Online Series: The Orville : New Horizons - March 10, 2022 on Hulu

[offkilter]

I kinda cringed how they incorporated "9 to 5" in this story, but then the fight stuff happened. Well done Orville, Well done.

Honestly wish they'd tone down the pop culture references from here on in. The writing itself is begining to find its footing and stand on its own they don't need to pander for cheap laughs anymore.

 

[Jussi]

I kinda cringed how they incorporated "9 to 5" in this story, but then the fight stuff happened. Well done Orville, Well done.

Deadpool would call that either plagiarizing or an homage.

What was actually cringeworthy was Bortas taking his son to see the female baby and not expecting him to tell anyone about it. I mean everyone knew he was going to tell.

 

[NyQuil]

Honestly wish they'd tone down the pop culture references from here on in. The writing itself is begining to find its footing and stand on its own they don't need to pander for cheap laughs anymore.

I think they struck the right kind of balance.

The Orville will always be a little irreverent - it's part of the charm of the show and differentiates it from Trek.

Solid episode - at first it seemed very "by the numbers" but it explored some interesting areas by the end.

 

[ThePhoenixx]

The crew is incompetent but that's OK. There were more holes in that story than an ant hill, but that's OK.

That was just good Orville fun. More please.

 

[montreal]

Surprised they did another Moclan episode but thought it was solid. 2 episodes left in the season.

 

[peate]

I like when they use actors from previous Star Treks. They should have made Marina into some funky alien, but I guess maybe it was her choice not to.

I also think I saw a former Gul in there and Riker directed the episode.

 

[Jussi]

I like when they use actors from previous Star Treks. They should have made Marina into some funky alien, but I guess maybe it was her choice not to.

I also think I saw a former Gul in there and Riker directed the episode.

As one Youtuber commented, Jonathan Frakes seems to be directing episodes of Discovery and The Orville left and right and reception to each episode has been positive for both shows.

 

[CaptainCrunch67]

I like when they use actors from previous Star Treks. They should have made Marina into some funky alien, but I guess maybe it was her choice not to.

I also think I saw a former Gul in there and Riker directed the episode.

There were three Star Trek Alumni in the episode. Marina, F Murray Abraham and Tony Todd.

 

[peate]

There were three Star Trek Alumni in the episode. Marina, F Murray Abraham and Tony Todd.

Kurn! That's who it was, and I recognized the other one too, amusing.

 

[Mimsy]

Trek alumnus Ron Canada was also in this episode, playing one of the Admirals. I always remember him because of his unique name --- Ron.

I would have missed this episode had I not checked the thread. I thought Orville was in reruns until this coming Thursday. I read the episode description in advance but assumed it was the one about the Moclan engineer faking his own death. I didn't think we'd get another Moclan story so soon. It was an okay episode, but I've had my fill of the Moclans for the season.

I'm surprised the actor who plays Jon is still in the main credits. He's been a ghost this season. He's alright in the ladies man scenes, but seems a bit clunky with the technobabble.

 

[Osprey]

I finally watched it (free time has been short since the playoffs started) and enjoyed it. I'm tired of Moclan episodes, too, but this was one of the best ones. The refuge planet premise was great. Also, I welcome tensions rising between the Union and Moclas, since it increases the likelihood that Bortus and Klydon will split, which would put an end to the most tiresome of the Moclan episodes. If Klydon goes back to Moclas and is never seen or heard from again, I'll be happy.

 

[CaptainCrunch67]

My guess is that they've really been playing up how unlikable the Moclan society is, and they've really made Klydon the same way.

I would expect that sometime next year you're going to see the Moclan join the Kaylon somehow.

 

[The Macho King]

So I have basically been binging this the past three days.

I love it. So much.

Edit: I want to expand on this. I loathe every Seth MacFarlane product. Family Guy is awful. American Dad is trash. His movies are sophomoric garbage that confuses shock value for laughs. There's no wit behind what he does IMO. So I was very hesitant to even entertain this show.

I was wrong. I was expecting a "comedy" that was lampooning what I love so much (classic Star Trek/sci fi). And while it certainly doesn't play it *as* wound up as ST, it also doesn't make fun of it in a "punching down" way, but rather just acknowledges what we all know - some of this shit is silly, but it's still fun and special.

This is Star Trek at its best. The crew is (mostly) really good, the stories are familiar (to the point of nearly plagiarism at times), but those stories are awesome and they're done well. It's an earnest love letter, maybe even bordering on re-hash. But after 20 years waiting for a good Star Trek to show up, I'm not asking for more than that.

 

[Osprey]

I'm surprised that no one is talking about the latest episode. I really liked it. Like many episodes, it essentially copies the basic plot of a TNG episode (in this case, a Riker episode), but explores something a little different and reaches a different conclusion. Speaking of which, I was shocked by the ending, especially since the episode was predictable in a very pleasant way up until that point. I can't believe that it just ended like that. Oh! Next week's episode (the season finale, I believe) is listed as "Part 2." That explains it.

Edit: I want to expand on this. I loathe every Seth MacFarlane product. Family Guy is awful. American Dad is trash. His movies are sophomoric garbage that confuses shock value for laughs. There's no wit behind what he does IMO. So I was very hesitant to even entertain this show.

