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Ja'loja
Season 2, Episode 1
Originally aired December 31, 2018
Written and directed by Seth MacFarlane
Starring Seth McFarlane, Adrianne Palicki, Penny Johnson Jerald, Scott Grimes, Peter Macon, Halston Sage, J. Lee, Mark Jackson, BJ Tanner, Kai Wener, Chad L. Coleman,
Norm MacDonald, and Chris Johnson as Cassius
Ed pines for Kelly, but she already has a new boyfriend. Dr. Finn can't understand why her teenage son is so rebellious. Isaac gives questionable child rearing advice. Alara bemoans her lack of companionship. Gordon Malloy just can't get up the courage to ask the new cartographer for a date. Bortus needs to pee and invites everyone to watch him.
About the annual Moclan's pee, what goes in must come out. If Moclans only urinate once a year, what happens to all the fluids they drink? I'm not sure I want to know.
The first episode of the second season is all about character development. Although it is an easy watch, and brings us up to date on the crew's lives, it lacks pizzazz. There is plenty of emotion and humor, but most of it is lightweight and predictable. Orville lacks the depth and intensity of science fiction series such as Star Trek, Stargate, Babylon 5, Battlestar Galactica, and many others. The repeated references to present day slang and culture take it out of the future and often sound silly.
On the plus side. This is a fun show. The humans in the cast are very human, with all the foibles of normal people. And the aliens are an interesting mix of the predictable such as Isaac, and the absurd, like Yaphit.
Reviewed by Romana Drew January 1, 2019
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Primal Urges
Season 2, Episode 2
Originally aired December 31, 2018
Written Wellesley Wild. Directed by Kevin Hooks
Starring Seth McFarlane, Adrianne Palicki, Penny Johnson Jerald, Scott Grimes, Peter Macon, Halston Sage, J. Lee, Mark Jackson, BJ Tanner, Kai Wener, Chad L. Coleman, and Norm MacDonald.
Bortus is addicted to holographic porn, and the crew must rescue people living deep inside a planet that is about to be eaten by its sun.
Bortus still hasn't forgiven Klyden for forcing a sex change operation on their child, so he goes to the holodeck and participates in sexual fantasies. Kayden tries to kill him, and Dr. Finn counsels the warring couple.
The Orville has stopped to let the crew study a sun as it engulfs a planet. Just before the planet breaks apart, they discover a society living deep inside and attempt a rescue. A virus from one of Bortus' holodeck programs wreaks havoc.
Moclans are so stiff, and the dialogue so flat, that both humor and emotional empathy fall flat. Had the main story been an exciting and danger-filled rescue, the Bortus/Klyden affair would have made great comic relief, as the main story, it is tedious. The rescue felt as if it got tacked on so the eposide could end on an exciting note.
Rescuing people trapped inside a planet as it gets pulled into an exploding star while a computer virus attacks the ship's systems is worthy of an entire episode. This is good hard science fiction. Since the crew can't rescue everyone, it delves into social issues and self-sacrifice. But that story is glossed over, so it a never lives up to its potential.
The special effects in this episode are fantastic. The ship flying in front of the boiling sun looks realistic, even the lighting effects on the ship add to the realism. The Moclan body suits and makeup are also excellent. I wonder how the actors feel about being inside those rubber suits. Are they cold, hot, itchy, smelly? They can't be comfortable. And Moclans must grow extra fast. Bortus and Klydan's kid looks to be eight or ten years old.
This should be a great episode, but it isn't. I now know more about Bortus and Klyden than I ever wanted to know.
Reviewed by Romana Drew January 5, 2019
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Home
Season 2, Episode 3
Originally aired January 10, 2019
Written Cherry Chevapravatdumrong. Directed by Jon Cassar.
Starring Seth McFarlane, Adrianne Palicki, Penny Johnson Jerald, Scott Grimes, Peter Macon, Halston Sage, J. Lee, Mark Jackson, BJ Tanner, Kai Wener, Chad L. Coleman, and Norm MacDonald.
Alara breaks her arm during her regular Friday night arm wrestling match with Isaac. Dr. Finn notices that she has lost twenty percent of her muscle mass and warns that she must return to Xelaya or lose her super strength. Her parents' take her to a seaside cabin where she has to deal with her parents' less than stellar opinions of her. Then the insane parents of her father's colleague attack, torture, and attempt to kill everyone.
Ildis Kitan, Alara's father is played by Robert Picardo, the EMH from Voyager. Cambis Borrin, the insane colleague, is played by John Billingsley, Doctor Phlox from Enterprise. They both look great in their Xelayan ears. It is fun to watch the two actors play off each other as Cambis chases Ildis around sticking his hand in boiling water and trying to shoot him.
Back on the Orville, Alara's replacement is a silly caricature of a snuffaluffagus spouting off juvenile slang. This character is simply not a replacement for Alara. For one thing, how would a creature with a long snout connected to the middle of his stomach fair in a fist fight. All his assailant has to do is grab and pull.
The special effects, flying around Xelaya and landing the pods are beautiful. The story is never dull. Although, it did leave me with a few questions. How come the pod only had one heavy gravity suit? Why do the ocean waves look the same as earth? Wouldn't the heavy gravity damp them out?
This is not a world class episode, but it is the best one so far this season.
Reviewed by Romana Drew January 11, 2019
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Nothing Left on Earth Excepting Fishes
Season 2, Episode 4
Originally aired January 17, 2019
Written Brannon Braga and Andre Bormanis. Directed by Jon Cassar.
Starring Seth McFarlane, Adrianne Palicki, Penny Johnson Jerald, Scott Grimes, Peter Macon, Halston Sage, J. Lee, Mark Jackson, BJ Tanner, Kai Wener, Chad L. Coleman, and Norm MacDonald.
