Could easily have been a TNG episode, great writing. The best Orville to date
The Orville (TV Series)
Nothing Left on Earth Excepting Fishes (2019)
User Reviews
Review this title54 Reviews
In the finest ST tradition.
morn196018 January 2019
Blunt, over the top and obvious... and pretty damn good!
antony-17 February 2019
It's quite astonishing how Seth McFarlane is kind of corrupting every expectation and can be so obvious and predictable yet so surprising.
It's hard to explain.
Predictable: the whole story, it's been done before. Then the whole 'but maybe they'll find common ground and it'll be fine' and yeah... seen it all before. More man vs woman toil, yeah old hat.
BUT... shows are so afraid to do it now. You have to be dark, and cut yourself and political if you do something heartfelt and straightforward then you must be crap. You have to be confusing and dark and that favourite word "edgy".
So Seth says... yeah you've seen this all before. I'm aping Star Trek quite obviously. And you know what... I'm gonna do it anyway.
There's a certain satisfaction of being there on the journey.. knowing where it'll go. And then him giving that beacon of hope. Blatantly, obviously so... but still so good.
I don't know how he does something that's so much a pastiche, yet so fresh because other shows daren't be this "nice" in this day and age.
It's hard to explain.
Predictable: the whole story, it's been done before. Then the whole 'but maybe they'll find common ground and it'll be fine' and yeah... seen it all before. More man vs woman toil, yeah old hat.
BUT... shows are so afraid to do it now. You have to be dark, and cut yourself and political if you do something heartfelt and straightforward then you must be crap. You have to be confusing and dark and that favourite word "edgy".
So Seth says... yeah you've seen this all before. I'm aping Star Trek quite obviously. And you know what... I'm gonna do it anyway.
There's a certain satisfaction of being there on the journey.. knowing where it'll go. And then him giving that beacon of hope. Blatantly, obviously so... but still so good.
I don't know how he does something that's so much a pastiche, yet so fresh because other shows daren't be this "nice" in this day and age.
All right, I'm done
nnom3518 January 2019
The Orville is NOT a comedy series...it's a legit spacefaring adventure series with comedic elements. The last song of this show? Are you kidding me?
No. Seth MacFarlane is a genius..."Hey, guys, I got this great idea for a comedy series, c'mon, it'll be fun"
Corporate: "Ok, sure...you're good at comedy."
Corporate: "HEY, what is this?? This seems more like an actual spaceship adventure action thingy series!"
Seth: "Gotcha"
Best episode yet.
wrinklednine18 January 2019
Probably best episode to date
rmccul09318 January 2019
This episode is the epitome what we used to see in ST:TNG - a well fleshed out story that not only links us to last season, but is also a great stand-alone story. It has some of ST's 'Everyman' tropes in it, but the story still manages to not be preachy. That is a trap so many older franchises have fallen victim to lately (yes, I mean the current ST series and even a certain British sci-fi show we used to love). Seth has allowed Ed to (finally) move on with his personal life and, at the same time, display a willingness to show maturity and respect for his ex-wife in this episode. Ed is growing emotionally which is a hallmark of what Roddenberry did so well. His characters grew and, over time, changed so that they became more than a 2D character. They almost took on lives of their own, a fact we see at nearly all conventions nowadays. We also see this in Gordon in the episode (despite initially being motivated by baser desires). He realizes his value isn't dictated by a title but just being the best person he can be - a valued and vital member of the crew. Overall, Seth, Gene would be so proud of you!
The Best Is Yet to Come
ehab-h-ahmed21 January 2019
This episode is dramatic and heart warming. This show is by far better than ANYTHING on the air now and definitely better than than STD (Star Trek Discovery).
This episode manages to grip you emotionally. Honestly, I simply cannot wait for what's to come!!
This episode manages to grip you emotionally. Honestly, I simply cannot wait for what's to come!!
We Can Work It Out. We Can Work It Out.
MrGoog18 January 2019
Warning: Spoilers
(If Seth MacFarlane can quote from Rodgers & Hammerstein, then I can quote from Lennon & McCartney.)
******SPOILER ALERT******
Star Trek connections - This episode was written by Brannon Braga and Andre Bormanis, who are among The Orville's producers.
