Ohhhhh my apologies I thought they were 2 seperate episodes. It's been awhile.
The Orville. Anyone loving it?
- Thread starter Gingerbread Demon
- Start date
It's the artificial hollow planet one as I recall. Had a couple moments but was one of season one's weakest. I think I missed a few eps as the premiere episode was still pretty awesome... will backtrack if I remember.
Highly innovative on a time-tested trope (snarf!), one of season 1's finest.
^^this
Most tropes are reused but that doesn't mean fresh innovation is impossible. Orville rarely ceased to surprise me, and even the weak hollow asteroid episode still had a couple moments. Just not strong enough. But not overused in the genre to begin with either.
For a parody comedy show, they really did it with the graphic violence - a staple for modern TV - to show that this show is taking things seriously. But there's just enough of it, though it's sufficient in of itself.
A very chilling moment, which felt realistic and not the throwaway marshmallow fluff Trek almost always was. And not gaudy or devolved... Orville has some nuance going for it, which is much appreciated. It's a timeless attribute.
Same here. I saw the show originally as a knock-off with family guy potty humor. Much to my double-shock, the potty humor was fairly contained (and actually funny!), and the content was nuanced. And with enough innovations; the episode with teaching Isaac "practical jokes" had me in stitches as I was not expecting anything that followed. Innovation on a trope that works.
Sadly, season 2 is a little soppy but still most entertaining. I hope season 3 combines the best of both; as season 1 felt like TOS (but made by people who worked on TNG) and season 2 felt like TNG.
Hmmm, but that's not the only possible analogue. But I also tend to think that the Moclans are about "it's okay to be straight or have hetero desires", especially in the episode "Deflectors". My being bi helps to see things in other ways, I guess... but these episodes don't really pin labels. They actually let the viewers have some fun in that, regardless of what they believe. Doesn't mean anyone on either side of the boobtube is or isn't wrong... it just means the show is potentially more engaging as a result.
Or "Sliders", which had not dissimilar homage but the episode works in a more grounded reality than all-out fantasy
Yeah, Talera is cool and Orville and is something not seen, in showing the "evil" side having some depth and complexity that feels authentic and not contrived or shoehorned in. This show WAS well-conceived and multifaceted.
Not as intent, but Darulio could have been more mindful of chemical reactions. It's amazing how it works on so many species; I mean none of us reacts to mosquito pheromones? (Demisexuality prevailing, that would have a greater effect on beings from any sentient species as such as biology tends to be species-specific, but there are documented cases that prove the contrary as well... )
It was a jaw-dropper and could have merely been implied, but other shows do just as gratuitous stuff regularly. If not more than just being intertwined (read "kissing", et al). On broadcast stations. But if people find allegory between that and heterosexuality or ___sexuality as I'm not going to list every possible choice... people can read into it any way they want. As for me, I was trying to fill the radiation bathtub with jello and it mutated and started stomping around shouting powdered drink mix slogans.
I wonder if the analogue is that of being drunk and making a mistake, as the one giving the drinks was unaware of the tolerance level of the person now drunk and wanting to "do it"? I don't think they were trying to parody Bill Cosby or Bolt 45 beer (it's on youtube, a skit of "In Living Color" that was yanked from repeats due to FOX getting letters.)
Data and Yar definitely was in poor taste. TNG spent episodes trying to retroactively give it value, and somehow they just about managed it. Given how bad that was, it's amazing they tried to refer to the scene afterward at all.
Sci-fi often tries to tell of existing situations or to perceive differently. This is another episode I need to rewatch. I recall Darulio knew about his pheromone season, which also saved the day between warring species (cue the complexity factor as well as the main plot's denouement) ... but it makes me wonder why Mercer and Grayson wouldn't try to make amends in an episode or two episode later... season 2 might return to this.
Oh yeah, "Flatline" - that's a great episode! I forgot about that one, actually. It may have been a partial influence for the making of the 2D episode but in concept only. Futurama also had a 2D episode, but played for laughs. Otherwise none I know of over the last decade or more tried to go there with 2D. Maybe a Simpsons Halloween snippet now that I'm thinking about it - albeit as an inversion of the concept... but "strike while the iron is hot" prevailing, that's why we more often see most shows jumping on bandwagons on things. I now have to change my mind on why all shows go on the bandwagon because DW, Orville, and Futurama all embraced 2D and fleshed it out, so to speak...
No, no apology has ever been issued. And really, anyone who knows anything about Seth MacFarlane's work should not have been surprised by this episode. Family Guy is a show with a serial rapist (voiced by MacFarlane) and a pedophile in its supporting cast, and that's before we get into all the various jokes about rape and sexual assault on the show, including one episode which features Marge Simpson being graphically raped on screen. Cupid's Dagger is very tame in comparison.
