The following contains spoilers for Resident Alien season 4 episode 4, “Truth Hurts"Edi Patterson had no idea she’d get to return as Heather inResident Alien, but she threw herself into the chance to revisit the sci-fi show. Heather was a wildcard when she joined the show in season 3, bringing out new layers of Harry by forcing the blunt alien to experience true love. Their story, despite retaining the silly elements that define the show, is also a quietly heartbreaking storyline that reaches an even more tragic end in season 4’s “Truth Hurts.”
Although the two acknowledge and admit their love for one another, the pair simply can’t be together and end the episode parting ways inResident Alienseason 4. It’s a surprisingly tender moment that also happens to be hilarious at the same time. During an interview with Screen Rant, Edi Patterson discussed her excitement at getting to return to Heather for at least one more episode, her hopes for a future return,what makes Alan Tudyk’s performance so special, and why she thinks Harry and Heather belong together.
“It Made Me Laugh!”
Heather’s return inResident Alienseason 4 was a pleasant surprise for Edi Patterson, even if the heartbreaking end of their romance sends the character out on a somber note. After debuting in season 3 as an unexpected love interest for Harry, the character reluctantly betrayed the heroes in the climax of season 3. Patterson admitted she had “no idea” if she’d get to come back after that turn, but had been hoping that Heather’s time on the show wasn’t over. She got her wish — and with the unexpected complication that she’s given birth to more of Harry’s children.
Patterson admitted she had no idea that would be the direction of the character in season 4, but"it made me laugh! Just how casual it all is. It’s like, hi! By the way, you have multiple children.I murdered something in the woods. It’s fine. I love it.” Getting to return to the show was a thrill for Patterson, who has a great amount of affection for the romance between Heather and Harry, which gave Patterson plenty of time to play off of Alan Tudyk’s performance.
“I think we’re coming from a similar place,” Patterson noted about their dynamic, praising Tudyk and saying,“I think what he’s doing with Harry, what he’s been doing since the beginning of the show, is just wildly awesome.It’s so grounded, it’s such legitimate good acting. But there’s also almost clowning in the mix, and it all seems like a real being. I don’t know if enough people know what he’s doing and understand the magic of what he’s pulling off.”
“I think when I knew he was going to go for it, just letting it rip, I think that gave me permission to just go for it in every way. Whether it’s a really tender and sad moment, or it’s full-blown comedy,I think we’re coming from the same core thing of just making it true.” That commitment to truth in performance is key to bringing potentially ridiculous characters like Heather to life, without losing the human core that grounds them in the story.
I never, ever want to do anything with a wink.
“It’s just about coming from a place of truth and knowing that whatever’s happening, whether it’s ridiculous or would be hard to deal with in real life, I think it’s deciding that it is true. You mean what you say, with everything.That’s the key to so much comedy. I never, ever want to do anything with a wink. Like, ‘Oh, I know this is funny,’ I just think that’s an immediate death for the comedy. I hate to watch that, and I never want to bring that. I want to mean what I say.”
Edi Patterson Still Has Hope For Harry And Heather In Resident Alien’s Future
“I Think They’re Meant To Be…”
Heather’s final scenes in “Truth Hurts” wonderfully thread the needle between ridiculous sci-fi comedy and genuine heartbreak. As Harry and Heather reckon with the realization that they can’t be with each other despite their clear love for one another, the scene gets to be wacky one moment, heartwrenching the next. Patterson admitted that she was “pleasantly surprised by the depth and the true heartbreak of the final moments of their relationship. I feel like that was really fun to discover.”
Calling the final sequences of Heather’s storyline “gut-wrenching,“Patterson couldn’t hold back on her feelings about Harry and Heather’s relationship. “I think Harry and Heather should be together!We’ll see how it shakes out.“While she doesn’t know if there’s any hope for Heather and Harry to end up back together or if Heather will even return for moreResident Alien, Patterson noted that “we’ll have to find out if Chris Sheridan thinks that.”
Regardless of whether or not Heather returns, Patterson still believes in the romance between her and Harry. “I think they’re meant to be, and it’d be really sad to find out they’re both with other aliens. Maybe they should go live on another planet! Maybe that should be in a future season. We can get Astra and Darcy in a bubble so they can breathe [Laughter].”
New episodes ofResident Alienair Fridays at 11pm ET/PT on USA Network and SYFY, and they are available to stream on Hulu and Peacock the next day.
