OFFICIAL: The Orville TV Show Thread (1 Viewer)

[Buckna]

I've seen every episode. It's just so... weird... 

It doesn't feel right for some reason. It's just off somehow. I can't really explain it. The tone isn't really right? The sets are too cavernous and big. The themes are too simple for an hour-long show... there's a lot of "air" in it... Dunno. I watch, sure, but I don't quite get it yet.

This was my take as well. TNG was very progressive but they were very good at making sure the episode was a good story first and social commentary second (not all episodes but many.) TOS was more overt but it was the 60's and television wasn't nearly as sophisticated as it is now.

Orville gets it right in some episodes but in others it totally bangs us over the head with the social commentary with all the subtlety of a bulldozer. Obviously TNG was very clunky its first seasons too, so maybe the show will get better at their formula and delivery as they go.

 

[James Daulton]

I agree the SJW stuff is sometimes ham handed and not subtle, but when they focus on the hot chicks and space battles it's pretty cool. 

 

[Insein]

I agree the SJW stuff is sometimes ham handed and not subtle, but when they focus on the hot chicks and space battles it's pretty cool. 

I thought the first Moclyn episode in season one was handled well. They had the knee jerk "you're wrong" reaction but then Mercer questioned if he was making the right call based on his own society and not considering their society. They presented the points for each side in civil discourse and then ultimately, the moclyns decided to go with the sex change not in conforming with society but rather in protecting their child. A female would be an outcast and no parent wants that for their kids. 

It was presented in a respectful way to all sides of the argument and didn't really beat you over the head with who's clearly right and who's clearly wrong. It was posed in a way to just make you think about it an form an opinion while telling a good story.

 

[DallasDMac]

It was presented in a respectful way to all sides of the argument and didn't really beat you over the head with who's clearly right and who's clearly wrong. It was posed in a way to just make you think about it an form an opinion while telling a good story.

I fully admit, I don't watch a sci-fi space show for social issues. I honestly could not care less. I want ships fighting ships, dealing with alien races, etc. If it's an issue we deal with here every single day, I simply don't give a rats-###.

 

[Insein]

I fully admit, I don't watch a sci-fi space show for social issues. I honestly could not care less. I want ships fighting ships, dealing with alien races, etc. If it's an issue we deal with here every single day, I simply don't give a rats-###.

I understand that but you have to remember that sci Fi at it's core is social commentary or different views of humanity with a futuristic or technologic lense. Sci Fi action has been more prevalent the last 20 years or so but McFarlane is trying to capture that old sci Fi magic that TNG had.

 

[whoknew]

Back to important things - Jessica Szohr is hot too.

 

[DallasDMac]

I understand that but you have to remember that sci Fi at it's core is social commentary or different views of humanity with a futuristic or technologic lense.

Covering issues that are quite common today doesn't seem like much of a futuristic lense to me. Seems sort of lazy. I may be misunderstanding your point though.

 

[The Big Guy]

Covering issues that are quite common today doesn't seem like much of a futuristic lense to me. Seems sort of lazy. I may be misunderstanding your point though.

This has been something that has been built into Star Trek from the beginning and Seth McFarland is just continuing the tradition of showcasing current social issues within the story telling.  

 

[DallasDMac]

Moving to Hulu. Oh well, it was a good(?) run.

 

[JoeSteeler]

Moving to Hulu. Oh well, it was a good(?) run.

Shows move networks these days and still go on

 

[DallasDMac]

Shows move networks these days and still go on

Right. But I don't have Hulu so I won't get to see it. Kinda bummed. When I said "It was a god run," I meant for me, not the show.

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

Right. But I don't have Hulu so I won't get to see it. Kinda bummed. When I said "It was a god run," I meant for me, not the show.

Yep.  We really like the show, but I'm not getting Hulu just for that.

 

[The Big Guy]

I wonder if it will Netflix drop the entire season in one blast or will it dribble it out a week at a time like network tv?

Either way is preferable to the way fox treated this show in the past. The stretches between episodes was bizarre and destined this show for failure.

 

[Insein]

I get Hulu free with Sprint wireless so I'm good. I like the move for the future of the show. Gives it more flexibility to get a season done coherently instead of rushing episodes to meet network deadlines.

 

[Buckna]

Not exactly surprising given it’s been delayed for like 3 years now, but The Orville is essentially cancelled. Apparently all the cast were released from their contracts way back in August 2021. Given how terrible NuTrek has been would have liked to see the show make a comeback even if I found the show clunky at its messaging.

