"We don't mean your family any harm."
"Well, we did just shoot his dad."
"Aside from shooting your dad, we don't mean your family any harm."
I've never been much of a Seth MacFarlane fan, but I'm enjoying this show immensely. I don't think the naysayers were prepared for how dry it is. It's very dry and old-fashioned and like nothing else on TV this year.
I like Star Trek: Discovery but this reminds me of Star Trek: The Next Generation sometimes. Despite some flat humor.
Still not that funny at all!! But much better storyline :)
Great!
Humour and serious story are balanced VERY well. Even better than in episode 3. The jokes aren't inappropriate at all. The main story was surprising and interesting.
The subplot was fine and it was a good way to get some fun into the episode when the situation inside the big ship got serious.
Just keep on going Seth, you're doing everything right!
We're just a blue spaceship drifiting across the infinite sea
Another episode, another conversation about the divorce. Well, at least they didn't reuse all of the "jar of pickles" joke from before.
Someone on the prop team should have caught that air bubble in the truth serum syringe. And they still have yet to create a space battle with the Krill that really feels dangerous. So far it always feels like the Orville is just holding back until they take enough damage to get annoyed and finally retaliate. (Speaking of which, the Krill probably will do just that since the Orville destroyed their ship.)
I think this was the first episode that had the right balance yet. Interesting (and whole) story with funny lines. I like 'this' Seth more and more and now it's clear: this show is not for the ones who seek a TED-Family Guy-in-space kinda comedy.
Superb epside in every way! If this is any indicator of the show's overall stories, we are in for a treat! I hope this will never get canceled. 10/10.
Again, another episode that was very similar to the essence of Star Trek, albeit in a more simplistic way. This show has surely been stepping up its game since episode three. All in all, I'm just relieved that this doesn't seem to be turning into "Family Guy" in space, but it's actually becoming a solid sci-fi show on its own. A few more episodes like these last two and "The Orville" can go head to head with "Star Trek: Discovery". OK, maybe I went a wee bit too far with that last affirmation, but that's just to show how much faith I'm putting in "The Orville". Seth MacFarlane seems to be guiding his ship to the right destination. Let's hope he'll manage to keep it that way.
Also, it seem every comment for this episode has to point out one thing: Liam Neeson's random guest appearance. Short, but very enjoyable. I suspect we may get more of these in upcoming episodes. Still rooting for that Patrick Stewart appearance... Make it so, Seth!
[7.1/10] Most of The Orville episodes so far have felt indebted to Star Trek: The Next Generation. But this is the first one that feels closer in premise to something from The Original Series. A society that doesn’t realize it’s in a generational spaceship that’s hurtling toward doom feels very much like “For the World Is Hollow and I Have Touched the Sky”, and a lot of the fascination with Doran as a creator god, when in fact he’s just the captain of the old society, feels like “The Return of the Achrons” or a dozen other “That’s not really a god!” episodes.
The scenario may feel stock, but the execution is solid. I like the local kid who’s a member of “The Reformers” who’s convinced that the religious zealotry is wrong and that there is something beyond their borders. More than that, the interrogation scene with Grayson and the local theocratic ruler is legitimately scary and tense, adding stakes and urgency to our heroes rescuing her and signaling their allies.
The Liam Neeson cameo is welcome, and Captain Mercer opening up the giant ship’s sunroof to show the inhabitants space and night for the first time seems positively Kirkian (especially when he didn’t stop to consider how the locals might think it’s the end of the world and go crazy”). The beats are all pretty familiar to longtime Trekkies, and the key points are bluntly made, but it’s an ably done version of this type of story.
The problems, however, remain the same. For one thing, a lot of the humor here is just lame. Mercer’s “Oh no, I ate something I didn’t like down on the planet” is hack-y as hell, and the same goes for Isaac misunderstanding the import of humans calling one another “dicks.” This is something I’m just going to have to get used to if I keep watching, but we’ve devolved to a point where the jokes aren’t even sophomoric -- they’re just weak.
Worse yet, there’s a lot of relationship drama discussions here that go nowhere. I like the idea of Bortus and Klyden feeling ill-at-ease with one another after the events of the last episode, but Kylden eating ice cream and watching old movies is just such an unfunny cliché way to illustrate the friction between them. Likewise, Isaac’s questions about why it didn’t work between Mercer and Grayson are useless and dull. Worst of all, the episode hints at a love triangle between Grayson, Mercer, and Kitan (given how Mercer appreciates Kitan’s strength rather than being intimidated by it), and good lord, please spare me that.
Seth MacFarlane isn’t good at writing believable human interactions, which can still work in the heightened setting of Star Trek-style adventures, but falls apart when he wants to have characters like Grayson and Kitan have more naturalistic, down-to-earth conversations.
That said, I did enjoy the C-story adventures of Bortus, LLoyd, and LaMarr facing down a Krill ship after receiving a distress call. It’s mostly an excuse for the Orville not to be around when the away team needs them, but it still leads to some fun space battles.
Overall, this is a solid modern rendition of the TOS tropes which would be solider still if it jettisoned the bad jokes and unnecessary romantic drama.
“Hi I’m Captain Ed Mercer of the (door slam)…Jehovahs Witnesses”
Seth, we know you. Why in the hell would you WANT to save a bio-ship full of crazy Republicans?! LOL
Also, WHAT?! NO RIOT?! No sudden urge to rise up against this dictator that has lied to you for millennia after you finally see the actual night sky after so long which essentially exposed him for the fraud he’s always been?! Ok that’s on YOU guys, not him.
When this show originally aired there was a lot of talk this being the better Star Trek. And for me it is. And I know many others found the show they were hoping for in Discovery, in parts, with The Orville.
That's my point of view, and I still stand behind that.
Forget where you come from, God, theology
First decent episode so far
Shout by mookieBlockedParent2017-09-29T06:03:22Z
I am really enjoying The Orville . Tonight’s story was both timely and timeless with a good sprinkling of laugh out loud moments. Also, Liam Nesson’s completely random and unexpected cameo was a treat.