Gordon wants to take the command test, and Captain Mercer goes on a vacation with his new girlfriend, dark matter cartographer Janel Tyler, played by Michaela McManus.
Ed and Janel don't get far before the Krill kidnap them. Turns out, Janel was a Krill in disguise, Ed's old adversary Teleya, also played by Michaela McManus. Just before Teleya can take her revenge on Ed, the Krill ship is boarded by enemies of the Krill. Ed and Janel escape and get stranded on an abandoned planet with the bad guys after them. They must work together and gain some degree of trust to survive.
Back on the Orville, Gordon just can't get it right. First, he fails a Rorschach test. Then he tries to persuade a simulated Krill not to attack because he eats healthy.
The episode cuts back and forth between Gordon on the ship and Ed with the Krill, which works well, putting just enough comic relief between dramatic scenes to keep both fresh and engaging. This is probably the best Orville episode this season
Michaela McManus does a splendid job as both Janel and Teleya.
Reviewed by Romana Drew January 18, 2019
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All the World is a Birthday Cake
Season 2, Episode 5
Originally aired January 24, 2019
Written Seth McFarlane. Directed by Robert Duncan McNeill
Starring Seth McFarlane, Adrianne Palicki, Penny Johnson Jerald, Scott Grimes, Peter Macon, Jessica Szohr, J. Lee, Norm MacDonald, Mark Jackson, BJ Tanner, Kai Wener, Chad L. Coleman, and Norm MacDonald.
The crew of the Orville intercepts a message from an unknown world, "Is anyone out there?" They jump for joy at the chance to make first contact. The Regorians welcome them with open arms until Kelly mentions that both she and Bortus have birthdays. Everyone is arrested. Kelly and Bortus are thrown into a concentration camp for people born under a bad sign, as it were. The rest of the landing party is asked, not so politely, to leave. For all of their advanced technology, the Regorians believe that a child's personality, abilities, and future are determined by their astrological sign.
This episode introduces Jessica Szohr as Lt. Talla Keylai, the new Xelayan security officer. She doesn't quite have that something that made Halston Sage stand out, but she did a good job and should be a fine addition to the crew.
There is a lot about this episode to recommend it. It has an interesting story and characters. The dinner scene where the Regorians did their about-face worked quite well. The reasons for their actions were not revealed for some time, creating a nice mystery. Making an emotional connection to the incarcerated Giliacs was easy.
The episode has some rough areas, also. Why would a pre-spaceflight world call itself Regor 2? They must have settled on a name for their world long before they had enough science to realize they were part of a solar system. That stood out as just wrong.
But the main problems have to do with storytelling. The episode has several jarring transitions. For example: A month passes while Kelly and Bortus are incarcerated, but there is no indication or feeling that time has passed. Kelly and Bortus are rescued without any explanation as to how or why they got away with shooting so many guards. There are others. The transitions make the episode feel rushed and disjointed. One caveat here. I watched this without ads. If these transitions came during ad breaks, they might not have stood out so much. Advertisements make programs seem disjointed no matter how smoothly the story is presented.
One bit of trivia caught my eye. The Regorian government building was filmed at California State University, Northridge, my alma mater.
This episode is worth watching, even though it falls short of being a great episode.
Reviewed by Romana Drew January 25, 2019
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Happy Refrain
Season 2, Episode 6
Originally aired January 31, 2019
Written and directed by Seth McFarlane.
Starring Seth McFarlane, Adrianne Palicki, Penny Johnson Jerald, Scott Grimes, Peter Macon, Jessica Szohr, J. Lee, Norm MacDonald, Mark Jackson, BJ Tanner, Kai Wener, Chad L. Coleman, and Norm MacDonald.
Bortus wants a mustache, and Dr. Finn asks Isaac on a date. What could possibly go wrong?
Dr. Finn and Isaac get off on the wrong foot, after all, he is a machine. With the help of various crew members, things get better. Then they get worse. Then better. And on it goes.
This may be the best show this season. Not because of exciting action or special effects, but because Penny Johnson (Dr. Finn) and Mark Jackson (Isaac) are such wonderful actors. They make their romance feel real. Their relationship could come off as corny or dumb, but instead, it is engaging and gently funny. Also, kudos to Seth McFarlane for writing and directing.
Bortus and his mustache isn't much of a story, but in this episode, it fits perfectly. We even get to see Mark Jackson and Norm MacDonald, the voice of Yaphit, in their human forms. Although, I'm not sure that Captain Mercer should be so tolerant of rain on the bridge.
This episode is well worth watching.
Reviewed by Romana Drew February 2, 2019
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Deflectors
Season 2, Episode 7
Originally aired February 14, 2019
Written by David A. Goodman. Directed by Seth McFarlane.
Starring Seth McFarlane, Adrianne Palicki, Penny Johnson Jerald, Scott Grimes, Peter Macon, Jessica Szohr, J. Lee, Norm MacDonald, Mark Jackson, BJ Tanner, Kai Wener, Chad L. Coleman, Norm MacDonald, and Keven Daniels as Locar
Moclan engineer, Locar, comes aboard to assist with deflector upgrades. Kelly ends her relationship with Chris and discusses it with Mercer. But the main story revolves around Moclan prejudice. The scenes with Kelly, Chris, and Mercer are light and enjoyable. The deflector upgrade test is also fun with just the right amount of humor. The Locar storyline is both a mystery and an exploration of prejudice.
Locar is attracted to females, and that is a serious Moclan taboo. If anyone finds out, he will be imprisoned and his entire family will suffer. So much for LGBTQ rights on Moclus.
Locar's story is also handled with sensitivity and respect. It has enough depth to keep it emotionally engaging and believable, but not maudlin. However, the deeper Orville delves into Moclan society, the less realistic the society becomes.