Family Guy connection - Once again, Patrick Warburton played Lieutenant Tharl. But this might have been his final appearance, as a new Security Chief is scheduled to come aboard next week.
In this episode, we saw more maturity develop in Ed Mercer and Gordon Malloy. In his relationship with Janel, Ed shows that he has moved on from Kelly but still has Kelly as a friend. Gordon wants to be more than a pilot, although he is an excellent pilot.
When Ed and Janel have a date in Ed's quarters, they are watching the classic 1956 musical "The King And I" (the song "A Puzzlement" provided the title for this episode). Janel suggests that they take shore leave together. The Orville is scheduled to make another routine supply run to Epsilon 5 (Gordon gripes, "We're the pizza guy."), so Ed and Janel fly off in a shuttle to Sensoria 2. I like it when the shuttle's sound system plays Classic Rock, such as Billy Joel (in this episode) or CCR; it makes the characters more believable.
However, in a sector which should be devoid of Krill activity, 3 Marauder-class Krill ships approach. Ed cloaks the shuttle and the Krill fly past the invisible shuttle, so there is no problem, right? Wrong! The Krill ships return and spray drive-plasma around the area of the shuttle, exposing the shuttle. It's as if the Krill knew the shuttle was there (Hmmm...). Then a Krill fighter arrives and pulls in the shuttle with a tractor beam.
Gordon wants to enroll in the Shipmaster Qualification Program, a.k.a. The Command Test. Kelly's first reaction (and mine): You're kidding, right? But Gordon is serious. However, when Claire runs the initial psychological exam, Gordon sees sexual innuendos in all of the shapes (indeed, Gordon still is Gordon).
On the Krill fighter, Ed and Janel are imprisoned separately, and the Krill torture Janel to force Ed to reveal the Orville's command codes. He fools the Krill by giving bogus codes, but the Krill had been fooling him. Janel actually is Teleya (1st-season episode "Krill"). The obvious question: How could Teleya not be burned by the standard-for-humans level of lighting on the Orville? The answer: transcellular micrografting (say that 5 times fast); i.e., human skin was grafted onto Teleya. I admit that I missed the obvious clue: Teleya and Janel were played by the same actress (Michaela McManus).
The Krill's arrogant attitude - it's Avis' will that the Krill will rule the galaxy - bites them on the backside when the mighty - and nasty - Chak'tal attack. Ed and Teleya take an escape pod to a nearby planet (the night side, of course). The planet's magnetic ore blocks a standard distress signal, so Teleya has Ed haul a beacon to higher ground. But the Chak'tal followed the pod's trail and landed a patrol, so Ed and Teleya hide in a cave. Teleya's obvious problem: when the morning sunshine will come, she can't leave the cave.
When Gordon takes the Simulator test, in which the Orville confronts a Krill fighter, he uses a bluff that reminds me of "The Corbomite Maneuver" in the original Star Trek. Later, Gordon admits to Kelly that he wants to enroll in the SQP to see if he can be more than a pilot. Remember that he saw John LaMarr promoted to Chief Engineer.
Ed shows how compassionate humans can be by not trying to escape (which would leave Teleya to be taken by the Chak'tal). Instead, he uses the beacon to signal the Orville, then uses his jacket as a shroud for Teleya to protect her from sunlight. When Gordon and Bortus arrive in a shuttle, Gordon displays his excellent piloting skills by picking up Ed and Teleya without landing the shuttle.
Ed is willing to risk his career by letting Teleya leave and signal a Krill ship to retrieve her. When Gordon asks why Ed would take such a risk, Kelly tells him, "That's Command." Ed gives to Teleya a special music collection: The Best Of Billy Joel. Indeed, it was appropriate to play "She's Always A Woman To Me" at the end.
This episode shows, again, that Seth MacFarlane understands what made Star Trek great before J.J. Abrams et al. wrecked it.
******SPOILER ALERT******
Star Trek connections - This episode was written by Brannon Braga and Andre Bormanis, who are among The Orville's producers.
Family Guy connection - Once again, Patrick Warburton played Lieutenant Tharl. But this might have been his final appearance, as a new Security Chief is scheduled to come aboard next week.
