Opinions on The Orville

[Discofan]

That's funny, because the pacing is another thing that reminds me of TOS and not at all of any of the sequel shows: they cover a lot of big story with big things going on in forty-odd minutes a week. TNG, DS9 and the others worked on a much smaller scale.

I mean, whole wars started and ended in a single episode of TOS. They saved the galaxy from a giant thing that was eating planets in less than an hour.

The only episode of The Orville that's particularly reminiscent of TNG in its approach is, i thing, "Something About A Boy."

In some ways, it's a TOS revival.

 

[Mudd]

Yep.

 

[Enterprise is Great]

http://tvline.com/2018/05/14/fox-fall-lineup-2018-last-man-standing-friday

The Orville Season 2 will premiere Sunday, Dec. 30 leading out of an NFL double-header, before moving to its usual Thursday time slot.

 

[Gavin70]

I really enjoyed the first season of The Orville. I was a bit hesitant at first because I'm not a big fan of Seth MacFarlane's humour. But other than a few silly jokes I found the show to be a lot of fun with much more serious stories than I'd expected. It really feels like he wanted to do an old style Star Trek series and had to add the jokes in to sell it to the network, because that's what he's known for.

 

[The Wormhole]

It really feels like he wanted to do an old style Star Trek series and had to add the jokes in to sell it to the network, because that's what he's known for.

I doubt the humour is there just because it's what the Network expects of MacFarlane. I suspect humour was always intended all along, mostly to give these characters a grounding in humanity and not have it be all stuffy and preachy like modern day Star Trek can be. The thing to remember is that this is not a parody of Star Trek like many believe it to be and indeed Fox did try to promote it as, but rather a quality and engaging legitimate sci-fi series in it own right where the characters just happen to make jokes and draw penises on things.

 

[Discofan]

I doubt the humour is there just because it's what the Network expects of MacFarlane. I suspect humour was always intended all along, mostly to give these characters a grounding in humanity and not have it be all stuffy and preachy like modern day Star Trek can be. The thing to remember is that this is not a parody of Star Trek like many believe it to be and indeed Fox did try to promote it as, but rather a quality and engaging legitimate sci-fi series in it own right where the characters just happen to make jokes and draw penises on things.

People draw penises on everything these days. I bet the penis is the most drawn item in graffiti in the world.

 

[Sophie74656]

I doubt the humour is there just because it's what the Network expects of MacFarlane. I suspect humour was always intended all along, mostly to give these characters a grounding in humanity and not have it be all stuffy and preachy like modern day Star Trek can be. The thing to remember is that this is not a parody of Star Trek like many believe it to be and indeed Fox did try to promote it as, but rather a quality and engaging legitimate sci-fi series in it own right where the characters just happen to make jokes and draw penises on things.

Yes this. The orville has funny stupid moments but its also good sci fi. I cant wait for it to come back

 

[fireproof78]

People draw penises on everything these days. I bet the penis is the most drawn item in graffiti in the world.

Supper annoying. Especially when I had to stare at it on the company dumpster.

 

[Jedman67]

I just watched the first episode. I liked it, I tried to keep an open mind. The toilet humor is not nearly as bad as Family Guy, and well I can live with a little of that if it gives me an entertaining and engaging show.
It's definitely a riff on classic TOS and TNG but its still its own thing (it's hard for a scifi show not to be influenced by Star Trek, these days).

 

[Jedman67]

Random observations: I couldn't place the Doc at first, but I liked her attitude. Cassidy Yates but a lot better.
The "vulcanish" security officer. I forgot the name of the military was the Union; so when she said the Union got her placed very highly, I chuckled thinking of the Teamsters pulling some strings to get unexperienced officers better jobs. I guess it works both ways.
The Kirk-Spock code Mercer was using to signal Bortus that something was wrong was hysterical, and completely didn't work. Which made it even funnier

Seatbelts!

The total irreverence shown at hostile aliens.

Definitely gonna keep watching.

 

[EnsignRicky]

Latchcomb!!!

 

[JD]

Random observations: I couldn't place the Doc at first, but I liked her attitude. Cassidy Yates but a lot better.

She was also the second Captain on Castle,

The "vulcanish" security officer.

How is Alara "vulcanish"? I don't really see that at all.

 

[The Wormhole]

How is Alara "vulcanish"? I don't really see that at all.

Pointed ears?

 

[Marynator]

I'm really enjoying the Orville so far, I feel it's my favorite Star Trek since Next Generation. I quite enjoy its brightness and fun atmosphere, and I really like how there's no huge the-galaxy-is-in-mortal-danger thing going on. I like a bigger universe where they just encounter things. I've felt some episodes have been weaker than others, but when it's good I feel it's really enjoyable to watch.

I'm pleasantly surprised by its humor, I'm not really very fond of Family Guy and I was worried it was going to be super raunchy and juvenile, but it's really impressed me so far how it hasn't been bad at all. I think one of my favorite episodes was the one with Charlize Theron, I loved Isaac and Gordon's little prank game, lol.

I'll definitely watch next season! I'm hoping they settle in a bit and do more science-fiction stuff like that episode with that 2-dimensional rift thing.

 

[JirinPanthosa]

It is a good, fun show. That's also derivative. I like watching it, but can't get too excited about it since I know I'm never going to be surprised or see anything that some Star Trek hasn't done better.

All the debate about light versus dark, where are the scifi shows that do both? Have dark serious storylines and also have light comedy episodes to take off the edge? Why do current scifi shows feel the need to be one or the other, either be a gritty lifeless philosophical sludgefest or be soft fluffy weaksauce? All the best scifi TV from Bermantrek era combines best of both.

 

[fireproof78]

All the debate about light versus dark, where are the scifi shows that do both?

I think Orville as done both, with mixed success. The Krill ship episode is probably the best example of this, followed by the crash landing one with Dr. Claire.

 

[JirinPanthosa]

I think Orville as done both, with mixed success. The Krill ship episode is probably the best example of this, followed by the crash landing one with Dr. Claire.

Not really. Those episodes come the closest to ethically ambiguous situations, and the crash landing one is my favorite episode. But every moral decision they made was a distinct us versus them situation where innocent people's lives were in danger.

My idea of a show that did both the dark and dramatic and light and fun is something like Buffy or Stargate. Bad guys tended to be stylized villain cliches, but characters acted seriously and dramatically when lives were in danger, then whenever it got too heavy they just did a straight up musical or something.

For Orville to enter this category it'd have to be able to have a real heavy dramatic tone in appropriate times.

 

[Owain Taggart]

I'm pleasantly surprised by its humor, I'm not really very fond of Family Guy and I was worried it was going to be super raunchy and juvenile, but it's really impressed me so far how it hasn't been bad at all.

Yep, exactly my reasons too. I was expecting something way over the top, but happy to see there's humor but a lot of thoughtfulness to it all. I feel the humor even has a point to it.

 

[tomalak301]

Yep, exactly my reasons too. I was expecting something way over the top, but happy to see there's humor but a lot of thoughtfulness to it all. I feel the humor even has a point to it.

The humor felt really human to me. Not everyone is perfect and acts the same way. Also this isn't the flagship of the fleet. It's really a crew of misfits and it's fun to see them in extraordinary situations. That's my main appeal for the show.

 

[fireproof78]

For Orville to enter this category it'd have to be able to have a real heavy dramatic tone in appropriate times.

And you don't see that in the ending of the Krill episode? Or even the end with Charlize Theron?