First, males produce sperm and females produce eggs. If Bortus laid the egg, Bortus is female. Setting that aside, the harsh and restrictive Moclan society is explained by saying it evolved on a harsh world. That may be, but travel is supposed to broaden the mind. Apparently, Moclus never got the memo.
Klyden sees Talla and Locar go into a holodeck, assumes the worse, and follows them in. This guy is really suspicious. He finds a dancing lesson in the middle of an empty street and concludes that Locar is a deviant, a lover of females. That turns out to be true, but why would he care? Making Klyden the enforcer of Moclan traditions sets up conflict in the Klyden/Bortus relationship, and It makes Klyden a bit of an ass.
This is a well-done show with some uncomfortable moments as it explores sexual prejudices and societal values.
Reviewed by Romana Drew February 16, 2019
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Identity Pt 1
Season 2, Episode 8
Originally aired February 21, 2019
Written by Brannon Braga & Andre Bormanis. Directed by Jon Cassar.
Starring Seth McFarlane, Adrianne Palicki, Penny Johnson Jerald, Scott Grimes, Peter Macon, Jessica Szohr, J. Lee, Norm MacDonald, Mark Jackson, BJ Tanner, Kai Wener, and Norm MacDonald.
Isaac shuts down for no apparent reason, so the Orville goes to Kaylon to get him repaired. On Kaylon, things go pretty much as expected. Having gathered sufficient information, Isaac was terminated and scheduled for recycling.
The Kaylon world is futuristic and fantastic with Isaac clones all over the place. The Kaylons are aloof but polite and unemotional, pretty much as expected. Then Ty, looking for Isaac, discovers something deep, dark, and disturbing.
This is an excellent episode. It starts out making us really care for Isaac and hope he can return to the series, then it does a one-eighty, and maks us wish we had never met him. But there is still hope assuming Earth survives. His eyes are still blue - if that has any significance other than identification.
The special effects are great. The Orville flies to the surface and lands, something that seemed impossible. And then there are the Kaylons. I am still wondering how much of that was costuming and how much CGI. Either way, it was both surprising and menacing.
Many of the recent episodes have been about characters, but this episode is all about plot, and it's a good one.
Reviewed by Romana Drew February 23, 2019
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Identity Pt 2
Season 2, Episode 9
Originally aired February 28, 2019
Written by Seth MacFarlane. Directed by Jon Cassar.
Starring Seth McFarlane, Adrianne Palicki, Penny Johnson Jerald, Scott Grimes, Peter Macon, Jessica Szohr, J. Lee, Norm MacDonald, Mark Jackson, BJ Tanner, Kai Wener, and Norm MacDonald.
The crew has been captured, and the Kaylons are en route to annihilate Earth. Isaac has betrayed the crew. Of course, that can't happen, or the series will end. As in telling a good joke, it isn't the punchline but the set up that makes it funny. Here, it isn't the ending but the action that makes the story work.
After a false start or two, the crew manages to send a message home and to enlist the help of the Krill to save Earth.
Even though much of this episode is predictable, it is still an excellent episode. After all, they have to save both Earth and Isaac. Yaphit has some great scenes crawling in and out of Kaylons. Mild-mannered Isaac shows he has a deadly side. And the Krill come to the rescue. Having the enemy save the day is another time-honored plot twist.
The special effects are great, although a bit overwhelming. The battle feels too crowded. There are so many ships and explosions, and so much debris that it is hard to believe. Space is huge, but the battle feels as if it is crammed into a small area. And the Union forces are getting their butts whipped until the Krill show up to save the day.
Now that this episode is over, what happens next. Are the Kaylons the Union's new enemy? Will relationships with the Krill improve or degrade? Can Isaac reunite with the Kaylons and convince them biologicals are not a threat?
Reviewed by Romana Drew March 3, 2019
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Blood of Patriots
Season 2, Episode 10
Originally aired March 7, 2019
Written by Seth MacFarlane. Directed by Rebecca Rodriguez.
Starring Seth McFarlane, Adrianne Palicki, Penny Johnson Jerald, Scott Grimes, Peter Macon, Jessica Szohr, J. Lee, Norm MacDonald, Mark Jackson, BJ Tanner, Kai Wener, and Norm MacDonald. Also featuring Mackenzie Astin, Ted Danson, Aily Kei, and John Fleck.
Captain Mercer is asked to host a meeting with the Krill as a prelude to signing a peace treaty. Then a Krill shuttle zooms toward the ship as the Krill ship shoots at it. Mercer opens the bay doors, and the shuttle crashes. Inside, the crew finds Gordon's old friend, Orin, and his daughter.
The Krill claim Orin destroyed three of their ships and demand his return. Orin claims to have just escaped after twenty years in a Krill prison. Everyone ignores his daughter - a big mistake.
Orin is a tortured soul, bent on revenge at any cost. Mackenzie Astin gives the character depth and believability without becoming overly dramatic.
Gordon has to face the realization that his friend isn't the man he once knew. This gives Gordon, normally lightweight and wisecracking, the chance to show deeper and more complex feelings and a commitment to responsibility.
To secure a peace treaty with the Krill, Mercer contemplates giving Orin, a union officer, over to the Krill for interrogation. He faces the classic dilemma, should he choose the good of the one, or the good of the many.
There are a few questions. How did Orin's shuttle get to the Orville at just the right moment? Did he know about the meeting, and if so how? If Layna's blood explodes in the presence of nitrogen, why would she risk entering a nitrogen-rich atmosphere? The slightest injury would cause her to explode.
This is a well-crafted and solid episode, dealing with complex emotions and loyalties as well as interesting technology. In the end, there is some hope for peace with the Krill, although that is probably too easy.
