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Great review. It's a far better drama than a comedy. The comedy seems out of place and really shoe horned in. It reminds me how other Fox shows either start as a drama and become a comedy or start as a comedy and become a drama over their runs. As someone that watches Orville and Discovery, I'd much rather watch Orville for Star Trek.
@BLAIR M Schirmer I like it, but I understand why you don't like it, just like how I get why some people don't like Discovery. Personally I prefer Discovery. I wanted something different, and like I've stated in other TH-cam channels before, If I wanted TNG then I'd just watch TNG instead of a TNG clone. Like I've also stated before, I really don't know how Fox isn't getting sued by CBS for basically stealing there IP.
I think the "petty bickering" between Mercer and Kelly is an amazing and well-executed juxtaposition with the always-gets-the-girl-no-questions-asked persona of Kirk.
Jeez, I can't wait to see what you think about Season 2. Seth kicked it up a notch in his writing, acting, and production quality. The arc from Season 1 to the recent episodes about Isaac and the Kalons really paid off. I'm 100% into this show now.
@@RowanJColeman one of the best star ship battles out their came from a comedy show. i know he can do fight scenes do to family guy but thous are purposely over the top, this was star war level. that episode is going in the books
I thought season 1 was very good. I watched it by binging and completed the last show on New Year's Eve. The second season started not too long after that and I was hyped to watch it. The humor was good at times. Some of it was toilet humor and I tend to not like that on any show.
@@RowanJColeman That episode was the episode that The Orville IMO showed that it was becoming more than just a suitable stand-in for the kind of Star Trek many of us miss, but an actual worthy successor.
I thought he was just Brian from Family Guy in the first 10 minutes, but honestly he grows into it so well. It's a sorely underrated show, as a life long Star Trek fan.
I LIKED The Orville through Season 1, but was well aware of the issues it had while being optimistic that it would find it's footing in future seasons, much like most sci-fi. I FREAKING LOVE Season 2.
Fair Review. I love The Orville, and I also had issues with some jokes they made in the first season. But these jokes accomplish one very important thing: The Orvile doesn't get sued for obviously copying Star Trek. Making a parody is, as far as I know, is legal.
A work does not need to be comedic to be considered a parody for legal purposes or even to meet the dictionary definition of "parody". Besides, I can't see anything in _The Orville_ that would let anyone make the case that it's infringing on ViacomCBS's rights.
I disagree, basically season 2 is almost solely dedicated to character development. It's barely even sci-fi. At least they finally got somewhere with the 2 part episode about the war with Kaylon near the end of the season.
@@why-even-try-brotendo Hmm... More than half of all Star Trek episodes were nothing but character development. And it's one of the most classic sci-fi shows of all time. I think it comes down to the definition of "science fiction". It's different for all of us. Many people see great sci-fi in the stories told, while others see it in the action presented.
bgm 1961 I wasn't talking about Star Trek or making any comparisons to it. Just about every episode in the first half+ of season 2 could have been done present day without a single sci-fi element and still had the exact same message/outcome. That isn't sci-fi, it's an afterschool special in a sci-fi setting.
I wasn't a big fan of some of the "comedy" in season 1, but I stuck with it . Season 2 is better, Bortus is probably my favourite character, his size and voice remind me of Worf (my favourite ST:TNG character). Some of the episodes are hit or miss, but that's the same with a lot of the Star Trek shows :D
There really isn't THAT much comedy in the first season... and I thought a lot of it was exactly the kind of comedy that WE would do rather than homogenized Star Trek characters (and there's nothing wrong with those characters, btw). Things like the slight potty humor, the sex talk, the screwing around in the holodeck... those are all realistic things that we would joke about. Plus, the opening scene with Bortus and his mate (sorry... forgot his name), where he ate ice cream and watched The Sound of Music was brilliant. That look Bortus gives him... LMFAO.
Watching all these first season clips makes me realize just how much The Orville has improved, both in look and storytelling choices. It happened very subtly, but this show is growing before our very eyes and continues to be a surprisingly, comfortably familiar delight.
I think Seth's performance is bolstered by his inexperience. The rest of the crew/cast lifts him up, both in real life and in the show, which is amazing in an ensemble show.
Disagree hardcore. They wouldn’t have let MacFarlane be the lead unless the studio execs believed in his acting. You clearly have let seen his pedigree, the dude can act. Maybe you’re just a hater?
Mr Coleman, you raise an interesting series of points. Yes. We have 30 seasons of Trek, the non-Kelvin Timeline movies, and Galaxy Quest. However, ALL of these things have already happened. We've seen them already. Nothing new to see. "The Cage" was the only "unaired" TOS episode, and we can have it on VHS, DVD, and Blue Ray. TOS has been re-mastered with new special effects. But again, that's all been done. The Orville brings us something this is now, in 2019, new and original. They went from heavy comedy in Season 1 to solid Sci-Fi now in Season 2. Some episodes are significantly better than others, sure, but I've watched and re-watched all of them. The Orville's characters are flawed, but are always trying to do better. Just like the real people watching them on TV. I can identify with the show, and the topics they cover are "right now" in the world. It's fun! I disagree with you on Seth McFarland's acting abilities. He's good, and I like his character. Star Trek is a unique entertainment phenomenon. Lately, we've had three pretty lousy movies and a lousy new series. And let's not even talk about what's left of Star Wars! The Orville arrived (via Quantum Drive) just-in-time for ailing Sci-Fi fans.
For me, there's a difference between "Comedy Science Fiction" and "Science Fiction with Comedy." Basically the first one keeps stopping the story for gags. The latter...well, the best example would probably be Stargate: SG1, which was *not* a comedy, however most of the characters had really good senses of humor. Their jokes, asides, and gallows humor was completely in character, and was frequently just their way of dealing with the stress of life or death situations. The spinoffs were less funny for the same reason: The characters simply didn't have as good senses of humor, or just didn't have as good coping mechanisms. So for me the difference is the comedy being imposed from outside (As per The Orville) and arising from the characters (As in SG1)
SG-1 is almost a comedy in a lot of ways. And I think that's what saved an otherwise deeply flawed show. I don't think I would even want to watch SG-1 without Teal'c.
EebstertheGreat that might be overstating in a bit. I wouldn't call it a comedy, I would Collett an adventure show where our one or two of the characters had sort of inappropriately aggressive senses of humor. But Stargate Atlantis was less funny, and Stargate universe wasn't a damn bit funny, and of course that last one was so unpopular that I got canceled very quickly, so perhaps you're right
Oh my goodness, that is such a wonderful catchphrase "My eyes are not looking down there, my eyes are looking UP THERE!" Reminds me of one I like to use (and welcome anyone to use as well) "The more we look toward the stars and dream, the less important our conflicts on Earth will seem"
While I despise STD with a vengeance (and I know you like it lots), I very much preciate your reconciling comments on sci-fi shows at the end of the video. We shouldn't go after what we hate, but embrace that which resonates with us. I think your remarks on Orville are fair and legit. Personally, I agree with a lot of your takes, and I hope it'll be around for more seasons.
I also despise _Discovery._ I couldn't finish the first episode. Or, maybe I did, and I blocked it out of my mind. I can't remember. I don't want to remember.
