Discovery and "The Orville" Comparisons

[Amaris]

I thought episode 3 of "The Orville" was actually quite good in general, (almost excellent) not just as a "Star Trek parody / rip off," but excellent on its own.

That said..."The Orville" feels like TNG with the C-Team as the crew instead of the "finest crew in Starfleet." It feels like I've time warped right back to 1987 every time I watch it. Aesthetically, story structure-wise, music, character design...it's a late 80's to mid 90's Star Trek show. Beat-for-beat. That's part of its charm. It's also part of its weakness.

Discovery feels like I've finally stepped into the 21st century with Star Trek. About damn time.

Well, the premise of the show is that Ed is capable, but not their first choice, but they need warm bodies in the Captain's chairs. That said, it's clear he has people on his team who are excellent at their jobs. The ship itself isn't the flagship, it's the ship we hear about in the background on Star Trek while the big boys are taking on the universe.

It's TNG aesthetic, TOS approach, with a little bit of Firefly thrown in, and I think it works beautifully. Are there flaws? Certainly, but that's any show. For me, these have been the most human and relatable people I've seen in sci-fi in a long, long time. I went into DSC the same way I went into Orville, hopefully optimistic that I'd get a good sci-fi show with characters I can relate to, and stories I can enjoy: DSC hasn't managed yet by two episodes. Orville has, by three.

 

[Vger23]

Well, the premise of the show is that Ed is capable, but not their first choice, but they need warm bodies in the Captain's chairs. That said, it's clear he has people on his team who are excellent at their jobs. It's TNG aesthetic, TOS approach, with a little bit of Firefly thrown in. For me, these have been the most human and relatable people I've seen in sci-fi in a long, long time.

Yeah...it's like "what would TNG have been like if the crew were real, actual people and not the perfect avatars of evolved humanity that we got for 7 seasons"

I'd say right now, I really like both shows and hope they can co-exist and compliment each other.

 

[Amaris]

Yeah...it's like "what would TNG have been like if the crew were real, actual people and not the perfect avatars of evolved humanity that we got for 7 seasons"

Exactly. I say that as someone who loves TNG to this day, but yeah. These feel more like real people. I think Star Trek became way too sure of itself, and too in love with itself at some point. It became less about exploring strange new worlds, and more about showing people how evolved we had become, and in doing so, sapped a lot of the humanity that makes us who we are.

 

[Vger23]

Exactly. I say that as someone who loves TNG to this day, but yeah. These feel more like real people. I think Star Trek became way too sure of itself, and too in love with itself at some point. It became less about exploring strange new worlds, and more about showing people how evolved we had become, and in doing so, sapped a lot of the humanity that makes us who we are.

Agreed on all counts, including the love for TNG, despite how it hasn't aged well for me.

I'm actually really excited that we have both these shows now. It has been waaaayyy too long since I've felt this good about space sci-fi on TV.

 

[Amaris]

Agreed on all counts, including the love for TNG, despite how it hasn't aged well for me.

I'm actually really excited that we have both these shows now. It has been waaaayyy too long since I've felt this good about space sci-fi on TV.

Oh, I am, too. I want DSC to succeed. I want years of great sci-fi. I want fun and philosophical. We can have both. I must have both! *slams fist on counter*

 

[Skywalker]

People who aren't giving The Orville much of a chance just because the first season isn't wowing them must have forgotten they're Trek fans. They should be used to mediocre starts out the gate.

 

[Spider]

How much of a chance do we need to give it? I'm not waiting around for three seasons for it to get its act together.

This. They got at most the 1st half of this season to reel me in. If they haven't done it by then, I don't care what the midseason cliff hanger is, CBSAA is going bye bye.

 

[Mirror Mirror]

People who aren't giving The Orville much of a chance just because the first season isn't wowing them must have forgotten they're Trek fans. They should be used to mediocre starts out the gate.

No, some of us just do not like what we are seeing or where its going. All it has for me is it looks like a TNG rip off. But I don't like the humor, I find the pacing bad, I think it is tone def and a slew of other issues. Sometimes you just don;t like something and its not that things fault. I liked TNG from the word go, and yes it was rough but I liked it. With the Orville I found myself trying to make myself like it and that simply does not work.

 

[Spider]

No, some of us just do not like what we are seeing or where its going. All it has for me is it looks like a TNG rip off. But I don't like the humor, I find the pacing bad, I think it is tone def and a slew of other issues. Sometimes you just don;t like something and its not that things fault. I liked TNG from the word go, and yes it was rough but I liked it. With the Orville I found myself trying to make myself like it and that simply does not work.

