Go Behind the Scenes of Terry O'Quinn's Cyborg Alien Tracker Transformation in Season 4 (WATCH)
Showrunner Chris Sheridan wanted a half-robot, half-human design that didn't recall the classic cyborgs of yesteryear.
This story contains spoilers for Resident Alien Season 4, Episode 9, “Tunnel Vision."
When it came to Peter Bach's cybernetic transformation in the final season of Resident Alien, creator, showrunner, and executive producer Chris Sheridan wanted a design that didn't recall the iconic cyborgs of yesteryear.
"We just tried to think of different ways to do it that don't look like other robots out there, which is hard, because this type of thing has been done a lot," he said in the behind-the-scenes video above detailing Season 4, Episode 9. "But we did our own version of it, and I'm pretty happy with how it came out."
You may recall that Bach (played by Terry O'Quinn) was transformed into a mindless government weapon at the end of Season 3 under the supervision of General McCallister (Linda Hamilton). He ultimately went rogue and escaped his federal puppeteers before making contact with the only person he could trust: Deputy Liv Baker (Elizabeth Bowen).
The Alien Tracker's flamethrower in Resident Alien Season 4, Episode 9 was completely digital
Known as the Alien Tracker or "Robo-Tracker," the character helped save the day in this week's episode when he torched the newly-hatched Mantid babies about to devour Deputy Liv and his long-lost son, Robert (Paul Piaskowski). Per Sheridan, the flames were completely digital as a way to keep the cast and crew safe.
By the episode's conclusion, Bach officially completes his life-long journey of reuniting with the child abducted right out of his wife's belly all those years ago.
"He obviously has gotten past his cyborg-ness enough to recognize us and have some memories and things," Bowen explained in the video.
"It’s always great to work with people that you’ve watched and admired for years. I love acting, and I love people who are good at craft," series lead Alan Tudyk (Harry Vanderspeigle) said last year. "Terry O’Quinn, he’s got such an easy touch; it’s a joy working with him. In Season Two, I got to have some scenes with him. Because he’s the Alien Tracker, he sees me as the alien, so all of our scenes, I was wearing a rubber mask, but I just love the back and forth."
How to watch the series finale of Resident Alien
Only one more episode of Resident Alien remains! Episode 10 (titled "The End is Here") will premiere next Friday — August 8 — at 10:00 p.m. New installments are available to stream on Peacock a week after they air.
The first three seasons are now streaming here!