I dont always want a fully developed actor in every role. Its amazing to see the character develop along with the individual playing the part. They become thier best right before our eyes
I got a bit of a different view on the whole comedy part of this review. In all honesty, it doesn't feel like forced jokes as much as it feels like 'taking freedoms'. Especially with things like the 'Glory Hole' mention. It's something all the shows from the Golden Age were much too clean for. The show takes some liberties no others would've dared, because it's being seen as a cheap comedy spoof by critics anyway. Sometimes it works, sometimes it ends up being potty humor at its worst, but I like what it adds to the show and the atmosphere.
I think the main problem with the first season was that Seth MacFarlane's, as he stated in an interview, felt obligated to put at least one joke in every page of the script whether it was appropriate or not. I suspect that this was because it was pitched to Fox as a parody. In the second season he doesn't appear to feel this obligation.
Just to Nitpick here, but Adrianne Palicki already had a major role in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. as Bobbi Morse. She was a main character in the sears for 31 episodes, and was added at the same time longtime none other then Edward James Olmos. There had even been talks of her getting her own show, though sadly this was canceled. I bring this up as even Palicki herself wants to return as Mockingbird/Bobbi. With Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D going onto season 6 & 7, the possibly exist for her to come back as an agent may become a reality.
There were so many things that stuck out as being weirdly pointless. One being the pot brownie scene in the shuttle. Considering they went through the trouble to write and film that bit, and they seemed to emphasize the scene beyond just someone getting a snack I figured it must be a setup for something later in the episode. But no, it was just apparently meant to clearly convey that in this future people eat pot brownies...... It could have been a part of the characters development while confined, it could have been used in their escape! Get the guards high and make a break for it or something. But all it turned out to be was an awkwardly extended scene of someone grabbing a snack....
I think you're placing the emphasis on the pot brownie. Anyone who has seen a marijuana before understood it was just a nod toward a future where it's treated no different than grabbing a shot or a cig.
So glad you mentioned the music, it is phenomenal! I've described The Orville as a love letter to Star Trek, but for the music that is doubly so. I enjoyed season 1 of The Orville more than season 1 of Discovery, but I'm really enjoying both of their second seasons. I really enjoyed this video. Subbed!
First gut reaction: No? I mean, it had a lot of 'finding it's feet' issues tonally speaking, I'll grant ya. But sucks? Compared to freaking season one of Discovery? Ha! That being said, Season 2 has been a marked improvement writing wise across the board.
People seem to forget how god awful season one of TNG was. And DS9 also has a rocky first two seasons. The Orville is still defining itself and doing it faster than either of those Trek shows did.
I agree with the take on season one, a spot on review. But I also agree with the positive comments on season 2, I think it's much more mature writing. As a side note, I tried Star Trek: Discovery but couldn't get past Sonequa Martin-Green. Her character on TWD was boring and so is she on ST:D.
I agree with your assessment of The Orville. I did enjoy it, but this was largely in spite of the "comedy", not because of it. It would be interesting to know if the comedy was Macfarlane's idea or the studio's, because most of it doesn't fit with the show or stories. Firefly did the comedic aspects much better, as did B5 (which is still my favourite show... gotta watch The Expanse though).
The comedy exists because the show needed to pass itself off as a parody of Star Trek in order to get made. Once it managed to develop its characters and introduced new stories so that it could legitimately call itself something new, it could drop the "parody" pretence (including the weak jokes).
@@simonoleary9264 Agreed. Its a classic. If you're looking for something similar (though obviously not as good) I'd recommend the show _Hyperdrive._ Its what _The Orville_ would be if it committed to being a comedy, and was British.
@@simonoleary9264 I need to try Red Dwarf again, because when it was originally on, I didn't think it was funny or entertaining at all. I mean, it wasn't unfunny... it was just... it seemed like a collection of skits.
Seth is perfect in almost every way for this show. His presentation/acting/what have you is spot on perfect. The guy is brilliant. I suspect he has a target audience of around 40 though. I've seen folks in their 50's/60's and 20's/30's dislike his stuff. He makes a lot of references to the 80's that I don't think many people appreciate.
I think it's a great show with loads more potential to explore that suffered from "season 1 syndrome." It's really common for shows to spend their first season being sloppy and figuring out what they want to be.
Alara was my favorite character as well. Sad to see her leave. The comedy in S1 was jarring. I remember thinking "why are they talking about Monopoly pieces right now" in one episode. It was bizarre.
I liked the humor more than you but I do agree that sometimes it was too forced and out of place. And while many love that social media voting episode, I also thought Lemar being SO bad really undercut it. They've admitted they used the comedy as a crutch at first. And yeah it's probably how it got greenlit in the first place. But you know they wanted to be more serious and there's a better mix now, as you know. Really hope it gets a season 3. I want more! Oh, McFarlane's not the best actor. But it works and I still like Ed. --------------- On that ending, I've never actually seen the X-Files. I did watch Fringe but I lost interest in season 4 when they made changes to the main universe itself and the characters. The 2 worlds thing was cool. Re-writing time and characters, of the worse imo, was not, and I just tuned out. Half of them weren't the characters I'd been watching anymore.
Are you going to do an episode on Defiance? I watched a bit of the first season, but got very busy and never got to come back around to it. I'm new to your channel and didn't see it on your video list, soooOoOo.... you should consider doing something about that! :)
The Orville is better than any other current sci fi by a long way at the moment. Season 2 is awesome. If it wasn't for the Orville we'd be stuck with STD which is an abomination in every way and has betrayed the Star Trek fans.
I think I'm going to try and bunker down until the fandom hostility that seems to be perpetuating the sci-fi realm as a whole dies down enough to come back and do things I want again. Clearly a lot of people had the right ideas when trying to bring about a new age of sci-fi, but with so many on the nostalgic crusade I'm not so sure they chose the ideal time to start bringing them all forward. And hey, in the meantime there's always something to be learned when an object of interest is good, but doesn't quite reach the mark. It's so much easier to focus down and improve upon flaws when they're not overwhelming, and you're already inclined to look at things constructively and positively after all.
Those are the two reasons I haven't started watching this show: 1. The comedy: I'm not really interested in blatant comedy is a series like this. 2. Seth MacFarlane: I understand that he wants to be part of the show, but I imagine it would be better if his character wasn't a major character in the show.
#2 was my main take away from watching the first season. If the captain was played by someone other than Seth the show would immediately improve. Even if the terrible, "should I get back together with my ex-wife, who also works with me?", story-line was left in.
For me, the Orville usually hits the sweet spot with it's balance of sci-fi and humor, but then my all time favorite TOS episode is "The Trouble with Tribbles".
I’m glad I gave “Orville” another chance after tuning out of season one. “Once More With Feeling” was the first episode I saw in season 2 and it was a surreal recreation of TNG with a few mostly successful twists. Since then few episodes have let me down. Agreed that MacFarlane is not compelling but his non-performance kinda fits, like a nerdy dad who drug his family to Universal Studios to recreate Star Trek scenes. It’s obvious this show wouldn’t be on the air without him so I can tolerate him.
I am 100% convinced the Krill shuttle/battleship thing is intentional. They did change the details on the shuttle, down to the windscreen, lighting, and engines, but the silhouette is exactly the same. I am convinced that someone, somewhere in the production team, wanted to do their own spin on infinitely scaled Birds of Prey.