Reviewed by Romana Drew March 8, 2019
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Lasting Impressions
Season 2, Episode 11
Originally aired March 21, 2019
Written by Seth MacFarlane. Directed by Kelly Cronin.
Starring Seth McFarlane, Adrianne Palicki, Penny Johnson Jerald, Scott Grimes, Peter Macon, Jessica Szohr, J. Lee, Norm MacDonald, Mark Jackson, BJ Tanner, Kai Wener, and Norm MacDonald. Also featuring Tim Russ and Leighton Meester.
Dr. Sherman (Tim Russ) opens a time capsule aboard the Orville. It contains a variety of common items including a pack of cigarettes and a cell phone. Bortus and Kayden latch onto the cigarettes, and Gordon gets the cell phone.
After Bortus replicates a cigarette, Klyden eats it. Eventually, they experiment with smoking, only to become hopelessly addicted at first puff.
Gordon extracts images and text conversations from the phone and reconstructs the life of Laura Huggins in the holodeck. Of course, he falls in love with her.
This is a simple and straightforward episode. No space battles or life-threatening situations, just a bit of character development. It is surprisingly good.
Scott Grimes and Leighton Meester play off each other beautifully. This isn't the first time a science fiction character has fallen for a holograph. But it is handled with sensitivity, and it works.
Klyden and Bortus are a little less believable. Not that they are instantly addicted, but that they flaunted their smoking instead of trying to hide it, or realize they have made a mistake and ask for help. It may have been played for laughs, but I found the Bortus and Klyden story more forced than humorous.
There are a few technical issues. How does a holograph text Gordon's phone when the program is not running? Why does he have to wait for time to pass in Laura's life? It's a simulation. Can't he just zip forward?
Bortus doesn't have any problem replicating cigarettes. Given that anyone can do that, why don't people still smoke? I personally prefer that they don't, but if cigarettes are readily available, why don't more people experiment and get addicted?
This is a good episode. Without any exciting action, it feels a little slow, but it is quite enjoyable.
Reviewed by Romana Drew March 22, 2019
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Sanctuary
Season 2, Episode 12
Originally aired April 11, 2019
Written by Joe Menosky. Directed by Jonathan Frakes.
Starring Seth McFarlane, Adrianne Palicki, Penny Johnson Jerald, Scott Grimes, Peter Macon, Jessica Szohr, J. Lee, Norm MacDonald, Mark Jackson, BJ Tanner, Kai Wener, and Norm MacDonald. Also featuring Rena Owen as Heveena and Marina Sirtis as the teacher.
Two Moclans hitch a ride on the Orville to smuggle their daughter onto another ship headed toward a sanctuary for female Moclans.
After they leave, Captain Mercer finds out. Concerned that the child might have been kidnapped, he follows the ship to a star system hidden inside a dense nebula and finds a planet with several thousand female Moclans. Unfortunately, the Moclan government also finds out.
Apparently, Moclan females aren't nearly as rare as the government would have people believe. The fate of the planet is complicated because the Union is reliant upon Moclan weapons in their war against the Krill.
This episode explores conflicts between what should be done to help refugees and what can be done given complex politics and differing societal beliefs. It is well written and directed, so it never gets preachy or bogs down in long philosophical discussions of the obvious.
In a bit of comic relief, Heveena, the leader of the female Moclans, finds inspiration in Dolly Parton's song 9 to 5, seeing it as a rebellion against male oppression.
Fortunately, the episode didn't spend much time on Bortus' relationship with Klyden, although I foresee that coming. As Bortus' mind opens and his beliefs broaden, Klyden stays reclusive and rooted in the most restrictive of Moclan traditions.
There is a strong Star Trek presence in this episode. It is directed by Jonathan Frakes and features Marina Sirtis as the school teacher. The story is also reminiscent of Star Trek, dealing with oppression and conflict on a societal level.
I am getting a bit tired of Moclans and cringed when I realized this was another Moclan story. However, it is a good episode. Well worth watching.
Reviewed by Romana Drew April 12, 2019
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Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow
Season 2, Episode 13
Originally aired April 18, 2019
Written by Janet Lin. Directed by Gary Rake.
Starring Seth McFarlane, Adrianne Palicki, Penny Johnson Jerald, Scott Grimes, Peter Macon, Jessica Szohr, J. Lee, Norm MacDonald, Mark Jackson, BJ Tanner, Kai Wener, and Norm MacDonald.
A combination of a gravitational wave and Issacs's experiment bring a younger Kelly to the ship.
Commander Kelly Grayson meets Lieutenant Kelly Grayson, her seven-year younger self. Of course, this happens on the eve of her first date with Ed Mercer. Ed sees this as a second chance with Kelly, the younger Kelly.
There is a minor secondary story involving the Krill, but the majority of the episode is about Ed and Kelly and Kelly. Adrianne Palicki does a great job of being her current self and her somewhat wilder and more innocent younger self. And Ed pursues a relationship with the younger Kelly even though everyone warns him against it.
Bortus and Klyden aren't the most graceful of dancers, but they deserve an award for being the most unusual.
The Orville finds a unique way to hide from the Kalons. But I doubt the ship has that much water on board. If did, it doesn't now, which should create either a water shortage or a need to reclaim what they used. Also, why does the ship have a method of spraying itself with water in the first place?
The special effects with the older and younger Kellys are great. Not only do they walk around as the camera moves, but at one point they touch with front view faces. Kudos to the camera and effects team.
Being a 'people' episode, there isn't much in the way of excitement, but it never gets boring. The story is fun and well executed, even if a bit predictable. All goes well, until the last line.
Reviewed by Romana Drew April 19, 2019
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The Road Not Taken
Season 2, Episode 14
Originally aired April 25, 2019
Written by David A. Goodman. Directed by Gary Rake.
