Go Behind the Scenes of Resident Alien's Jewel Staite & Alan Tudyk Firefly Reunion (WATCH)
Jewel Staite famously played the role of Serenity mechanic Kaylee Frye in the cult favorite series and its follow-up film. Now she's made her way to Patience in Resident Alien.
This story contains spoilers for Resident Alien Season 4, Episode 8, “Mine Town."
The fourth and final season of Resident Alien (new episodes air every Friday evening on USA Network and SYFY) allowed series lead Alan Tudyk to reunite with two former co-stars: Stephen Root and Jewel Staite.
The latter, who famously appeared alongside Tudyk in the cult favorite series Firefly, as well as its 2005 follow-up film, Serenity, turned up in Patience as FBI Agent Jules Garner. A native of the small Colorado town, she's brought in to aid Detective Lena Torres (Nicola Correia-Damude) in her investigation of a strange murder where the victim's head seems to have been bitten clean off.
We, as the audience, know the gruesome slaying was committed by the Mantid alien who escaped to Earth at the end of Season 3. Sadly, Agent Gardner doesn't learn the truth until it's too late, and she's wrapped up in a deadly cocoon and has her identity stolen by said Mantid.
How Jewel Staite came to guest star in Resident Alien Season 4
"It was Alan's idea to hire her and soon as he said it, [I thought], 'What a brilliant move,'" creator, showrunner, and executive producer Chris Sheridan says in the video above.
"She played Kaylee, and Kaylee was my favorite character. She was the heart of the show," adds Tudyk. "It just so happened that she had an opening in her scheduling, and she came to play."
Staite is the second Firefly alum to guest star on the show after Nathan Fillion, who voiced the octopus known as 42 in the first two seasons. She signed on to show and wasn't made aware of Gardner's slimy fate. Instead, it was pitched as a villainous role, referencing the fact that the Mantid does take on the FBI agent's form.
"I personally love playing the bad guy," says the actress. "So when I found out that I got to do that at the end of the season, I was pumped. I get to have a little showdown in the middle of the street with Mike. [I] get shot and spit a bullet out of my mouth and walk off, all menacingly. I love being evil. I think every actor does, it's very cathartic."
The only downside? Agent Gardner has no scenes with Harry, though Staite does hope to return the favor by having him wrapped up in a cocoon on the set of her own show someday.
"I do hold a grudge," she joked.
How to watch the final episodes of Resident Alien
Only two more episodes of Resident Alien remain. Episodes 9 ("Tunnel Vision") and 10 ("The End is Here" — aka the series finale) will debut on August 1 and 8 at 10:00 p.m. respectively. New installments are available to stream on Peacock a week after they air.
The first three seasons are now streaming here! Not a subscriber yet? Click here to sign up for an account!