I was wrong. I was expecting a "comedy" that was lampooning what I love so much (classic Star Trek/sci fi). And while it certainly doesn't play it *as* wound up as ST, it also doesn't make fun of it in a "punching down" way, but rather just acknowledges what we all know - some of this **** is silly, but it's still fun and special.

This is Star Trek at its best. The crew is (mostly) really good, the stories are familiar (to the point of nearly plagiarism at times), but those stories are awesome and they're done well. It's an earnest love letter, maybe even bordering on re-hash. But after 20 years waiting for a good Star Trek to show up, I'm not asking for more than that.

You sound just like me, especially after I watched the first episode or two. I didn't like anything of Seth MacFarlane's before this. This show has completely changed how I view him. He's gone from someone that I had little respect for to someone that I can really respect and admire for delivering the best "Star Trek" show in 20 years. I really hope that it gets renewed (and am worried that the season is almost over and it still hasn't been), but, if it's not, then I hope that MacFarlane doesn't go back to the sophomoric stuff and, instead, continues to put as much thought and love into his future projects as he has into this.

 

[peate]

I also really liked that episode. Great work doubling Kelly, and what about that ending? Totally floored me. A different kind of cliff hanger.

That nightclub scene with Bortus and Klyden was pretty good. Already last episode next week.

 

[Guardian17]

I was really happy with this episode and I loved the dynamic between "old" and "young" Kelly.

 

[Roo Returns]

You can tell they really spent a lot of money on the Moclan episode two weeks ago. Lotos of CG, guest stars, and the four Admirals who they deal with throughout the series.

I hope this upcoming episode isn't the unexpected series finale and they get at least one more season with the regime change.

 

[Roo Returns]

I was really happy with this episode and I loved the dynamic between "old" and "young" Kelly.

If the show makes it to a third season which it hopefully does, they could easily do a follow-up episode to this as an alternate timeline, or even some mirror universe deal. I'd love to see Bortus with the evil Spock goatee.

 

[Jussi]

If the show makes it to a third season which it hopefully does, they could easily do a follow-up episode to this as an alternate timeline, or even some mirror universe deal. I'd love to see Bortus with the evil Spock goatee.

I think the season finale already deals with that.

 

[montreal]

That nightclub scene with Bortus and Klyden was pretty good.

That had me cracking up.

 

[The Macho King]

I *strongly* disliked the season finale. Really bad episode IMO.

 

[peate]

I *strongly* disliked the season finale. Really bad episode IMO.

Totally the opposite for me, I thought it was excellent. The only thing I found odd is how bad the Kaylon are at shooting, considering they're A.I. Some of the CGI was really well done. We know where the show's budget went. Hope there's a third season.

 

[Mimsy]

(vague spoilers in the 1st paragraph):

First reaction to the season finale is positive. There was a slight Voyager "Year of Hell" feel about this one. I really liked it, even though a few scenes dragged (engineering technobabble) at the expense of moments I wanted fleshed out (the closing scenes and more "year of hell" exposition). For a two-parter, the second half was a nice contrast in tone to the first, which was more traditional, light-hearted Orville. The space battles felt less Star Trekish and were more an homage to Empire Strikes Back. The underwater voyage was good. At that point, I assume we all ticked off our character checklist, so there were no surprises. The brief cameo appearance left me wanting more, but I came away feeling cheated. I've completely accepted the casting change, but I wish we could have both characters, as the original was my favorite of the cast.

"Road Not Taken" was an adequate season finale, but not a series finale by any stretch. I think this arc could have been extended to three episodes, with #2 being an hour of relentless misery in the alternate timeline (if you're not feeling the Ed/Kelly timeline story then, yeah, it would be a slog). I'd have been okay with jettisoning a Moclan episode to make it happen. Anyway....

I'm still giving the nod to "Home" and "Nothing Left on Earth Excepting Fishes" as the best of season 2. "Home" was beautifully filmed, introduced a cool otherworldly setting, and gave a great sendoff to a character that probably hadn't yet earned it. Many might not agree with me on "Excepting Fishes", but I got the feels for the Krill operative. I've rewatched moments from that episode several times. I'd like Talaya and Ed to have another encounter.

Season 2 had a lot of filler. I'm okay with banking filler episodes in a series as satisfying as this one, as long as it reaches Star Trek seven season range (at this point, I'll settle for five). If this is the end -- and I'm expecting a third season based on MacFarlane's street cred -- then I'll take my handful of really memorable episodes and be content.

 

[montreal]

I thought the season finale was great, although I was a bit drunk when watching it but really enjoyed it. Great season overall and hope there's more to come.

 

[Mimsy]

I thought the season finale was great, although I was a bit drunk when watching it but really enjoyed it. Great season overall and hope there's more to come.

Had you asked me upfront if I wanted a two part Ed/Kelly timeline romance to finish the season, I'd have responded with an easy "hell no". Having said that, I enjoyed the finale and thought the second episode was the better of the two. The first played like a standalone until its final moment, whereas the finale laid bare the ramifications of that moment pretty well.