Starring Seth McFarlane, Adrianne Palicki, Penny Johnson Jerald, Scott Grimes, Peter Macon, Jessica Szohr, J. Lee, Norm MacDonald, Mark Jackson, BJ Tanner, Kai Wener, and Norm MacDonald. With Halston Sage as Alara Kitanth
Oops. The mindwipe didn't work, and the universe went to hell. Great way to end the season.
Because the younger Kelly never gets together with Ed, things cascade from bad to worse. The crew is scattered, and the Kayons take over. Only the younger Kelly knows what she did and is determined to fix it.
From one planet to another, from one battle to another, this is a freewheeling adventure story. Light on deep revelations but full of glorious special effects. We get to see each of the Orville characters in gritter role, except Ed, who is just a little clueless.
For all of the action, parts of this episode have a few pacing and believability issues. Really, the bottom of the Mariana Trench? The pressure is 1000 times that of the surface of the Earth. Space ships are built to keep pressure in not out, to prevent explosion not implosion. Without spending enough time, and technical explanation as to how the ship survived, the trip to the bottom lacked the tension it could have had, but the episode is jam-packed with stuff already.
If Bortus was living on the Orville, why didn't he fly it out, or at least move it to a safer location?
Once the Kaylons send their heads flying off as killer drones, what happens to their bodies? They didn't go running after anyone, so I assume they waited for their heads to return. Someone should have stayed behind to decimate the now defenseless and immobile bodies.
It is good to see John LeMarr mature from the rather silly, impulsive personality of the first few episodes, to a competent and much more likable character. And it was great to see Alara again, even if she only lasted a few minutes.
Orville is often reminiscent of Star Trek, but this was full blown Star Wars. In spite of a few places where it is hard to suspend my disbelief, it's a good episode and a great ending for the season. Let's hope it gets renewed.
Reviewed by Romana Drew April 26, 2019
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Irillia John's friend
Isaac on the floor.
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Electric Sheep
Season 3 Episode1, 1 hour 10 minutes
Directed by Seth MacFarlane. Written by Seth MacFarlane
Originally aired June 2, 2022
Starring: Seth MacFarlane as Capt. Ed Mercer, Adrianne Palicki as Cmdr. Kelly Grayson, Penny Johnson Jerald as Dr. Claire Finn, Scott Grimes as Lt. Gordon Malloy, Peter Macon as Lt. Cmdr. Bortus, Jessica Szohr as Lt. Talla Keyali, J. Lee as Lt. Cmdr. John LaMarr, Mark Jackson as Isaac, and Anne Winters as Ensign Charly Burke.
With: Kai Wener as Ty Finn, BJ Tanner as Marcus Finn, Alexis Knapp as Irillia, Mike Henry as Dann, Jim Mahoney as Brosk, Norm MacDonald as Yaphit (voice), Amanda Joy Erickson as Amanda, and Kyra Santoro as Lieutenant Turco.
The Orville is in space dock for upgrades following the war with the Kaylons. Many crew members either distrust or hate Isaac. They all lost friends and colleagues in that conflict and blame Isaac, even though, in the end, Isaac saved them.
The episode starts out with a bang. Explosions, running, ships breaking apart, all part of Marcus Finn's dream. He both blames Isaac and is a bit frightened of him. Throughout the episode, flashbacks show other scenes from the battle.
This episode deals with a couple of difficult emotional issues, suicide, bullying, and forgiveness. Both how bullying can cause someone to end their life and how it affects those left behind.
This could have broken down into a melodrama, but it doesn't. It addresses those issues with sensitivity, never becoming maudlin or depressing.
Because Orville is streamed rather than broadcast on a schedule, it doesn't have to fit into a time slot. That has the advantage of giving the producers a chance to tell the story without time constraints. It has the disadvantage of not forcing the producers to "trim the fat," so to speak.
Parts of this episode run too long. The flashbacks and dream scenes could use a little shortening. As could some of the discussions about suicide and acceptance. They get a bit repetitive.
After a long hiatus, it is wonderful to have Orville back with the original cast and ship.
About the title, I haven't found any reference to it, but the title must be an homage to the 1968 novel by Philip K. Dick Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?.
Reviewed by Romana Drew August 21, 2022.
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Captain and Christie
The Monster
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Shadow Realms
Season 3 Episode 2
Directed by Jon Cassar. Written by Seth MacFarlane, Brannon Braga, and Andre Bormanis.
Originally aired June 9, 2022 - 1 hour 5 minutes.
Starring: Seth MacFarlane, Adrianne Palicki, Penny Johnson Jerald, Scott Grimes, Peter Macon, Jessica Szohr, J. Lee, and Mark Jackson.
With: Anne Winters as Ensign Charly Burke, Victor Garber as Admiral Halsey, Kai Wener as Ty Finn, BJ Tanner as Marcus Finn, John Fleck as Krill Ambassador, James Read as Admiral Christie, and Simon Templeman as Krill Consul,
The crew of the Orville negotiates with the Krill for passage through their territory into the Kalarr Expanse, a region of unexplored space. The Krill give them permission, then tell them that monsters live there and they will die.
Vice Admiral Paul Christie comes along for the ride. He and Claire have a rather interesting history.
Inside the Kalarr Expanse, they find a huge empty space station, obviously not of human design. Paul puts his face in front of a round, glowing thing. It reminded me of the devices that downloaded information into the brains of Jack and Daniel from Stargate SG1. It isn't quite the same, but still, getting close isn't a good idea.
Soon, monsters are running around the ship.
This episode brings back the humor that was typical of the first two seasons but was missing in the first episode.
The monsters are both great and silly. How do they scramble along the ceilings without putting holes in the ceiling? Unless their bodies are equipped with antigravity, they have to hang on somehow. Shouldn't the ceilings, and walls, be made of sterner stuff?
