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THE ORVILLE S2, E2: "PRIMAL URGES"

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Well, I'll at least give this one that it HAD an actual Science Fiction aspect past "It's happening on a ship,,,IN SPACE!"; but overall, again The Orville shows that Brannon Braga got an 8th season of TNG - and it's (so far) as bad as Season 7 of TNG was.

Also, to the person claiming "No reset button..." - Gee Ed seems over Kelly's new boyfriend; plus said boyfriend doesn't even have a walk on this week.

What's next weeks episode? Topar (Bortus' kid) gets the Moclan measles and hilarity ensues?
 
Well, I'll at least give this one that it HAD an actual Science Fiction aspect past "It's happening on a ship,,,IN SPACE!"; but overall, again The Orville shows that Brannon Braga got an 8th season of TNG - and it's (so far) as bad as Season 7 of TNG was.

Also, to the person claiming "No reset button..." - Gee Ed seems over Kelly's new boyfriend; plus said boyfriend doesn't even have a walk on this week.

What's next weeks episode? Topar (Bortus' kid) gets the Moclan measles and hilarity ensues?

This was the episode made last year and held over. There was no boyfriend yet.
 
I also think the scenes from the doomed planet are callbacks to TNG's 'Pen Pals' and 'The Inner Light' (living underground would've been Kamin's people last ditch effort at survival once their planet goes nova too).

You're saying that an episode utilizing a very long-time standard sf trope of a dying civilization going underground is borrowing from two old Trek episodes that in neither case feature such scenarios?

Do Trek fans have any points of reference other than Trek?
 
This was the type of episode I was hoping for from the Orville, but something about it just didn't sit right with me.

2 Moclan based episodes in a row were maybe too much and Bortus who was one of my favourite characters in show kinda got character assassinated.

It would have made more sense if Bortus was working long hours and Klyden, feeling lonely develops a porn addiction and spurns Bortus. The resentment Bortus feels over this and Topas gender reassignment grows so he divorces/kills Klyden.

The captain then has a bigger dilemma of what to do with Bortus and rescuing the people on the planet.

Good episode, but could have easily been better.
 
Nah, giving the story to Bortus was much better. I teared up when he spoke of his continuing alienation from his partner over what had been done to their child. The story elevates Bortus above what you expect of the characters on this kind of show. Macon is a hell of an actor.
 
This was two episodes for me. I didn't like the Bortus storyline at all, but I loved the evacuation of the planet storyline.

I don't see this show as a parody at all. When they focus on serious sci-fi, it's pretty good.

What I don't get is why they didn't send more than one shuttle to the planet. I wish they spent more time on this subplot.
 
Nah, giving the story to Bortus was much better. I teared up when he spoke of his continuing alienation from his partner over what had been done to their child. The story elevates Bortus above what you expect of the characters on this kind of show. Macon is a hell of an actor.

The alienation Bortus felt over what happened to their kid still works and gives Bortus a great reason to lash out and divorce/kill Klydon.

Having Bortus lie to his captain and abandon his duty to go engage in fantasy porn just kills the character a little for me.

Next time he gives someone a side way almost disapproving look on the bridge, I'll just think what a hypocrite.
 
The alienation Bortus felt over what happened to their kid still works and gives Bortus a great reason to lash out and divorce/kill Klydon.

Having Bortus lie to his captain and abandon his duty to go engage in fantasy porn just kills the character a little for me.

Next time he gives someone a side way almost disapproving look on the bridge, I'll just think what a hypocrite.

Why? The characters aren't allowed to have vices and some emotional baggage?

As for the side eye, I think it's more of a Bortus/Moclan thing than him disapproving others.
 
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Having Bortus lie to his captain and abandon his duty to go engage in fantasy porn just kills the character a little for me.
YMMV. I'm not really looking for another sf show populated by Treknoids.
 
This definitely was the holdover episode from 1st season. It was OK.

