Support NeoGAF

[Slayven]

http://tvline.com/2017/09/05/the-orville-review-fox-seth-macfarlane-sci-fi-outer-space/

Consider this a red alert to TV fans everywhere: Are you expecting Seth MacFarlane’s new Fox series The Orville to be a fun Star Trek parody packed with wall-to-wall jokes? Two words of advice: Abandon ship.

Despite what Fox’s official site claims, The Orville — premiering this Sunday at 8/7c — is not a “hilarious comedy.” It’s not even a comedy. Yes, there are a few Family Guy-esque punchlines scattered throughout, but as bafflingly as this sounds, The Orville is mostly a straightforward drama… and not a very good one, at that. Riddled with sci-fi clichés and paralyzed by a grim self-importance, MacFarlane’s shiny new vessel ends up being a colossal dud that not only fails to take flight, it short-circuits before it even gets out of the docking bay.

The Orville feels like a vanity project, plain and simple, and while it might be fun for MacFarlane to run around shooting phasers and playing Captain Kirk, it’s not much fun to watch.

http://www.sfchronicle.com/tv/artic...pace-with-Orville-12169901.php#photo-14041115

Seth MacFarlane’s new vehicle, “The Orville,” gets a special premiere on Fox on Sunday, Sept. 10, but it is far from being ready for takeoff.

There’s something there or, more to the point, bits and pieces of something there, but it needs work. Boy, does it need work.

Ed Mercer (MacFarlane) is a starship captain without a vessel. He’s had some problems in the past year after he discovered his wife, Kelly (Adrianne Palicki), in bed with a hairless blue alien or, as Ed calls him, “Papa Smurf.”

Why are they selling this as Galaxy Quest the tv show?

Two more:
Uproxx (Sepinwall): Seth MacFarlane’s ‘The Orville’ Isn’t A ‘Star Trek’ Spoof. It’s Just Bad ‘Star Trek’

Humor and drama can peacefully co-exist, even in this kind of setting — the aforementioned Galaxy Quest is both a Trek spoof and one of the better (unofficial) Star Trek movies — but that requires care and effort, where all of this feels slapped together at the last possible minute.

There’s a point in one episode where Captain Mercer tells an alien, “I’m just not gonna try comedy with you.” It’s a strategy that would serve The Orville well — or would if non-comic parts were worth the bother.

USA Today: Seth MacFarlane’s 'Star Trek'-inspired ‘The Orville’ flies off course [2/4]

The jokes are not specific enough to Star Trek, or even the sci-fi genre, to make the series a smart parody like the 1999 film Galaxy Quest. The Orville simply has no point of view, other than reverence for Star Trek. It was, and there are moments of The Orville that seem truly inspired, such as its third episode, which uses its sci-fi setting to (literally) put gender stereotypes on trial. But the episode doesn't follow through or say anything unique.

Instead, The Orville feels like a series that sounded good on paper — “Star Trek with Seth MacFarlane!” — but lost its way in the execution. The end result is more confusing than entertaining, and, with a genuine Star Trek series hitting CBS All Access later this month, feels unnecessary.

It's a bad review from what seems to be a bad writer who can't convey their ideas effectively.

 

[vypek]

Why are they selling this as Galaxy Quest the tv show?

To trick people into watching it?

 

[Sibersk Esto]

That's...bizarre. So it's an ersatz Star Trek sold as a parody?

 

[Sgt. Kabukiman]

The trailer was pretty bad so this is not surprising.

 

[Gobias]

Seth MacFarlane as a dramatic lead lmao

 

[elrechazado]

To trick people into watching it?

And what's their plan after one episode, and people abandon ship?

 

[TangoAlphaLima]

Why are they selling this as Galaxy Quest the tv show?

When the alternative is selling it as a lousy Star Trek-ripoff, I think they made the right choice, even if it is a bit dishonest.

