The Orville (TV Series) All the World Is Birthday Cake (2019) User Reviews

Wait a second...

[Loadedcarp · 8/10 · 29 January 2019]

Kelly and Bortus killed a BUNCH of those people, so they were just let go for the happy ending?

Anyway, that was a fun episode. I don't take the show too seriously, so I happen to enjoy it. :)

Have fun, y'all.

HISHE

[isabellacheng · 8/10 · 30 January 2019]

I kinda expected the resolution to be Ed arguing that Kelly and Bortus were born on different planets with different alignment of stars...

It's entertainment not real life

[mattbogart-21044 · 8/10 · 27 January 2019]

I've noticed that some reviews are so serious that every detail is analysed to death. There will be blogs analysing this episode for weeks. Do people have actual lives or do they just watch tv programmes and criticise them as if they are all important and hours of discussion is warranted? Those people blaming poor writers for destroying the universe or whatever should get out more or become writers themselves and show how clever they are. This was a entertaining episode, but for goodness sake stop taking it so seriously! It's tv ..... not religion!!!

The feel of Trek and the comedy of galaxy quest, whats not to like.

[glenbording · 9/10 · 25 January 2019]

Really loved this episode, it feels like it could have been in any of the old trek shows, sadly not the new one as this actually have something to say about society and belief, and they only do action it seems. But here we finally get the questioned asked what if a society accepted ridicules beliefs and went with it for thousands of years, and how would they react if they are suddenly confronted with belief and sciences. Really hope there is more to come for years on :) keep it up.

Good idea, weak story

[DutchDave · 8/10 · 18 June 2019]

I liked the idea, and the fact that the show tries to tell more complex stories. I don't mind some illogical stuff here and there, but the holes in this story were pretty big.

prepare before you make contact

[petersjoelen · 6/10 · 26 February 2019]

That was one of the things that was not very realistic in this episode , the lack of preparation before they make first contact with a new world . The other even more irritating thing was that Borus and Kelly were not even allowed to defend themselves , not even with there lives at stake . Maybe a better way of plot development could have been to abduct the main character from the new world and convince him of his errors . But ok that is just my idea .

Looks, sounds and feels more Trek-like!

[safeJ · 9/10 · 25 January 2019]

Agree for the most part with what jimdarling and MrGoog have said in their reviews. Best episode for me since "Home." Pleased to see no significant emphasis on romance in this episode. What impressed me most was the music. There were many threads of melody which appeared to me to be from such Trek masterpieces as "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan" and the Klingon segments in several of the movies. I honestly don't know how they got around copyright laws, this music was so similar, especially in the space flight scenes.

SPOILER SECTION: This show also paralleled the original Star Trek in its portrayal of social inequalities and prejudices. We have prison camps for people with the wrong astrological sign rather than unfavored national or religious origins. Surprised at the apparent machine-gun killing of prison guards by Bortus and Kelly. No mention of this in the balance of the episode. Doubt the Union would favor this.

Weak points as mentioned in other reviews include the pseudo star made and launched within 12 hours, and literally just seconds before Bortus and Kelly were to be executed by firing squad! See jimdarling's scientific explanation. Also, if negotiation by the captain could have prevented Bortus and Kelly from being sent to the prison camp in the first place, there wouldn't have been a story.

Overall, if one doesn't overthink the science or logic of the episode, it was best of season to date.

Explorers go boldly without fear or forethought.

[redpin-70557 · 6/10 · 26 January 2019]

While not the worst episode so far in season two, it's still not up to season one standard.

My gripes: Prior to landing on a newly discovered planet one would expect explorers to remain in orbit and gather information about the planets inhabitants, like, their laws and culture. But no, our intrepid Orville adventurers just arrive and dispatch the senior officers to do the meet and greet.

The story could still have been as it is but the cultural belief that the plot revolves around could have been undiscovered due to it being of such a highly sensitive nature.

