One that stood out for me is when Mercer admitted of being scared of the upcoming mission and was trying to release the tension with a joke. That makes him more human than a hero that is never afraid.
THE ORVILLE Season Two...
- Thread starter Mudd
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And both are more believable for it. I'll take both.
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Tilly makes everything better. Have I mentioned how much I love Tilly? Only a few dozen times? Well that's not nearly enough.
On the Bridge? While everyone is on duty? Okay, maybe in your quarters, but ON THE BRIDGE? WHILE EVERYONE IS ON DUTY??? This was done STRICTLY for a cheap laugh, something the Orville does all the time.
No, I'm not advocating any conspiracy. And the purpose you refer to above has nothing to do with it. What I am saying is simply that at least here, most fans are more interested in DSC than in The Orville and I'm including people who constantly criticize DSC and claim they don't like the show.
IMO, the reason most people here are more interested in DSC is because The Orville is so consumed with these completely goofy moments, that present the show in a cartoonish light, far removed from what is generally accepted TV space opera "logic" (if you will). And I don't have a problem with that, but this is what parodies do. And there is just no comparison between this type of thing and real Trek has done, or the new Lost in Space, or especially, The Expanse and DSC.
The Orville reminds me of a space based sitcom that ran on Yahoo Screen, called "Other Space". It featured a captain with a shaky reputation forced to accept a much more competent 1st officer. In this case, the XO was the captain's older sis. The show had some pretty funny moments. I think Orv would be a much better show if it just went full comedy and dropped the pretense of being a dramedy.
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The whole "evil conspiracy" thing was just a joke. I know you're not advocating some kind of conspiracy.
The thing is, The Orville isn't really a parody. It may seem like that because Seth is renowned for parodies, but aside from the more comedic moments, this show is serious science fiction. The sixth episode, "Krill" is a prime example. There are fun moments in the episode, absolutely, but the episode is serious as a heart attack about what happens to innocents in a time of war, and Seth plays those scenes very straight. I see The Orville more like M*A*S*H than Family Guy, with islands of comic relief interspersed to take away the sting from the more maudlin moments of the show.
It connects me more to the humanity of these people. It actually does a better job of that than Discovery, as far as I'm concerned. That is why the comparisons happen. I became a Star Trek fan when I was 4, raised on TOS, and then TNG on up. I liked the ships, the technology, and the cool aliens, but I loved it for the three main characters. They felt like my friends, like people I wanted to know. I don't feel that yet with Discovery. Again, love Tilly, and I like Stamets, quite a bit, and Michael has a lot of potential, but are they my friends after the first season? No.
You might say "but it's only one season," and yet in a handful of episodes, I knew Kirk, Spock, and McCoy as my friends. After watching the first season of TNG, I already connected with Data, Riker, and Geordi, all whom I really liked, though Geordi's a bit of a cheat since I knew Levar from Reading Rainbow, too. DS9? I didn't get into it right away, and it took a rewatch some years later to really enjoy it, but yeah, inside of the first season I already knew I loved Dax, Benjamin, and Odo, and Quark. I could go on, but I'm sure you get the point.
Discovery has a wholly different feel to me. I certainly consider it Star Trek, but it's not... quite on the same tier. The tone has been changed to the point where there's far more bitter cynicism in the series, and they managed to pack that into 15 episodes. I want a brighter, more optimistic future, populated with a compassionate, empathetic people who are still recognizably human. Tilly? She's got it. I love Tilly, and it's because she is the most human character in the series at this point (again, as far as I'm concerned).
So the comparisons happen, whether I want them to or not. I have a mind for analysis, so I'm always analyzing and over-analyzing the things I experience. It's clear I'm not the only one, and people talk about it because they feel they need to talk about it. It's why in Orville threads this comes up, and in DSC threads this comes up. That is why it's inevitable, because there is a need to discuss it. Neither of these shows are occurring in a vacuum. Well, technically they are, but that's on the shows themselves *ahem* nevermind.
See where I'm going with this?
While I don't agree, despite having similar experiences (growing up on TOS, but I did not connect with TNG or DS9 crew. I still don't feel an attachment for the TNG crew) this is well said and I will avoid using the rimshot gif that I really wanted to use.
I agree that Orville strikes me as far more of a MASH mode, with more jokes perhaps, but it definitely has had those wonderful serious character moments.
I agree that Orville strikes me as far more of a MASH mode, with more jokes perhaps, but it definitely has had those wonderful serious character moments.