 

[Slayven]

That's...bizarre. So it's an ersatz Star Trek sold as a parody?

Sounds like Mcfarlane wanted to play Star Trek on Fox's dime

 

[dead souls]

This has massive flop written all over it. I just listened to Sepinwall slam it on his podcast. He made it sound truly dreadful.

 

[Choppasmith]

http://tvline.com/2017/09/05/the-orville-review-fox-seth-macfarlane-sci-fi-outer-space/






http://www.sfchronicle.com/tv/artic...pace-with-Orville-12169901.php#photo-14041115


Why are they selling this as Galaxy Quest the tv show?

I have to admit, I was definitely getting Galaxy Quest vibes from the trailer and was looking forward to giving it a chance.

 

[Smiles and Cries]

ouch, why do they keep giving this guy money?

 

[Mugsy]

Well damn, I was hoping for a show that went on the line between comedy and legitimate scifi show getting the best of both worlds. It sounds like they ended up failing at both though.

 

[brian577]

I'll withhold judgement until I see the episodes written by Star Trek alumni. Guessing they've only seen MacFarlane written pilot

 

[Sgt. Kabukiman]

Sounds like Mcfarlane wanted to play Star Trek on Fox's dime

Just like when he wanted to star in a western.

 

[StrangeRoboMemory]

"Vanity project" is 100% what this looked like, and lo and behold...

 

[vypek]

And what's their plan after one episode, and people abandon ship?

Maybe hope that the pilot keeps the interest of certain people that will form the core audience.

 

[Gorillaz]

oh wow a part of me was wondering of it would be played straight more then we thought but damn it's suppose to be a drama?

 

[Xe4]

Wait, it's not a comedy?!?
Are we sure the jokes aren't so bad they just don't hit at all?
Cause boy oh boy did the series make it seem like a parody of Star Trek ala Galaxy Quest.
I'm not surprised. The only McFarlane properties I liked were the first Ted movie and pre cancellation Family Guy.

 

[Mr. F]

every Seth McFarlane project feels like a vanity project

 

[davepoobond]

So it's a Star Trek porn parody without the porn?

 

[Slayven]

every Seth McFarlane project feels like a vanity project

The man has written more musicals then Andrew Lloyd Webber

 

[jb1234]

I'll watch it for the "grandiose orchestral score" (because how often do we get that in television these days?) but yeah, this is gonna bomb hard.

 

[Random Human]

Haha, WHAT?! This isn't a comedy?!

I don't... I mean... what...

 

[louiedog]

It looks expensive and Jon Favreau directed the pilot. It kills me that Fox seems willing to put so many more resources behind this than CBS will probably give to Star Trek, but hopefully I'm wrong.

 

[master billings]

I saw the words "Seth MacFarlane" and immediately knew that it was a vanity project.

 

[WillyFive]

Too bad, I was hoping for it to be good.

 

[GoutPatrol]

And what's their plan after one episode, and people abandon ship?

To kill it before next spring?

 

[Cipherr]

Just give me the new Star Trek. Im finally going to watch a Star Trek show after being the only hardcore sci fi fan that hasn't seen a single series.

Im dying for it at this point.

Please be well written.

 

[berzeli]

Slayven, you left out the best bits:
TV Line

like in Episode 3, when the birth of an alien baby leads to a long and ponderous debate about gender identity. That might be a worthwhile discussion to have… just maybe not on a Seth MacFarlane show.

SF Chronicle:

But only if MacFarlane weren’t trying to make something he doesn’t seem to know much about: A “dramedy.”

You probably have a better idea of what that is than MacFarlane. It is not just a smattering of legitimately funny lines, and a few more unfunny lines tossed on top of a rather unremarkable drama. In a real dramedy, created by people who know what they’re doing, comedy and drama are carefully woven together, the humor and seriousness refract and modify each other. See “Transparent.” See “Orange Is the New Black.”

