Gotta admit, I'm not hating it as much as the critical consensus led me to believe I would. It's nothing special by any stretch of the imagination, but I end up feeling like it could either be A LOT worse or slightly better. Some of the jokes don't land, others do, and the tone is uneven, but as a very casual Trek fan, I kinda like it.
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The Orville |OT| MacFarlane's sci-fi com-, wait it's a drama!? That can't be right
- Thread starter berzeli
- Start date
firehawk12
Subete no aware
I mean, take out the comedy (and there isn't any, really) and the 20th century references (like Real Housewives) and it's basically Star Trek of the 90s and 00s.
Everyone is either doing grimdark serialized stuff or doing Star Wars ripoffs instead, so... pretty much your only option if you are a fan of old Trek.
UnknownSpirit
Member
Man I wish this show would pick something.
This episode was better and I felt the middle of it, when there was very little humor and just drama and everything was actually done well.
I like this show I'm glad it's doing well.. but man I wish I could figure out what it wants to be.
And it still has time to adjust what it wants to be.
I legitimately enjoyed the Entire Alara commanding story and even enjoyed the scene between Mercer and Greyson on the couch before the reveal of them being in a zoo.
And man, this show is more and more feeling like Star Trek and I'm okay with that.
This episode was better and I felt the middle of it, when there was very little humor and just drama and everything was actually done well.
I like this show I'm glad it's doing well.. but man I wish I could figure out what it wants to be.
And it still has time to adjust what it wants to be.
I legitimately enjoyed the Entire Alara commanding story and even enjoyed the scene between Mercer and Greyson on the couch before the reveal of them being in a zoo.
And man, this show is more and more feeling like Star Trek and I'm okay with that.
if you ignore the bad jokes, its just another episode of STNG, so its okay. I just wish they either made it actual scifi or a parody of ST.
also it turns out Lt Kitan is strikingly beautiful
she's hot in the show too
she's my new waifu
Almost done with the pilot
I went in expecting hot garbage, but I'm actually kinda enjoying it. The Family Guy humor is often jarring, but I find myself chuckling a few times.
Cast seems solid too, even Seth. Okay, he's not great, but he's really trying.
I wonder why all the review outlets had their knives out for this. Even when the jokes don't land, they're never that bad.
<3 Adrianne
I went in expecting hot garbage, but I'm actually kinda enjoying it. The Family Guy humor is often jarring, but I find myself chuckling a few times.
Cast seems solid too, even Seth. Okay, he's not great, but he's really trying.
I wonder why all the review outlets had their knives out for this. Even when the jokes don't land, they're never that bad.
<3 Adrianne
PeakPointMatrix
Member
Seth is just so distracting on this. The show would have been twice as good had he cast someone else as the lead.
UnknownSpirit
Member
Okay the "Well you're not Frankenberry so shut up" line made me laugh.
Fenderputty
Banned
Yeah but the show trying to draw casuals is why the crew is, casual. My wife laughed at pot brownies more than the Star Wars joke because she didn't understand the nerd war between the two franchises.
For better or worse, they're trying to target a wider audience than just six fi fans.
I agree, the 2nd episode played things straighter and it paid off a lot more for it. And the low key humour that subverts expectations works the best (for me that is of course). For example, I may not have laughed out loud at the revealed items that were traded but that was funny almost on an introspective level. If anything this episode riffing on "The Cage" was a good thing because it shows that subverting Star Treks typical "utopian" ideals with a "well, actually..." mentality can work well. Even though some parts fell flat for me, I didn't hate it.
ComputerBlue
Member
I disagree, I think hes great in it and I usually can't watch anything with him in it because I find him exactly that, distracting.
This show is still bad so far, but at least it's not Bordertown, the worst show Seth ever worked on.
The production values, music and hotness of Halston Sage are probably the best things about this show. Humor, writing, tone, pacing, etc., needs work badly. It still has a tough time deciding whenever to be funny or serious, and usually it doesn't work well. In fact the action seems more well done than anything else.
Seth MacFarlane shows used to make me laugh, now I cringe when I watch his later shows often.
The production values, music and hotness of Halston Sage are probably the best things about this show. Humor, writing, tone, pacing, etc., needs work badly. It still has a tough time deciding whenever to be funny or serious, and usually it doesn't work well. In fact the action seems more well done than anything else.
Seth MacFarlane shows used to make me laugh, now I cringe when I watch his later shows often.
radios shipping overview
Member
Second episode was better, more even. There were still plenty of stinkers in the jokes, but at least I didn't have to suspend disbelief for characters taking time out for a comedy routine. It's more of a generally irreverent tone this time around.
Still shows Macfarlane's weakness at writing sci-fi. Isn't the setup for this one just "The Cage"? And it's been done better.
This show is SO comfy for a 90s Trek fan. I wonder if they left out the transporters so that they would have one reason why the show isn't Star Trek.
Still shows Macfarlane's weakness at writing sci-fi. Isn't the setup for this one just "The Cage"? And it's been done better.
This show is SO comfy for a 90s Trek fan. I wonder if they left out the transporters so that they would have one reason why the show isn't Star Trek.
Mr. Pointy
Member
What I ultimately want from The Orville is a well-crafted, off brand TNG / Voyager show with good casual banter and a couple of good jokes that don't bring the plot to a screeching halt.
I'm not certain I'll get all of that because I know what Seth MacFarlane is like.
I'm not certain I'll get all of that because I know what Seth MacFarlane is like.
March of the Crabs
Member
Agreed. Definitely his best live action performance so far.
Even better than Logan Lucky(which I still need to watch)? Also, he has a long ways to go still.
March of the Crabs
Member
Yes although that was much better than I expected it to be too. He was like a live action cartoon character there and he fit the movie well.