That Molcan child is growing fast.

Just like Star Trek, it is nice that all aliens (even those never encountered before) use the same communication system and frequencies.

Nice reference to Raiders of the Lost Arc.

I really don't care for Moclan porn. I prefer Quark's holosuite programs.
I can still see the Moclan laying by the lake, his legs swinging ever so slightly as if atwitter in anticipation. It was so adorable.

Why? The characters aren't allowed to have vices and some emotional baggage?

As for the side eye, I think it's more of a Bortus/Moclan thing than him disapproving others.
Yes. Outside of the simulator, Bortus is as straight laced and professional as the re-, uh, as many of the crew. On the bridge, he does not like serious breaches of protocol. When he's off duty, though, he likes to relax.
 
Nah, giving the story to Bortus was much better. I teared up when he spoke of his continuing alienation from his partner over what had been done to their child. The story elevates Bortus above what you expect of the characters on this kind of show. Macon is a hell of an actor.
Yes! I was glad to see that Topa's gender surgery was still a point of contention between them, and that it had lead Bortus to push away from his spouse. Klyden's pain was clear, and Bortus had this look of dread, like he hated saying what he had to say, but it was something that had become a stumbling block in their marriage. It was so well done.
 
Took time to modify the one shuttle. Also, they only had Isaac and Bortus to crew the shuttle anyway.

It wasn't even suggested though. They have a crew of 300 plus people--it just seems like they could have had teams. You're right about Bortus and Isaac, but they also have tractor beams. Maybe tow the shuttles.

I will say this--MacFarlane has proven to me now that he can do real sci-fi. Ironically, I find the WEAKEST part of the show is the comedy.
 
Why? The characters aren't allowed to have vices and some emotional baggage?

As for the side eye, I think it's more of a Bortus/Moclan thing than him disapproving others.

Emotional baggage is fine, just thought it was poorly executed here.

Also given that the character is basically Orvilles Worf, Worfs side glance was when he didn't like or agree with a course of action.

Yes. Outside of the simulator, Bortus is as straight laced and professional as the re-, uh, as many of the crew. On the bridge, he does not like serious breaches of protocol. When he's off duty, though, he likes to relax.

Exactly why I felt Bortus lying to the captain to go use the simulator was bad writing for the character.
 
Bortus isn't the show's Worf. Even were that true, analyzing one character's behavior based on that of another character on a different show makes no sense.
 
Emotional baggage is fine, just thought it was poorly executed here.

Also given that the character is basically Orvilles Worf, Worfs side glance was when he didn't like or agree with a course of action.



Exactly why I felt Bortus lying to the captain to go use the simulator was bad writing for the character.
Why? Bortus is just as flawed and fallible as everyone else. Plus, it makes good sense that an addiction would start to push into one's professional life as well as the personal. That we know Bortus is a good officer, and a good person, makes it all the more surprising when we see him essentially skip the last part of his work day to go play in a sex simulator while also lying to Klyden about his whereabouts.
 
It wasn't even suggested though. They have a crew of 300 plus people--it just seems like they could have had teams. You're right about Bortus and Isaac, but they also have tractor beams. Maybe tow the shuttles.

Trek's been guilty of this shit in every incarnation too. IMHO it's not really needed for there to be an airtight narrative reason why they could only do one shuttle - the narrative required not everyone could be saved. Plus at the time they thought they'd have time for three trips. You could argue it's sloppy command on the part of Mercer if you want.

FWIW, the whole "solutions via technobabble" with the shuttle was giving me major flashbacks.

I will say this--MacFarlane has proven to me now that he can do real sci-fi. Ironically, I find the WEAKEST part of the show is the comedy.

Eh, I dunno. The jokes stuck out like a sore thumb early last season, but so far it's been better placed this go around. I do think that some of the nearly fourth-wall breaking comments by Mercer and Grayson were a bit out of place. They really weren't meant as jokes though.
 
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