On landing their shuttle on the new planet, in the background we see a crowd of people being controlled by what appear to be soldiers carrying sub-machine guns. Also, it's too much of a giveaway when we see the leaders of these people dressed in grey uniforms reminiscent of Nazi uniforms.

The show progressed fairly predictably from that point on-wards.

I feel sorry for the actors who play Isaac (the robotoid) and Lt. Cmdr. John LaMarr (Chief Engineer). Both had very few lines or screen time. It's almost as if they have been relegated to bit players.

Finally, the new actor that takes the role of Chief security officer to replace Alara Kitan (the strong one) doesn't impress me so far. Maybe I'm still getting over the loss of Halston Sage (Alara) from the cast.

Yes, I'll watch the next episode, only because there's no other sci-fi show set in space currently worth watching.

Astrology is Stupid

[Bukronik · 10/10 · 1 March 2022]

Enough said. I know too many people who love astrology. Astrology is stupid. Great job Seth. I need to have 150 characters for my review but this is all I got.

I guess all the haters of this show.... You have no valid argument. It's either not nerdy enough or too nerdy. The acting is "forced"? What are you talking about? This show is great.

So so episode

[rami_movie_guy · 6/10 · 25 January 2019]

Doesn't seem very well written:

Starting is weak, then it gets a bit better, then the ending solution is so stupid...

The Orville is back!

[mattoid-45605 · 10/10 · 25 January 2019]

Just when I was ready to bail on this show, this episode drops! It was killer! Interesting, engaging, action packed, suspenseful! It was like all the episodes of season one that hooked me into this series in the first place! Welcome back! I'm actually excited to see what comes next week! Summary:

All the World is Birthday Cake

[bobcobb301 · 7/10 · 25 January 2019]

After a slow start to the second season The Orville seems to be finding its groove a bit.

Too political for my liking, same as last week, but they are at least telling us interesting stories. The comedy feels more authentic right now which is something they struggled to incorporate in the first season.

Not a good episode....

[dnovo-141-24243 · 4/10 · 26 January 2019]

Its wonderful to have the Orville back but this particular episode was not one of its best offerings. I would say it has been the worst episode so far in the series:

1. Sloppy representation of a potential First Contact, including rookie mistakes from a senior crew that you would think would have been better trained as to how to manage themselves diplomatically in these situations.

2. The whole incongruence of the Astrology/Birthday premise. Astrology as we know it and time in years as we know it are only relevant in our earth and our solar system. How can you determine age in a foreign solar system?, not to mention the teeth piece removal procedure to determine birth date on a new species,,,,,

3. The solar sail, "we will fool their telemetry", create a star where there was once a black hole and stop a certain execution of our heroes in a snap.... Supended disbelief is not enough.

The premise was interesting, the script was lazy and the execution was mostly awful with a few honorable exceptions. Just saying it like I saw it. I still love the series though. I hope this was a very infrequent exception.

Hey, gorgeous, what's your sign?

[MrGoog · 10/10 · 25 January 2019]

******SPOILER ALERT******

"All the world is birthday cake, so take a piece, but not too much." - George Harrison

Star Trek connections - This is the 2nd episode directed by Robert Duncan McNeill. The mult-talented John Rubenstein, who played the Prefect, appeared in Star Trek - Voyager and Star Trek - Enterprise.

Seth MacFarlane connections - Ted Danson, who played Admiral Perry, worked with MacFarlane in American Dad and "Ted".

In this episode, Seth MacFarlane targets the most popular phony science in our society: astrology. (I'm certain that astrology is bunk because I'm a Taurus.)

We are introduced to the Orville's new Security Chief: Lieutenant Talla Keyali (played by Jessica Szohr, who worked with MacFarlane in "Ted 2"). She has a checkered past, especially after she belted her previous Captain, but Ed wants another Xelayahan for the post. Besides, when you think about the eccentricities of the crew, someone like Talla would be a good fit.