I'll withhold judgement until I see the episodes written by Star Trek alumni. Guessing they've only seen MacFarlane written pilot

They've seen at least three episodes.

 

[Waddle Dee]

Seth McFarlane continues to make nothing of worth.

 

[Gordon Shumway]

He's a talented dude..he needs to stop trying to be in front of the camera..

 

[Previous]

I'll withhold judgement until I see the episodes written by Star Trek alumni. Guessing they've only seen MacFarlane written pilot

The reviews talks about episodes 2 & 3, those were directed by Robert Duncan McNeill and Brannon Braga.
Episode 5 has Jonathan Frakes stepping over the directors chair, so maybe there is hope.

 

[TheTylerRob]

Seth Mcfarlane might be the biggest hack on the planet

 

[jb1234]

They've seen at least three episodes.

It's fair to say that MacFarlane rewrites all the scripts. Being a Star Trek alumni is certainly no guarantee of quality.

 

[Alienous]

every Seth McFarlane project feels like a vanity project

Patrice O'Neal said it best - "I got a critique about Seth ... it's too much ... Seth. It's almost like he's jealous of his own creation, where he wants to prove 'I'm better than the cartoons', but he's not better than the cartoons."

But if he wants to appear in a Star Trek parody he's certainly made enough money to do it, despite how good it ends up being.

 

[Tatsumaki Senpuukyaku!]

If the Orville isn't a comedy then how is it even legal? I assumed that the only way they could rip off Star Trek this closely is because Parody is covered under copyright law

 

[Red]

I don't get Seth McFarlane. He's been described as a genius. The guy who sang We Saw Your Boobs.

 

[Morts]

I thought the trailers looked pretty bad. This doesn't seem that surprising.

 

[TheOnlyOneHeEverFeared]

McFarlane is a kind of ok writer, but an awful actor. And his writing hasn't even been great recently.

 

[Fantastapotamus]

Are you telling me a project where the lead writer is also the main character might not be all that great? I'm shocked

 

[Ogodei]

Seth McFarlane continues to make nothing of worth.

American Dad says different (though he left all but his speaking roles behind on that show a while ago, he was still in creative control when it got good after season 2).

 

[J_Viper]

Adrianne can't catch a break

 

[diunxx]

I don't get this, they obviously believe that a sci-fi comedy would attract people more than whatever this is...so why not just do a sci fi comedy?

 

[sturgboski]

Adrianne can't catch a break

I remember when she was going to be Wonder Woman.

I don't get this, they obviously believe that a sci-fi comedy would attract people more than whatever this is...so why not just do a sci fi comedy?

I'm sure higher ups at Fox were like we trust him and then they saw the first few cuts and went "fuck, I thought this was going to be a parody Seth, we already put together the ads."

 

[Chris R]

McFarlane is a kind of ok writer, but an awful actor. And his writing hasn't even been great recently.

He was EASILY the worst part of Logan Lucky.

 

[TheOnlyOneHeEverFeared]

He was EASILY the worst part of Logan Lucky.

He sure was. Who the fuck told him he could carry that British accent.

 

[Jombie]

So you mean to tell me McFarlane is a one trick pony?

 

[elrechazado]

If the Orville isn't a comedy then how is it even legal? I assumed that the only way they could rip off Star Trek this closely is because Parody is covered under copyright law

Huh? Do you think star Trek's has a copyright and trademark on "science fiction with a spaceship and a crew doing stuff"??

 

[OricWindstar]

I was wondering if this was going to be competition for Paul Scheer's Galaxy Quest show. Guess not.

 

[Fancyarcher]

ouch, why do they keep giving this guy money?

Because Family Guy was such a hit, that's and he probably a great guy to work with too.

He was EASILY the worst part of Logan Lucky.

It was close, Hillary Swank & her weird voice thing felt out of place too. I didn't hate any performance in that film though. I have no doubt that MacFarlane is going to be cast in another Soderbergh film however.