• Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.

The Orville: New Horizons | OT |

Men_in_Boxes

Snake Oil Salesman


As a weary traveler seeking out quality modern day Star Trek, I've crash landed on a class M planet known as The Orville.

Is it hospitable to those of us allergic to NuTrek? Not likely, but possibly.

I've watched the 5 best episodes (according to IMDb) between S1 and S2 in preparation for S3. Here are my findings:

- Humor scrapes hard. 9/10 jokes don't land at all, which is surprising considering Seth McFarlands history. Bortus (a more comedic Warf) does land a lot of his jokes.

+ Great camera work. They do this crazy thing of keeping the camera still while actors deliver lines.

- At times, it feels a little too family oriented. Almost a G rated tone.

+ The interpersonal relationship drama (dating, marriage) is pretty in your face. I suspect this tests well with the 10 - 14 year old demographic.

- There's almost 0 Norm Macdonald from what I've seen.

+ All 5 episodes do transcend to some rewarding high moments. There's a warm, optimistic, feel good vibe I can get behind.

- Does get a little too preachy imo.

Season 3 starts tomorrow. Show apparently has a bigger budget now thanks to Hulu and episodes no longer have to be 43 minutes long. As we all know, season 3s can be pretty special for Star Treks.
 

NecrosaroIII

Ultimate DQ Fan


As a weary traveler seeking out quality modern day Star Trek, I've crash landed on a class M planet known as The Orville.

Is it hospitable to those of us allergic to NuTrek? Not likely, but possibly.

I've watched the 5 best episodes (according to IMDb) between S1 and S2 in preparation for S3. Here are my findings:

- Humor scrapes hard. 9/10 jokes don't land at all, which is surprising considering Seth McFarlands history. Bortus (a more comedic Warf) does land a lot of his jokes.

+ Great camera work. They do this crazy thing of keeping the camera still while actors deliver lines.

- At times, it feels a little too family oriented. Almost a G rated tone.

+ The interpersonal relationship drama (dating, marriage) is pretty in your face. I suspect this tests well with the 10 - 14 year old demographic.

- There's almost 0 Norm Macdonald from what I've seen.

+ All 5 episodes do transcend to some rewarding high moments. There's a warm, optimistic, feel good vibe I can get behind.

- Does get a little too preachy imo.

Season 3 starts tomorrow. Show apparently has a bigger budget now thanks to Hulu and episodes no longer have to be 43 minutes long. As we all know, season 3s can be pretty special for Star Treks.

My wife and I enjoy it. Agree with the comment on the humor. The plots have all been excellent. Definitely made byba team that understood what worked about star trek
 

Wildebeest

Member
Dr Finn is the closest to a TOS character you can get. Everything else in the show is a gateway drug to the doctor.
 

BadBurger

Banned
Fantastic show, it was Star Trek in the absence of Star Trek.

Watching now, its opening with one of the doctor's sons. I forgot it has been so long between seasons - this kid is damn near grown now, the last I saw him he was half this size lol (pretty sure it's the same kid anyway).
 

Men_in_Boxes

Snake Oil Salesman
The Orville just had its Uncharted 2 moment. The production values jump for s3 is massive.

Episode was pretty awful imo, but I'm genuinely excited for the rest of the season.
 

mcjmetroid

Member
I enjoyed the latest episode. Maybe a little bit long and an interesting choice to start with a somber episode.
 

Jaybe

Member
Ever watch Avenue 5? I thought that was great. I like season 1 of Orville but not as smartly written as Avenue 5. That “House” actor was superb for it.
 

01011001

Banned
it's crazy that it has been almost 4 years between season 2 and 3. I really missed the show

the first episode was meh, but I guess they had to adress the elephant in the room before going forward
 
Ah, so many childhood memories. It'll be good to see them back on our screens.

Ld7uCHi.jpg
 

nush

Member
Damn, they are really gunning for that lost Star Trek audience here. I've got a feeling based on this one episode and having seen the two previous series that this could be a decent jumping in point if you want a good bootleg Star Trek show.
 

mcjmetroid

Member
Honestly if you haven't seen it yet and you like star trek. Forgot strange new world or any of that nonsense and give this a watch instead.

