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The Orville - Season 2

#21
I watched the second episode last night. The "homosexual" issue didn't really bother me, since that species doesn't have the same divisions as we do, but they could have explored the relationship issues without the cheap sex/porno jokes. Once again, what could have been a good concept was made much less watchable by the cheap jokes and references. The original Star Trek took a controversial stance on a topic with the first on screen inter-racial kiss. Just a wee (pardon the pun) difference in they to shock.

@hbarcat, maybe only a few moments of screen time was dedicated to the actual ceremony, but there were cheap jokes and references scattered through the entire show. It's really a shame - Seth is ruining his chance to make a legitimate name for himself in the industry. Sci find fans are about as accepting and open as there can be. I am about to bail and just watch DS9.
 
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#22
I watched the 2nd episode last night. It didn't bother me, I thought some interesting points were made, and the show held up - except for the gratuitous holodeck scenes, which I found not so much offensive as just unnecessary to continuing the story line. We get it, immersing yourself in fantasy and ignoring the person you love will cost you. Once scene would have gotten the point across.

I think the show is good, but sometimes a bit uneven. So were pretty much every one of the Star Trek series that The Orville clearly pays homage to. Both are flawed, but still worthy, like so much of life.
 
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#23
hbarcat said:
... To me, the point of every episode is to find what's truly important about everyday life. This is in stark contrast to the Star Trek universe, where the plot always revolves around some grand concept of universal importance...
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That's interesting. I'll have to take another look at it in that light.

The other day, a friend and I were telling a third friend about the show Stranger Things. The new guy asked what it's about, and while I was thinking about how to answer (secret government experiments, supernatural beings from another dimension, blah blah) my friend said "It's about friends, and growing up together". I was kind of taken aback, but then I thought, yeah ... that is what it's really about.
 
#24
buldog5151bass said:
@hbarcat, maybe only a few moments of screen time was dedicated to the actual ceremony, but there were cheap jokes and references scattered through the entire show. It's really a shame - Seth is ruining his chance to make a legitimate name for himself in the industry. DS9.
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After I read your comment I went back and watched the episode again* to see how many pee jokes there were.

-- During the introductory scenes where the concept of a urination ceremony is explained at the Orville officers meeting, there are 2 pee jokes. 1) "What happens if it's windy?" and 2) "If you need to take some time off from duty, feel free to relieve yourself."

-- For the next 95% of the episode there are perhaps 4 or 5 brief references to the urination ceremony but no jokes are made.

-- Near the end of the episode, during the actual ceremony, it's treated with 100% seriousness.

-- In the final scene, there is 1 pee joke. Bortus is asked if he washed his hands.



That's it. Exactly 3 potty jokes. 2 at the very beginning and 1 at the very end.** Zero jokes during the entire main part of the episode.

This is really interesting to me. How can some viewers remember "there were cheap jokes and references scattered through the entire show" when there were only 3 total such jokes and they were isolated from the main part of the episode?

This isn't a rhetorical question - I'd like to know the answer to this.


* While I was re-watching it, my father commented that he didn't like the episode because it was wasn't really science fiction but was more about the social and romantic relationships of the crew members. I replied that many Star Trek episodes are about that but they're still popular. Also, The Orville is pretty much blatant borrowing and reworking of actual Star Trek episodes. He answered that that's why he isn't a fan of Star Trek. To him, if it isn't pure science fiction, then it's a waste of time.

**It's possible I missed something in the last few seconds because my recording stopped just short of the end of the episode when the Captain is talking to the bartender.
 
#26
Two pee jokes, and numerous references. Just like in the the next episodes the gratuitous references to masturbation and other things when the other crew members were in the holodeck. Cheap and unnecessary. I guess you and I just have different expectations. Seth McFarlane appears to be an extremely intelligent and talented man. Is the Orville better than a lot of what is on TV today? Yes. Could it be a lot better, and maybe something special? Yes, and unfortunately (for me at least), he is unwilling to do that.
 
#27
buldog5151bass said:
Two pee jokes, and numerous references. Just like in the the next episodes the gratuitous references to masturbation and other things when the other crew members were in the holodeck. Cheap and unnecessary. I guess you and I just have different expectations. Seth McFarlane appears to be an extremely intelligent and talented man. Is the Orville better than a lot of what is on TV today? Yes. Could it be a lot better, and maybe something special? Yes, and unfortunately (for me at least), he is unwilling to do that.
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IMO, The first season of The Orville is better quality storytelling than the 1st season of any Star Trek iteration. I believe the reason some people dislike it is because it commits the sin of frequent use of "lowbrow" jokes. To sci-fi purists, a comedy/SF show is inexcusable, especially when it seems to be tarnishing the sacred universe of Star Trek.

I frequently hear from Star Trek fans their declaration of what Seth should do to make the show better. They think he should ditch the humor and treat the plot with more seriousness. They basically want Star Trek. But Seth is doing exactly what he wants to do , knowing that some people won't like it He has his own fans who will watch the show and many of them aren't ST fans.
 
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#28
I love that this show is angering the Morality Police. While I didn't find it to be even close to the best show I've seen, I do like it. I will continue to watch.

As to admitting you're homophobic, I guess that's the first step, but please examine this problem. It's worth getting over.
 
#30
DWBass said:
I do not want to see men kissing. Not going to get over it. Will just turn the channel.
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This is where I give Seth a lot of credit. He's often accused of going for the cheap laugh on the humor side and the trivial or mundane when it comes to story.

He could very easily generate some higher ratings if he had scenes of women kissing. I know that he feels strongly about gay issues and he obviously believes having scenes showing men kissing is a valid way to advance his ideology.

He surely knows that there will be potential viewers who will change the channell because of it.

Personally, it didn't bother me at all. I was more bothered by the line from the psychologist in the couples' therapy when she held Bortus absolutely blameless for his irresponsible, negligent, and reckless behavior and insisted that pornography addiction is "a disease like any other".
 
#34
I didn't watch season one. I would assume with MacFarlane involved, it's a comedy... but the teaser for season two had a lot of serious moments. If it's truly a comedy, Fox should play it as such. MacFarlane is a truly funny guy... why wouldn't you fully showcase that in the teaser?
 
#35
roller said:
I didn't watch season one. I would assume with MacFarlane involved, it's a comedy... but the teaser for season two had a lot of serious moments. If it's truly a comedy, Fox should play it as such. MacFarlane is a truly funny guy... why wouldn't you fully showcase that in the teaser?
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It’s not a comedy. Comedy is used, but the show is serious.
 
#37
I missed the first two episodes but caught the third & fourth

They further cemented my contention (Which others share) that the Orville is a better Star Trek series than Discovery

There is a definite Star Trek feel to it.
in the writing, dialogue, plots, music, etc.

And the appearance of people from various incarnations of Star Trek is cool as well.

It would be cool to see Shatner under a ton of makeup, play an alien--uncredited.
Just to see who caught it.

but the story is more important than that stuff.
 
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#39
I had high hopes for the show, watched most of season one and the last two shows from this season... I am done! Horrible dialogue, plots and acting.
I like Seth, he's a funny dude, but this show just isn't funny or interesting. So much potential, so little delivered.
Fishheadjoe
 

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