Seth McFarlane's "The Orville"

[Sithborg]

And that's why you don't go to the weird sites...

Good episode. The saving of people seemed to be a last minute addition, but overall, very solid work with Bortus.

 

[Dark Raven]

I thought Klyden was a little too understanding. It wasn't merely that Bortus was just viewing porn or the holodeck equivalent. It was more like he was having an affair with these people even if they weren't real. Or it was like he was visiting prostitutes. That would have serious consequences and damage for their marriage.

Also why didn't Klyden confront the captain about supposedly giving Bortus too much work and then realise that the story doesn't check out? I thought that is what would happen.

 

[KevTravels]

I love that there isn't a huge focus on MacFarlane's captain character. We get a nice balance of the entire cast in the series. Unlike in many ST episodes where it'd be the captain, the first officer and three or four lines from the doctor and engineering officer and no lines from anyone else.

 

[Dark Raven]

I love that there isn't a huge focus on MacFarlane's captain character. We get a nice balance of the entire cast in the series. Unlike in many ST episodes where it'd be the captain, the first officer and three or four lines from the doctor and engineering officer and no lines from anyone else.

There were many Star Trek episodes where the captain barely played and it was all about a secondary character. That was especially the case on DS9 where sometimes it was entirely the guest cast and not the regulars who took the focus of an episode. But also sometimes on TNG or Voyager it was like that too.

 

[KevTravels]

There were many Star Trek episodes where the captain barely played and it was all about a secondary character. That was especially the case on DS9 where sometimes it was entirely the guest cast and not the regulars who took the focus of an episode. But also sometimes on TNG or Voyager it was like that too.

There was also many episodes where that was not the case. You're right about DS9. It was entirely an ensemble. Even recurring characters like Garak or Nog got loads of screentime. Maybe it was less the case for Voyager or Enterprise due to the writing or lack of decent acting for the cast.

 

[Dark Raven]

There was also many episodes where that was not the case. You're right about DS9. It was entirely an ensemble. Even recurring characters like Garak or Nog got loads of screentime. Maybe it was less the case for Voyager or Enterprise due to the writing or lack of decent acting for the cast.

In TNG you got episodes every season where it shifted the focus onto a different main character. Almost everyone got their turn per season, and sometimes more than once. So you'd get an episode with the focus on Beverely Crusher, or Counsellor Troi, or Wesley Crusher or Worf or Data or LaForge etc. Sometimes the Captain and First Officer might barely play, or sometimes as much as in they did in this episode of the Orville.

Occasionally you'd also have the focus on supporting guest characters like Lieutenant Barclay, who was also addicted to being in the holodeck (but because he needed to escape from the real world as he didn't know how to interact with people out there - it wasn't a porn addiction).

Same thing happened with Voyager. One episode might be on Tom Paris or B'Elanna Torres or Harry Kim or Seven of Nine or Neelix or Tuvok or The Doctor etc.

And they did the same thing with Enterprise too with one taking centre stage while others either supported or barely played at all in that episode.

None of course were to the same extent as DS9, but all were about on par with this episode of the Orville.

It was only in the original series where the focus was on Captain Kirk, Spock, McCoy and sometimes Scotty each week to the exclusion of others like Sulu, Chekov or Uhura.

And also Star Trek Discovery isn't really as much of an ensemble show like TNG, DS9, VOY or ENT. The focus is almost entirely on Michael Burnham (who isn't even the Captain) and there's never an episode where it shifts focus to one of the other characters. That's one of the things I didn't really like about STD - the lack of ensemble where we didn't get to know the other characters as much as we would have in the other Star Trek shows.

 

[Dark Raven]

Another plothole I thought of with this latest episode is why didn't that alien who gave Bortus the holodeck simulation with the virus face any repercussions at all? Or why didn't Bortus even think to mention him when it became clear that a virus had infected the ship's systems? Why didn't they ask where he got it from, and then they could question that other alien? He seemed to be able to obtain it illegally.

It seemed like certain things you'd expect to see in the episode weren't there, making it feel a bit incomplete.

 

[sueb1863]

I like Bortus OK but he gets a LOT of episodes centered on him. I don't think Gordon's ever had an episode where he's the main character so I hope he gets a turn soon.

 

[batdude]

If anything, there is too much Bortus. they need to use the other characters more.

 

[Elayis]

So far this has been a very lackluster start to the season. Wonder what McFarlane and Co were thinking having these two episodes re-introduce us to the series after the long wait. Makes me wonder why I'm still watching this show.

 

[Drizzle]

If anything, there is too much Bortus. they need to use the other characters more.