First series is more of a comedy series but series 2 is much more series and that's the direction the series will be taken going forward.

It's 100% the best star trek like series since Deep space nine in my opinion.

Don't be afraid because it's something you're not familiar with.
 
Last edited:

jason10mm

Gold Member
I'm curious what horrible sexual relationship they will put the doctor lady in this time. I think Seth just likes messing with that actress 'cause she has, by far, the most difficult storylines of any sci-fi show ever. First
blob sex, the most disturbing image EVER
and then
she is so broken she has sex with an impassionate robot
. A flying jellyfish alien can't be far behind :p
 

H4ze

Banned
Orville is pure love, giving me scrubs vibes since the first season, absolute feelgood stuff
 

JayK47

Member
Decent start to "season 3". I could have really used a recap. It has been 3 years. I was lost for most of the episode.
 

Men_in_Boxes

Snake Oil Salesman
My ep1 review: Bad but I'm optimistic about the shows future.

My ep2 review: Terrible but now I'm cancelling my Hulu subscription.
 

Mossybrew

Gold Member
I think I must have been ill or something when I watched the first two seasons. I couldn't get through the first S3 episode, it's just, so cheesy. Maybe I'll save this for some Sunday when I'm super hungover and don't want to move off the couch.
 

Fbh

Member
First episode of the new season was Ok-ish. I agree it got a nice bump in production values but

Honestly if you haven't seen it yet and you like star trek. Forgot strange new world or any of that nonsense and give this a watch instead.

First series is more of a comedy series but series 2 is much more series and that's the direction the series will be taken going forward.

It's 100% the best star trek like series since Deep space nine in my opinion.

Don't be afraid because it's something you're not familiar with.

I kinda liked S1 the best though. The comedy was a bit hit and miss but it had more of that "exploring strange new worlds" feeling of classic Star Trek.
S2 had some good episodes but was bogged down by too much relationship drama.
 

DeafTourette

Perpetually Offended
Ep 3 was pretty good! The mystery wasn't obvious. Good callback to season 1.

Episode 1 was a thinking man's episode... Can you move past hate? Can you truly move past trauma with a glaring reminder there every day?
 

mcjmetroid

Member
Ep 3 was pretty good! The mystery wasn't obvious. Good callback to season 1.

Episode 1 was a thinking man's episode... Can you move past hate? Can you truly move past trauma with a glaring reminder there every day?
Agreed. A vast improvement. Actually one of the best!

I'm kinda starting to miss the humour though. Series 2 was the perfect balance.
 

DeafTourette

Perpetually Offended
Agreed. A vast improvement. Actually one of the best!

I'm kinda starting to miss the humour though. Series 2 was the perfect balance.

I just realized that the being in this latest episode is their version of Q!

Edit: actually I think Star Trek Picard took a lot of inspiration from elements like the Kaylon and their hate of organic life (in season 1, at least).
 
Last edited:

Fox Mulder

Member
I was skeptical of this show at first but I loved the first two seasons. It's more like TNG than any of the star trek garbage that has come out especially recently. You can tell he actually loved that stuff.
 
Last edited:

Kenpachii

Member
Episode 2 really showcases they can't act for shit in serious enviroments. As nobody seems to take anything seriously. It's pretty bad.

This could have been a classic voyager episode or even tng, but felt complete lack of interest in the actors to pull anything off.
 

Kimahri

Banned
Didn't like the first episode much, but from 2 and on this season is a blast. A little odd with so little humour, but damn, this show is exactly what star trek is supposed to be. So glad we have it.
 

nush

Member
Wow, a social commentary episode, wasn't expecting that. This week, Don't transition your children.

"I surmise that your capacity to reason has been compromised by your cultural indoctrination" :messenger_fire:

If this show was more popular I could see this episode really rustling some jimmies.
 
Top Bottom