The first season had its strengths, but for every strength it seemed to have at least one deep flaw. Lorca wasn't everyone's cup of tea, but two episodes in with the arrival of Captain Pike, the exploratory tone of the show for which many Trekkies like myself flocked to The Orville is all but restored.
Exploratory missions to seek out new life and new civilizations, the main element that makes Star Trek Star Trek, are back. This episode had an excellent pure-Trek Prime Directive centered story, great acting, great writing, great direction (let's face it, anything Jonathan Frakes directs turns to pure gold), and an interesting moral complex.
Anson Mount is just an incredible addition to this cast, perfectly cast as Captain Pike. With Pike's leadership style on the bridge plus Saru finally gaining confidence to command it is beginning to feel more like an ensemble cast than a show revolving around Michael Burnham. I feel like that is exactly what this show needs, and with Kurtzman at the helm Discovery and Star Trek in general is moving in the right direction.
Exploratory missions to seek out new life and new civilizations, the main element that makes Star Trek Star Trek, are back. This episode had an excellent pure-Trek Prime Directive centered story, great acting, great writing, great direction (let's face it, anything Jonathan Frakes directs turns to pure gold), and an interesting moral complex.
Anson Mount is just an incredible addition to this cast, perfectly cast as Captain Pike. With Pike's leadership style on the bridge plus Saru finally gaining confidence to command it is beginning to feel more like an ensemble cast than a show revolving around Michael Burnham. I feel like that is exactly what this show needs, and with Kurtzman at the helm Discovery and Star Trek in general is moving in the right direction.