Spoilers The Orville: New Horizons Season 3 Discussion

[Paul755]

Felt like a mishmash of Identity Crisis and Genesis. Which makes sense when you realize Brannon Braga wrote both of those and this.

I also wonder if they are taking the original idea of the Borg being an insectoid race and using it here.

I did like the episode a lot. That creature design was creepy as hell, some good jump scares and that transformation scene in the bar…straight up nightmare fuel.

S3 is off to a good start.

 

[Skipper]

Those two kids have a case of terminal stupidity!

 

[Ghel]

I have to say that this episode, while not exactly inspired, was way better than last week and I was entertained by it.

My main criticism of this season so far has to do with the special effects. It *feels* to me like the Orville is trying to directly compete with Star Trek and Star Wars with way more "beauty passes" and exterior shots than in previous seasons, and that's not a good thing. As pointed out above, the effects do feel like something from Star Trek: Enterprise, and that's fine if you are focusing on story. They should focus on the story elements as a way to differentiate the Orville from Star Trek or Wars (even if the "differentiation" is to tell space stories in a similar manner to how they were done in the 80s and 90s with a fresh spin). Every time I see a new beauty pass, some sweeping shot, or shuttle fighter testing sequence, it does more to pull me out of the story than put me into it. This may be because I watch the Orville between Obi-Wan and SNW, and those shows definitely have a more polished feel to the effects.

I also get that they were trying to show a fight between faster, non-human characters, but speeding up the film for the fight sequence between the security officer and the alien actually made it more unintentionally funny rather than suspenseful.

If we were rating, I'd say this weeks episode was pretty good and a huge step up from last week.

 

[Romulan_spy]

The trailer for next episode looks really intriguing.

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[Skipper]

It's just my impression, or the FX really stepped up in comparison with previous seasons...?

 

[Romulan_spy]

It's just my impression, or the FX really stepped up in comparison with previous seasons...?

Yes, Hulu upped the budget for The Orville quite a bit and it shows. I've also noticed the music is more orchestral and epic.

By the way, anyone notice the music in Shadow Realms when the Orville is approaching the alien base in the expanse sounded a lot like the music in Wrath of Khan? It definitely upped the suspense factor in the scene.

 

[thribs]

I got more Alien vibes from it

 

[The Wormhole]

By the way, anyone notice the music in Shadow Realms when the Orville is approaching the alien base in the expanse sounded a lot like the music in Wrath of Khan? It definitely upped the suspense factor in the scene.

Eh, that's nothing new. Even in the first two seasons there were many scenes which had TWOK-style music. Or more accurately, generic James Horner style music.

 

[Mr. Adventure]

That sequence put me in mind of The Black Hole.

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[Orac]

I too am reminded of James Horner's film scores whenever I hear French Horns.

This programme has deliberately riffed on film scores from the start, not just ones by Jim Horner. Jerry Goldsmith has been homaged too in at least two other episodes I can recall. Which I like, I didn't intend that remark as a negative criticism.

 

[tomalak301]

I did not see that twist coming and as someone who rewatched the series before the premiere, I appreciated the callback. It looks like Orville just created Thier version of Q, arrogance and all.

 

[firehawk12]

I feel like the show is becoming a game of "which episode is this referencing?" and that's fine. lol
I thought the reveal was kind of tame for what it was though - definitely the first one where I thought they probably could have cut down the episode length and it would have been fine.

 

[thribs]

So that’s why we never saw Talla’s eyes. Very clever. I knew that them back to the Orville was a illusion but I didn’t see the Talla part. It got me there.
This is basically their version of the Q. A very pretty one.

 

[1987SpaceGuy]

Like this episodes concept and all, but most of the situations (school, plane, lake monster) could easily have been skipped with the same plot twist/outcomes.

 

[The Wormhole]

I'm noticing this season seems to have a thing for long drawn out establishing shots. For example, right at the start of this episode, we get an extended sequence of the shuttle approaching the Orville, landing in the hangar deck, and then we follow Talla as she walks throughout the ship to Kelly's office. Really feels like they're inserting padding just to justify the extended runtime.

most of the situations (school, plane, lake monster) could easily have been skipped with the same plot twist/outcomes.

Then there wouldn't have been an episode. The whole point was to make us question WTF is going on here when we see a modern day high school on an alien planet, then move on to the airplane and so on in that order. Without these scenes, there's literally no storyline for this episode.

 

[E-DUB]

A little bit of "Spectre of the Gun", "The Royale" and "Shore Leave".

 

[FPAlpha]

I did not see that twist coming and as someone who rewatched the series before the premiere, I appreciated the callback. It looks like Or ille just created Thier version of Q, arrogance and all.

I sometimes read a Tech Blog that has an extensive future timeline based on current understanding of all scientific fields and projections where this can lead. After a 100 years or so it obviously becomes pure science fiction but what's interesting is that the blog pretty much confirms what they are or rather what humanity can/will become.

It starts off basically by the fusion of man and machine, i.e. Matrix ( without the Dystopia of course). Advances in science means that at some point humans forego biological bodies altogether and live in a virtual world, essentially becoming immortal and through technology these "humans" can vastly increase their intellect and any time they deem to need a physical body it would have capabilities we would probably call magic ( if we were superstitious).

https://www.futuretimeline.net ( browse it, it's a nice read and keeps you up to date with the cutting edge of technology)

As to the episode itself - i was honestly bored for the most part when it became clear someone was screwing with them. The twist was nice enough but it then felt like a setup episode and i'm not sure i needed to spend 40 minutes being bored for 2 minutes being intrigued. This season seems to be all about setups - first their version of Borg, now something Q like, i don't know.

What i miss most though was the levity and humor, that set it apart from Star Trek. Now it's Star Trek with worse actors ( my opinion of course).

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

A little bit of "Spectre of the Gun", "The Royale" and "Shore Leave".

I thought about The Royale right about the time they were locked in the school. Add in a little Allegiance as far as an alien race testing the crew's responses, albeit in a more imaginative way than locking them people a room.

A bit of a strange episode, but it was good sci-fi. I would give this one an 8.5/10

Also, I know it's only episode 3, but Ensign what's-her-name is already getting on my last nerve. If she can't control her anti-Isaac feelings, she shouldn't be on the bridge with him.

 

[eschaton]

Eh, the episode this week was...fine. There's really not that much there once the mystery is peeled back. It was also a really underwhelming ending which showcased a basic failure of show not tell, with the hyper-advanced woman just monologuing while standing there at the end of the third act.

 

[Amaris]

I enjoyed it, particularly the plane sequence. What a terrific atmosphere for a horror film.