I would say season one of the Orville was more comedy and season two is more dramady. Which I personally like the latter much better, a serious story with some comedy sprinkled in. It reminds me of MASH how for the first few seasons it was almost straight up comedy and then turned more serious with a little comedy.
@@jovetj Seth MacFarlane is not a good writer, so that would make sense. ALL of his previous work is based around flimsy stories injected with random gags and callbacks to other things to play off of nostalgia
After watching every REAL Star Trek episode, this is a great addition. I watch it and pretend that Star Trek Discovery doesn't exist and this is the latest show in the franchise. Star Trek: Orville
Also great video. Personally I disagree about the humor and seth mcfarlane but I agree with everything else. And you are right there is space for all the scifi show in my heart 2. Keep up the great work.
Pretty sure this is the third age, with the first age being TOS and original Lost in Space, the second being TNG, Farscape, etc. in the 80s and 90s, this has to be the third.
There really wasn't THAT much comedy if you go back and watch it again. And, personally, though I'm enjoying the second season a lot, only Identity came close to a few of the best episodes from the first season. Plus, it still bugs me that such an advanced race didn't have some kind of intruder detection where the skulls were. I guess the idea is that they had no reason for security since no aliens were allowed on the planet in most situations.
You hit all my thoughts concerning 'The Orville'. Oh, and the music IS the highlight and it DOES rip off many star trek themes. When it does I find myself enjoying those moments the most. Spot on Rowen, you don't have to hate one thing to enjoy another. My eyes are to the stars as well.
I think the jokes were a way to get the larger fan base to buy in, the opening 90 seconds of the pilot where Ed catches Kelly cheating with Darullio made me laugh harder than any moment in family guy from the last 5 years. I think you're spot on that they're finding their rhythm a bit more in the second season, and the toning down of the humor is helping. I'm a devoted fan of the show and can't wait to see where the rest of this new seasons goes.
Since you put so much effort into the jokes part. That part is only in the episodes because they have to to not get sued by CBS. As I understand it listening to others the show was initially pitched to CBS as a real star trek show but CBS didn't like it and went with STD instead. So to be able to get the show running anyway it was changed to a parody show and all trek references was changed to what it is in the show and they were good to go. This is why the joked feel so out of place... because they are. :) I prefer to think of it as "Oh right, and now the interlude they had to put in to not get sued.." before the story continues again. Makes it a lot more tolerable when you realized you wouldn't have gotten the show at all without it. Besides, every now and then the jokes are actually funny... like the Isac practical joke episode. :)
I don't agree with everything(actually very little I don't agree with), You have done a great job with this video and I really understand your point of view.
Note on Galaxy Quest: Guy, ironically, is the only one we never see die in the movie. While he is on the bridge when things go down, and we do see the rest of the crew get taken out, Guy never dies in the sequence, which is a second subtle pay off to the joke about him being Crewman #6.
I haven’t seen anything else that Seth McFarland has done but I adore The Orville. I love the cast and the way 20th century references music creep in. Thinking of the Moclan women and the use of 9 to 5. The generation ship reminded me more of the TOS episode, “For the World is Hollow and I Have Touched the Sky.”
Tiny bit peeved you had that clip from season 2 episode Identity part 2 as I've got it sitting on my sky box for the weekend. Still, this was one of the best summarisations of the series I've seen so far ( no biast baggage to hamper it ), and the "Seth MacFarlane star trek fan fiction" quote is just too good not to steal 😁
Honestly, I thought the "shoddy looking green screen" was intentional. I really love Seth McFarlane's obvious passion for wanting to make his own Star Trek, it took me a few episodes to get into the characters, I won't lie about that and season 1 was a bit rough, but I think The Orville is honestly the best Star Trek we've got in so long. I do however hugely agree with you on Seth playing a captain, something as a Star Trek fan we've learned as someone that essentially demands respect, he's funny and charismatic, but I think he'd have been better playing an officer on the bridge with an older actor playing a captain and his comedic writing bouncing off them. I do love the show though.
I totally agree with your view of the misplaced "comedy" & bad one-liners in Seasons 1. Granted, random comments like "entering glory hole" or Gordon's "hugging the donkey" definitely felt awkward... but I think they seemed even *more* out of place because initially I was sooo shocked & pleased at just how much The Orville looked & felt like TNG. So the already bad "comedy" elements almost felt doubly worse/jarring when they randomly appeared in this show that had me feeling as if I were watching lost episodes of TNG. Though, I was actually hopeful in the Pilot episode, because there was *one* bit that I really liked. When Gordon was in the Environmental Simulator fighting the holographic ogre... it was funny because it showed us a scene that felt familiar & was similar to numerous TNG/DS9 holodeck scenes that we've seen in the past... but then they subvert our expectations when they're interrupted and we see/hear this big mean holographic ogre, named Justin, just stop and have a normal conversation as if they were standing around the water-cooler at work. I really liked that kind of self-referential Trek humor, but, unfortunately, it was just that one instance... and the "comedy" was all downhill after that. Season 2, however, has really managed to turn that around. It's still a little awkward at times, but not nearly as jarring as Season 1. Part of me almost wonders whether this was a deliberate choice in Season 1. I wonder if they made the conscious decision to make the jokes in S01 *extra* bad... in order to unequivocally show that The Orville was a parody and/or "spoof"... and thereby avoid any potential legal retribution from CBS and/or Paramount. Then, after a whole season passed w/ no copyright claims or legal ramifications... they decided to tone it down and focus on telling great Trek-ish stories w/o having to inject bad/awkward one-liners to distinguish itself as a parody/spoof. So while S01 Orville felt like TNG's inbred cousin... S02 feels like it could be TNG's long lost twin. But CBS/Paramount can't really claim "infringement" now.... after already allowing a whole year/season to go by without saying anything. Then again, it's probably not that complicated. I think they probably just "found their footing" after S01... and realized that there was a *huge* Trek fanbase that was disappointed w/ STD and yearned for the hopeful inspiration, great stories, & enlightening morality tales that were the cornerstone of the 90's Trek shows. Either way, The Orville is crushing it in Season 2... and they just keep getting better with each additional episode.
honestly, why does it have to decide what it wants to "BE". It is the orville. if I wanted to watch startrek, I would watch startrek. I watch and LOVE the Orville because it IS the orville. Love the comedy, its well placed and adds alot to its charm that many other shows lack.. the jokes don't make it less fun at all in my eyes.
I love TNG, but the first two seasons were not great TV. The Orville started out stronger, and has been growing into itself. I think if they continue and get a full run, by the time they hit that golden s4-6 range they'll be a serious contender for most lovable/loved sci-fi series.
I think Seth had to pitch this show to the network as a “comedy” to get the green light. As you watch through season 1 and more so in season 2 the comedy is toned down and makes way for more drama. The jokes are still there but they have taken a back seat. If this show stayed on the comedy route, I would say Matt Berry would be the perfect Captain.
The first two years of 4 out of five of the pre Discovery star trek series' had quality issues. every first year show has the same issues \, just because they r new. The only Trek show that didn't seem to have this problem was TOS. I guess they knew what they wanted to do and they just plain did it.