Also, the way they act and communicate, and their bodies, suggest that they don't have the skill or intellect to build the space station. But still . . .
As they are about to leave on their journey, the captain says, "So, let's give this everything we've got, and may the Force be with you." Listen carefully. Star Wars music is playing in the background
Reviewed by Romana Drew September 1, 2022.
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Dinal
The Monster
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Mortality Paradox
Season 3. Episode 3. 57 minutes.
Directed by Jon Cassar. Written by Seth MacFarlane, and Cherry Chevapravatdumrong
Originally aired June 16, 2022.
Starring: Seth MacFarlane, Adrianne Palicki, Penny Johnson Jerald, Scott Grimes, Peter Macon, Jessica Szohr, J. Lee, and Mark Jackson.
With: Anne Winters as Ensign Charly Burke, Victor Garber as Admiral Halsey, Elizabeth Gillies as Dinal, Gina Comparetto as Flight Attendant, Farelle Walker as Lieutenant, Eric Satterberg as Teacher
After picking up electromagnetic emissions from Narran, a lifeless barren planet, the crew decides to investigate. They find a densely populated world that turns out to be a lush forest with a high school.
This episode alternately feels like Shore Leave, The Squire of Gothos (Trelane), and Q from Star Trek. It has elements from all those stories.
Bortus, Gordon, Talla, Kelly, and Ed take a shuttle to the surface where nothing quite makes sense. Just as they, or one of them, are about to die, they get free and find themselves someplace entirely different.
Some of the places seem so normal, others are really weird. And there are a couple of good monsters just to round out the adventure.
Like most of these types of stories, the crew thinks they are "home" a few times before they really get there.
There isn't much in the way of character development in this episode. But it does address the morality of manipulating others against their will for pleasure or research.
The alien, Dinal, played by Elizabeth Gillies, has a unique costume. It looks as if it is painted or glued to her skin. And she is a nice shade of purple. I'm not sure her costume would withstand a lot of action, running, fighting, or the like. However, the character doesn't need to move much.
Most of this episode is fun and interesting. Although some scenes seem unnecessarily brutal, it makes sense in the end.
Reviewed by Romana Drew September 28, 2022.
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Anaya
Teleya
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Gently Falling Rain
Season 3, Episode 4, 1 hour 2 minutes.
Directed by Jon Cassar. Written by Seth MacFarlane, Brannon Braga, and Andre Bormanis.
Originally aired August 5, 2005
Starring: Seth MacFarlane, Adrianne Palicki, Penny Johnson Jerald, Scott Grimes, Peter Macon, Jessica Szohr, J. Lee, and Mark Jackson.
With:, Anne Winters as Ensign Charly Burke, Victor Garber as Admiral Halsey, Ted Danson as Admiral Perry, Michaela McManus as Teleya, John Fleck as Krill Ambassador, Kelly Hu as Admiral Ozawa, Bruce Boxleitner as President Alcuzan, Lisa Banes as Speria Balask, Matt Gottlieb as Supreme Chancellor Korin, Tara Buck as Krill Caretaker, J. Paul Boehmer as 0, Brian Tichnell as 0, Joe Brogie as Comm. Voice (voice), Angela Meryl as Senator Gowan (voice), Mike Falkow as Krill Dignitary, Charlie Townsend as Anaya - Krill Girl, Daniel Kaemon as Krill Soldier #1, Stephan Smith Collins as Grand High Priest, Isabella Meneses as Xelayan Annie, Daniel Kash as Krill Commander, George Caleodis as Krill Proprietor, Mark Weiler as Krill Aide, and Sam Meader as Krill Panel Operator.
While Mercer and other crew members are on Krill to sign a peace treaty, Teleya, Captain Mercer's ex-girlfriend turned Krill, gives a rousing speech against the treaty. Of course, this is election night and Teyela wins.
She promptly arrests her political rivals, as well as the Union delegation.
This episode covers several difficult sociopolitical issues.
The election may have been fair and honest, we don't know one way or the other, but the campaigns were full of lies and false videos designed to mislead voters in the most unethical ways.
Neither the winning nor the losing candidates were committed to a peaceful transfer of power. The losing candidate tried to get the election voided. The winning candidate arrested and executed her opponents.
What do you do with an unwanted child who will never be accepted by society when abortion is not an option?
Although Anaya, the child, is handled with sensitivity, there is the underlying question of what kind of life this child will have. His mother wants little to do with her. Society will never accept her. And her father flies off to other worlds. In truth, the father really didn't have any other option.
I find it hard to figure out why the writers chose the name Krill. Krill are small shrimp-like creatures eaten by baleen whales (the really big whales) and other animals. Every time I hear people called Krill, it makes me laugh. Maybe a super-giant space creature will swoop down and scoop them all up.
Some of this episode was predictable and some parts went on too long. But, in general, it is a well-crafted and thought-provoking episode.
Reviewed by Romana Drew September 30, 2022.
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Topa
The Archeological Site
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A Tale of Two Topas
Season 3 Episode 5, 1 hour 15 minutes.
Directed by Seth MacFarlane. Written by Seth MacFarlane
Originally aired June 30, 2022
Starring: Seth MacFarlane, Adrianne Palicki, Penny Johnson Jerald, Scott Grimes, Peter Macon, Jessica Szohr, J. Lee, and Mark Jackson.
