Discovery and "The Orville" Comparisons

Originality on TV and in Sci-Fi is nearly impossible in this day and age. All we can usually hope for is a compelling story and good execution.

The Marvel shows on Netflix are a great example, wonderful shows, great really. Not at all original.

 

No, it's not. (And I say that as someone who likes ST: D a lot and also like The Orville) ; but that said the Star Trek format itself is no longer original and hasn't been for decades - and even though ST: D is a serialized story more about war and ultimate personal redemption <--- That's not a new plot element, even for Star Trek, so it definitely going to have some of the usual tropes that come with this type of story.

ST: D isn't trying to be original here (hell basing it as heavily as they did into the TOS era and tying it to established TOS characters proves that); they're attempting to be innovative with regard to the overall tried and true 'Star trek' format and see if overall the existing fans will accept it, and with such innovation hope to add new Star Trek fans to the fold.

How successful they'll be is anyone's guess atm; but it appears CBS (and CBSAA) are pleased with the results to date.

As for The Orville it's trying to ape Star Trek (all 50+ years) as much as it can. It was never conceived as a wholly original concept; it was conceived/designed as derivative from the start with the hopes it would bring in people who enjoy that particular formula.

 

I agree with 99% of what you say but still hold true to my opinion that originality on tv and sci-fi these days is nearly impossible.

so much has been done. Im not saying impossible, im saying nearly

 

Twin Peaks: The Return blew me away in that regard. Daring, funny, original, challenging -- everything good sci-if should be.

 

They lost live viewers with the move to thursday, but those people are DVRing it.

 

TW already has a streaming service for HBO. But Time Warner will soon become part of AT&T, and AT&T has its own streaming service, DirecTV Now.

 

There's going to be a lot of maneuvering around with all the streaming services, all this is just the start.

 

The way I look at all these streaming services? I’ll either have a few of my favorites like I do now and just stick to that programming. OR I’ll have a month of one here, a month of another one here. Just to binge out my shows and cancel. That’s the beauty of a la carte.You don’t HAVE to subscribe forever nor do you have to pay a ton of money for stuff you’re not going to watch.

 

I hear it's 'Profit and Lace'

 

Haha. Maybe they'll fix "The Alternative Factor"

 

Exactly. Orville isn't a "rip off" unless you allow for all of Trek's ripoffs in the past, and use the term defined very broadly.

 

what time is it updated on Hulu

 

Considering how bad it is going netflix should have The Orville eventually.

 

Ok, what did "For the World is Hollow..." rip off?

 

one thing im noticing about orville vs trek in general.

when trek explored politics it seemed like a very fair weighted episode exploring fictional future politics between cultures. yes with similarities to ours but still fair weighted.

orville really just interjects what seems like "my personal politics good. yours bad"

 

Discovery is deep, philosophical and mature while Orville is ‘I watch for fun’.

 

Perhaps that's what Discovery aspired to be, however ...

 

discovery is off to a good start setting up a 13 episode story. i feel its very mature. its setting up i believe to explore mature concepts like ends justifying means... worth of a living creature compared to human lives, religious fanaticism.

 

It's only three episodes in.

 

I can only imagine how viewers felt after the first four episodes of TNG. Let's look back on that.

"Encounter at Farpoint"
"The Naked Now"
"Code of Honor"
"The Last Outpost"

Holy cow, now THAT is a rough start. Say what you will if Discovery, but we're so much better off 30 years later.