For me Seth's Season One acting works because of the writing - which of course he had the good sense to do for himself. He's written as someone who has always had a goofy sense of humour and due to the marriage backstory has struggled to focus his emotions in the past year (using humour as an inappropriate defense mechanism and not always giving the right level of focus to his job), therefore is insecure about whether he's ready. Season Two is actually where I'd pull the "Seth's acting needs to improve" card. He was awesome in Identity, Nothing Left On Earth Excepting Fishes, and Sanctuary (all directions that I think Seth would be particularly interested in taking the show, all overseen by experienced Trek directors who realised that those particular episodes needed the Captain's performance to be better than okay). Uneven in other episodes, which barring the S2 finale there isn't really an in-universe justification for.
One thing people dont seem to get it, is that the people of the Orville are ACTUALL PEOPLE, not actors trying to look great on screen or pass something thorugh a deep though story.They are just as they are, living and passing the day and trying to make everything less boring as most people do, and most people are often awekward, not funny or simply try to be something they dont often are or still need some time to become. Imo, the Orville beats most of Star Trek in this reguard when trying to make the people be more realistic.Of course, ignoring the fact that they were made in COMPLETELY different times.
Identity 1 and 2 are as good as any sci-fi i have seen and that space battle is just stunning, season 2 has shown that The Orville is totally validated.
Wonderful video! I implore you to take a second look at Macfarlane's performance specifically in season 2 in the Episode "Identity part 2". When he tells Issac not to call him captain, he really had that "Kirk" command to him.
The Orville S1 is great for the characters, the humour and the overall aesthetics. The Orville S1 is terrible when it comes to the dismal science and very impressive plot holes.
I didn't like the comedy at all at the start of Season 1, but it settled down fairly quickly. The problem was that the best jokes were jokes about the genre (choosing alien names, the fire control panel being the one on fire etc) and these jokes inevitably take you out of the story. I think Seth's pretty much cracked it in Season 2, though, and the comedy comes more naturally from the characters. As someone observed below, there has to be enough comedy to prevent a copyright lawsuit. Whatever the problems with the comedy, they've not prevented The Orville from becoming a great show.
Thank you for such an even well-balanced review. Right now we are being gifted with some of the best science fiction I’ve ever seen and I’m getting sick and tired of everybody nitpicking them to death.
Love your videos! And agree with most of your opinions on sci fi. It's refreshing to get a channel which doesn't just hate on stuff. You really have a passion for sci fi. I'm watching both Orville and Disco . Season 2 of both are a big improvement on their first
Hi Rowan. Keep watching. Seth Macfarlane does improve with practice and Ed Mercer is continuing to become a better Captain and character. In the 2nd Season, the "Family Guy" style of comedy jokes are getting toned way down, and the stories are getting more serious. AND I think I have a theory as to why...Seth Macfarlane tried for years to sell a Star Trek series he wanted to produce to only get shot down over and over again by CBS/Paramount. SO, He sold a "Star Trek" parody/Galaxy Quest to FOX, and has been subtly converting it into his "Star Trek" style show done as a serious science fiction show. The humor is getting better too when it's used...and the jokes fit the narrative better. I'd love to hear your opinions about season 2 when it's done, my friend. Peace.
Call me weird, but I enjoyed much of the humour. Some have even said season 1 was better; I disagree. The balance between humour and drama is better now. The question remains: do you like Seth humour? I really do. If you don’t, Orville will be a mixed bag at best. I love your comments about the sci-fi community’s unnecessarily angry fan base. That we have so much good stuff to choose from right now is gratifying.
I think Seth's acting on this show is terrific. I like the inconsistent nature of some of the characters. Nobody in real life is heroic or even competent 100% of the time and the writing reflects that. People have off days and make mistakes. So do the characters. People get lost in their personal dramas and quirks. So do the characters. I think that's one of the show's strongest aspects. I agree about the "comedy" attempts in Season 1. They feel "shoved-in" and off-theme. They work better in Season 2, but probably still need more reeling in overall for Season 3.
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Great review. It's a far better drama than a comedy. The comedy seems out of place and really shoe horned in. It reminds me how other Fox shows either start as a drama and become a comedy or start as a comedy and become a drama over their runs. As someone that watches Orville and Discovery, I'd much rather watch Orville for Star Trek.
Excellent review. You nailed it right on the head. I felt the same way and saw the exact same problems you brought up with the show.
@BLAIR M Schirmer
I like it, but I understand why you don't like it, just like how I get why some people don't like Discovery. Personally I prefer Discovery. I wanted something different, and like I've stated in other TH-cam channels before, If I wanted TNG then I'd just watch TNG instead of a TNG clone. Like I've also stated before, I really don't know how Fox isn't getting sued by CBS for basically stealing there IP.
Thanks for reminding me of the music. The scores were just absolutely beautiful.
I think the "petty bickering" between Mercer and Kelly is an amazing and well-executed juxtaposition with the always-gets-the-girl-no-questions-asked persona of Kirk.
Jeez, I can't wait to see what you think about Season 2. Seth kicked it up a notch in his writing, acting, and production quality. The arc from Season 1 to the recent episodes about Isaac and the Kalons really paid off. I'm 100% into this show now.
The Identity 2 Part was awesome. I'll have much more positive things to say about Season 2
@@RowanJColeman one of the best star ship battles out their came from a comedy show. i know he can do fight scenes do to family guy but thous are purposely over the top, this was star war level. that episode is going in the books
I thought season 1 was very good. I watched it by binging and completed the last show on New Year's Eve. The second season started not too long after that and I was hyped to watch it. The humor was good at times. Some of it was toilet humor and I tend to not like that on any show.
@@RowanJColeman That episode was the episode that The Orville IMO showed that it was becoming more than just a suitable stand-in for the kind of Star Trek many of us miss, but an actual worthy successor.
Absolutely! Season 2 is awesome!
Seth being the captain is essential! I cannot imagine anyone else in that spot, he IS Ed Mercer!
He’s one of the worst actors I’ve ever seen
I thought he was just Brian from Family Guy in the first 10 minutes, but honestly he grows into it so well. It's a sorely underrated show, as a life long Star Trek fan.
I LIKED The Orville through Season 1, but was well aware of the issues it had while being optimistic that it would find it's footing in future seasons, much like most sci-fi.
I FREAKING LOVE Season 2.
Fair Review. I love The Orville, and I also had issues with some jokes they made in the first season. But these jokes accomplish one very important thing: The Orvile doesn't get sued for obviously copying Star Trek. Making a parody is, as far as I know, is legal.
That's true. Making an unfunny parody tho, is really lame.
A work does not need to be comedic to be considered a parody for legal purposes or even to meet the dictionary definition of "parody". Besides, I can't see anything in _The Orville_ that would let anyone make the case that it's infringing on ViacomCBS's rights.
Season two of The Orville is looking much, much better so far. It is close to finding its stride.
I disagree, basically season 2 is almost solely dedicated to character development. It's barely even sci-fi. At least they finally got somewhere with the 2 part episode about the war with Kaylon near the end of the season.
@@why-even-try-brotendo Hmm... More than half of all Star Trek episodes were nothing but character development. And it's one of the most classic sci-fi shows of all time. I think it comes down to the definition of "science fiction". It's different for all of us. Many people see great sci-fi in the stories told, while others see it in the action presented.
bgm 1961 I wasn't talking about Star Trek or making any comparisons to it. Just about every episode in the first half+ of season 2 could have been done present day without a single sci-fi element and still had the exact same message/outcome. That isn't sci-fi, it's an afterschool special in a sci-fi setting.