Especially Molloy and LaMarr. They steal the show for me, especially when they ended up in Bortus's holodeck simulation in the newest episode.

 

[Teelie]

I think those two should get a buddy episode like DS9 did with Bashir and Garak.

 

[Wyrminarrd]

Another weak episode. Orville is really off to a poor start this season.

 

[Dave McFly]

I laughed when Mercer was like "oh neat, what else" when they gave him bad news lol oh and I was on the floor when they were in the simulator and Dann turns to one of the 'characters' and was like "I'm Dann" .

 

[Dave McFly]

one thing I REALLY like on this show is the visuals whoever does the effects and CGI on this show deserves very $$$ they get

 

[ZIPBAGS]

Wow...if not for the sub-plot of the new security chief...tonight’s episode was like watching an episode of TNG. Very serious.

Also, is Alana leaving the show for good? I know in real life the actress is dating Seth MacFarland.

 

[Teelie]

She is filming something else so I doubt it is a permanent thing.

 

[Dave McFly]

that was a DAMN good episode nice having not one but TWO Trek actors in roles in it wow. I honestly am gonna miss Alana she was easily one of my fave characters on the show dang.

PS:

Spoiler

I totally KNEW that she gave Ed a jar of pickles in that box before he even opened the box

 

[Dark Raven]

Wow...if not for the sub-plot of the new security chief...tonight’s episode was like watching an episode of TNG. Very serious.

Also, is Alana leaving the show for good? I know in real life the actress is dating Seth MacFarland.

I agree. This was just like a classic episode of Trek. A much better episode this week. I would say that it would've even been better to start off the season with this one, but then that would mean that Halston Sage would've left right at the start of the season.

But definitely much stronger this week. It also had two Trek veterans with The Doctor from Voyager and Dr Phlox from Enterprise. It was a bit of a surprise when he turned out to be a villain, as he normally always plays rather benevolent and avuncular characters.

I wouldn't quite say it reminds me of TNG, because that always feels much older when actually watching it. It seems more reminiscent of the Voyager era in the overall look.

Alara's older sister seems more like she should be her younger sister. She seemed to act younger than her. Also, what kind of sea is that that doesn't seem to reflect the same colour as the sky? At times it looked grey when the sky was blue, or looked a bit purple when the sky was orange.

I definitely hope Alara will be back later in the season.

 

[MagnarTheGreat]

2 Bortus episodes and then...

Welp the best character left the show for a while or forever.

That episode was good but not a great start to the season overall.

 

[sueb1863]

There seems to be some uncertainty as to whether Sage is gone permanently. I don't think anybody knows yet.

But maybe now they'll have an episode focus on Gordon for a change. I think he's the only major character who's never had his own episode.

 

[Dark Raven]

According to Scott Grimes, apparently Season 2 will get much bigger in scope, even though the first two episodes didn't really reflect that.

Scott Grimes on 'The Orville' Season 2's Bigger Scope and Working with Seth MacFarlane

 

[Thome216]

I do hope she'll come back. She is one of my favs. She always seems to shine when she's on screen and her interactions with Mercer are always great.
I really hope I hear the 'open this jar of pickles,' line again.

As for the eps this season, I really like that they decided not to do a big action heavy episode for the premier. It was quieter but also personally deeper and I wasn't bored at all with it. Well, except for the Doctor's arc. Ed doing the 'drive-by' was fun.

Bortus' Pee Ritual ep was funny. And all I can say out his holodeck 'programs' is that they are doing a fantastic job on practical make-up and effects!! But... yes there are too many Bortus-centric story lines. Spread it out a little.

And Home... Really good episode - that went dark real fast! That scene in the kitchen was out of nowhere and incredibly uncomfortable, mostly I think because I didn't see it coming.

So far I've very happy this season.

 

[Dark Raven]

I think we didn't see it coming because they hired John Billingsley to play the villain, and he's usually such a jolly and amiable actor. And it looked like it was just two Trek doctors hanging out together and having a reunion of sorts. So when he himself suddenly turned darker, it was unexpected.

Also, the way they did it was unexpected, because at first I thought Phlox was just going to turn out to be extremely fussy about hygiene when he wanted a cleaner spoon, not that he wanted to torture the Doctor. I thought that it might turn out to be an episode where there are simply annoying house guests, not people who are deliberately trying to kill them or holding his family to ransom to extort that recantation.

 

[Thome216]

The germ thing was the first clue that something was 'off' about the character and then it just went straight to 10 on the WTF'o-meter. They weren't playing it safe by giving the character an out either. It was do this or your family suffers and that's gut-wrenching.