The Orville appreciation thread - IE, the actual new Star Trek

[Guts Gets Some]

Screw it, I'll make it. Hopefully season 3 will start sometime this year, but it'll be on Hulu rather than Fox. This might be a good thing; bigger budget, less restrictions, again lesser need to bill it as a 'comedy'; who knows.

If you had told me I'd have respect for Seth McFarlane like 2 years ago, I'd never have believed you. But when you see the guy has genuine passion, and is forced to do more than his usual fallback to pop culture references, you can see that he is actually a pretty talented guy. Even his character isn't some Kirk Mary Sue either, but a real person with some severe trust and/or paranoia issues.


I decided to get into the show (bought it on DVD) during being stuck at home, sine I've had it on my list for awhile. And it impressed me pretty quickly. Specifically at episode 4. I think I overall prefer season 1 to 2, but both were good. I think it's due to Alara's departure; who was unfortunately my favorite character. Her replacement Keyali was a little too similar to her (because I don't think they expected her to leave, so they had to try to recreate her )and while I liked some of her traits: quick to fight, more confident, I couldn't help but continually compare her to Alara the whole time. And I just wished it was a continuation of her character instead, particularly:

Spoiler

Her intense animosity regarding Klyden (my least favorite character), which I hope they pay off in time. It seems in general the Moclans are being painted as less than appealing all throughout the season, so I hope that pays off. I like Bortus as a character, but his episodes are always my least favorite ones. I actually have some upcoming theories regarding them too, based off some hints I've noticed, but I'll save that for another time.

What were your favorite episodes and characters, and why? I appreciate that almost everyone has some sort of continuing arc and or at least explored a bit more. Imagine that, an ensemble cast where you like the characters! GASP.

If you're an old school Trek fan and hate the direction it's gone since 2009, check out The Orville instead.

 

[mr.moon1488]

We talking OLD school with Captain Kirk, or old school like with Captain Picard here?

 

[Salubrious]

I've only seen one episode. It was one where people can like or dislike you, and if you get 10 million dislikes then you are sentenced to death.

I thought it was an interesting take on cancel culture, if not a little bit on the nose.

Seemed like a good show though.

 

[frozenrunner]

I saw the first season and, the pilot aside (a lot of the humor falls flat in that episode), it really impressed me, though it benefits from subterranean expectations. It's clearly assembling episodes from pieces of classic Trek episodes, but the comedic aspect changes things enough that they can put their own slight spin on the plots and it all feels fresh enough. Trying to anticipate Trek alum guest spots is really fun, too.

I started the second season and saw enough of it to watch Halston Sage's character get written off/replaced (great episode, actually). Dunno where in the season that happens.

It's way better than Current Year Trek, obviously. And it's nice to feel sort of like I'm watching TNG again. (J. Lee is a terrible actor, though.)

 

[The Pink Panther]

I watched season 1 all the way, only watched the first and second episode of season 2. It's pretty funny sometimes, has better drama than any Seth Macfarlane show before it, and it can balance out good stories within all of that.

My favorite episode of the show was Season 1's Majority Rule where the crew go into this universe where social media upvotes and downvotes determine any major decision in the government of their sort (and determine whether or not you get put to death) of little 21st century-like Earth place. The escalation and the thing that triggers the conflict was not only funny, but also very dark. It felt like something straight out of a Twilight Zone episode and it was very interesting exploring such a world similar to ours, yet one more absurd at the same time. It was written by Seth himself too, which majority of this show's episodes are. I feel like this, for Seth, was a comeback to creativity. Seth was probably my favorite writer on any other CN show he went on due to his sense of dialogue humor and I think him writing the majority of this solo proves that it isn't Seth that made FG bad, but it's just all the other writers/showrunners.

 

[Miller]

I'm a big fan of the show and it's clear that Seth was meant to create a show like that. The Orville is TNG if the show was about a small ship of normal people just doing their job.

It seems in general the Maklins are being painted as less than appealing all throughout the season

The Moclans are the equivalent of Saudi Arabia. There's an episode later in season 2 that deals with that if I'm not mistaken.

I think him writing the majority of this solo proves that it isn't Seth that made FG bad, but it's just all the other writers/showrunners.

I think he's just tired of Family Guy. He has been quite open about it throughout the years.

 

[ClipBitch]

It's alright, but the campiness ruins it for me. It's given me a few good laughs but for the most part I'm left wanting something more serious. I think if it came out as its own thing instead of a startrek-lite I'd be more willing to accept it.

 

[Guts Gets Some]

We talking OLD school with Captain Kirk, or old school like with Captain Picard here?

I'd say if you enjoyed Star Trek anywhere from 1966-2005, you'll probably find something to like here.

I've only seen one episode. It was one where people can like or dislike you, and if you get 10 million dislikes then you are sentenced to death.

That was also my favorite episode. It's a good episode to gauge. It wasn't really on the nose to me; I guess it is for us now, but in future generations, it'll be more heady as TOS topics were then.

Anyway, I'm glad this episode is getting more exposure than the more mediocre "About a Girl", which was the only one I heard about it before I ever saw it. That one was a bit too on the nose for my liking.

It's alright, but the campiness ruins it for me. It's given me a few good laughs but for the most part I'm left wanting something more serious. I think if it came out as its own thing instead of a startrek-lite I'd be more willing to accept it.

How much have you watched? Because it sounds to me you're still very early in season 1. The later stuff, especially season 2, gives you exactly that. Gotta remember, it was sold as a "comedy", so it had to be more-so that at first before it could go more serious sci-fi and character drama.

 

[Miller]

the more mediocre "About a Girl",

About a Girl wasn't that bad, it's just that Seth should have put more thoughts into it and rewrite a few jokes. The trial part was badly written. I understand what he wanted to do (it's basically a mix of a Klingon trial and The Measure of a Man) but it had too many comedy lines that didn't land right.

