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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.

Seth being the captain is essential! I cannot imagine anyone else in that spot, he IS Ed Mercer!

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.

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.

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.

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"

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)

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.

Season two of The Orville is looking much, much better so far. It is close to finding its stride.

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.

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.

Compared to Star Trek Picard and Discovery, The Orville is a masterpiece. Series 2 is even better!

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

Also, Babylon 5 is the best Space show to date! I love that you put that in there!

Love The Orville and all of the characters in it. I like Seth's character.

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.

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

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.

Orville does not suck for me. I like it. It's very tongue in cheek and often satiric. Me likey

I liked season 1 Luv season 2. & can't wait for season 3.

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 look forward to your review of season 2.

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.

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!

I thought season 1 was fine, but season 2 is shockingly good. I'm surprised at the drastic improvement...

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.

I really love season 2. It made sure Orville would be up there with Farscape and Red Dwarf in my book.

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.

Thoroughly enjoyed season 1, and appreciated the references to the TOS pilot "The Cage" and "Star Trek, The Movie".

What I love about the Orville is that it’s like Star Trek but with C or D list crew.

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 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.

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 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.

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.

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 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 actually like the direct dichotomy of serious moments being intertwined with ridiculous comedy set-up/payoff.

No, it didn't. At all. It rocks. Next question.

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.

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.

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.

Short answer: No Long answer: Hell no

You gotta do videos on the last two seasons. The show just gets astronomically better.

I hope you do that video on why 2010: The Year We Make Contact is a dissapointing sequel to 2001: A Space Odyssey

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.

Seth's story telling shines in season 2.

The Golden Age of Sci Fi ended a while ago. Perhaps now we can revel in this Silver Age.

3:48 That's why I recognized him! I thought and thought: "WHERE have I seen this face and heard this voice before?"

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.

One word. Pickles.

The not centered on the view screen joke is one of my favorites.

The point about the costumes made me chuckle when I realized there's a reason that there's no sci fi series entirely centered around a race of nudist. The costumes are part of the art.

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.

Season Two improved big time on humor. The dramedy was refined by heart.

It calmed my fear of the evil banana so that's a plus

I seriously ugly Cried when Alara gave Capt Mercer a jar of pickles as a farewell gift.

You know the orville is good and worth the watch with all its flaws, just like CAPRICA CAPRICA CAPRICA

Dude Both seasons are really good and they had character driven comedy and stories.

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

The Orville is my favorite show! It’s an ensemble you can’t help but fall in love with.

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.

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.

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.

This show felt like they wrote a cool sci fi love letter to TNG and then they had to do a joke pass, if for no other reason than it's Seth Macfarlane. As you pointed out in the Krill episode, the Mercer and Malloy are painfully inept, but the ending of that episode sent a chill down my spine.

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 answer is no, it's fantastic.

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 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.

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.

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.

I loved the joke about telling the guy on the viewscreen to move to the center.

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.

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 😁

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.

Couldn’t agree with you more! You can like them all and enjoy these shows for what they are.

the video was good. exaclty my opinions... but, i never watched babylon 5. and it was mentioned here as a good show (besides the expanse witch i loved) is it still watchable?

Definitely feels like this show was more a spiritual successor to Galaxy Quest than anything, as though the technology of that film was revealed to the world and humanity somehow got their shit together and created a better future.

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.”

Seth MacFarlane really made a genuinely compelling and funny show. What is going on?

It reminds me of the 1st season of the TNG. The 1st season was very weak and came into it's own in the second.

In Season three they found their footing. In a way it's like watching the first few seasons of TNG or DS9 in the seasonal progression.

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 don't comment much, but gotta say, I love your attitude and your content reflects it. Thank you.

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

If you ask me, the severed leg joke really landed.

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).

If you want a space comedy show with an C tier captain and the dregs of the fleet then look the "Hyperdrive" from the UK. Nick Frost does a delightful job as a subpar captain with a garbage crew and psychotic 1st officer in what is definitely a third tier fleet (aliens in the show at one point say they'd rather wait for the Americans or maybe the Chinese to show up to conduct their negotiations). It also has the character role the Seth should have placed himself in, instead of the captains seat. That of an Admiral who either doesn't care or actively hates the captain and is clearly trying to screw him over. Seriously check the show out, it seems like everyone missed it while it was on.

I like your thoughtful and well rounded commentaries. You should take on The Magicians

The Orville is the Perfect companion piece to the newer Trek shows!

No unpleasant comments, I mostly agree. And thank god they are toning down the poop jokes in season 2.

The 'can you open this pickle jar' line alone is a good reason the Orville shouldn't do comedy.

I have been pleasantly surprised at what a joy this vanity project has turned out to be. At first I thought it was a parody, sci-fi sitcom. It turns out to be a more substantive piece of entertainment than I expected.

I've read that to prevent plagiarism of the original star trek, comedy was needed to offset the plagiarism

Star Trek Discovery wishes it could be The Orville.

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.

The Orville is how TNG would look like if it were made today. I think that most modern Star Trek design is too dark with the exception of Star Trek: Lower Decks and Star Trek: Prodogy as well as Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.

The one joke that killed me was when Rob Blow shot the blue baby batter out of his face. I laughed so hard I almost 🤮. God that was funny. I get what you're saying but that joke was perfect!

"If the stars should appear..." is an allusion to Asimov's Nightfall. I don't know if this has been pointed out already.