The 2nd planet in the Gamma Velorum system has a humanoid population who have achieved 20th-Century technology. The people call their world Regor 2 and send a simple microwave transmission into the universe. The message: "Is anyone out there?"

A few years later, on the Orville, Kelly is anticipating a birthday party. Since Bortus' birthday is only 6 days later, she suggests a joint party, but Bortus declines. Then the Orville receives the message from Regor 2. Thus, the Orville can initiate First Contact! The entire crew is excited about meeting a new civilization.

At first, everything goes well. A shuttle carrying Ed, Kelly, Claire, Bortus, and Talla lands at the central-government area. Ed and his crew are welcomed warmly by the Prefect. The Regorians give Claire and Talla a tour of a hospital. Claire and Talla witness a premature birth by Caesarian-section, even though the mother had no health issues. This makes Claire uneasy.

At the state dinner, everything goes well until Kelly casually mentions her birthday and that Bortus' birthday is only 6 days later. Kelly says that a First Contact is a wonderful birthday present, but the Prefect and the other Regorians are suddenly enraged. Kelly and Bortus are arrested and the other officers are taken for "processing." That processing involves taking tooth samples to determine the exact ages of the officers.

The horrible truth: Regorian society is controlled by astrology. Kelly and Bortus were born under the sign of Giliac; this, supposedly, makes them violent and dangerous. The signs of the others (Panaji, Corobahn, and Valeigh) are not a problem, so the Prefect lets them leave. But he refuses to release Kelly and Bortus. Instead, they are placed in a prison camp where they would stay for the rest of their lives.

Ed contacts Admiral Perry, but he refuses to let Ed use force to rescue Kelly and Bortus. Instead, Ed tries to negotiate with the Prefect. However, the Prefect won't listen to anything which challenges Regorian beliefs.

Bortus and Kelly are interred with other Giliacs, who have never tried to escape from their prison. They always were told that they belong there. During their 4-week internment, Kelly delivers a baby girl for a Giliac couple, while Bortus comments, "It is much easier with an egg." However, now Regorians are under the sign of Wasanda; supposedly, all Wasandas are destined to be great leaders. Thus, the prison guards forcibly take the girl from her mother. That is the last straw for Kelly. She and Bortus start a violent escape attempt but are stopped at the gate.

Talla gives John and Isaac an idea for freeing Kelly and Bortus: turn Regorian astrology on its head. When the Regorians started basic communities - 3122 years earlier - a star in the constellation of Giliac became a black hole. This frightened the primitive Regorians into fearing all Giliacs. John and Gordon deploy a solar sail that would reflect sunlight at the position of the black hole; a jamming device on the sail would make the Regorians believe that it's a star. When the Regorians see the fake star in the constellation of Giliac, they no longer believe that Giliacs are violent. All of the Giliac prisoners - including Kelly and Bortus - are released.

Obviously, this episode didn't focus mainly on Talla. Instead, we were merely introduced to someone who, as Ed said, has "big shoes to fill" in replacing Alara. But, so far, I like Talla.

Better late then never, outshines past 4 episodes

[MoistMovies · 8/10 · 25 January 2019]

I was concerned the remaining episodes would be marginal or bad like the first 3 (4th was good but i was concerned it was going to be the exception among a sea of bad episodes) . But in this weeks episode we are back again to the roots that made the show really likable in the first season.

The new cast member works, the story is reminiscent of trek but still its own thing, there was no unnecessary relationship drama and it was a true science fiction theme.

I can only hope the rest of the season sticks to this level of accomplishing filling the void that trek fans all over desire to be filled. Its a sad time to say this when a new trek series is currently airing, but as many agree with. That series is a entirely different series with thin trek shell, and i couldnt get past 4 episodes of it.

Unfortunately...

[nnom35 · 7/10 · 27 January 2019]

...the subtext was the star of this episode...and the exact people who need it either won't watch or it'll go warp speed over their heads.

SAD.