Are you kidding?
I wasn't a big fan of some of the "comedy" in season 1, but I stuck with it . Season 2 is better, Bortus is probably my favourite character, his size and voice remind me of Worf (my favourite ST:TNG character). Some of the episodes are hit or miss, but that's the same with a lot of the Star Trek shows :D
Season 2 of The Orville has been great. The recent Identity 2 parter was spectacular.
All my favourite episodes in S1 and S2 are about Bortus. But Issacs and dr. Finn now are getting to top too.
There really isn't THAT much comedy in the first season... and I thought a lot of it was exactly the kind of comedy that WE would do rather than homogenized Star Trek characters (and there's nothing wrong with those characters, btw). Things like the slight potty humor, the sex talk, the screwing around in the holodeck... those are all realistic things that we would joke about. Plus, the opening scene with Bortus and his mate (sorry... forgot his name), where he ate ice cream and watched The Sound of Music was brilliant. That look Bortus gives him... LMFAO.
@@RowanJColeman Lore Reloaded calls it a Warship, you said it's a Explorer Vessel. One surely did not do his research, but which one?
Which one of you is bortus?
I am bortus.
I want you to eat my weapon
Watching all these first season clips makes me realize just how much The Orville has improved, both in look and storytelling choices. It happened very subtly, but this show is growing before our very eyes and continues to be a surprisingly, comfortably familiar delight.
I think Seth's performance is bolstered by his inexperience. The rest of the crew/cast lifts him up, both in real life and in the show, which is amazing in an ensemble show.
Disagree hardcore. They wouldn’t have let MacFarlane be the lead unless the studio execs believed in his acting. You clearly have let seen his pedigree, the dude can act. Maybe you’re just a hater?
@@bonsaw57lol he’s literally one of the worst actors I’ve ever seen. I’ve studied acting theory and he’s such a amateur. It’s awful.
Mr Coleman, you raise an interesting series of points. Yes. We have 30 seasons of Trek, the non-Kelvin Timeline movies, and Galaxy Quest. However, ALL of these things have already happened. We've seen them already. Nothing new to see. "The Cage" was the only "unaired" TOS episode, and we can have it on VHS, DVD, and Blue Ray. TOS has been re-mastered with new special effects. But again, that's all been done. The Orville brings us something this is now, in 2019, new and original. They went from heavy comedy in Season 1 to solid Sci-Fi now in Season 2. Some episodes are significantly better than others, sure, but I've watched and re-watched all of them. The Orville's characters are flawed, but are always trying to do better. Just like the real people watching them on TV. I can identify with the show, and the topics they cover are "right now" in the world. It's fun! I disagree with you on Seth McFarland's acting abilities. He's good, and I like his character. Star Trek is a unique entertainment phenomenon. Lately, we've had three pretty lousy movies and a lousy new series. And let's not even talk about what's left of Star Wars! The Orville arrived (via Quantum Drive) just-in-time for ailing Sci-Fi fans.
For me, there's a difference between "Comedy Science Fiction" and "Science Fiction with Comedy." Basically the first one keeps stopping the story for gags. The latter...well, the best example would probably be Stargate: SG1, which was *not* a comedy, however most of the characters had really good senses of humor. Their jokes, asides, and gallows humor was completely in character, and was frequently just their way of dealing with the stress of life or death situations. The spinoffs were less funny for the same reason: The characters simply didn't have as good senses of humor, or just didn't have as good coping mechanisms.
So for me the difference is the comedy being imposed from outside (As per The Orville) and arising from the characters (As in SG1)
@EmceeDoctorB Ooo Hell Yeah!!!🤣
SG-1 is almost a comedy in a lot of ways. And I think that's what saved an otherwise deeply flawed show. I don't think I would even want to watch SG-1 without Teal'c.
EebstertheGreat that might be overstating in a bit. I wouldn't call it a comedy, I would Collett an adventure show where our one or two of the characters had sort of inappropriately aggressive senses of humor. But Stargate Atlantis was less funny, and Stargate universe wasn't a damn bit funny, and of course that last one was so unpopular that I got canceled very quickly, so perhaps you're right
@@mahatmarandy5977 Don't forget Origins. That show tried to be funny but only succeeded in being laughable.
EebstertheGreat ugh. I couldn't make it through that. Never saw the whole thing. The semi-official word on it is that it's non-canon
Love The Orville and all of the characters in it. I like Seth's character.
Same. Dude is a genius
Oh my goodness, that is such a wonderful catchphrase
"My eyes are not looking down there, my eyes are looking UP THERE!"
Reminds me of one I like to use (and welcome anyone to use as well)
"The more we look toward the stars and dream, the less important our conflicts on Earth will seem"
Compared to Star Trek Picard and Discovery, The Orville is a masterpiece. Series 2 is even better!
Also, Babylon 5 is the best Space show to date! I love that you put that in there!
I liked season 1 Luv season 2. & can't wait for season 3.
Orville does not suck for me. I like it. It's very tongue in cheek and often satiric. Me likey
While I despise STD with a vengeance (and I know you like it lots), I very much preciate your reconciling comments on sci-fi shows at the end of the video. We shouldn't go after what we hate, but embrace that which resonates with us. I think your remarks on Orville are fair and legit. Personally, I agree with a lot of your takes, and I hope it'll be around for more seasons.
I always appreciate constructive contributions to these conversations :) I hope The Orville and Discovery stick around for 5 - 7 seasons each :)
I also despise _Discovery._ I couldn't finish the first episode. Or, maybe I did, and I blocked it out of my mind. I can't remember. I don't want to remember.
+
I like Discovery a lot more than The Orville, but TOv is fine. I also like RJC'a comment at the end of this video.
I dont always want a fully developed actor in every role. Its amazing to see the character develop along with the individual playing the part. They become thier best right before our eyes
Season 1 was good enough to keep me watching and Season 2 has hit it out of the park. The most recent two part Identity is Emmy worthy.
I got a bit of a different view on the whole comedy part of this review.
In all honesty, it doesn't feel like forced jokes as much as it feels like 'taking freedoms'. Especially with things like the 'Glory Hole' mention. It's something all the shows from the Golden Age were much too clean for. The show takes some liberties no others would've dared, because it's being seen as a cheap comedy spoof by critics anyway. Sometimes it works, sometimes it ends up being potty humor at its worst, but I like what it adds to the show and the atmosphere.
I think the main problem with the first season was that Seth MacFarlane's, as he stated in an interview, felt obligated to put at least one joke in every page of the script whether it was appropriate or not. I suspect that this was because it was pitched to Fox as a parody. In the second season he doesn't appear to feel this obligation.
It could have been a wonderful Star Trek parody. I haven't seen S 2 yet but of I wanna watch Star Trek I'll watch Star Trek and not The Orville.
@@cehaem2 Do you really rough Have you seen the latest Star Trek?
I look forward to your review of season 2.
You know the orville is good and worth the watch with all its flaws, just like CAPRICA CAPRICA CAPRICA
I kinda wanna drag out not reviewing Caprica for as long as possible haha
@@RowanJColeman pretty much a meme now at this point to be fair, will make an interesting intro for the video when you finally review it
@@breakingbadatron8874 I'm totally screen capping all your comments haha
Penis.