As soon as there are another four or five episodes I can pick off Amazon, I'm probably going to give Orville another shot. I just need to get that 1st episode out of my head.

 

[Mirror Mirror]

As soon as there are another four or five episodes I can pick off Amazon, I'm probably going to give Orville another shot. I just need to get that 1st episode out of my head.

I gave it three. the 2nd is the best of the lot IMO. The 3rd is called good by some, but it came off so very, very tone def for me I just could not call it good.

 

[Campe]

I gave it three. the 2nd is the best of the lot IMO. The 3rd is called good by some, but it came off so very, very tone def for me I just could not call it good.

I’m not done with it quite yet but I agree with your rankings.

 

[Mirror Mirror]

I’m not done with it quite yet but I agree with your rankings.

Hey, if you or anyone else likes it ,good. I wanted to like it and I think that is why I am so disappointed. I am not a jerk, so I don't wanna see it fail just because I dislike it. But, I am no longer gonna try and make myself like it.

 

[Campe]

Hey, if you or anyone else likes it ,good. I wanted to like it and I think that is why I am so disappointed. I am not a jerk, so I don't wanna see it fail just because I dislike it. But, I am no longer gonna try and make myself like it.

I respect that. This trend of attacking people for their likes and dislikes is getting tiring.

 

[Mirror Mirror]

I respect that. This trend of attacking people for their likes and dislikes is getting tiring.

Yeah, its sci-fi. So I wanna see it do well. And really how can I call out people wanting DSC to fail because its not to their taste if I do the same? Its not my cuppa and I am disappointed, but others like it, who am I to piss on their enjoyment? And although its not my thing, Seth clearly put love into this, so good for him.

 

[Amaris]

Yeah, its sci-fi. So I wanna see it do well. And really how can I call out people wanting DSC to fail because its not to their taste if I do the same? Its not my cuppa and I am disappointed, but others like it, who am I to piss on their enjoyment? And although its not my thing, Seth clearly put love into this, so good for him.

Exactly. I mean, I won't lie and say I'm not a little disappointed when someone doesn't like it, too, but then I'm sure there are people who were hoping I'd watch DSC and say "that was the best Star Trek I've ever seen!" We want people to like things with us because it's fun to enjoy things together. We're all here because something we love brought us together, and I think that's what we need to remember.

 

[Mirror Mirror]

Exactly. I mean, I won't lie and say I'm not a little disappointed when someone doesn't like it, too, but then I'm sure there are people who were hoping I'd watch DSC and say "that was the best Star Trek I've ever seen!" We want people to like things with us because it's fun to enjoy things together. We're all here because something we love brought us together, and I think that's what we need to remember.

Yeah, I have zero issue with someone liking the Orvile. For me its not an Orville vs Startrek thing. Its just another sci-fi show and I am super glad we have another sci-fi show. I want to see it get a season two( maybe a better writer )

 

[Spider]

Yeah, its sci-fi. So I wanna see it do well.

We all want more space based scifi. I always want spaceships in outer space over anything else on TV or the movies.

 

[Mirror Mirror]

We all want more space based scifi. I always want spaceships in outer space over anything else on TV or the movies.

Yep. I simply worry because its fox and they love to kill shows. They will go with the cool concepts, but they will also kill them fast as well.

 

[Amaris]

Yep. I simply worry because its fox and they love to kill shows. They will go with the cool concepts, but they will also kill them fast as well.

The best chance we have is that Seth MacFarlane is producing it, and FOX has always appeared hesitant to cancel one of his shows, at least permanently. Family Guy, American Dad, The Cleveland Show, Cosmos, and now The Orville. That's just network TV, too. I think he has a lot of pull with FOX, since several of his shows enjoy immense popularity in the target demographic. His most popular show still appears to be Family Guy, which is generally up there around the same ratings ranking as The Simpsons, and FOX just will not let that show die. So he's probably in a pretty safe position with The Orville.

 

[Mirror Mirror]

The best chance we have is that Seth MacFarlane is producing it, and FOX has always appeared hesitant to cancel one of his shows, at least permanently. Family Guy, American Dad, The Cleveland Show, Cosmos, and now The Orville. That's just network TV, too. I think he has a lot of pull with FOX, since several of his shows enjoy immense popularity in the target demographic. His most popular show still appears to be Family Guy, which is generally up there around the same ratings ranking as The Simpsons, and FOX just will not let that show die. So he's probably in a pretty safe position with The Orville.

I am unsure as i is shedding a lot of viewers. I think maybe the moved it too soon. But Then maybe it will be fine. I wish it the best anyhow.