Yet again Macfarlane gives us something special.

[jtins · 10/10 · 25 January 2019]

This is seriously great stuff. 'Nuff said. Go watch.

Intriguing theme and setup, very weak solution

[grantss · 6/10 · 28 January 2023]

A previously unknown planet makes contact with the Orville, making for the Orville's first First Contact. The planet is developed to around the level of 20th/21st century Earth. When, at a dinner with leaders of the planet Kelly and Bortus reveal their birthdays are soon, they are promptly arrested and sent to a prison camp. The planet is deeply superstitious and uses star signs to prejudge people's characters: Kelly and Bortus are, by their definition, criminals.

An episode that started well, with the Orville celebrating its first First Contact. This is essentially the Orville's mission - finding unknown, uncharted planets and making contact with them - so, after 17 episodes we at last have the Orville's purpose being fulfilled.

The astrology/superstition thing was interesting. Another deeper theme of Seth MacFarlane's, hitting out at primitive beliefs.

This is where the good stuff stopped though. The solution is clumsy and relies on so many things going right (someone noticing it for one!). Plus, after a rather solid setup it all gets resolved in a rush - pacing is incredibly inconsistent.

It also would be nice if, for once, Ed would use force to sort out these clashes with primitive civilisations. His 2ic and 3ic are being held in a work camp with no chance of release just because the savages on the planet don't like their birthdays and he's orders are to just leave them there! Vaporising a building or two on the planet would quickly make the savages release Kelly and Bortus.

As good as anything from TNG.

[jtins · 10/10 · 25 January 2019]

What I said in the heading. The only thing missing from The Orville is Guinan. Oh, and Seven.

10 more seasons please.

Bleh

[lex-26-597796 · 7/10 · 28 January 2019]

Good episode but I'm not a fan of the new security officer. Wish they stuck with Patrick Warburton's weird elephant guy, haha.

Why were they released?

[rickmartyncd · 8/10 · 16 April 2021]

I enjoyed the episode very much, however, I have to wonder, why were the two officers released from custardy when, during their escape attempt, they appeared to shoot and kill several of the guards.

This does seem very unlikely, especially as they were placed in the camp in case they acted just like they did.

That said, I love the show and I'm looking forward to season 3.

Honestly just invade them

[ethanlenz-06120 · 6/10 · 29 May 2023]

Why do they have to be so perfect and try to be diplomatic. I know at some point it was mentioned that it's a policy they don't invade civilizations that are far less advanced because it's unfair. But if a world is keeping your men hostage, be a strong real military and invade and conquer them. Implement better ideologies and fix the one that they currently believe. If not then at least you have control and you can stop the internment camps. Keep it to just them hating the Giliacs instead of basically destroying their lives. I know the orville is an exploratory vessel but they should at least have some soldiers stationed to prevent situations like these.

I love The Orville, but this was a terrible episode

[klchu · 2/10 · 20 April 2019]

This episode centers around a trope that can be interesting, but this one feels tired. Also, there were just too many liberties taken to make the trope work, so no one acted logically.

Problems:

1. Never once is the idea of The Orville just taking away Kelly and Bortus even mentioned. This should be the first thing Mercer asks, but instead he tries to reason with them that their entire society is wrong.

2. The fake star was way too close to the planet to work. No amount of "jamming" can fake location.

3. The idea that people would notice this star while an execution is happening, and interrupt said execution is also ridiculous.

4. It is stated that no one knew the reasons behind that astrological sign being considered "bad" but suddenly everyone knows the reason as soon as the star appears.

Bortus Rocks..

[zimmerblitz · 8/10 · 29 March 2020]

Just saying. I know some people don´t like Comander Bortus, but i do. Congratulations Peter Macon, you make Worf look like a puppy. Ja´loja !

Ode to Next Generation?

[robinlamb2000 · 10/10 · 26 January 2019]

Similar plot to Star Trek: Next Generation's "Justice."