In this episode, we saw more maturity develop in Ed Mercer and Gordon Malloy. In his relationship with Janel, Ed shows that he has moved on from Kelly but still has Kelly as a friend. Gordon wants to be more than a pilot, although he is an excellent pilot.
When Ed and Janel have a date in Ed's quarters, they are watching the classic 1956 musical "The King And I" (the song "A Puzzlement" provided the title for this episode). Janel suggests that they take shore leave together. The Orville is scheduled to make another routine supply run to Epsilon 5 (Gordon gripes, "We're the pizza guy."), so Ed and Janel fly off in a shuttle to Sensoria 2. I like it when the shuttle's sound system plays Classic Rock, such as Billy Joel (in this episode) or CCR; it makes the characters more believable.
However, in a sector which should be devoid of Krill activity, 3 Marauder-class Krill ships approach. Ed cloaks the shuttle and the Krill fly past the invisible shuttle, so there is no problem, right? Wrong! The Krill ships return and spray drive-plasma around the area of the shuttle, exposing the shuttle. It's as if the Krill knew the shuttle was there (Hmmm...). Then a Krill fighter arrives and pulls in the shuttle with a tractor beam.
Gordon wants to enroll in the Shipmaster Qualification Program, a.k.a. The Command Test. Kelly's first reaction (and mine): You're kidding, right? But Gordon is serious. However, when Claire runs the initial psychological exam, Gordon sees sexual innuendos in all of the shapes (indeed, Gordon still is Gordon).
On the Krill fighter, Ed and Janel are imprisoned separately, and the Krill torture Janel to force Ed to reveal the Orville's command codes. He fools the Krill by giving bogus codes, but the Krill had been fooling him. Janel actually is Teleya (1st-season episode "Krill"). The obvious question: How could Teleya not be burned by the standard-for-humans level of lighting on the Orville? The answer: transcellular micrografting (say that 5 times fast); i.e., human skin was grafted onto Teleya. I admit that I missed the obvious clue: Teleya and Janel were played by the same actress (Michaela McManus).
The Krill's arrogant attitude - it's Avis' will that the Krill will rule the galaxy - bites them on the backside when the mighty - and nasty - Chak'tal attack. Ed and Teleya take an escape pod to a nearby planet (the night side, of course). The planet's magnetic ore blocks a standard distress signal, so Teleya has Ed haul a beacon to higher ground. But the Chak'tal followed the pod's trail and landed a patrol, so Ed and Teleya hide in a cave. Teleya's obvious problem: when the morning sunshine will come, she can't leave the cave.
When Gordon takes the Simulator test, in which the Orville confronts a Krill fighter, he uses a bluff that reminds me of "The Corbomite Maneuver" in the original Star Trek. Later, Gordon admits to Kelly that he wants to enroll in the SQP to see if he can be more than a pilot. Remember that he saw John LaMarr promoted to Chief Engineer.
Ed shows how compassionate humans can be by not trying to escape (which would leave Teleya to be taken by the Chak'tal). Instead, he uses the beacon to signal the Orville, then uses his jacket as a shroud for Teleya to protect her from sunlight. When Gordon and Bortus arrive in a shuttle, Gordon displays his excellent piloting skills by picking up Ed and Teleya without landing the shuttle.
Ed is willing to risk his career by letting Teleya leave and signal a Krill ship to retrieve her. When Gordon asks why Ed would take such a risk, Kelly tells him, "That's Command." Ed gives to Teleya a special music collection: The Best Of Billy Joel. Indeed, it was appropriate to play "She's Always A Woman To Me" at the end.
This episode shows, again, that Seth MacFarlane understands what made Star Trek great before J.J. Abrams et al. wrecked it.
AMAZING EPISODE
lopez967118 January 2019
Nine Space Deep
nathanjayremixes29 January 2019
The one where Quark and Odo get trapped on an inhospitable planet and are forced to work together as they seek higher ground to get a better signal to send a distress signal, until one if them is unable to carry on and must trust the other.
lts a home run
thomasloar18 January 2019
Nothing Left on Television Excepting The Orville
d.rust18 January 2019
The recent total failure of the social disease known as Disgustery has left the true successor to Gene Roddenberry's vision a hopeful beacon. This is the Orville.
