The Orville – Spoilers Within.

After 4 episodes, I think I've got a good idea of what Seth is going for here. YMMV, of course, but it seems quite watchable, and most parallels from Star Trek are not so much a rip off as just part parody while taking themselves less seriously than the Federation of Planets.

But it's not all laughs in the Planetary Union, even when it's trying to be. There's a serious side, too, and an attempt at social commentary that may be as good, and perhaps more modern, than Star Trek: The Original Series. It may even build on those social statements, or offer a new look or different direction.

If spoilers bother you, naturally, you should stay out of this thread or read no farther than the last episode you have already seen - since there will be spoilers.

I invite anyone who wishes to make comment and share their thoughts on the episodes to do so as we go along for as long as the series airs. After having watched the 4th episode, I feel that could be some time - but that's not up to me, of course.

Enjoy

Cast: Season 1.

Episode 1: Old Wounds.

25th-century space pilot Ed Mercer divorces his wife Kelly Grayson after he catches her cheating on him. A year later, he accepts a position as Captain of the U.S.S. Orville and finds to his dismay that his ex-wife Kelly Grayson will serve as his First Officer. During the Orville's first mission, the hostile alien Krill Captain (Joel Swetow) attempt to steal a device that can accelerate time, which has both beneficial and dangerous applications. Mercer and Grayson rig the device to destroy itself and the Krill vessel.

Episode 1: Old Wounds.

I don't think this show is meant to be wall-to-wall funny, so if you were expecting laughs from beginning to end, this is clearly not it. I'm not saying it tried that and failed, but that's not the intent.

They do have an almost everyday blasé' attitude to some remarkable things, but by the 25th century, maybe most of those incredible things are either everyday, or things like that come along at a regular enough rate to be almost everyday occurrences.

The Planetary Union seems to use Quantum drive - not explained, but different than warp drive. It's quick, and maybe by staying away from hard numbers, they are doing themselves a favor.

The also use shuttles to ferry people around - not having anything like transporters that I have seen yet.

EDIT: Watching it a second time, they do have holo-decks one can interact with in full contact ways - Malloy was fighting an orc.

The Union has 3000 ships in the quadrant and quite frankly not enough qualified people to captain them? 3000 isn't huge, but it's much bigger than 13 Constitution Class starships - and who knows how many smaller vessels. Anyway, for space, even 3000 makes them few and far between.

Regardless of how fast one might make a bubble of time move, or where a tree might grow, to grow at all it will have to intake water and minerals and nutrients, of course, so I doubt they could win this way.

I liked the episode, but one wonders how different it might be when the captain is so easily derailed by his wife, and is later being probed up by her. It's not exactly the heroic male type, but it may be good enough, for now.

I laughed much more the second time I watched it (after the 6th episode).

I'd go as high as a 7 out of 10 for an opener, giving it some slack for that difficult job.

Fourth episode... not bad at all.

Still a couple of moments when they went too silly, but they've toned the humor down to believable levels. They feel like professionals with a wise-ass streak.

Episode 2: Command Performance.

The technologically advanced Calivon imprison Mercer and Grayson in a replica of their former home as a zoo exhibit. Alara is left in command of the Orville as Bortus has laid an egg and must incubate it. Alara is unsure of herself, but gains confidence with the help of Claire's mentorship. Mercer and Grayson wonder if they could have made their relationship work, but finally conclude that they were never compatible for a long-term romantic relationship, despite their strong camaraderie. Admiral Tucker orders Alara to return to Earth instead of approaching the powerful Calivon; Alara violates these orders and rescues Mercer and Grayson, and an alien child by trading an archive of Earth's reality television for them. Ed presents Alara with a medal of honor and believes he and Kelly can prevent her from being punished for insubordination. A female offspring hatches from Bortus's egg, stunning him and Klyden, Moclans females are extremely rare.

Episode 2: Command Performance.

Shades of the Talosians, the alien race is so powerful the Union's position is stay away, hands off, don't even make contact. And like Pike's assessment, they had a sort of Menagerie - a massive zoo of collected specimens which are used to entertain their people, like zoos do. Simple technological superiority, however, seems to be enough for them to disregard the feelings or rights of other lesser species. And what can anyone with lesser tech do about it, anyway?

