THE ORVILLE S2, E7: "DEFLECTORS"

[bigglesworth]

Wow, it really looks like Orville hit it's season 3 early. Almost every episode this season, including "Deflectors", has been a home run. Jessica Szohr is really a good actress and Talla finally came across as a character and not some cardboard cutout for Alara. The twists and turns in this episode were great. The humor really worked as well. I cracked up at the engineer offering Lokar (or however his name is spelled) a cupcake.

Obviously the show doesn't shy away from tackling cultural issues such as bigotry or homosexuality, but I think it's also laid the groundwork some other interesting ideas in that how do two cultures with radically different values, stand together as allies.

 

[Guy Gardener]

That's your conjecture.
Nobody said that his own family had to kill him.
In the end it appeared that he was being presented before a judge.
It seemed that he would be found guilty and the government would put him to death.

Judge?

You mean arbitrator.

 

[Nakita Akita]

Judge?

You mean arbitrator.

Seriously?

Not that much of a difference between the two especial since it's a make-believe planet with a make believe government.
Secondly, whilst reading the dialogue excuse me if I have to attempt judgement calls as to the proper title of a made up employee of a pretend civilization on a fictional planet.

 

[JirinPanthosa]

I've found this season to be pretty weak as a whole. Though the episode where Finn got together with Isaac was strong. On the whole the season has been really light on adventure, and it's been more like a sitcom where the characters happen to be in space, only rarely funny.

This episode combined TNG's worst habits of trying to have teaching moments but doing a really on the nose job about it. More on the nose with this one than even Force of Nature.

All the TNG style 'teaching moments' like this one and the weird astrology one have been groan-inducingly on the nose, and it feels like they're designed around flattering the politics of folks like me. Anti-LGBT people, anti-vaxxers, astrology. Ok, we get it. If you want credit for teaching you need to say things that are challenging to *your* audience.

 

[1001001]

I think what Orville tries to explore this season is the obstacles of having a Union of different alien races working together under the same "code of ethics".
Something I am not sure Star Trek has done well really.

After we finished watching it, my son and I talked about the TNG episode where Worf killed Duras, and Picard read him the riot act about what it meant to join Starfleet (before he got off consequence free). During the episode I commented a couple of times about how life imprisonment for having a different sexual orientation should be such a basic violation of rights as to perhaps prevent entry into the union.

I actually think exploring this storyline more could very interesting.

 

[DonIago]

I'm definitely curious to see whether the Moclans' rigidity causes problems within their society, with their ties with the Union, within the Union itself ("why are we putting up with these people?"), or some combination of all of the above.

The episode seemed to strongly imply if not outright state that one reason why the Moclans are involved with the Union is because of the tensions with the Krill, which begs the question of what might occur if those tensions weren't a factor.

It would be tragically ironic if the Union resolved their Krill problem only for the Moclans to become a new concern.

We know our Trekkian counterparts did things during the DW that they wouldn't have done during peacetime.

 

[Guy Gardener]

excuse me if I have to attempt judgement calls.

Arbitration calls.

 

[Terok Nor]

I can't wait to meet all the toothless Moclan whores who undoubtedly exist.

 

[The Wormhole]

During the episode I commented a couple of times about how life imprisonment for having a different sexual orientation should be such a basic violation of rights as to perhaps prevent entry into the union.

Based on Ed and Kelly's conversation, it seems the Moclans are so technologically advanced the Union is willing to turn a blind eye in regards to their culture.

 

[Marc]

Based on Ed and Kelly's conversation, it seems the Moclans are so technologically advanced the Union is willing to turn a blind eye in regards to their culture.

Think it was mentioned in the pilot that the Moclans play a big role in the defence/military side of the Union.

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

Based on Ed and Kelly's conversation, it seems the Moclans are so technologically advanced the Union is willing to turn a blind eye in regards to their culture.

Agreed. If they kick the Moclans out of the Union, then they simply start selling their weapons to the Krill and other enemy species. The Union is stuck with the Moclans out of necessity.

 

[theenglish]

Based on Ed and Kelly's conversation, it seems the Moclans are so technologically advanced the Union is willing to turn a blind eye in regards to their culture.

I thought this was a really interesting and important conversation. What point do we need to say to a culture that your beliefs are wrong. We in the West do business, including tourism, with many countries who persecute people with torture, corporal punishment, life imprisonment and even death for their sexual orientation. Of course there are the Middle Eastern countries but there are also many African countries as well.

 

[Charles Phipps]

Anyone else disappointed Cassius got dumped so quickly?

It seems they didn't want people getting attached to anyone but Mercer and Kelly.

 

[Guy Gardener]

I don't think it's their technological advancement.

Remember the random explosions in the sky when they visited Mochlan?

Whatever they are doing to get "energy" is probably not high brow, but the exactly opposite, they are willing to use unsafe environmentally sketchy practices, and then wallow in that filth, pollution and poison, without really noticing.

Imagine Flint Michigan, times 100, but on purpose, and it's still a green policy by Mochlan standards because they are incredibly durable compared to humans.

 

[Cyrus]

It may have better not to show Klyden enter the Holodec, and make the part where they cleared up the image a surprise.

I am not warming up to the new security officer. I wouldn' mind if they bring back the old one (Alara, not the elephant man).

 

[Guy Gardener]

Halston "Alara" Sage had to leave because she was dating her boss IRL.

There's probably been a zero tolerance policy in play since Bill O'Reilly and Robert Ailes left FOX.

 

[Charles Phipps]

Halston "Alara" Sage had to leave because she was dating her boss IRL.

There's probably been a zero tolerance policy in play since Bill O'Reilly and Robert Ailes left FOX.

She also got some movie opportunities.

Yes, the breakup probably didn't help either but it seems at least somewhat amicable since she got an elaborate sendoff.

 

[Guy Gardener]

Actually... The internet thinks that they are still dating, and that they are broken up, but back together again. The gossip rags should be more reliable at this by now you would think?

From an HR perspective, it's neutral if they are broken up. No relationship, no problems. "One of them" would only be forced to leave if they were still together.

 

[tomalak301]

You guys do know that Adrianne Pilicki and Scott Grimes are getting married right? Relationship status has nothing to do with an actor or actress staying or leaving.

 

[Guy Gardener]

They are on the same level.

Filthy actors.

Seth writes Halston's checks and decides how much air time she gets each season.