Seth MacFarlane goes all out in this story. His character may be a total failure in love, the revelation of his latest heartbreak doesn't affect his ability to take charge in a difficult situation.
The additional story of Gordon's struggle with command opens up another facet of his development. Is he doing this to pick up chicks, or is he really interested in leading?
A heart-felt ending is a great capper to the events.
Keep your chin-horns sharp, cohorts!
Seth MacFarlane goes all out in this story. His character may be a total failure in love, the revelation of his latest heartbreak doesn't affect his ability to take charge in a difficult situation.
The additional story of Gordon's struggle with command opens up another facet of his development. Is he doing this to pick up chicks, or is he really interested in leading?
A heart-felt ending is a great capper to the events.
Keep your chin-horns sharp, cohorts!
It's getting better, but still not impressed
pkpera19 January 2019
Finally some decent story in season 2. But I would not call it great, original. All it was seen before. It definitely gone in non-comedy direction, and that's OK. Although I liked comedy 'version' better.
There was some action near the end, but that was really executed poorly. Standing straight while attacked by 4 enemies, firing without taking shelter, not much fast ... And of course hitting them like turkeys.
Ending was too predictable. Some are obviously happy with lesson. Maybe I'm just too old, that's my problem :-)
There was some action near the end, but that was really executed poorly. Standing straight while attacked by 4 enemies, firing without taking shelter, not much fast ... And of course hitting them like turkeys.
Ending was too predictable. Some are obviously happy with lesson. Maybe I'm just too old, that's my problem :-)
Plot holes a Galaxy Wide
CaptRon-220 January 2019
Warning: Spoilers
The storyline was interesting and the acting is becoming more sharp and in-focus with each episode. That said, this episode truly missed the mark with plot holes so massive I can't believe the writers and actors didn't storm out in protest.
Spoiler!!! Ed gals for and has been dating a new crew member we were introduced to several episodes before. After one romantic night in his quarters, they decide to take a trip to a nearby vacation planet. Disaster ensues as the Krill attack, capture Ed and we find out Janel is actually a Krill from Season 1 that Ed met and captured after killing her brother.
First space is big, I mean really big so it would be beyond lottery odds to met the same person again.
Second, we learn that she escaped from the Union. Given the Union is at war with the Krill and know almost absolutely nothing about them (see season 1), it would seem that maximum effort to imprison a high valued combatant was not applied. She somehow "escaped" and looking nothing like any other lifeform, secured transportation, making her way back to a region of space where her kind did not immediately destroy her transport.
She then gets a top secret assignment to capture a ship's captain. Remember it was her collaboration with humans that allowed the Union to destroy their super weapon, kill everyone on board, and capture key technology...the Krill must be very forgiving.
She undergoes a painful procedure to look human...something beyond the Union's capabilities. It also allows her to operate in bright like, perhaps a trainer they could share with the rest of the Krill species so clicking a dimmer switch to its highest setting doesn't melt them to death...a clear weakness.
Janel boards a Union vessel from a star base with a full record. This means the Krill have already hacked the Union's data and it's cyber threat detection as her record goes unchallenged. She is also keenly aware of ship's systems, language, and protocols...amazing for someone a year ago that had never met a human.
We then get to her transformation back to a Krill. It only takes hours, at best, and she seems perfectly fine with the change.
Finally at the end she is captured and released (a good decision given how easily she escaped the last time). In the goodbye exchange she seems to have softened her stance against her capture that has taken so much from her and her deeply held religious beliefs.
Love the show but this one was poorly written and over stretched the imagination.
Spoiler!!! Ed gals for and has been dating a new crew member we were introduced to several episodes before. After one romantic night in his quarters, they decide to take a trip to a nearby vacation planet. Disaster ensues as the Krill attack, capture Ed and we find out Janel is actually a Krill from Season 1 that Ed met and captured after killing her brother.
First space is big, I mean really big so it would be beyond lottery odds to met the same person again.
