I hate time travel and alternate universe storylines no matter what show/franchise they're part of. They just all ignore the butterfly effect, and go with the cliche of having the same people somehow meet up despite so much being different. So, when this episode mostly avoided that, it had my attention immediately. In fact, it almost seems as the writers were intent on avoiding that exact logical fallacy, putting the team together in a more logical fashion. Mostly. One cameo in particular was rather out of place, but insignificant and frankly welcome regardless.
The episode doesn't avoid all typical time travel cliches, though. For one, this time travel method seems to be one of those that come with an in explicable matter transporter as well, allowing an object to appear in a different part of the galaxy than it travels from. That would be the only way to time travel without a space ship as no location anywhere is static (if you went back in time but not space 1 second, you would be in open space, as Earth moves), but acknowledging that would have been appreciated. Heisenberg compensator, anyone?
I'm also curious as to when exactly time travel Grayson was informed about the Kaylon attack in enough detail that she knew the impact of Finn's relationship and could piece it together 7 years later. That had to be quite the briefing.
The music seemed off at times, though not as much so as Kaylon shooting accuracy. Stormtroopers 2.0 right there.
These logical fallacies (and others I'll leave unmentioned) are however nothing compared to most time travel stories, and overall, I approve. The overall story is good, and it makes sense within the Orville universe. The episode is well-produced, has decent acting, and some humor, without that overshadowing anything.
What I like best however, is the end. If this turns out to be the last episode of Orville ever, it concludes the series in a way that loops the story back on itself. After seeing the final scene, you could start over again with the pilot, and rewatch the series as if it picked up 5 years later - and continue doing that again and again.
The episode doesn't avoid all typical time travel cliches, though. For one, this time travel method seems to be one of those that come with an in explicable matter transporter as well, allowing an object to appear in a different part of the galaxy than it travels from. That would be the only way to time travel without a space ship as no location anywhere is static (if you went back in time but not space 1 second, you would be in open space, as Earth moves), but acknowledging that would have been appreciated. Heisenberg compensator, anyone?
I'm also curious as to when exactly time travel Grayson was informed about the Kaylon attack in enough detail that she knew the impact of Finn's relationship and could piece it together 7 years later. That had to be quite the briefing.
The music seemed off at times, though not as much so as Kaylon shooting accuracy. Stormtroopers 2.0 right there.
These logical fallacies (and others I'll leave unmentioned) are however nothing compared to most time travel stories, and overall, I approve. The overall story is good, and it makes sense within the Orville universe. The episode is well-produced, has decent acting, and some humor, without that overshadowing anything.
What I like best however, is the end. If this turns out to be the last episode of Orville ever, it concludes the series in a way that loops the story back on itself. After seeing the final scene, you could start over again with the pilot, and rewatch the series as if it picked up 5 years later - and continue doing that again and again.