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NON-SPOILER REVIEW
The Orville is Seth Macfarlane's answer to Star Trek, paying homage to its many shows in the form of one of his own. Starting as a comedy but gradually moving closer to the show it is inspired from, it follows Captain Ed Mercer, an officer of the Planetary Union who is finally given command of his own ship. There is just one problem - the first officer appointed to him is his ex-wife, Commander Kelly Grayson. Together he and the crew of humans and aliens from across the Union embark on missions of exploration, espionage and personal and ethical dilemmas as the Orville begins its journey across the stars.
If that sounds familiar, that is because it is, in essence, Star Trek. Specifically, the Next Generation, but sprinkled with adult humour and exploring social themes of the modern world. Seth Macfarlane is most known for creating cartoon comedy series like Family Guy and American Dad, but he is also a long-time Star Trek fan, and this feels like a passion project on his part, with a whole new set of alien species and ship designs, it takes the fundamental core of Star Trek and playfully runs with it. I admit, it started off a little rocky, struggling to find the balance between comedy and the classic Star Trek formula, but once it found its feet, you can understand the care and attention put into it.
I also commend the way that serious moments are given their due. With the initial premise being a comedy, it would be easy to see everything made a mockery of, but if someone dies or is left in turmoil, the show respects them enough to give them their dues. The comedy comes mainly in the cultural differences between the different alien crewmembers, with Bortus' deadpan delivery particularly effective.
Many veteran Star Trek actors, along with a few actors you really wouldn't expect, have cameo roles in the show, making for a stellar cast that never sells it short. That, and the high production value that allows for ambitious creatures, beautiful landscape shots and epic space battles, particularly in the final season, make the show colourful, fun and very well made.
What I will say is that season two and three begin playing around with longer story arcs rather than serialised bottle episodes, but with a much smaller episode count than the typical Star Trek series, the number of planets, species and factions is limited, reducing the scale of this type of story - what you do get is good quality, but it seems to have one hand tied behind its back when it comes to worldbuilding, leaving the vast galaxy somewhat lacking in scope.
Additionally, season three had ten hour and a half episodes, and while this format sometimes works, it can pad out what otherwise would be a solid forty five minute story
There probably isn't too much or I could say without giving away details, so I'll leave it at this. The show is fun. It's a vibrant, fun, it's goofy, and it is a love letter to Star Trek of the past with a healthy dose of humour, and if that interests you, I guarantee you'll have some fun with the Orville. I give the show a 7.5 out of 10
7.5 OUT OF 10
SPOILER SECTION
Season one begins with a rather unstable relationship with the humour it aims to use - Bortus and Isaac have many great deadpan moments, like Bortus laying an egg and his apparent passion for singing, and Isaac's misunderstanding of practical jokes, but Captain Ed Mercer and Commander Kelly Grayson's relationship has a kind of soap-opera style relationship that doesn't quite work - the best part of their dynamic is the mutual respect of command, not the on-off romance.
The Kaylon, Isaac's machine race, become the primary antagonists of the show halfway into the second season, and make for a serious threat that nicely hangs over the series going forward, while the Krill, the typical warmongering warrior race, become more sympathetic, and the relations with the Moclans remain rocky due to their practices regarding the females of their species. However, these three are the main recurring species, leaving not much room for others. You can understand - this is a single show paying homage to Star Trek, where Star Trek has had half a dozen different series to explore dozens of factions. Even so, one or two more wouldn't have gone amiss.
The Moclans, Bortus' species, unfortunately have little redeeming qualities - a supposed all male race, but in truth having a unfavourable stance against females, who they perform a "corrective surgery" on at birth. Naturally, this recurring plot point brings up several modern day analogies, with Bortus' child becoming a source of controversy and outrage to the Union and Moclans, and the relations between them. There are many standout moments in these episodes, but I feel that the Moclans have no viable argument, which makes the dilemmas the crew has to face exclusively personal rather than moral (although the concept of working with a group practising terrible in order to fulfil a higher purpose is brought up, which is well done).
A question that is never raised is - if the males reproduce with each other, where do the females fit biologically? Are they genetic anomalies, and if so, can they reproduce at all? If this was raised and the answer was that ultimately they are sterile, the Moclans would have a more sympathetic argument, and make the situation far more complex.
Another plotline involves Dr Claire Finn and her developing relationship with Isaac. Now this is a little weird, considering he is, excluding the use of holographic technology, is an emotionless machine without facial features. Star Trek always had interspaces relations, often as allegories for racial relationships when the series started in the 1960s, but the Orville, being a comedy, brings these to the extreme, as Finn is romantically pursued by a gelatinous crewmember, and develops a romance with an unfeeling robot, and I have to say, it does become more than uncomfortable in places.
However, the main cast are always likeable and bring in a good performance, with Seth Macfarlane easily switching between the comedy he is famous for and the stern command of a leader - he knows what made good Star Trek, and emulates it here.
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