 

[mr.moon1488]

I'd say if you enjoyed Star Trek anywhere from 1966-2005, you'll probably find something to like here.



That was also my favorite episode. It's a good episode to gauge. It wasn't really on the nose to me; I guess it is for us now, but in future generations, it'll be more heady as TOS topics were then.

Anyway, I'm glad this episode is getting more exposure than the more mediocre "About a Girl", which was the only one I heard about it before I ever saw it. That one was a bit too on the nose for my liking.



How much have you watched? Because it sounds to me you're still very early in season 1. The later stuff, especially season 2, gives you exactly that. Gotta remember, it was sold as a "comedy", so it had to be more-so that at first before it could go more serious sci-fi and character drama.

Actually just started watching it. Pretty awesome so far. Funny, but still feels like Star Trek.

 

[Guts Gets Some]

About a Girl wasn't that bad, it's just that Seth should have put more thoughts into it and rewrite a few jokes. The trial part was badly written. I understand what he wanted to do (it's basically a mix of a Klingon trial and The Measure of a Man) but it had too many comedy lines that didn't land right.

I said mediocre, not bad. It wasn't bad. None of them were, but it was my least favorite episode.

 

[The Pink Panther]

I said mediocre, not bad. It wasn't bad. None of them were, but it was my least favorite episode.

My least favorite was the one where the guy who initially cheated on Kelly comes back. That one got a little too fucking absurd for its own good. That and the way the conflict was solved gave me Vietnam flashbacks to Avatar's The Great Divide.

 

[Guts Gets Some]

My least favorite was the one where the guy who initially cheated on Kelly comes back. That one got a little too fucking absurd for its own good. That and the way the conflict was solved gave me Vietnam flashbacks to Avatar's The Great Divide.

Oh really? What was the humor that worked better for you? Because I recall that episode being the funniest one for me. I was laughing out loud pretty frequently.

So long as it's character driven (IE, not out of nowhere), I don't mind how absurd it gets.

 

[The Pink Panther]

Oh really? What was the humor that worked better for you? Because I recall that episode being the funniest one for me. I was laughing out loud pretty frequently.

So long as it's character driven (IE, not out of nowhere), I don't mind how absurd it gets.

I liked the more subtle dialogue quips and remarks that the characters made at each other, as well as Scott Grimes' and J. Lee's character, being the general comic reliefs.

Not the weird shit that happened in that episode. I just found...eh...more weird than funny.

 

[UnKillFill]

I don't necessarily think that The Orville needed its own thread, (The Star Trek Thread was already basically the de-facto Orville thread) but since it has one now, I guess I will throw in my two cents- Basically, The Orville has been really great so far.

I think a lot of people, myself included, assumed that The Orville would just be "Family Guy, but in space," because Seth McFarlane... but after watching the first 2 seasons, that couldn't be further from the truth. The comedy here is actually *usually* pretty funny, and the show surprisingly knows when to tone to comedic bits back. Actually, the tone of the entire show is *far* more consistent with what I would consider to be "good" Trek (i.e. the "good" seasons of TNG, most of DS9, and like half of Voyager... I guess TOS also gets grandfathered in here, even though I always found the movies to be far better than the actual TV show...) than whatever the fuck now passes for Trek these days.

Spoiler

Enterprise is also significantly better than whatever passes for Trek these days, but I still wouldn't call most of it "good".

It's worth noting that even the "good" Trek shows, usually took a season or two to find their groove. (And that is NOT an excuse for STD or Picard being shit right now, because both of those shows were fundamentally broken from the very beginning, in a way no Trek has ever been before. Picard was especially bad, holy shit.) But yeah, The Orville was actually pretty great from the start.

 

[northstar747]

I liked the orville and its clear that the show was a stealth project the comedy was tacked on in order to get it produced. The krill were a good take on an enemy. same with those robots.

I woulda loved for CBS to have Seth on as a advisor etc.

 

[Miller]

I woulda loved for CBS to have Seth on as a advisor etc.

They declined his spin-off pitch in favor of Alex Kurtzman's MCU dream, so in a way it's a win-win for Seth, as he gets to create an original show with its own lore and canon that keeps growing season after season.

 

[Sweet and Savoury]

It's not trek for sure but I enjoy it surprisingly.

That joke where Bortas is about to sign a Celine Dion song but the red alert goes off just as he starts...


Priceless

 

[Guts Gets Some]

I don't necessarily think that The Orville needed its own thread, (The Star Trek Thread was already basically the de-facto Orville thread)

Yeah, but it was unfocused. I also hope things are going to start getting real in season 3, so then a topic would be better than flooding the Trek one. In due time, everything's moment comes around. Just wait.

Thanks for reviving it too!

 

[Honka Honka Burning Love]

I just started watching this, about 10 minutes into the first episode and.

It Feels good so far.

Edit so short reviews

Episode 1 : They solved the major problem with Smarts and quick thinking, it was amazing 10/10

I love the cast, it feels even more like a "Union of alien worlds" than Star trek does in some way. Bort and Issac feel really alien, what with Bort only pissing once a year. And Yaphit(?) being a pile of slime.

Episode 2 : Not as good as episode 1, but Kitan being in charge despite being so young, and having to handle it while Bort has to sit on his egg was still wonderful..and again, creative solution..They are solving things without Violence.

Episode 3 : This was weird, I know this was totally about Troons, but the concepts were done well and not something stupid.

Episode 4 : This was the only one I didn't outright love so far, it was a little too in places.

Edit 2

"Somebody put out that fire."
"What happened to automatic fire suppression!"
"That is the panel that is on fire!"