unless the writers figure out an alternative.
Bruce Opens The Door For More Interesting Grey Alien Characters To Debut
I hope Bruce isn’t the only standout Grey in Resident Alien season 4
Bruce is a great character, and I’m gladResident Alienhas introduced him, but he surely can’t be the only new Grey to enter the fray with a recognizable name and distinct personality. Whilethis would arguably make Bruce less special, he would remain unique in that he has an affinity for the Earth and its people rather than sharing the views of his peers that it’s merely a planet to be conquered.
Just as Bruce has allowed Jinkx Monsoon to enter theResident Alienuniverse,other standout Grey Aliens could mean more cool guest stars stepping into voice members of the race.Resident Alienhas a history of recruiting sci-fi actors to make guest appearances, and the Greys could serve as a great platform for this trend to continue. This wouldn’t be a necessity forResident Alienseason 4 to be great, but it would be a nice addition.
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