I believe Fox tends to get lower numbers in general than the big 3 networks, so that will probably help some too. I'm thinking that's probably not a specific appendage, that he just sends out parts of him to do whatever he needs them to do at the time.
It was a great episode! A nice plot and mystery, great special effects and the serious/comedy balance was perfect. Even the A.V. Club reviewer liked it, who was previously quite critical of the series. https://www.avclub.com/with-a-little-help-from-a-guest-star-the-orville-feels-1819205765
Huh... Gotta say I liked this one. I can't say it was any better than last week's, but it wasn't any lesser either. It kept me guessing on its turns, & it worked well as a story, even though it's got a lot of piecemeal aspects from multiple Star Trek influences, learning humor, visitors from the future, getting suckered by love etc... The timey whimey stuff was a little awkward to wrap your head around, but a lot of that was because of how fast they dumped it all on us at the end. Even with that though, I felt this episode's one improvement was in pacing. I've been feeling a little rushed in previous weeks, not so much here. Not sure I care for how often the "pickles" line keeps recurring. It's already kind of taxing that every episode has some door that needs to be pried open to begin with Most interesting part of the episode for me? Girl fight breaks out on the bridge, but the mega-strong Alara just stands fast, in close proximity, & lets it happen, kind of like she knew to give the XO her due
I freaking love this show! I think that it definitely has found its legs, which is not too shabby after 5 episodes. I also think they've toned down on some of the juvenile humour, making for better stories. Also, I noticed that she was wearing several variations of outfits looking like TNG, and early DS9 uniforms, which I doubt was accidental.
I liked this episode, but that ending was a pile of hot steamy garba-trash. It made no sense in any way. So he destroys the wormhole and she just disappears? So shouldn't all of that stuff never have happened? Ugh, time travel. At least have some consistency if you're gonna use it.
Yeah, that tracks with MacFarlane's writing. Even if we accept that's the case, I would think the mythological side of religious beliefs would still be studied by historians and philosophers even if they no longer practiced the actual religions. Also, if time travel is as common as Pria implied it is in the 29th century, colloquialisms of the past should be easy for anyone to look up, and thus she'd still know what the term "go to hell" meant.
Come on, it was just a gag. Mercer's trying to be curt, and tough, and his bravado is completely undercut by having to explain the insult. Let's not overthink. McFarlane's timing is great, BTW.
The sexism in this episode was too cringe worthy for me. Pria's greeting in the engine room was pretty Harvey-Weinstein'esque. And if that extension was his genital, it was even more than sexual assault at the workplace. Wasnt funny to me and any female viewer who is a victim of sexual assault at the workplace couldnt laugh either, I am sure. Of course in the end you get the bitch-fight between two blondes. That was Hollywood sexism at its finest in this episode. I dont care much for this one.
I enjoyed it. The plots aren't original, but the interactions among the crew are great, some of the humor works and I've love to be on a ship like that. I did like at the ending, where TNG would have had a senior officers' conference to gravely discuss what to do and how best to preserve the timeline, Mercer just decided he wasn't going to uproot his crew from their lives and move them to another time. It was just the right amount of different from how Trek handles these things.
I thought this one was really good, and not just because Captain Mercer comes from Massachusetts (although that helped). The time travel plot was interesting for several reasons. First, the antagonist was not out to hurt anyone and not even out to steal anything-- she specifically chose vessels that would be destroyed and saved the lives of all aboard. In contrast, by destroying the singularity, Mercer killed countless people, possibly including the time traveler. Another interesting aspect is that the Orville and crew survive now in an altered timeline-- they're literally living on borrowed time. Other things I loved about the episode were the comet rescue at the beginning (laws of physics aside), which was one of the most exciting space sequences I've ever seen and beautifully rendered. Also, the dark matter sequence was beautiful. The simulated alien environment was gorgeous. The singularity was okay, but the alien ship and the aliens on the other side were terrific. Most of the time, advanced CGI effects are pretty boring because the technicians go for photorealism and the results are impressive but lack artistry-- but the effects on this show, especially this episode, are very creative. The episode also included a classic TOS "He's dead" fade out. Some of the humor did fall flat, as usual, but not as bad as in some other episodes. The subplot about teaching Isaac practical jokes was actually pretty good. The Mister Potato Head scene was funny, but the leg amputation, especially Malloy's rampage on the bridge, was horrific-- only to have him reconsider and tell Isaac's lifeless body that it was the best practical joke he'd ever seen. The part where the leg fell from the ceiling was a bit too much, though. Probably the part where Malloy came to the bridge with a limp, half-formed leg was probably too much, too, but it cracked me up. And mixed in with all that was a nice little story about Mercer-- who we find out has not been with anyone since his divorce-- gets burned when he tries to move on, and has to make the hard choice at the end.
Oy. It's a blob. It doesn't have genitals. It's just a tendril he forms to grab/manipulate things like a hand. The gag in "About a Girl" with the Doctor is him being a smart ass implying he could use it to pleasure her.