The Orville

TheOrville

The last episode was better that anything STD has put out so far, proper Star Trek that we deserve.

TheOrville

TheOrville wrote: »

The last episode was better that anything STD has put out so far, proper Star Trek that we deserve.

Really?


Every beat of it was telegraphed. The moment they landed you knew what was going on with

the red eyes evil

Also Ty

being amazingly able to just saunter off a military ship

and of course

wander around undetected and find the conveniently placed remains of a civilisation

At least it explains the steps and builings but what would

and AI race need manual interfaces for? Or analogue units at all?

Let me guess about the concluding episode

Isaac will either glitch and realise that he has emotions (or some reason to care) and will one of the below

1. Betray/Destroy his race
2. Convince his race about the benefits of more learning
3. Show that co-existance is possible with the Doc and kids loving him and wanting to live with him

This is all storytelling from the 80/90s. Enjoyable as fawk but pushing nothing forward.


If DSC came out with an episode like this the "fans" would go into meltdown about how derivative it was and just ripping off old Trek (which failed on TV after TNG remember).




Orville has really picked up from a dreadful, Bortus centric, opening of season 2 but it is still a homage to nostalgic Trek, which would not stand a chance if it were called "Star Trek: Orville"




So to move past the constant rose tinted comparisons...


Very good episode in terms of scope, actions, and potential consequences.
In the rush to

gain a strong ally to counter the Krill, they embedded a spy right into their ranks, at high clearance

.





Budget will of course hinder a story like this but

I think that they signposted every touchpoint in the episode, with the flaws I outline above really evident. There was only need to show a few AI units being activated as analogue representatives, to comunicate with the crew. No need at all to see units interacting manually with computer walls.

Then show hundreds of soldier units being activated towards the end.

In a non serialised show they have to throw a lot of convient points at the screen to move things along.

People were asking who made the AI race, answered quickly and predictably but in line with what would be a good trope.
Same for buldings/steps/sewers and the caverns of bodies easily discovered etc

For all of this it was to move the main story along and did it well, just required a suspension of belief at a few key points.
The rant is about the constant free pass Orville gets about how it is real Trek, when DSC gets hammered for minor points.


From about to give up on the series, 3 episodes into this season, to looking forward to next week. They have really captured their mojo again

Goodshape

I skipped episodes 6 and 7 but watched 8 this weekend after the glowing reviews.

Totally agree with Cork_exile. That was a really good episode of The Orville! But my goodness, every story beat reminded me of something Star Trek did 20+ years ago, and all a bit predictable as a result. Basically a mishmash of various Borg and Data episodes of TNG. The malfunctioning android, the emotionless and/or cybernetic race, all that stuff.

And that's not even a criticism to be honest. It's a nice homage to some great Star Trek and I really enjoyed watching it. Glad it's not actually Star Trek though because, well, we've done all this already! As imperfect as Discovery may be, the last thing we need is another Brennan Braga (who co-wrote this episode of Orville) / Rick Berman gently-does-it, re-heated, Star Trek series. But it's nice to have a little bit on the side

Also nice that I was able to pick up episode 8 having not seen the couple beforehand and not feel I'd missed anything at all!

Samuel T. Cogley

It's got a lot better this season.

seamus

Agreed, this is all storylines that have been done before. But given the entire series is an homage to star trek TNG, right down to the ship design and the uniforms, they can be allowed to reuse some the same old tropes.

What saves it from just being some kind of fan fiction is the character development. They're not exactly deep or complex characters, but they are likeable, and they're not just clones of Star Trek equivalents. Bortus is arguably an analogue for Worf, but there isn't the threat of barbarianism simmering below the surface.

It seems pretty obvious how it's going to turn out in the next episode (arguably Trek has always been predictable anyway), but I'm looking forward to seeing how they tell it.

TheOrville

A parody of Star Trek turned out to be a better Star Trek than the big budget STD, the irony.
The Orville spent a season and a half getting viewers to like Isaac and then he turns, fantastic set up , something the STD writers could never pull off.