Second, we learn that she escaped from the Union. Given the Union is at war with the Krill and know almost absolutely nothing about them (see season 1), it would seem that maximum effort to imprison a high valued combatant was not applied. She somehow "escaped" and looking nothing like any other lifeform, secured transportation, making her way back to a region of space where her kind did not immediately destroy her transport.
She then gets a top secret assignment to capture a ship's captain. Remember it was her collaboration with humans that allowed the Union to destroy their super weapon, kill everyone on board, and capture key technology...the Krill must be very forgiving.
She undergoes a painful procedure to look human...something beyond the Union's capabilities. It also allows her to operate in bright like, perhaps a trainer they could share with the rest of the Krill species so clicking a dimmer switch to its highest setting doesn't melt them to death...a clear weakness.
Janel boards a Union vessel from a star base with a full record. This means the Krill have already hacked the Union's data and it's cyber threat detection as her record goes unchallenged. She is also keenly aware of ship's systems, language, and protocols...amazing for someone a year ago that had never met a human.
We then get to her transformation back to a Krill. It only takes hours, at best, and she seems perfectly fine with the change.
Finally at the end she is captured and released (a good decision given how easily she escaped the last time). In the goodbye exchange she seems to have softened her stance against her capture that has taken so much from her and her deeply held religious beliefs.
Love the show but this one was poorly written and over stretched the imagination.
Wow, just wow, no word gives it more meaning than this.
glenbording18 January 2019
This is what sci-fy is all about, the emotions, the twist and the lore building is fantastic. You get the same feeling like watching one of the great Star Trek episodes, or movies like Enemy Mine. This has the heart and soul all the other shows seem to lack, and it has that something more hope, something we don't get to see much in shows these days, this is what I have hoped STD would have been, but I don't care anymore about Star Trek it's The Orville we need to have more of. I really hope this comes out on some blue-rays soon. And that music was spot on, sad, funny and hopeful again :)
I loved it!
daugherb18 January 2019
In the tradition of Enemy Mine
mtahtali18 January 2019
Lots of heart
ebeckstr-125 January 2022
Of all the episodes thus far this one has the most heart. This show has struggled with the balance between farcical humor, down to earth witty humor, and heart. The Office managed to thread all three needles simultaneously. This show has yet to achieve the balance, but this particular episode has a lot of heart. The unusually long closing sequence of the episode, which is dialogue-free, is the most emotionally complex and sincere moment of the series thus far, and is genuinely moving.
Going it's own way whilst harking back to Trek perfectly.
nlink-218 January 2019
awesome episode of StarTrekOrville
annyard196018 January 2019
This was a great episode of StarTrekOrville no matter how you look at it. The music and acting at the end was absolutely perfect... where they could have easily hammed it up and ruined the episode. The really great thing is... his final decision will end up saving millions of lives by preventing all out war between the Krill and the Union. That payoff is yet to come, of course.
Solid TNG Episode
dream4lucas20 January 2019
A good all around episode. Ties in nicely with the first episode adding a much needed continuity touch. We also get a nice educational side story. Altough the plot of the episode is good it feels rushed due to the runtime of the episodes.
It's not TNG but it's the next best thing right now.
Fantastic
absolutelylucid3 May 2019
While watching this show I've been thrilled to see the spirit of classic Star Trek return to the air in an age where that property has been all but destroyed by poor management. I've wondered a bit if this show can truly cement itself as being on the same level, mainly because Seth will never be Picard, and the cast lacks any character as good as Elim Garak. But episodes like this one, in only its second season, give me more 'hope' that it may just find its way there somehow.
Much better
horst6918 January 2019
After the disaster of the first three episodes in season 2, this has been a great relief . Maybe the show has a future after all .
It's not as entertaining and involving as season 1, the humour is still absent and replaced by corny dialogue, but at least this episode was worth watching .
Here's hope some of the original humour will return, and the show won't just be another Star Trek clone .
It's not as entertaining and involving as season 1, the humour is still absent and replaced by corny dialogue, but at least this episode was worth watching .
Here's hope some of the original humour will return, and the show won't just be another Star Trek clone .
Not a sceptic anymore
PeterBanckSweden24 May 2019
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