I'm currently feeling the urge to strangle who ever did the tv schedule for Fox because their fucking with my DVRing... AGAIN!
News Seth MacFarlane’s The Orville
- Thread starter Kai "the spy"
- Start date
Great episode. But I think I see why Fox tried to hide it in the switchover (despite the online uproar that will no doubt ensue). I especially love the not-so-good ending, although this is the kind of thing that should destroy the marriage between Bortus and Klyton.
And apparently, we need to stop boxing as a sport. Boxing and zoos are overdue for removal in our next step of cultural evolution. But at least we'll keep circumcision and fart jokes.
And apparently, we need to stop boxing as a sport. Boxing and zoos are overdue for removal in our next step of cultural evolution. But at least we'll keep circumcision and fart jokes.
Agreed. I think the problem with The Orville right now is that the serious aspects of the plot work and the humor is, well, it's hit or miss.
I'm all for tonal shifts (ala MASH) but you have to justify each shift. If the joke works then it helps ease the tension of the drama, but if it bombs, it feels like an intrusion. Therefore the stakes are a lot higher than in a straight out comedy where the jokes can be hit or miss with no ramifications.
I feel in episode 3 that the jokes were still only working 50% of the time.
The best kind of jokes are those that are INTEGRAL to the plot. And we know which gag was integral to this one. That one worked. Several others fell flat. I also counted at least twice where "dick" was invoked as a cheap insult. I think it was meant to be a sort of South Park style shock-tactic, a "hey (tee hee) look at us! We can say dick on a Trek show! In prime-time!" but, IMHO, it backfired. Having Trek characters speak more loosely is refreshing, but it stops working when the dialogue becomes too forced, too "try-hard" as it were. It's almost like Seth has a quota for how many times he should throw out the words penis, vagina, and dick, otherwise he's shirking his duty for making the show "adult".
This is a Star Trek spin-off, it needs two seasons to hit its stride.
If it lasts long enough, should Seth grow a beard?
I thought that was a very TNG'ish take on transgender and gender identity. Very well done, glad to see they can do the serious stuff with some gusto. And nice touch with Rudolph at the end. I'm gonna have instrumentals accompaniment to GIRLS JUST WANT TO HAVE FUN stuck in my head for the next few days.
Wow, that was more insensitive, smug, and ham-fisted than I feared this episode would be. Ugh.
That episode was definitely inspired by Sins of the Father. I wonder if that title inspired the plot of the episode.
This show continues to be kind of an enigma to me. Not being a parody and wearing its inspiration on its sleeves it has an odd "fan film" feeling. It will be interesting to compare when we get to some episodes not written by MacFarlane.
If nothing else this one might get some people talking on issues which is what you'd hope from Trek.
This show continues to be kind of an enigma to me. Not being a parody and wearing its inspiration on its sleeves it has an odd "fan film" feeling. It will be interesting to compare when we get to some episodes not written by MacFarlane.
If nothing else this one might get some people talking on issues which is what you'd hope from Trek.
IMHO, episode 3 was Lolani, complete with the downer ending.
Even with Bortus making Kelly his cha'dich and bringing in Kahlest to testify at the end?
Definitely the most trek like ep so far. The music, external shot and the scene of Ed and Kelly in the lounge could have been straight out of TNG.
Was thinking that trek wouldn't have had the baby getting the corrective surgery (thinking Measure of a Man) but then remembered the ending of The Outcast.
Was thinking that trek wouldn't have had the baby getting the corrective surgery (thinking Measure of a Man) but then remembered the ending of The Outcast.
Here's the thing. Was tonight's episode kind of hamfisted? Yeah. Does the dramatic form play a little trite? Yup. Does the humor miss a lot? Yes. Does the McFarlane brand of humor even mesh all that well with the TNG style they are applying it to? I'm not sure it does (But I'm also not sure it definitely won't, given time) Should they be playing so close to the TNG form? I really don't know, but they are. It's happening. Are they as good at it as TNG was? Hell no. Do they have to be? Maybe not, if the production still works on its own, and ultimately, despite all the negative aspects I can harp on, it still kind of did tonight.
The cast actually seemed like a real cast of a real show, telling a real story. For the first time I did somewhat feel the "Galaxy Quest" vibe from it, where it's supposed to be a gag/parody, & it's not to be taken too seriously, but it does have its own thing to offer (Albeit, Galaxy Quest was SO much better at it imho, but that is neither here nor there as well)
So look, I've been on the pretty critical side of judging this show, & I won't backpedal on any of that, because anything I've said about its flaws is true, but what show doesn't have flaws when they start? I guess what it comes down to is this. I can sit here & rail on the show every week for not being as good as Seth's best, or Star Trek's best. I can judge it by those standards, which is kind of unfair, or I can give up on the show, but you see... there's something about it I don't want to give up on yet.
They are taking a chance on something that no one even knows if it'll work yet. That takes guts. It actually mirrors the kind of guts it took to produced Star Trek, a property (by the way) that is currently being exploiting to prop up CBS's attempt to better branch into online streaming. That makes me want to give The Orville more of chance now, because they are in fact showing courage, & are not preying on Star Trek a fraction as much as CBS is right now. So I will give it a chance
The cast actually seemed like a real cast of a real show, telling a real story. For the first time I did somewhat feel the "Galaxy Quest" vibe from it, where it's supposed to be a gag/parody, & it's not to be taken too seriously, but it does have its own thing to offer (Albeit, Galaxy Quest was SO much better at it imho, but that is neither here nor there as well)
So look, I've been on the pretty critical side of judging this show, & I won't backpedal on any of that, because anything I've said about its flaws is true, but what show doesn't have flaws when they start? I guess what it comes down to is this. I can sit here & rail on the show every week for not being as good as Seth's best, or Star Trek's best. I can judge it by those standards, which is kind of unfair, or I can give up on the show, but you see... there's something about it I don't want to give up on yet.
They are taking a chance on something that no one even knows if it'll work yet. That takes guts. It actually mirrors the kind of guts it took to produced Star Trek, a property (by the way) that is currently being exploiting to prop up CBS's attempt to better branch into online streaming. That makes me want to give The Orville more of chance now, because they are in fact showing courage, & are not preying on Star Trek a fraction as much as CBS is right now. So I will give it a chance
Okay, this was refreshingly different from Trek, especially TNG, because if Picard was in command, he would have
either convinced the aliens to change their ways and allow girl babies to be left as-is, or he would have convinced all humans and other races to have enlightened acceptance of their decision to change her to a boy. Instead, the crew is left with that "awe crap" feeling that they failed. You almost never saw that in TNG.
Ham-fisted? Smug?? How so???
This was definitely the weakest of the bunch.
Before, Orville was like that one friend everybody has who goes all-out for Halloween each year. They always hve the best character costumes and know how to have fun with it. They insert the character into the party but still can be themselves under the costume.
This episode was that same person who won't shut the fuck up at 4 in the morning. You're sauced and trying to stumble home, but they have now taken their costume character to the next level. They do and say everything in character and make obnoxious comments while you're frantically running around the 24-hour convenience store trying to find the Pepto and Excedrin.
Before, Orville was like that one friend everybody has who goes all-out for Halloween each year. They always hve the best character costumes and know how to have fun with it. They insert the character into the party but still can be themselves under the costume.
This episode was that same person who won't shut the fuck up at 4 in the morning. You're sauced and trying to stumble home, but they have now taken their costume character to the next level. They do and say everything in character and make obnoxious comments while you're frantically running around the 24-hour convenience store trying to find the Pepto and Excedrin.
See, I felt quite the opposite; this was the best episode thus far. Still far from "perfect", but good enough for me to keep watching more episodes.
Nah, that has to be Kelly!