Dr: I thought we were going out tonight? I was looking forward to trying that butter cake at muscos
Isaac: The last thing you need is more dessert.
Dr: Excuse me!
Isaac: As I am incapable of stuttering I must conclude that you heard me.
A snip of writing infinity better than anything so far show by STD, thy are so SJW they are incapable of writing a good story in case they offend anyone, well anyone that is not a white male.
As for next episode, i would not be surprises it the Bortus porn virus is used to defeat the Kaylon.

TheOrville

TheOrville wrote: »

A parody of Star Trek turned out to be a better Star Trek than the big budget STD, the irony.
The Orville spent a season and a half getting viewers to like Isaac and then he turns, fantastic set up , something the STD writers could never pull off.

If you say so.

TheOrville

Deleted User wrote: »

If you say so.

Me and viewing figures.
STD is a shambles, The Orville has a real chance of taking up the baton in the next few years, STD is as good as canceled, no announcement of a season 3 this late into the season? Got renewed in season 1 after 4 episodes, not looking good.
By all accounts its a flop, CBS is mulling about putting it of FTA TV in the States, does that sound like a successful show?
Anson Mount tweeted he is out of work, so no captain Pike or no season 3

Goodshape

TheOrville wrote: »

The Orville spent a season and a half getting viewers to like Isaac and then he turns, fantastic set up , something the STD writers could never pull off.

Cool! Just like Data in umpteen episodes of TNG 30 years ago.

Or like Lorca last season?

Dr: I thought we were going out tonight? I was looking forward to trying that butter cake at muscos
Isaac: The last thing you need is more dessert.
Dr: Excuse me!
Isaac: As I am incapable of stuttering I must conclude that you heard me.
A snip of writing infinity better than anything so far show by STD

Or DSC have better things to do than remake TNG's In Theory? Not exactly anybodies favourite episode.

thy are so SJW they are incapable of writing a good story in case they offend anyone, well anyone that is not a white male.

LOL. Don't be such a snowflake.

Goodshape

Goodshape wrote: »

Cool! Just like Data in umpteen episodes of TNG 30 years ago.

Remember that time when Data was not Data, but Lore

Remember that time that Data was turned evil, by Lore

Remember that time that Data took over the ship and diverted its course, almost killing a kid in sickbay

Remember that time Data was given emotions and allowed Geordi get kidnapped (helping destroy the Enterprise)

Remember all those "funny" fish out of water remarks Data used to make

Remember when the uber logical Spock nearly killed Kirk
Remember all those "funny" jokes when Spock said something inappropriate

Remember The Doctor being replaced with an evil Doctor from the Equinox
Remember the Doctor doing "evil" thing in scenarios

Goodshape

Remember that time we all complained about Brannon Braga reusing TNG stories and plots on Voyager and Enterprise?

Guess not.

Goodshape

Remember when they outlawed enjoying two entertaining science fiction shows at the same time?

Goodshape

Goodshape wrote: »

Remember that time we all complained about Brannon Braga reusing TNG stories and plots on Voyager and Enterprise?

Guess not.

:D:D

TheValeyard

Goodshape wrote: »

Remember when they outlawed enjoying two entertaining science fiction shows at the same time?

Bizzare really isn't it. I just love Sci-Fi. I dont pick a side. Although Trek has always been had my Number one spot. But how could you not watch and enjoy Battlestar Galactica (new and reboot) Stargate and the spin offs, The Orville, Space Above and Beyond, Star Wars, Doctor Who, Altered Carbon, The Expanse, KillJoys, Dark Matter, just to name a few. It's all awesome.

Murray TheDemonic TalkingSkull

Murray TheDemonic TalkingSkull wrote: »

Bizzare really isn't it. I just love Sci-Fi. I dont pick a side. Although Trek has always been had my Number one spot. But how could you not watch and enjoy Battlestar Galactica (new and reboot) Stargate and the spin offs, The Orville, Space Above and Beyond, Star Wars, Doctor Who, Altered Carbon, The Expanse, KillJoys, Dark Matter, just to name a few. It's all awesome.

Meh to Star Wars to be honest (all iterations bar N64 games)

TheValeyard

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Meh to Star Wars to be honest (all iterations bar N64 games)

Dude.....knights of the Old Republic........classic.