But as they seem only interested in an exhibit of sorts, giving them plenty of humans to watch on reality T.V. seemed to delight them, and I can understand it becoming the zoo's most popular exhibit since it seems they were lacking the very concept of entertainment like that.

So the captain and first officer were rescued, and we assume Alara didn't get into too much trouble for disobeying direct orders from the admiralty.

6 out of 10.

Episode 3: About A Girl.

When Dr. Finn refuses Bortus and Klyden's request to have their daughter undergo gender reassignment surgery, which is standard practice for Moclans on the very rare occasions when a female is born, the parents petition Mercer to order the procedure. Mercer refuses, as he (and the rest of the crew) object to performing such a procedure on a healthy infant, so Bortus and Klyden arrange to have the procedure performed on a Moclan vessel. Gordon and John change Bortus's mind by showing him Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, but Klyden still wants to proceed, revealing that he was born female. The case is arbitrated on the Moclan planet, Moclus, where Kelly represents Bortus; she casts doubt on the idea of male superiority by demonstrating that Alara is physically strong and Gordon is stupid. Ed locates a female Moclan of advanced years, Heveena, who testifies that she lived a happy and fulfilling life in seclusion, and reveals that under the pseudonym "Gondus Elden" she has become an esteemed novelist on Moclus. But Klyden and the tribunal are unconvinced, and the baby undergoes the surgery. Despite their disagreement, Bortus and Klyden are committed to one another and to giving their son, Topa, a good life.

Episode 3: About A Girl.

I like the idea, but don't really understand what makes one "male" in an all male race, or "female" or even if this is sexual reproduction or how that works for this race.

But females are regularly born (just not that often) so I wondered if due to massive gender selection and gender reassignment, this race somehow evolved into a nearly all male population retaining the ability to lay eggs, of course.

The attempted imposition of human values on others is addressed. A comparison to circumcision on a healthy infant is put forth, and quite well, too, demonstrating operating on a healthy infant is not as unheard of as they suggested.

The fact one female lived in isolation and hid her gender all those years and even contributed greatly to the culture under a male pseudonym really doesn't suggest it's a great option or as good as gender reassignment, and that this race bears little resemblance to humans doesn't make it particularly a good message for gender reassignment on humans.

But using Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer was a funny way to change Bortus' mind.

6 out of 10.

Episode 4: If The Stars Should Appear.

The Orville encounters a huge, 2000-year-old derelict ship drifting into a star. Mercer, Kelly, Kitan, Claire, and Isaac enter, discovering an artificial biosphere and a civilization of 3 million who worship an entity called "Dorahl" and do not know they are aboard a ship. Kelly is held prisoner by their theocratic dictator Hamelac, who imposes a death penalty on "Reformers" who believe anything exists beyond the known world. While Bortus takes the Orville to save a colony ship from a Krill attack, Kelly's crewmates rescue her and lead a group of Reformers to the alien ship's bridge. An ancient recording from Captain Jahavus Dorahl reveals that it was a generation ship disabled by an ion storm. Isaac initiates repairs and opens the hull's window, enabling the populace to see stars for the first time, moving even Hamelac. Ed makes arrangements for the Union to train the people to operate their ship. Meanwhile, Klyden is frustrated that Bortus's duties leave him little time for family.

I like this show, don't love it, it's watchable and has some funny asides but it's basically straight forward a Star Trek clone.

Episode 4: If The Stars Should Appear.

Shades of The World Is Hollow And I Have Touched The Sky are given here.

A dictatorial theocracy has evolved on this multigenerational world ship that is adrift and 6 months away from crashing into a star. The population is in the millions.

Captain Mercer and an away team (not called that) find their way on board and deal with a few inhabitants who are unaware they live on a world ship (though some suspect). The theocratic leader resorts or torture and murder as a regular means to control the population and weed out the faithless or any dangerous opposition to his rule.

As captain Mercer said, "those are always fun," like it's almost commonplace to run into such societies.

The sky dome above is retractable, to a degree (must be some force field in place too to retain the atmosphere) and Mercer finds it and quite casually orders it opened, which might put such a massive cultural shock to millions one wonders if that was the best solution. Of course failure to get the ship back on course will result in the death of everybody, but they might have been able to get it back on course without destroying the faith.