@@RowanJColeman oh, I see an April Fools video being made, I know what your up too
Just to Nitpick here, but Adrianne Palicki already had a major role in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. as Bobbi Morse. She was a main character in the sears for 31 episodes, and was added at the same time longtime none other then Edward James Olmos. There had even been talks of her getting her own show, though sadly this was canceled. I bring this up as even Palicki herself wants to return as Mockingbird/Bobbi. With Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D going onto season 6 & 7, the possibly exist for her to come back as an agent may become a reality.
There were so many things that stuck out as being weirdly pointless. One being the pot brownie scene in the shuttle. Considering they went through the trouble to write and film that bit, and they seemed to emphasize the scene beyond just someone getting a snack I figured it must be a setup for something later in the episode.
But no, it was just apparently meant to clearly convey that in this future people eat pot brownies......
It could have been a part of the characters development while confined, it could have been used in their escape! Get the guards high and make a break for it or something.
But all it turned out to be was an awkwardly extended scene of someone grabbing a snack....
I think you're placing the emphasis on the pot brownie. Anyone who has seen a marijuana before understood it was just a nod toward a future where it's treated no different than grabbing a shot or a cig.
That's just MacFarlane's "genius" where just the mention of pot is considered a joke.
I thought season 1 was fine, but season 2 is shockingly good. I'm surprised at the drastic improvement...
Short answer: No
Long answer: Hell no
Incorrect. Season one wasn't amazing but and despite it finding it's stride it was still rather enjoyable overall.
Thoroughly enjoyed season 1, and appreciated the references to the TOS pilot "The Cage" and "Star Trek, The Movie".
So glad you mentioned the music, it is phenomenal! I've described The Orville as a love letter to Star Trek, but for the music that is doubly so. I enjoyed season 1 of The Orville more than season 1 of Discovery, but I'm really enjoying both of their second seasons. I really enjoyed this video. Subbed!
You gotta do videos on the last two seasons. The show just gets astronomically better.
First gut reaction: No? I mean, it had a lot of 'finding it's feet' issues tonally speaking, I'll grant ya. But sucks? Compared to freaking season one of Discovery? Ha! That being said, Season 2 has been a marked improvement writing wise across the board.
For both shows.
@S C false
People seem to forget how god awful season one of TNG was. And DS9 also has a rocky first two seasons. The Orville is still defining itself and doing it faster than either of those Trek shows did.
I agree with the take on season one, a spot on review. But I also agree with the positive comments on season 2, I think it's much more mature writing. As a side note, I tried Star Trek: Discovery but couldn't get past Sonequa Martin-Green. Her character on TWD was boring and so is she on ST:D.
I agree with your assessment of The Orville. I did enjoy it, but this was largely in spite of the "comedy", not because of it.
It would be interesting to know if the comedy was Macfarlane's idea or the studio's, because most of it doesn't fit with the show or stories.
Firefly did the comedic aspects much better, as did B5 (which is still my favourite show... gotta watch The Expanse though).
The comedy exists because the show needed to pass itself off as a parody of Star Trek in order to get made. Once it managed to develop its characters and introduced new stories so that it could legitimately call itself something new, it could drop the "parody" pretence (including the weak jokes).
@@ReddwarfIV
So effectively a studio decision.
Macfarlane is known for comedy so they will only fund it if it has jokes in it.
Thanks for the info ☺
@@ReddwarfIV
Plus, I forgot Red Dwarf, that definitely did the comedy better. I can't think of another Scifi comedy that beats it.
@@simonoleary9264 Agreed. Its a classic. If you're looking for something similar (though obviously not as good) I'd recommend the show _Hyperdrive._ Its what _The Orville_ would be if it committed to being a comedy, and was British.
@@simonoleary9264 I need to try Red Dwarf again, because when it was originally on, I didn't think it was funny or entertaining at all. I mean, it wasn't unfunny... it was just... it seemed like a collection of skits.
I really love season 2. It made sure Orville would be up there with Farscape and Red Dwarf in my book.
No, it didn't. At all. It rocks. Next question.
I couldn't possibly disagree more. But I hate Seth McFarlanes humor, so it was a bit of a done deal that I would hate it.
@@SpielkindFR Okay
It was a bland as fuck Next Gen rip-off with stupid humour crowbarred in.
@@andrewdevine3920 And starship"furniture" from Ikea.
Seth is perfect in almost every way for this show. His presentation/acting/what have you is spot on perfect. The guy is brilliant. I suspect he has a target audience of around 40 though. I've seen folks in their 50's/60's and 20's/30's dislike his stuff. He makes a lot of references to the 80's that I don't think many people appreciate.
Season Two improved big time on humor. The dramedy was refined by heart.
I think it's a great show with loads more potential to explore that suffered from "season 1 syndrome." It's really common for shows to spend their first season being sloppy and figuring out what they want to be.
Alara was my favorite character as well. Sad to see her leave.
The comedy in S1 was jarring. I remember thinking "why are they talking about Monopoly pieces right now" in one episode. It was bizarre.
What I love about the Orville is that it’s like Star Trek but with C or D list crew.
Could do with an episode we're they bump into the A list crew.
Is Ed Mercer someone who was thrust into the role of captain well ahead of what is usual or accepted? If so, then Seth's acting is spot on.
I liked the humor more than you but I do agree that sometimes it was too forced and out of place. And while many love that social media voting episode, I also thought Lemar being SO bad really undercut it.
They've admitted they used the comedy as a crutch at first. And yeah it's probably how it got greenlit in the first place. But you know they wanted to be more serious and there's a better mix now, as you know.
Really hope it gets a season 3. I want more!
Oh, McFarlane's not the best actor. But it works and I still like Ed.
---------------
On that ending, I've never actually seen the X-Files. I did watch Fringe but I lost interest in season 4 when they made changes to the main universe itself and the characters. The 2 worlds thing was cool. Re-writing time and characters, of the worse imo, was not, and I just tuned out. Half of them weren't the characters I'd been watching anymore.
Are you going to do an episode on Defiance? I watched a bit of the first season, but got very busy and never got to come back around to it. I'm new to your channel and didn't see it on your video list, soooOoOo.... you should consider doing something about that! :)
The Orville is better than any other current sci fi by a long way at the moment. Season 2 is awesome. If it wasn't for the Orville we'd be stuck with STD which is an abomination in every way and has betrayed the Star Trek fans.
You cannot have seen The Expanse.
I think I'm going to try and bunker down until the fandom hostility that seems to be perpetuating the sci-fi realm as a whole dies down enough to come back and do things I want again. Clearly a lot of people had the right ideas when trying to bring about a new age of sci-fi, but with so many on the nostalgic crusade I'm not so sure they chose the ideal time to start bringing them all forward.
And hey, in the meantime there's always something to be learned when an object of interest is good, but doesn't quite reach the mark. It's so much easier to focus down and improve upon flaws when they're not overwhelming, and you're already inclined to look at things constructively and positively after all.
Those are the two reasons I haven't started watching this show:
1. The comedy: I'm not really interested in blatant comedy is a series like this.
2. Seth MacFarlane: I understand that he wants to be part of the show, but I imagine it would be better if his character wasn't a major character in the show.