With:, Anne Winters as Ensign Charly Burke, Chad L. Coleman as Klyden, Kai Wener as Ty Finn, BJ Tanner as Marcus Finn, Rena Owen as Heveena, Andy Milder as Ensign Bolobar, Andi Chapman as Admiral Howland, Jonathan Adams as Moclan Arbitrator, Antonio D. Charity as Advocate Kagus, Imani Pullum as Topa, Jim Mahoney as Brosk, Norm MacDonald as Yaphit (voice), Kyra Santoro as Lieutenant Turco, Michael J. Sielaff as Long Necked Officer, Jeffrey Muller as Lieutenant Ha'Bahl, Grifon Aldren as Moclan Tactical Officer, Jude B. Lanston as Moclan Helmsman, Sarah Jane MacKay as Nurse Hopkins, and Brian Maillard as Lieutenant Biggins.
While the crew investigates a tomb on a desert planet, Topa, Bortus' and Klyden's child is having an identity crisis.
All Moclans are male, or so the society would have you believe. Any female child is surgically altered to be male at birth and never told they were born female, as was Topa and Klyden.
Topa, now a teenager, can't understand why he doesn't feel right. After discovering his gender was altered, he asks if the procedure can be reversed. Although Bortus is somewhat understanding, Klyden is absolutely against it, as is the Moclan government.
This covers issues of gender identity and control of one's body. These issues are handled with sensitivity. Time is taken to explore how different characters react to Topa's wishes.
Imani Pullum gives a riveting performance as Topa both before and after her surgery.
As with previous Orville episodes, The Tale of Two Topas could use some editing. Some points are repeated too many times, and some speeches are too long, especially Klyden's speech to Topa near the end.
And Bortus can sing!
I'm not sure why the archeological scenes are in the episode. Nothing happens. The crew investigates a bit, archeologists take over, and the ship leaves without incident.
Reviewed by Romana Drew October 3, 2022.
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Gordon and Family
Searching for Gordon
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Twice in a Lifetime
Season 3 Episode 6, 1 hour 7 minutes.
Directed by Jon Cassar. Written by Seth MacFarlane
Originally aired July 7, 2022
Starring: Seth MacFarlane, Adrianne Palicki, Penny Johnson Jerald, Scott Grimes, Peter Macon, Jessica Szohr, J. Lee, and Mark Jackson.
With: Anne Winters as Ensign Charly Burke, Ted Danson as Admiral Perry, Andy Milder as Ensign Bolobar, Kelly Hu as Admiral Ozawa, Graham Hamilton as Kaylon, Jim Mahoney as Brosk, Norm MacDonald as Yaphit (voice), and Leighton Meester as Laura Huggins.
Gordon ends up on Earth, four hundred years in the past. Of course, he isn't supposed to do anything that might disrupt the timeline, so he hides out, waiting to be rescued. When that doesn't happen, he makes other plans.
Time travel stories seem to work until you take them apart. How could anyone expect someone to spend their entire life hiding just to ensure the future isn't changed. You would never know if the future you came from only existed because of things you did when you got sent back in time. What if you need to do something to make the future the way you remember it?
Do you really care? The people in the future will not know that you remember it differently? Maybe you can make it better.
Obviously, Gordon gets back because he is in future episodes.
Ed and Kelly seem out of character, confronting Gordon. They should have realized that Gordon would react the way he did.
I do, however, like the way they got back to their own time. Faster than light travel is not normally explained in science fiction. It just exists. Without FTL you couldn't go zipping around to other planets.
Apparently, Orville has some form of shielding that protects it from the time dilation effects of travel at the speed of light, or in this case, speeds exceeding that of light.
Reviewed by Romana Drew October 7, 2022
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The Janisi
Gordon and Ed as Second Class Citizens
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From Unknown Graves
Season 3 Episode 7 1 hour 13 minutes
Directed by Seth MacFarlane. Written by Seth MacFarlane and David A. Goodman
Originally aired July 14, 2022
Starring: Seth MacFarlane, Adrianne Palicki, Penny Johnson Jerald, Scott Grimes, Peter Macon, Jessica Szohr, J. Lee, and Mark Jackson.
With: Anne Winters as Ensign Charly Burke, Victor Garber as Admiral Halsey, Jim Mahoney as Brosk, Eliza Taylor as Doctor Villka, Sophina Brown as Captain Losha, Christopher Larkin as Timmis, Graham Hamilton as K-1, William R. Moses as Yan, Scott Speiser as Verell, Elyse Levesque as Wenda, and Norm MacDonald as Yaphit (voice).
The story of the Kaylons and other things.
This episode has several storylines: how the Kaylons were created and why they turned against biologicals, what happens when a Salyan and a human try to be intimate, and the opposite of Moclan society.
It is nice to see Mark Jackson as the human form of Isaac. Although the discussion between Claire and Kelly about how much you can ask of your partner is a bit long-winded.
The scenes between John and Talla are quite funny. I just wonder why John was so unwilling to explain to Dr. Finn. Or why Finn didn't investigate further. If John's explanations were true, his exercise program needs serious modification before he sustains an injury that can't be easily repaired.
The main story, but not the most interesting one, is about the Janisi, a society that treats men as second-class citizens and expects the Orville to do the same. This doesn't make a lot of sense. The Janisi are a spacefaring race. They must have met many other cultures. They must know that their way of organizing their society is not shared by most other cultures.
The most interesting part of the episode is about the Kaylons. It gives a lot of insight into why the Kaylons want to wipe out biological lifeforms.
Reviewed by Romana Drew October 12, 2022.
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Dolly Parton
Topa and Heveena
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Midnight Blue
Season 3. Episode 8. 1 hour 23 minutes.
Directed by Jon Cassar. Written by Seth MacFarlane, Brannon Braga, and Andre Bormanis.
Originally aired July 21, 2022
Starring: Seth MacFarlane, Adrianne Palicki, Penny Johnson Jerald, Scott Grimes, Peter Macon, Jessica Szohr, J. Lee, and Mark Jackson.