But it was a false faith, so let the chips fall where they may, I guess, and the idea of a way to ease the transition wasn't even considered.

I dislike the idea the ship was damaged and the natives couldn't repair it, yet Issac seems to have no trouble fixing it. I don't recall why that should have been so easy.

I am mystified, of course, by the term "artificial mass." WTF is that?

I assume it might be a way to create an artificial gravity, but it emits a particular signal which is recognizable as someone generating an artificial gravity somewhere.

8 out of 10.

A clone isn't quite right since those are supposed to be identical, or start out as identical, even if they evolve differently.

They are heavily borrowing from Trek, though, that much is certain. I don't know if he plans on using every Trek story idea, or just a lot of them, just TOS or other Trek series, or even other Sci-Fi shows, or what, but as a Trek fan, I am not at all offended, or feel like it's just a rip off or unworthy entertainment. I like it.

As long as one isn't looking for nothing but laughs, the humorous asides are actually fine, IMO, and the 25th century society is something to look at and think about it.

Also the cast isn't really strong. I like Seth but the whole bickering ex wife thing will get old quick and the rest of the cast is just kind of there.
We will start to get episodes detailing each cast members personal story like the one about the two fellas having a baby. Btw, does the baby stay on the ship and grow up there?

I'd debate the strength of the supporting cast. Adrianne Palicki has been very good in other things, and Scott Grimes was very good in Band of Brothers.

Penny Johnson Jerald was decent in all the procedurals she's been in, and many of the others are having to deal with prosthetics.

I'd say the real weakness is the script and direction.

And MacFarland.

The episodes seem like plots lifted from short 1950s Sc-Fi comics I've read, and then liberally
sprinkled with Seth's juvenile humor, which doesn't amuse me that often.

It's a nice-looking show, though, and the cast is more likable than what I saw on that new Star
Trek series.

Of course your own mileage will vary.

I wasn't impressed with this one, but the solution is very Doctor Who.

Like the first episode there's this sense that they can't just let a mildly funny bit stand. They have a tendency to play up the moment or call attention to it, such as his Dad's colon talk should be the sort of thing Seth just refuses to acknowledge. Let it just be someone's dad embarrassing their son.

The next one I didn't like because I compare it unfavorably to a TNG episode I didn't like, The Outcast (the gay episode about the genderless alien Riker wants to bang). It might have worked later in the series, after they set up Bortus' relationship with his mate better and his species being assholes would have carried more of a sting.

I had forgotten the J'naii (The Outcast) in TNG. I guess though that race started out with two genders, I'm not sure how they get on being genderless, but at least they don't have the notion they are all male or all female. The very idea of "male" and/or "female" suggests something to me that I can't imagine in a single gender race.

In both races, though, it seems to take more than one to make a child.


They had the baby in the bassinet (or whatever) so it seems they intend to raise it on the ship. His mate knew what he was getting into before they got married, IIRC. Shipboard life. TNG's Galaxy Class ships were large enough to be a mobile city, and while I think it's risky, it's apparently not so risky that many starfleet personnel aren't more than willing to raise their kids on board.

The Orville seems smaller, but for all I know, it's bigger than the Enterprise-D, despite being a mid range ship. I don't know if anyone is putting out numbers on these things yet. They did seem to have spacious living quarters. And a large spiral staircase that leads up to an area that is adjacent to the bridge, too.

The Bridge looks pretty big, too.

Credit where credit is due... the whole scene about shooting the father was great. That's the kind of exchange i could see happening in a situation like that. They come in peace, but they did just shoot someone... but he's stunned, right? It felt like they were sorting the situation out and it was both a refreshing way to handle such a scene and funny without feeling like a gag.

Every so often Orville pulls off something like that and I have faith in it.

My favorite character other than Seth is the blob that's always in sick bay complaining, it seems to be voiced by Norm McDonald who I love.

Also cool cameo by Liam Neeson, just wished they did a "Taken" bit to make it really funny but they made him the soft reverent architect of the ship.

The 4th episode reminded me of the short-lived 70s show The Starlost.

Also, we're back to a galaxy where every race speaks English.