#2 was my main take away from watching the first season. If the captain was played by someone other than Seth the show would immediately improve. Even if the terrible, "should I get back together with my ex-wife, who also works with me?", story-line was left in.
I don't comment much,
but gotta say, I love your attitude and your content reflects it.
Thank you.
Ditto.
For me, the Orville usually hits the sweet spot with it's balance of sci-fi and humor, but then my all time favorite TOS episode is "The Trouble with Tribbles".
One word. Pickles.
I’m glad I gave “Orville” another chance after tuning out of season one. “Once More With Feeling” was the first episode I saw in season 2 and it was a surreal recreation of TNG with a few mostly successful twists. Since then few episodes have let me down.
Agreed that MacFarlane is not compelling but his non-performance kinda fits, like a nerdy dad who drug his family to Universal Studios to recreate Star Trek scenes. It’s obvious this show wouldn’t be on the air without him so I can tolerate him.
I actually like the direct dichotomy of serious moments being intertwined with ridiculous comedy set-up/payoff.
Couldn’t agree with you more! You can like them all and enjoy these shows for what they are.
I am 100% convinced the Krill shuttle/battleship thing is intentional. They did change the details on the shuttle, down to the windscreen, lighting, and engines, but the silhouette is exactly the same. I am convinced that someone, somewhere in the production team, wanted to do their own spin on infinitely scaled Birds of Prey.
So the first season was okay but failed to hit the mark in a number of areas.. So just like most other Sci-fi then.
I would say season one of the Orville was more comedy and season two is more dramady. Which I personally like the latter much better, a serious story with some comedy sprinkled in. It reminds me of MASH how for the first few seasons it was almost straight up comedy and then turned more serious with a little comedy.
Seth's story telling shines in season 2.
I don't know. I think much of the writing has gotten worse. Characters doing things that don't make sense, etc.
@@jovetj Seth MacFarlane is not a good writer, so that would make sense. ALL of his previous work is based around flimsy stories injected with random gags and callbacks to other things to play off of nostalgia
After watching every REAL Star Trek episode, this is a great addition. I watch it and pretend that Star Trek Discovery doesn't exist and this is the latest show in the franchise. Star Trek: Orville
This right here
Also great video. Personally I disagree about the humor and seth mcfarlane but I agree with everything else. And you are right there is space for all the scifi show in my heart 2. Keep up the great work.
The Golden Age of Sci Fi ended a while ago. Perhaps now we can revel in this Silver Age.
Clearly you aren't watching The Expanse
Pretty sure this is the third age, with the first age being TOS and original Lost in Space, the second being TNG, Farscape, etc. in the 80s and 90s, this has to be the third.
@@Carewolf You've completely skipped over the darker spat of post first age shows like Blake's 7 or the original BSG.
@@ginsengaddict Well, considering I spread the second age over 20 years, we can put those in the first :D
Dude Both seasons are really good and they had character driven comedy and stories.
We all know only one opinion can exist at once!
the answer is no, it's fantastic.
I've enjoyed season two much better. The comedy has been dialed back.
Season 2 has been better and worse.
There really wasn't THAT much comedy if you go back and watch it again. And, personally, though I'm enjoying the second season a lot, only Identity came close to a few of the best episodes from the first season. Plus, it still bugs me that such an advanced race didn't have some kind of intruder detection where the skulls were. I guess the idea is that they had no reason for security since no aliens were allowed on the planet in most situations.
You hit all my thoughts concerning 'The Orville'. Oh, and the music IS the highlight and it DOES rip off many star trek themes. When it does I find myself enjoying those moments the most. Spot on Rowen, you don't have to hate one thing to enjoy another. My eyes are to the stars as well.
I think the jokes were a way to get the larger fan base to buy in, the opening 90 seconds of the pilot where Ed catches Kelly cheating with Darullio made me laugh harder than any moment in family guy from the last 5 years. I think you're spot on that they're finding their rhythm a bit more in the second season, and the toning down of the humor is helping. I'm a devoted fan of the show and can't wait to see where the rest of this new seasons goes.
Since you put so much effort into the jokes part. That part is only in the episodes because they have to to not get sued by CBS. As I understand it listening to others the show was initially pitched to CBS as a real star trek show but CBS didn't like it and went with STD instead. So to be able to get the show running anyway it was changed to a parody show and all trek references was changed to what it is in the show and they were good to go. This is why the joked feel so out of place... because they are. :)
I prefer to think of it as "Oh right, and now the interlude they had to put in to not get sued.." before the story continues again. Makes it a lot more tolerable when you realized you wouldn't have gotten the show at all without it. Besides, every now and then the jokes are actually funny... like the Isac practical joke episode. :)
I loved season one. it had to start somewhere. season 2 is even better. i'd be sooooo happy to get the orville for the next 10 years
The Orville is my favorite show! It’s an ensemble you can’t help but fall in love with.
I don't agree with everything(actually very little I don't agree with), You have done a great job with this video and I really understand your point of view.
Note on Galaxy Quest: Guy, ironically, is the only one we never see die in the movie. While he is on the bridge when things go down, and we do see the rest of the crew get taken out, Guy never dies in the sequence, which is a second subtle pay off to the joke about him being Crewman #6.
I haven’t seen anything else that Seth McFarland has done but I adore The Orville. I love the cast and the way 20th century references music creep in. Thinking of the Moclan women and the use of 9 to 5. The generation ship reminded me more of the TOS episode, “For the World is Hollow and I Have Touched the Sky.”
The not centered on the view screen joke is one of my favorites.
Tiny bit peeved you had that clip from season 2 episode Identity part 2 as I've got it sitting on my sky box for the weekend.
Still, this was one of the best summarisations of the series I've seen so far ( no biast baggage to hamper it ), and the "Seth MacFarlane star trek fan fiction" quote is just too good not to steal 😁
Honestly, I thought the "shoddy looking green screen" was intentional. I really love Seth McFarlane's obvious passion for wanting to make his own Star Trek, it took me a few episodes to get into the characters, I won't lie about that and season 1 was a bit rough, but I think The Orville is honestly the best Star Trek we've got in so long. I do however hugely agree with you on Seth playing a captain, something as a Star Trek fan we've learned as someone that essentially demands respect, he's funny and charismatic, but I think he'd have been better playing an officer on the bridge with an older actor playing a captain and his comedic writing bouncing off them. I do love the show though.
I totally agree with your view of the misplaced "comedy" & bad one-liners in Seasons 1. Granted, random comments like "entering glory hole" or Gordon's "hugging the donkey" definitely felt awkward... but I think they seemed even *more* out of place because initially I was sooo shocked & pleased at just how much The Orville looked & felt like TNG. So the already bad "comedy" elements almost felt doubly worse/jarring when they randomly appeared in this show that had me feeling as if I were watching lost episodes of TNG. Though, I was actually hopeful in the Pilot episode, because there was *one* bit that I really liked. When Gordon was in the Environmental Simulator fighting the holographic ogre... it was funny because it showed us a scene that felt familiar & was similar to numerous TNG/DS9 holodeck scenes that we've seen in the past... but then they subvert our expectations when they're interrupted and we see/hear this big mean holographic ogre, named Justin, just stop and have a normal conversation as if they were standing around the water-cooler at work. I really liked that kind of self-referential Trek humor, but, unfortunately, it was just that one instance... and the "comedy" was all downhill after that.