Explains why I have never been fully onboard with his stuff. I just don't find it always funny and there is a distinct discomfort that I have during certain things.
That said, when Orville is on it is pretty well on (Pria, The Krill, The Stars Appear). But, "Cupid's Dagger" was uncomfortable, and I just moved on.
I liked the episode with the giant worldship thing. It made me think of old Star Trek.
That's "When the Stars Appear." Also features Liam Neeson.
Yep. I liked the episode made me feel all nostalgic for TOS.
You gave it up after that episode?
Love The Orville! Long may it last 
No but I wasn't as engaged with the characters. I tried a couple more episodes but when Alara left it just fizzled.
I think Bortus' porn addiction episode was good but nothing kept me in.
So I caved and finished both seasons 1 and 2.
Wow.
Where to start...
*******************SPOILERS FOR SEASONS 1 and 2**********************
"Firestorm" was a neat little horror story. Very creepy, and yet a solid way to press reset.
"New Dimensions"
I loved the shout out to Flatland. But...wouldn't they have either flattened all the 2-dimensional people or just crashed through them, shoving them out the way or killing them and destroying whatever 2-D structures they had in place?
"Mad Idolatry"
I'm getting a little tired of the digs at religion but it all paid off with their solution (leave Isaac there) and when the two future representatives visit the Orville. They didn't criticize religion, but just said that either way they were going to found some type of religion, and it's just a natural progression to get where they're going, morally speaking.
Season 2
So many good episodes.
Teleya is back! A very by-the-numbers story, but I was legitimately surprised by the early twist. They pretty much just hijacked, what was it, "Darmok"? That type of story is common though, as I've seen something similar in old Twilight Zone episodes, an old war movie, and more. But still a good episode. They always get good actors for the Krill. The one saying, "I can see it's torture for you too" was good. I was disappointed that they didn't play up the Krill's viciousness by at least having them rough up Mercer a bit. Especially considering they got punked right after by the incoming dog-faced aliens.
The holographic girlfriend episode was awesome too.
"Identity" had me like WTF? I knew something was up with them, and they pretty much turned out to be Skynet, but it was still pretty unsettling. This was so much better than the evil a.i. organic exterminators of Star Trek: Picard. I was however disappointed how quickly the Krill have been turned into tentative allies for the Union. They were like Satanic monsters, and yet it didn't take much for them to come to the aid of the Union and trade quips like, "just stay out of my way." But it's a comedy parody show too, so I can overlook that. I just was hoping that the Krill would stay this fearsome menace for a bit longer.
Talla is a poor replacement for Alara. The actress is good enough, but the character is the typical cliched tough-girl. She knocked out her captain, and can't promise she won't do the same to Mercer (lol). She's instant BFs with Grayson, and apparently her whole family is military so it's all good.
I miss Alara, and I thought we were getting hints that she liked Ed. Her farewell episode was really good, and emotional.
Claire is one of my favorite characters and she definitely brought the emotion when her son's life was in danger. I felt that scene. The relationship between her and Isaac was set up well. I don't want to go into detail about every single aspect of this show so I'll try and wrap it up.
Conclusion
This show is great! This is definitely the spiritual successor to Star Trek. They do have an unfair advantage, by essentially doing a riff of Star Trek, sometimes taking old episodes from 30 years ago and "improving" them, and getting away with it by calling it parody. But that's not to take away from the massive talent involved either. I'm just saying that shows like DISCO and PIC have it a bit harder since they have to distinguish themselves from previous Trek, while The Orville doesn't. It's supposed to be previous Trek. But with that said, I'm impressed at how good this show is. It's like the best of TNG and Galaxy Quest, and yet it's its own thing now as well. They also make good use of pop-culture references. Incorporating Dolly Parton was hilarious. I actually feel like I'm in the future with this show, unlike Picard. Which is weird because I'm pretty sure we're not going to be still watching Seinfeld reruns like that. But I like this show. I would love to live in this future, and also be aboard the Orville and be hanging out in the mess hall, having a drink while looking out the window into space.
Wow.
Where to start...
*******************SPOILERS FOR SEASONS 1 and 2**********************
"Firestorm" was a neat little horror story. Very creepy, and yet a solid way to press reset.
"New Dimensions"
I loved the shout out to Flatland. But...wouldn't they have either flattened all the 2-dimensional people or just crashed through them, shoving them out the way or killing them and destroying whatever 2-D structures they had in place?
"Mad Idolatry"
I'm getting a little tired of the digs at religion but it all paid off with their solution (leave Isaac there) and when the two future representatives visit the Orville. They didn't criticize religion, but just said that either way they were going to found some type of religion, and it's just a natural progression to get where they're going, morally speaking.
Season 2
So many good episodes.