With: Anne Winters as Ensign Charly Burke, Victor Garber as Admiral Halsey, Bruce Boxleitner as President Alcuzan, Kelly Hu as Admiral Ozawa, Rena Owen as Heveena, Andi Chapman as Admiral Howland, Wren T. Brown as Captain Rechik, Imani Pullum as Topa, Lisa Banes as Speria Balask, Mike Henry as Dann, Jim Mahoney as Brosk, Mark Berry as Commander Kodon, Yvonne Senat Jones as Osaia, Noshir Dalal as Inquisitor, Norm MacDonald as Yaphit (voice), Dolly Parton as Dolly Parton, and Chad L. Coleman as Klyden.
Bortus, Kelly, and Topa meet a team of Moclans to inspect the Sanctuary, a refuge for Moclan females, to make sure that they are not smuggling female Moclan babies.
Heveena, the female Moclan who tried to prevent Topa from undergoing gender-altering surgery shortly after birth, has not lived up to her agreement with the Moclan government. And Topa is kidnapped.
The search is on for Topa. At the same time, Heveena must face the Planetary Union's government as well as the Moclan government.
This follows up on the fate of the Sanctuary as well as changing the relationship between the Union and the Moclans.
The Sanctuary for female Moclans solves the immediate problem of keeping the females alive. But it certainly isn't a good solution. Females still are not respected by Moclan society. They cannot participate as equals. Instead of being converted or killed, they are hidden away. Although the Sanctuary is a very nice place, it is still a kind of prison.
This is another episode that suffers from the lack of time constraints. It could use some judicious editing to shorten it a bit.
Because of major plot twists, this is a must-view episode. It sets up the next episode and the end of the season.
Reviewed by Romana Drew October 15, 2022.
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Talla, Isaac, Kelly, Primary, Charly
Gordon and Charly
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Domino
Season 3. Episode 9. 1 hour 18 minutes.
Directed by Jon Cassar. Written by Seth MacFarlane, Brannon Braga, and Andre Bormanis.
Originally aired July 28, 2022
Starring: Seth MacFarlane, Adrianne Palicki, Penny Johnson Jerald, Scott Grimes, Peter Macon, Jessica Szohr, J. Lee, and Mark Jackson.
With: Anne Winters as Ensign Charly Burke, Chad L. Coleman as Klyden, Victor Garber as Admiral Halsey, Ted Danson as Admiral Perry, Bruce Boxleitner as President Alcuzan, BJ Tanner as Marcus Finn, Kai Wener as Ty Finn, Michaela McManus as Teleya, Kelly Hu as Admiral Ozawa, Graham Hamilton as Kaylon Primary, and Imani Pullum as Topa.
Moclus and Krill form an alliance against both the Kaylons and the Planetary Union. The Orville has a weapon that will wipe out Kaylon ships without harming any other ships.
Given a big enough power source, all Kaylons could be killed with one push of the button, so to speak. This brings up questions about the definition of genocide. Perhaps, given the Union's superior firepower, it might be possible to make peace with the Kayons.
Of course, not everyone wants peace, and the weapon is, predictably, stolen.
This is an exciting episode with several space battles and fight scenes. Although the space battles are quite well done, they are a bit overly long. The same is true for the fight scenes.
The episode has a 'ticking time bomb' kind of ending. Charly must come to terms with her feeling about Kayons and her duty. Kaylons must reevaluate their beliefs about biological life forms. Much of the story revolves around issues of trust.
Gordon and Charly do a nice job singing Simon & Garfunkel's "Flowers Never Bend with the Rain."
Reviewed by Romana Drew October 20, 2022.
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Clair and Isaac
Dress Uniforms
Bortus
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Future Unknown
Season 3, episode 10. 1 hour 21 minutes.
Originally aired August 4, 2022.
Written and directed by Seth MacFarlane
Starring: Seth MacFarlane, Adrianne Palicki, Penny Johnson Jerald, Scott Grimes, Peter Macon, Jessica Szohr, J. Lee, Mark Jackson, and Chad L. Coleman.
With: Victor Garber as Admiral Halsey, BJ Tanner as Marcus Finn, Kai Wener as Ty Finn, Graham Hamilton as Kaylon Primary, Giorgia Whigham as Lysella, Imani Pullum as Topa, Jim Mahoney as Brosk, Norm MacDonald as Yaphit (voice) and Halston Sage as Alara Kitan.
A while back, on Sargus 4, John had what might be described as a bad experience. This is the world where anyone can like or dislike anything about anyone. Enough dislikes can be disastrous for the individual. The Orville is on a relief mission to that world when they receive a transmission from Lysella. Being fed up with her world's social system, she requests asylum.
Bortus and Klyden are back together again. But since they officially ended their relationship, they must now renew their vows, Moclan style. This doesn't have much to do with the main story arcs, but it is great fun. Ever wonder what a naked Moclan looks like?
Isaac proposes to Clair. A Kaylon human pairing just seems wrong. How can you love a robot? But it works. When Isaac learns that he is supposed to invite friends to the wedding, he invites the Kaylons - all of them.
Although this episode is also an hour and a half, it doesn't feel long at all. There is more than enough story to fill the time.
The episode is full of humor, Bortus and Klyden naked, Isaac (or rather a simulation of Isaac) doing a strip tease dance, a magically appearing sandwich, and other things. It also explores friendship and love.
Although there are no battles or great crises to solve, it is a great ending to the season and possibly the series.
The series production was seriously messed up because of the Covid 19 pandemic. As I write this, a fourth season is still up in the air.
I like many things about Orville, not the least being the set design. The sets are permeated with a beautiful blue color, making everything look clean and gentle. Many of the episodes have unexpected bits of humor scattered about. Also, there are a lot of different aliens on the ship. Some are a bit silly, but they add to the show.
I hope the show runs for several more seasons.
Reviewed by Romana Drew October 23, 2022.
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