Season 2, however, has really managed to turn that around. It's still a little awkward at times, but not nearly as jarring as Season 1. Part of me almost wonders whether this was a deliberate choice in Season 1. I wonder if they made the conscious decision to make the jokes in S01 *extra* bad... in order to unequivocally show that The Orville was a parody and/or "spoof"... and thereby avoid any potential legal retribution from CBS and/or Paramount. Then, after a whole season passed w/ no copyright claims or legal ramifications... they decided to tone it down and focus on telling great Trek-ish stories w/o having to inject bad/awkward one-liners to distinguish itself as a parody/spoof. So while S01 Orville felt like TNG's inbred cousin... S02 feels like it could be TNG's long lost twin. But CBS/Paramount can't really claim "infringement" now.... after already allowing a whole year/season to go by without saying anything.
Then again, it's probably not that complicated. I think they probably just "found their footing" after S01... and realized that there was a *huge* Trek fanbase that was disappointed w/ STD and yearned for the hopeful inspiration, great stories, & enlightening morality tales that were the cornerstone of the 90's Trek shows. Either way, The Orville is crushing it in Season 2... and they just keep getting better with each additional episode.
I hope you do that video on why 2010: The Year We Make Contact is a dissapointing sequel to 2001: A Space Odyssey
honestly, why does it have to decide what it wants to "BE". It is the orville. if I wanted to watch startrek, I would watch startrek. I watch and LOVE the Orville because it IS the orville. Love the comedy, its well placed and adds alot to its charm that many other shows lack.. the jokes don't make it less fun at all in my eyes.
I really liked season one but admit it did have its problems but am absolutely loving season 2. it has become one of my favorite shows.
It calmed my fear of the evil banana so that's a plus
Hind sight is 20/20, but I do think that Orville had a stronger first season than either TNG or Babylon 5.
I love TNG, but the first two seasons were not great TV. The Orville started out stronger, and has been growing into itself. I think if they continue and get a full run, by the time they hit that golden s4-6 range they'll be a serious contender for most lovable/loved sci-fi series.
I think Seth had to pitch this show to the network as a “comedy” to get the green light. As you watch through season 1 and more so in season 2 the comedy is toned down and makes way for more drama. The jokes are still there but they have taken a back seat.
If this show stayed on the comedy route, I would say Matt Berry would be the perfect Captain.
The first two years of 4 out of five of the pre Discovery star trek series' had quality issues. every first year show has the same issues \, just because they r new. The only Trek show that didn't seem to have this problem was TOS. I guess they knew what they wanted to do and they just plain did it.
For me Seth's Season One acting works because of the writing - which of course he had the good sense to do for himself. He's written as someone who has always had a goofy sense of humour and due to the marriage backstory has struggled to focus his emotions in the past year (using humour as an inappropriate defense mechanism and not always giving the right level of focus to his job), therefore is insecure about whether he's ready.
Season Two is actually where I'd pull the "Seth's acting needs to improve" card. He was awesome in Identity, Nothing Left On Earth Excepting Fishes, and Sanctuary (all directions that I think Seth would be particularly interested in taking the show, all overseen by experienced Trek directors who realised that those particular episodes needed the Captain's performance to be better than okay). Uneven in other episodes, which barring the S2 finale there isn't really an in-universe justification for.
One thing people dont seem to get it, is that the people of the Orville are ACTUALL PEOPLE, not actors trying to look great on screen or pass something thorugh a deep though story.They are just as they are, living and passing the day and trying to make everything less boring as most people do, and most people are often awekward, not funny or simply try to be something they dont often are or still need some time to become.
Imo, the Orville beats most of Star Trek in this reguard when trying to make the people be more realistic.Of course, ignoring the fact that they were made in COMPLETELY different times.
Identity 1 and 2 are as good as any sci-fi i have seen and that space battle is just stunning, season 2 has shown that The Orville is totally validated.
I actually found part 2 a bit rushed and anti-climatic. Or something.
I always thought that Seth getting to make what is basically a Trek fanfic by selling it as a "comedy" was a king move. He is such a fan and it shows.
Wonderful video! I implore you to take a second look at Macfarlane's performance specifically in season 2 in the Episode "Identity part 2". When he tells Issac not to call him captain, he really had that "Kirk" command to him.
The Orville S1 is great for the characters, the humour and the overall aesthetics.
The Orville S1 is terrible when it comes to the dismal science and very impressive plot holes.
Seth MacFarlane really made a genuinely compelling and funny show. What is going on?
I enjoy The Orville for what it is. The second season is substantially better.
I didn't like the comedy at all at the start of Season 1, but it settled down fairly quickly. The problem was that the best jokes were jokes about the genre (choosing alien names, the fire control panel being the one on fire etc) and these jokes inevitably take you out of the story. I think Seth's pretty much cracked it in Season 2, though, and the comedy comes more naturally from the characters. As someone observed below, there has to be enough comedy to prevent a copyright lawsuit. Whatever the problems with the comedy, they've not prevented The Orville from becoming a great show.
Thank you for such an even well-balanced review. Right now we are being gifted with some of the best science fiction I’ve ever seen and I’m getting sick and tired of everybody nitpicking them to death.
Love your videos! And agree with most of your opinions on sci fi. It's refreshing to get a channel which doesn't just hate on stuff. You really have a passion for sci fi. I'm watching both Orville and Disco . Season 2 of both are a big improvement on their first
3:48 That's why I recognized him! I thought and thought: "WHERE have I seen this face and heard this voice before?"
Hi Rowan. Keep watching. Seth Macfarlane does improve with practice and Ed Mercer is continuing to become a better Captain and character. In the 2nd Season, the "Family Guy" style of comedy jokes are getting toned way down, and the stories are getting more serious. AND I think I have a theory as to why...Seth Macfarlane tried for years to sell a Star Trek series he wanted to produce to only get shot down over and over again by CBS/Paramount. SO, He sold a "Star Trek" parody/Galaxy Quest to FOX, and has been subtly converting it into his "Star Trek" style show done as a serious science fiction show. The humor is getting better too when it's used...and the jokes fit the narrative better. I'd love to hear your opinions about season 2 when it's done, my friend. Peace.
Call me weird, but I enjoyed much of the humour. Some have even said season 1 was better; I disagree. The balance between humour and drama is better now. The question remains: do you like Seth humour? I really do. If you don’t, Orville will be a mixed bag at best.
I love your comments about the sci-fi community’s unnecessarily angry fan base. That we have so much good stuff to choose from right now is gratifying.
Nice review. Disagree with bits, but your conclusion is the rallying call we all need to back ALL these shows in these dark times on planet earth.
I'm curious, but what "dark times"?
As a fan of the show I did not find this offensive; I found this enlightening. Season 2 is actually really good.
I think Seth's acting on this show is terrific. I like the inconsistent nature of some of the characters. Nobody in real life is heroic or even competent 100% of the time and the writing reflects that. People have off days and make mistakes. So do the characters. People get lost in their personal dramas and quirks. So do the characters. I think that's one of the show's strongest aspects.
I agree about the "comedy" attempts in Season 1. They feel "shoved-in" and off-theme. They work better in Season 2, but probably still need more reeling in overall for Season 3.