The Orville (TV Series) Shadow Realms (2022) User Reviews

Highly derivative

[speilbergjnr · 6/10 · 10 June 2022]

This was a highly derivative episode. It's also highly focussed on the doctor character, AGAIN, as was the first episode.

Thankfully, there was a little more humor in this one so it actually raised a chuckle. It has some nice space and practical (make up) effects. Less said about the CGI "monster" the better...

Remember that Star Trek episode where spores go into Spock? Or the TNG episode Genesis? Or basically any other sci-fi story involving something that emits spores? Yes, it is derivative and as predictable as you'd expect.

Two episodes in and something doesn't quite feel right about this season of Orville so far. That's not to say it's been bad and certainly only 2 episodes in, to say this is perhaps a bit premature.

But honestly, if episode 3 is about the doctor and her kids, again, then I'm out. Kinda strange for the first two opening episodes to ultimately revolve around her and no-one else. Bortas has been reduced (so far) to a bit part, though he did at least have one funny line in this episode.

So yeah, a rather shoulder shrug 6 stars on this one. I hope it picks up a bit from where ep 1 and 2 have taken us. But if it doesn't, then it will still be more than watchable.

As much as I love Orville this episode was kind of a let down....

[gen86 · 6/10 · 10 June 2022]

Previous Orville seasons were serious/comedy 50/50 ratio, now they are trying to be 90% serious, entire episode there was only 2 jokes, very light jokes. They are trying to go full serious star trek clone or something.

Specifically this episode was kind of childish. They made quite a few questionable decisions. Script had quite a few plot holes.

I wish Seth kept the Season 1 comedy/seriousness ratio.

Bring back the comedy

[reedychris · 6/10 · 10 June 2022]

Slow turning from a awkward comedic drama (which i enjoyed) to just an awkward drama, which is becoming boring. If it keeps going this way, am sure people will slowly stop watching.

Where have I seen this before?

[infinitezer0 · 6/10 · 10 June 2022]

Species 8472 infects the crew of the Orville with Barclay's Protomorphosis Syndrome and it was totally okay. The character moments were the biggest plus, while the world building and logic were completely flawed. I'm just appreciating having the show back on air, especially in the extended format. It doesn't need to be perfect, but I'm concerned the Star Trek fans are put off by the dumb stuff and the MacFarlane fans are put off by the smart stuff.

Fun little body horror/action detour

[J-odishaw · 8/10 · 14 June 2022]

I was afraid we were going to get another show centered on the doctor and her strange relationships. Fortunately this quickly moved into body horror and some surprisingly decent action scenes. Mind you, I hope the show gets back to the humor that hooked me on the show.

Where's the comedy?

[kampbellsoop · 7/10 · 10 June 2022]

I was on the fence with my rating. Where's the comedy!?! Sorta disappointed. Season 1 & 2 had me laughing out loud. Season 3? Not so much. If you watch this season without watching 1 or 2 you may be bored. Go back and watch the other seasons.

Another great episode - watch it in a dark room

[vabeachmatthew · 10/10 · 9 June 2022]

I won't go into spoiler details but Seth MacFarlane (the shows creator) said on Twitter to watch it with the lights out. We watched it right after it dropped (midnight here), with the lights off and it did not disappoint my wife or me! The special effects and cinematography most definitely are significantly better this season with the increased budget - all scenes including the opening really POP visually! Even though this is only Ep 2, my wife and I are hoping for a Season 4, 5 and more!

Pretty decent, but...

[MegaMaexn · 7/10 · 17 June 2022]

Still waaaayyyyyy better than 'StarTrek Discovery' (which I don't watch anymore) and 'Picard', which is just plain terrible and people will only watch season 3 because of the TNG team regrouping. However, 'The Orville' has decent writing, competent actors and excellent special effects, but the fun is gone!!! - Bring back the silliness and spoof elements that made season 1 (and part of season 2) so fresh and watchable.

Different show, but still good

[sloopnp · 8/10 · 19 June 2022]

Still enjoying the new season, but I really do miss the humor that made this show so unique. I'm also uninterested in the Doctor's love life and her kids. I miss Bortus and Malloy!

No to Anne Winter

[gpkkda · 6/10 · 10 June 2022]

Average episode that suffers from Anne Winter's wooden acting. Good to see the new season and many of the changes but Winter's character is annoying and adds nothing to the show. Her hero moment Season 3 Episode 1 was poorly written but she delivered a less than average performance in Episode 2. Time to change characters.

We want Sci-Fi not Relationship-Fi

[dusadomovine · 9 June 2022]

These relationship sub-plots are tiresome especially when the story is about men not meeting women's expectations. Men bad, Women good. Do women ever wonder if they meet men's expectations? Attacks (hate-mongering) against religions is also not necessary.

K. I. S. S. : How about the Orville stick with Science + Space + Adventure.

Outstanding

[aniugflf · 10/10 · 9 June 2022]

Another fantastic episode, although it was once again lacking The Orville's trademark humour. I get that they're trying to make it as TNG-like as possible, which was also lacking humour for the most part. However, that was one of TNG's weaknesses in my opinion and one of The Orville's strengths. Even the great Patrick Stewart once said that he wished there was more humour in TNG (after seeing Red Dwarf for the first time). I would like to think that by the 25th century, everyone is laughing and having fun. This should be a world everyone would want to live in. That said, I can understand why Seth MacFarlane would want to distance this show from Family Guy.

I think The Orville are trying to create an enemy similar to The Borg. So far, every race has a Borg trait to some extent - the Krill in their dominance , the Dakeeli in their arrogance, the Kaylon being machines and now whatever race that gets called in today's episode. I just hope they don't end up becoming similar to that race in the TNG episode Conspiracy.

