Orville keeps getting better and better

[LJones41]

It's been a mixed bag for me. And at times, "The Orville" seems as if it cannot make up its mind to be a Star Trek-TNG rip-off or a spoof of the Trek shows. And I wasn't that impressed with the last episode.

 

[tharpdevenport]

I knew the episode was going to be sub-par (still better than "The Naked Now" though) when I found out the blue guy was going to be back. That blue guy was the worst thing about the pilot.

 

[ITDUDE]

I just watched my first episode. The husband and I love it!
Why can't Discovery be more like this? It's so damned dark and serious. I know this is a joke show, but it feels more Trek than that does.

Welcome to real Star Trek. Now finally you can see what others have been saying for months

 

[ITDUDE]

Yep, the last episode with Rob Lowe was easily the worst of the series. Not that Rob Lowe himself was bad, just the whole plot and worst enemies holding hands at the end was just cringe-worthy. But if anything it's even MORE in-line with Star Trek now. All Star Trek shows had an episode (or multiple) that felt exactly like this one.

 

[Maestro]

I guess I’m not understanding the problem with this week’s episode. As with all Trek/Sci-Fi Tropes, it tells the story that the trope tells, but then it turns it on its ear and thumbs the nose at it. It was funny and well done, just as with all the others.

 

[lurok]

Those 'Naked-X' episodes are always tricky: but this one felt both under-written and poorly-directed. So I'm loathe to criticise actors who have been better in other episodes.

 

[Mudd]

I guess I’m not understanding the problem with this week’s episode. As with all Trek/Sci-Fi Tropes, it tells the story that the trope tells, but then it turns it on its ear and thumbs the nose at it. It was funny and well done, just as with all the others.

It got into sex. Sex is problematic for trekkies, who prefer to do their own 'shipping.

After several days, my reservations about "Cupid's Dagger" have faded. If this is a "bad" Orville episode we're in really good shape.

 

[McDuff]

I just watched my first episode. The husband and I love it!

Why can't Discovery be more like this? It's so damned dark and serious. I know this is a joke show, but it feels more Trek than that does.

There's no issue here.

If you want a Star Trek show, or a show similar to Star Trek, with more comedy we already have one, it's called The Orville.

You want 2 similar shows at the same time? Really? Not every tv show must be similar and we do need serious shows with like Star Trek with less comedy but serious issues discussed, explorations, action and drama. That's what fans and people who love Star Trek expect.

I respect and like The Orville because it does its own thing. If you're a creator and writer and you want to create a show completely different than Star Trek but with a lot of similarities, you can start your own show. That's what The Orville did and it turned out great! Babylon 5, Farscape, BSG, Stargate, etc did it too, with a lot of success.

 

[Apparition B5]

It was just extremely bad timing for the last episode with all of the sexual harassment complaints coming out of the woodwork the past month or so. Other than that, the show has been terrific.

 

[JRoss]

I thought episode 8 was a very effective parody of The Naked Now, The Naked Time and the other episodes (there were several) where characters lost control of their passions. They doubled down on it.

 

[ITDUDE]

If this is a "bad" Orville episode we're in really good shape.

Exactly!

 

[tomalak301]

I agree the timing was pretty poor, considering what is happening in the news. There were good bits in the episode, but this is the first time The Orville has felt "Family Guy-ish". That's a pretty good record, 9 episodes in.

 

[Maestro]

Except that the poor timing really wasn't on them. And if they'd pulled the episode, we'd all be pissed about censorship.

 

[McDuff]

The other way to view it is that the timing was perfect. Topical issue of the moment viewed through the prism of comedy and sci-fi (but mostly comedy in this case). Unfortunately, nothing was discussed in a serious way in this episode contrary for example to the sex change/transgender issue in the 'About a girl' episode.

 

[The Wormhole]

And if they'd pulled the episode, we'd all be pissed about censorship.

Personally, I hate it when TV shows get pulled or postponed because their subject matter is considered "too close to home" in regard to current events.

 

[T'Bonz]

I want to see this show, hope it comes to Netflix or something soon.

Yeah, I went hunting on Hulu for the 3 eps that I didn't save to my DVR, but found out it's only on Hulu. Damn it. Netflix and All Access are enough.

 

[LJones41]

Why can't Discovery be more like this?

Frankly, I'm relieved that it's not. I don't hate "The Orville". But honestly, I wish it could have been more original than a slightly comedic Star Trek ripoff.

 

[F. King Daniel]

I want to see this show, hope it comes to Netflix or something soon.

It's starting in the UK on Fox December 18. No clue about anywhere else.

 

[RJDiogenes]

Orville does indeed get better and better-- so far. Now that it seems they've learned how to manage the humor, letting it arise from character and situation rather than sticking in random "those are marbles" jokes, it's really found itself. This will be a pre-order DVD for me, unless things go badly awry in the second half.

The other way to view it is that the timing was perfect.

I was about to say.

 

[Cyrus]

Why can't Discovery be more like this? It's so damned dark and serious. I know this is a joke show, but it feels more Trek than that does.

So you want both shows to be similar? I am glad they aren't. If your idea of Trek is something like Orville then you have Orville to watch. It's kind of like TNG/DS9 days. Some Trek fans were saying DS9 is not Star Trek because it's darker and not on a spaceship while it became the favorite of the others. We seem to be dividing into similar camps now.