Regardless, I even noticed an improvement between episodes 1 and 2 here, so I have hope!
Frankie Williamson
Member
I found the banter dreadful to sit through. Every time I found myself liking it, the show would smash that feeling to pieces with something I hate. Really rough.
I also can't stand Seth McFarlane in front of the camera. Everything he's been in would be better with someone else in his role.
radios shipping overview
Member
Have to wait for season 2 for that.
We watched it today (the first episode) and I'm really not quite sure what to make of it. I'll probably give it an episode or two to see if it really figures out what it wants to be. It is just so weird. The cast is a lot of fun for me though and some jokes landed rather nicely.
davepoobond
you can't put a price on sparks
The second episode is horrible
This show doesn't need to be a full hour
This show doesn't need to be a full hour
I feel like the second episode should've aired closer to the end of the season.
Crew member saying that the captain would've disobeyed a direct order and put the whole ship in danger to look for some lost crew members didn't really make sense to me. Why would they think that? They just met. They have no idea what sort of person or captain he is. Also, everybody cheering in the mess hall when the acting captain decides to disobey orders also puts me off for the exact same reason.
These reactions would make more sense if it felt like that crew had spent much more time together.
Or maybe I'm taking this show bit too seriously.
Crew member saying that the captain would've disobeyed a direct order and put the whole ship in danger to look for some lost crew members didn't really make sense to me. Why would they think that? They just met. They have no idea what sort of person or captain he is. Also, everybody cheering in the mess hall when the acting captain decides to disobey orders also puts me off for the exact same reason.
These reactions would make more sense if it felt like that crew had spent much more time together.
Or maybe I'm taking this show bit too seriously.
March of the Crabs
Member
To be fair, that was said by Scott Grimes' character who is best friends with MacFarlane, so that line makes perfect sense.
I'll give you the cheering though - that caught me off guard too. Half of these background characters probably haven't even met him yet!
But we are probably overthinking.
Thats how we feel. Everything is so negative and dark in sci-fi space shows these days.
Its nice, fluffy, has some good and some bad jokes but is overall enjoyable.
Looking forward to the next episode
Ah, my memory is shit. For some reason I had it in my head that John LaMarr had said that.
Edit:
You know I thought Scott Grimes looked familiar.
I just re watched Critters and Critters 2 a few days ago. Haven't seen those movies in a long time.
Maybe they could do a Critters reference. After all, it is a Seth MacFarlane show.
Kill Crites.
I honestly like it! It's not perfect and it's rough but I think it can improve and I think I shall stick with it to see if it can!
Well do remember, they don't arrive at their destinations instantly. They've been on the ship for a few weeks now. (Considering they said it would take 21(?) days for the Egg to hatch and it hatched in the same episode.)
Well do remember, they don't arrive at their destinations instantly. They've been on the ship for a few weeks now. (Considering they said it would take 21(?) days for the Egg to hatch and it hatched in the same episode.)
Therearedozensofus.gif
Himynameischris
Member
I liked episode two more...but man it's like a retelling of Star Trek, hopefully it finds it's own feet before it gets canceled
This is in no risk of being cancelled based on the ratings of the first two episodes.
How can you do a sci-fi drama in a half hour? It is by no means a comedy, that is clear two episodes in. It's more Star Trek TNG with some light bits of comedy rather than an actual comedy show.
It feels like one when the 1st episode had 20+ jokes in it and come up every few minutes.
PleaseDontBanMe
Banned
davepoobond
you can't put a price on sparks
Frankenberry joke was perfect. Needs more of that IMO
Well considering they are writing a 22 min episode and stretching it out to 44 minutes right now, it would be doable for them.
They're not even attempting at addressing any profound philosophical issues so they don't really need to have all of that extra time to flesh out their simple storylines.
Well considering they are writing a 22 min episode and stretching it out to 44 minutes right now, it would be doable for them.
They're not even attempting at addressing any profound philosophical issues so they don't really need to have all of that extra time to flesh out their simple storylines.
Fenderputty
Banned
I'm surprised it was an "i" and not an "e" in that typo. lol
If you're watching a Seth production of a trek rip off for profound philosophical issues i'ts you're own damn fault you don't like the show lol
BlackBanditSho
Member
I think this is exactly what it is. I enjoyed ep2 enough to confidently say that i'm down to enjoy the whole series if it keeps this balance in tone. It feels like its made by people who legitimately love Trek.
I'm VERY curious about where Discovery is going to land. I'm feeling very cynical.
whyamihere
Banned
Not really something you can say yet. It's had a huge football lead in twice and hasn't been in its normal timeslot.
It's on its own this week.
BlackBanditSho
Member
Well fingers crossed. Every show that i tend to enjoy gets cancelled. Every time. Here's hoping this breaks the trend.
I never really got why networks do this. If it's doing well in it's spot leave it in it's spot. Don't potentially kill it to prop up ratings on another day.
Pilgrimzero
Member
I like it, though I find the references to modern stuff weird.
Like the far future remembers Dora the Explorer? And old reality television shows?
Like the far future remembers Dora the Explorer? And old reality television shows?
radios shipping overview
Member
I don't think MacFarlane knows how to write comedy without pop culture references.
I saw the 2 episodes and I'll watch it solely cause it looks like Star Trek. However I'm not sure what this is trying to do, it's certainly not comedy or a spoof but it's not totally serious. Which leaves it in a weird place because it's like it wants to do TNG era Star Trek drama but holds itself off as if it wants to spoof it but it doesn't even do that and comes off as just boring.
Captain Skeleton
Member
Exactly my issues with it. The whole thing just feels wierd and clunky. Like Seth Macfarlane found a Star Trek like script and just added in some jokes.
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