One other thing I have to comment on - the movement of those aliens Talla was fighting. The low frame rate as they went flying was very Terminator 1. Not sure what happened there.

Well made, but Warp Factor Dumb

[RogerBorg · 6/10 · 13 August 2022]

There are some great creature effects here blending live action rubber suits with CGI in a surprisingly seamless fashion, making the genestealers from the space hulk appear to be actual fast, high energy predators.

And MacFarlane writes a few funny lines, but that's about it for the positives.

Much as I like Penny Johnson Gerald, we're seeing far too much of her and her domestic problems. Any amount of Anne Winters as Ensign Mary-Sue is too much.

And the script, oh dear. A few slip-ups would be understandable to keep the plot moving, but this is just one Red Shirt error after another. Even though the script lampshades that this is an episode about making bad decisions, that doesn't mitigate the damage to the characters, and the insults to the viewers' intelligence from watching them pulling on clown shoes and stepping on rake after rake.

It was meant to be a deliberate homage to slasher / monster / haunted house movies, but it ends up feeling both forced and accidental.

For all that, it's still better than anything contemporary with the Star Trek brand on it, but among the weakest of the Orville episodes.

Why do sci-fi shows always

[huntergirl-13189 · 5/10 · 12 June 2022]

Why no bio-suits the first time visiting a new place? Why? And why no quarantine when they got back to the ship? Since the Europeans first killed indigenous Americans with smallpox, meeting someone new has had often catastrophic results. This is dumb. For no reason. If you want a storyline, at least show them wearing the suit and have a breach, but lack of intelligence altogether is not good sci-fi.

Orville meets Alien

[hansefde · 7/10 · 11 June 2022]

A The Orville take on Alien. Dark hallways with agressive aliens attacking people and infecting them. Where have we seen that before? Entertaining but ofcourse these accidents can only happen when logical protocols you would expect are neglected. Even the space station looks like a giant spider. Hmmm let's walk in and see what happens. It's a bit too predictable and flawed.

Finally, the orville is back babbyy

[neomercury-18149 · 10/10 · 9 June 2022]

The orville is finally back, i love the new longer episode format. Since Star Trek is as good as dead, this show is a good replacement. They toned down the humor a bit, but thats the only critique I can give.

Better than what Star Trek is these days

[nakrugt · 7/10 · 10 June 2022]

You can say whatever you like, but I think nobody can deny The Orville is better than Star Trek despite being a comedy show.

This episode goes on as expected. Still no plot twists yet. I do not know why.

I am optimistic for the following episodes.

This was a good sci-fi horror episode a La Aliens

[mwz99 · 9/10 · 13 June 2022]

I don't understand the negative reviews. After all the bright polished episodes which I do prefer as they are similar to Next generation, this was a trip down the horror alley. As a one off it was different and refreshing. Yes, the doctor background story is not really interesting but they needed a connection. I wish there was more action and fighting though. I mean if you show Aliens then fight them and don't try to talk them off your ship.

DOOM 3 Crossover

[markagosen · 7/10 · 9 June 2022]

Someone on The Orville's writing staff really loved DOOM 3 and it shows. You know.. I'm not even remotely mad about it. This is the crossover that I never knew that I needed.

A return to good old Star Trek days

[martinrobbinsmr · 8/10 · 13 June 2022]

Thank you for being a bright light in the darkness of dark n gritty sci Fi shows. A good blend of optimism for the future, comedy, adventure, exploration, cautionary tails and peril. Please continue making good episodes like this Seth, 40+ geeks all over the world love you and the cast :)

Still better than discovery

[timsheap · 7/10 · 11 June 2022]

Missing the Seth humour. Only one or two funny jokes an episode is a little disappointing but still enjoying it. The typical tropes are fine. Looking forward to the rest! More humour please!

I Seriously Do Not Understand These Negative Reviews

[fatgaraputo · 8/10 · 16 June 2022]

Let's consider a few things here. It is pretty clear that MacFarlane has always been a fan on Star Trek. When the series was rebooted with Discovery the new writers essentially abandoned the classic feel and original tone of the show. The Orville premiered around the same time. In order to sell the idea, I would wager that MacFarlane pitched it as a parody show, given his unmistakable success in comedy. But the guy has been doing comedy for over 20 years. Is it so wrong that he wants to branch out into a more serious and dramatic genre? Especially with Hulu picking up the show now he has his chance. Let's also consider the show has been rebranded: It is now The Orville: New Horizons, not just The Orville. I think he's carrying on the tradition of Trek in his own way and I, for one, think he's doing a bang up job. Great stories, character development, and not over done CGI. That's my $0.02.

Typical horror movie done wrong

[sysdev · 6/10 · 11 July 2022]

The usual logic mistakes are as in any horror movie One person goes off by themselves to search And typical sci-fi precautions are skipped. Going into a new environment without any isolation suits on Too many annoying bits to list And Brannon Braga rehashed two other Star Trek next gen stories to write this on.

No Protocols

[Hitchcoc · 3/10 · 17 July 2022]

A new sector of space. A type of craft floating that is like nothing we've ever seen. Go in without protective gear. Touch everything with bare hands. No quarantining of a man who has some horrible illness which we know was caused by his exposure on that ship. Several crew members obviously contaminated (never met any of them before). If they are going for straight science they've botched it.

This is a good episode but i miss those silly jokes

[batmanforever-93249 · 10/10 · 10 June 2022]

The episode is outstanding i love even the new girl,i love the new sets,but something is missing in this season,the jokes and the characters are very different,for example the well known friendship between different members of the crew is missing,the bald funny alien is gone,Yaphet doesn't make his weird comments,Mercer reacts very different and the others too ,they are behaving like some weird versions of them from a different universe like the ones from MCU. The episode is outstanding but i don't know if some of the fans will be pleased about these changes.