Teleya is back! A very by-the-numbers story, but I was legitimately surprised by the early twist. They pretty much just hijacked, what was it, "Darmok"? That type of story is common though, as I've seen something similar in old Twilight Zone episodes, an old war movie, and more. But still a good episode. They always get good actors for the Krill. The one saying, "I can see it's torture for you too" was good. I was disappointed that they didn't play up the Krill's viciousness by at least having them rough up Mercer a bit. Especially considering they got punked right after by the incoming dog-faced aliens.
The holographic girlfriend episode was awesome too.
"Identity" had me like WTF? I knew something was up with them, and they pretty much turned out to be Skynet, but it was still pretty unsettling. This was so much better than the evil a.i. organic exterminators of Star Trek: Picard. I was however disappointed how quickly the Krill have been turned into tentative allies for the Union. They were like Satanic monsters, and yet it didn't take much for them to come to the aid of the Union and trade quips like, "just stay out of my way." But it's a comedy parody show too, so I can overlook that. I just was hoping that the Krill would stay this fearsome menace for a bit longer.
Talla is a poor replacement for Alara. The actress is good enough, but the character is the typical cliched tough-girl. She knocked out her captain, and can't promise she won't do the same to Mercer (lol). She's instant BFs with Grayson, and apparently her whole family is military so it's all good.
I miss Alara, and I thought we were getting hints that she liked Ed. Her farewell episode was really good, and emotional.
Claire is one of my favorite characters and she definitely brought the emotion when her son's life was in danger. I felt that scene. The relationship between her and Isaac was set up well. I don't want to go into detail about every single aspect of this show so I'll try and wrap it up.
Conclusion
This show is great! This is definitely the spiritual successor to Star Trek. They do have an unfair advantage, by essentially doing a riff of Star Trek, sometimes taking old episodes from 30 years ago and "improving" them, and getting away with it by calling it parody. But that's not to take away from the massive talent involved either. I'm just saying that shows like DISCO and PIC have it a bit harder since they have to distinguish themselves from previous Trek, while The Orville doesn't. It's supposed to be previous Trek. But with that said, I'm impressed at how good this show is. It's like the best of TNG and Galaxy Quest, and yet it's its own thing now as well. They also make good use of pop-culture references. Incorporating Dolly Parton was hilarious. I actually feel like I'm in the future with this show, unlike Picard. Which is weird because I'm pretty sure we're not going to be still watching Seinfeld reruns like that. But I like this show. I would love to live in this future, and also be aboard the Orville and be hanging out in the mess hall, having a drink while looking out the window into space.
That was one of the more poignant moments of the season for me. I miss Alara too.
I think the thing that really makes it work is that it never takes itself too seriously. It manages to show our humanity in compelling ways. We need to be able to poke fun at ourselves.
I just started streaming it with my gf. So I never got into it when it first came out because the commercials for it put me right off. I love Seth McFarlane, Family Guy, American Dad, and the Cleveland Show. But the commercials for The Orville before the show premiered basically were every dumb joke scene for the entire season edited together into one two-minute segment. And the jokes were extremely stupid, so just watching a commercial where they're just nonstop one-after-the-other was painful.
Fast forward to about a month ago. We just finished Discovery and Picard, and we were itching for another sci-fi series neither of us has seen yet (I have Firefly on the list too). I casually recommended The Orville, warning the gf about the dumb jokes. Well, we have both been pleasantly surprised about how good it is. Even the jokes are nowhere near as bad as I remembered. Actually, the scene where Mercer get stabbed in the hand from the hot potato made me almost roll on the floor.
The acting and the storylines are great, not to mention the VFX. This show makes me pine for the old days of Trek where they didn't take things so seriously as they do now. And they're tackling topics that I don't think Trek would even be able to handle. So we're very much enjoying the show.
Fast forward to about a month ago. We just finished Discovery and Picard, and we were itching for another sci-fi series neither of us has seen yet (I have Firefly on the list too). I casually recommended The Orville, warning the gf about the dumb jokes. Well, we have both been pleasantly surprised about how good it is. Even the jokes are nowhere near as bad as I remembered. Actually, the scene where Mercer get stabbed in the hand from the hot potato made me almost roll on the floor.
The acting and the storylines are great, not to mention the VFX. This show makes me pine for the old days of Trek where they didn't take things so seriously as they do now. And they're tackling topics that I don't think Trek would even be able to handle. So we're very much enjoying the show.
I've come to accept the humor, even though most of it is extremely eye-roll worthy. One of the most puerile examples of "humor" in the entire show was in the opening scene of the pilot, and that turned me off the show for a long time. I mean, really, who opens up their series with a cum shot? Seth MacFarlane, obviously.
Ew, that happened? I don't remember that. But yeah, even though I liked the idea of a TNG-style show and I liked the Galaxy Quest-like feel of it, it wasn't something that got me hooked. Even the second episode was kind of 'meh'.
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