So, the Short Treks Calypso shows that Betty Boop continues to be watched in the 33rd century! Good thing Star Trek is serious sci-fi that would never do anything silly like having characters watching 20th century television, right?
33rd century humans are more evolved and no longer have need for 20th century sitcomsSo, the Short Treks Calypso shows that Betty Boop continues to be watched in the 33rd century! Good thing Star Trek is serious sci-fi that would never do anything silly like having characters watching 20th century television, right?
Okay, you've kinda created a straw man argument here. The Seinfeld scene wasn't part of that episode's plot, nor did I say or imply that it was. My comments were strictly about that one scene (the Seinfeld scene).
Yep, Star Trek, like many sci fi shows, has presented many an outlandish sci fi plot. Hell, so has The Orville. But what I'm looking for is an instance where Trek had a scene as ridiculous as bridge crew, captain and XO included, watching an old sitcom on the bridge view screen while on duty. You know, the closest real comparison, with regard to Trek, would have been on Ent, with all the "movie night" scenes. They would always watch some old movie. But then, "movie night" was never held on the NX-01 bridge while crew were on duty.
Hey it's a nice view screen. Use what you got. They were in transit. No harm in watching a little tv on a ship trip.
So is Danny Kaye, whose 1956 movie, The Court Jester, was watched by Dr. Phlox in an episode of Ent. But the movie wasn't being watched on the bridge view screen by the entire bridge crew while on duty.So, the Short Treks Calypso shows that Betty Boop continues to be watched in the 33rd century! Good thing Star Trek is serious sci-fi that would never do anything silly like having characters watching 20th century television, right?
You keep trying to move the goal posts and I'll keep finding them.
Who says they were on duty? They were in transit. Maybe they just like to watch stuff on the bridge together.
My default setting is sarcasm. And, I've already been to the Voyager forum. They don't like me there
So, let me see if I understand correctly. Star Trek is a show that supposes that humanity can improve itself. I work with people who are struggling with negative thoughts about themselves due to comparisons of themselves to other people, and how they wish the world "should be" rather than how it is. For me, I find comparison to be a thief of joy, because I am not sitting there, enjoying an episode of a show if I'm insisting upon comparing it to another show. That is not an enjoyable activity, to my mind.
Now, if I misunderstand the comparisons, fine. I'll admit to that. But, I don't see it as a beneficial activity when trying to watch a show. And, I don't care what the "human tendency" is.
I'm more than willing to lay off the comparisons. All I ask is for everyone to admit the brilliant perfection that is "Orville" and how it has brought hope and joy into fandom that hasn't been seen since people first heard "Star Wars" was going to make new movies again back in the 90's. All of this done not in typing on a computer but beautifully crafted hand written letters and then sent to every person working on the "Discovery" show from actor to the person who makes the food they eat. Then to end each night with a silent prayer, maybe not to a God because maybe everyone doesn't believe in that but to the Universe itself for creating a serious of patterns starting back from the big bang that eventually led to the creation of "Orville." Once this is done, then no more unfair comparisons.
Jason
There's no problem with the bridge crew deciding to watch an ancient sitcom during an uneventful flight. There's definitely a major, serious, unforgivable problem with their taste in sitcoms, though.
There's no problem with the bridge crew deciding to watch an ancient sitcom during an uneventful flight. There's definitely a major, serious, unforgivable problem with their taste in sitcoms, though.
I agree. Picking maybe the best sitcom of all-time can cause problems. Someone might push a button on accident because they are rolling over in laughter and thus end up shooting a missle or turning off the gravity or something. It's better to watch a sitcom that will only make you chuckle at best but never anything else. I hear "Scrubs" was perfect for that.
Jason
I watch Seinfeld when nothing else is on. I can relate to The Orville crew.
That would have me laugh as hard as I did the "Reality TV" joke.
Well, since EVERYONE on the bridge was watching, which ones do you think were on duty and which ones off duty? Or perhaps you're saying that no one on the bridge was on duty and the bridge doubles as a break room on those occasions when all bridge officers are off duty and no one is running the ship.
But, come to think of it, the bridge doubling as a break room sounds right up the The Orville's season 1 alley.
Not sure why so many feel the need to defend this scene. I didn't say that it sucked or anything, nor did I say it wasn't funny. But what I did say is that the Seinfeld scene is one of the main reasons season 1 was a parody rather than a dramedy. But it's only season 1. Perhaps the show will pivot away from slap stick, toilet humor to a more subtle take and an actual attempt at better drama.
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