Deadline Story about the Cast being released

Edit: Season 3 comes out on June 2nd on Hulu

 

[Runkle]

Show never found its tone. Was it spoof comedy? Was it general straight comedy? Was it scifi drama? Nope. Only seemed to be a way for Seth to give jobs to whatever girl he was dating at the time then kill off when they broke up. 

 

[Dennis Castro]

Well dang, that’s my favorite (currently airing) show. It’s so much more optimistic than the serial crap Trek has been putting out lately. 

 

[Dennis Castro]

Bump for Season Three

 

[stbugs]

Show never found its tone. Was it spoof comedy? Was it general straight comedy? Was it scifi drama? Nope. Only seemed to be a way for Seth to give jobs to whatever girl he was dating at the time then kill off when they broke up. 

It had some clunkers where the “teach us a valuable lesson” was overbearing shows came up but I liked it and thought the story line at the end of season 2 was well done.

That said, the new episode had promise. A little over the top on the message and honestly, the doctor, her family and Isaac are one of the weakest parts of the shows. That didn’t have a payoff before until the Kaylon world episode and even then every part with the family was again the worst part. They need way less of the doctor. 

 

[Runkle]

It had some clunkers where the “teach us a valuable lesson” was overbearing shows came up but I liked it and thought the story line at the end of season 2 was well done.

That said, the new episode had promise. A little over the top on the message and honestly, the doctor, her family and Isaac are one of the weakest parts of the shows. That didn’t have a payoff before until the Kaylon world episode and even then every part with the family was again the worst part. They need way less of the doctor. 

Agreed. I'm not tuning in every week for Penny Johnson Jerald to be the main character. 

 

[Runkle]

Show never found its tone. Was it spoof comedy? Was it general straight comedy? Was it scifi drama? Nope. Only seemed to be a way for Seth to give jobs to whatever girl he was dating at the time then kill off when they broke up. 

OK, how weird was the tone of the last episode? 

First... this single episode did three things you rarely see on TV. One, a character drank a tumbler of straight bourbon, and immediately cut to them driving a vehicle. Now, pretty much every network's guidelines from Broadcast Standards and Practices insists that if a character drinks and drives, they must also face consequences in the episode. Not having that happen really stood out, and I couldn't help but notice. But what stood out more were #2 and #3: they killed a six year old kid and a pregnant lady. (How often do you see that in a comedy?)

And the father just blew it off, even said they did the right thing   Which, sure, OK in the world of the show or whatever, fine, but, really? They just have a drink, shrug it off, have a joke, a laugh, and the episode ends.

What is this show?

 

[brun]

OK, how weird was the tone of the last episode? 

First... this single episode did three things you rarely see on TV. One, a character drank a tumbler of straight bourbon, and immediately cut to them driving a vehicle.

Had a similar thought but,  I assumed she actually drank both. More surprised at the motorcycle riding skill.

Now, pretty much every network's guidelines from Broadcast Standards and Practices insists that if a character drinks and drives, they must also face consequences in the episode. Not having that happen really stood out, and I couldn't help but notice. But what stood out more were #2 and #3: they killed a six year old kid and a pregnant lady. (How often do you see that in a comedy?)

Not a problem for me. They weren't killed. The 6 year old was just never born and the pregnancy was prevented. Dad never experienced it so he didn't have any emotional attachment. 

And the father just blew it off, even said they did the right thing   Which, sure, OK in the world of the show or whatever, fine, but, really? They just have a drink, shrug it off, have a joke, a laugh, and the episode ends.

What is this show?

See my bolded above.

 

[stbugs]

See my bolded above.

I agree with you on both and the motorcycle driving didn’t bother me because it wasn’t full to the rim and IIRC, it was one. Gordon was rescued when he had never seen his iPhone girl or son. Easy to understand him agreeing with temporal law and the decision since he was still the early hiding phase Gordon and not the 3 years later no more hiding phase Gordon.

 

[Runkle]

Not a problem for me. They weren't killed. The 6 year old was just never born and the pregnancy was prevented. Dad never experienced it so he didn't have any emotional attachment. 

I'm just saying, a show that seemingly couldn't decide if it was comedy, drama, or parody in the past is now seemingly taking a firm stance... 

And the point about the kid never being born... this week's episode provides moral justification for coldly killing existing children in their sleep. So they're only doubling down after erasing a pregnant woman and child from the timeline last week.