Also Starring LeVar Burton

Deleted User wrote: »

Meh to Star Wars to be honest (all iterations bar N64 games)

Agreed. Always found Star Wars to be ridiculously overrated. I mean, I kind of understand why it appeals to the general population, and sure lightsabers are cool as f**k, but overall 'meh' is probably as generous as I'd go for the franchise.

Rawr

Murray TheDemonic TalkingSkull wrote: »

Dude.....knights of the Old Republic........classic.

Also Dark Forces....absolutly mind blowing back in 1995

Murray TheDemonic TalkingSkull

Murray TheDemonic TalkingSkull wrote: »

Dude.....knights of the Old Republic........classic.

I have it but too late to it

seamus

Murray TheDemonic TalkingSkull wrote: »

Bizzare really isn't it. I just love Sci-Fi. I dont pick a side. Although Trek has always been had my Number one spot. But how could you not watch and enjoy Battlestar Galactica (new and reboot) Stargate and the spin offs, The Orville, Space Above and Beyond, Star Wars, Doctor Who, Altered Carbon, The Expanse, KillJoys, Dark Matter, just to name a few. It's all awesome.

If you haven't watched Final Space on Netflix, give it a go.

It's something of a mix between Rick & Morty, Futurama and Family Guy. Never really gets into really clever in-jokes or world-building like the first two, but it's a good watch. And the character development is great.

coffee_cake

And david tennant is in it
I have one of the songs on my playlists, it's great

BrookieD

Might give Final Space ago, looking for a good sic-fi show.. enjoyed Battlestar until it went off the deep end.... looking forward to the new reboot though

pixelburp

I tried one episode of Final Space and gave up; I hated the main character, really couldn't stand his voice & the intentionally obvious "I am narrating everything I do in an comedically intense tone of voice"

Lost in Space is worth a try, especially those missing the simpler times of straightforward adventures & drama by way of (scientific) problem solving; it starts off slow, but ramps up nicely.

BrookieD

Tried Lost in Space... gave about 6/8 episodes in... might go back to it

seamus

pixelburp wrote: »

I tried one episode of Final Space and gave up; I hated the main character, really couldn't stand his voice & the intentionally obvious "I am narrating everything I do in an comedically intense tone of voice"

I can definitely see that. It's a bit cringey until you get used to it, and it also does tone down a lot as the series goes on. You're supposed to dislike him at the start, even though he's the main character. A bit of a Zapp Brannigan.
A bit like the Orville, they front-loaded a lot of cheap and deliberate comedy, and then eased it off as time went on.

Lost in Space is worth a try, especially those missing the simpler times of straightforward adventures & drama by way of (scientific) problem solving; it starts off slow, but ramps up nicely.

I can see how someone would start to lose interest by the 6th episode or so though. It becomes more of a family drama than a sci-fi show, but the sci-fi comes back, it is worth seeing out to the end.

degrassinoel

BrookieD wrote: »

Might give Final Space ago, looking for a good sic-fi show.. enjoyed Battlestar until it went off the deep end.... looking forward to the new reboot though

they're rebooting it again?

AMKC

degrassinoel wrote: »

they're rebooting it again?

Would be great if Space Above and Beyond got rebooted. So disappointed when it ended but what a way to end.
I would love to see Babylon 5 get digitally remastered just like Star Trek TOS got but it will probably never happen. I don't want to see it ever rebooted.

That was... good.

The budget was stretched too far by this episode, I think. A lot of the CG was poorly rendered and led to the quick moving/editing of the battle scenes. Honestly that I can ignore, it's a smaller show than Trek so no way can we expect that level of budget.


I really did enjoy it but, yeah, every beat was telegraphed even in last week's episode. As much as they are a love letter to TNG they need to start moving their story telling out of the 1990's.
Never thought thtat I would say this but McFarlane has pulled a great roster of characters together and developed them very well (Standard characteristics or no) and they actually deserve better than being a copy of old TV formula.

They need to ditch Braga.

Bobtheman

I could take or leave the Orville. It's just a rip off of the next generation. It's hard to care for any character. Sci fi has moved on . The Orville is averagely written retro

Btw Discovery has been renewed for a third season and while it has its flaws is streets ahead of this by the book stuff .

coffee_cake

i just finished watching part 1 of identity
ahhh

it's very cybermen isnt it
wheres the doctor when you need em :pac: