“After living on Earth I am not just an alien with human emotions, I am an alien with human memories”

The last time we saw him Harry was finally on his way home, having made a last minute decision not to wipe out the human race as that would have to include his friend Asta. Then he discovered young Max stowed away in his spaceship…

The second season picks up the story more or less immediately afterwards. This is always a problem for shows with young cast members visibly growing up (see the latest series of Netflix’s excellent Ozark for a spectacularly unfortunate example) and there’s a lovely underplayed gag about this. As usual the script sings (here by series creator Chris Sheridan) and it passed the laugh out loud test a number of times. Obviously I won’t spoil the comedy highlights, but fans of the earlier seasons of Law and Order are well served. The bedroom antics of a certain newly ardent couple simultaneously had me guffawing while raising an eyebrow or two.

Most of the threads left dangling at the end of season one are touched on. Harry’s predicament has now changed of course. Quite rightly his mission to kill us all, while the source of much amusement, was only good for one season and now it looks like he may have to be our reluctant defender instead. Sheriff Mike “Big Black” Thompson and his deputy Liv Baker are still pursuing the killer of Dr Hodges. We get a strong hint here of just why Thompson is such an arse, but as usual with this show it steers away from schmaltz just in time. Last year Thompson was written for pure comedy so I’m pleased he seems to be getting some more flesh on his curmudgeonly bones.

Asta and D’Arcy of course are core components of the show, with Asta seeming to have regained some confidence – rightly so, she did more or less save the world. D’Arcy seems at something of a loose end, and whether her declared love for Harry (although not declared to him) goes anywhere remains to be seen. Hopefully this will be played with a light touch, no one needs this to become a will-they-won’t-they show and I have enough faith that it won’t.

There’s lots here I’d love to talk about but of course you should enjoy it as fresh as I did. I’m happy to report this hits the ground running again, with snappy direction from season 1 (and Star Trek: Voyager) alumnus Robert Duncan McNeill. Unavoidably it’s a little Covid-y, there’s a lot of two-hander scenes for example, but that’s something we’re getting used to and a good job is done of papering over the cracks.

Verdict: The return of my TV highlight of 2021 is much welcomed. Alan Tudyk as Harry absolutely nails it as always, but it’s a joy to see almost all the residents of Patience back in action. 8/10

Andy Smith