The Orville - Season 2

[Killed_by_Death]

So, he's borrowing from all types of Sci-Fi, not just Star Trek

 

[Alkali Ike]

So, he's borrowing from all types of Sci-Fi, not just Star Trek

There were also conspicuous nods to Star Wars in Part 2.

 

[hbarcat]

It's been discussed elsewhere, but yeah--most of the speech patterns on ST ( all of them), tend to be a bit "formal"--something that doesn't happen in reality.

Most TV dramas conspicuously avoid portraying certain activities of daily living. This can sometimes leave the viewer to question their absence -- such as when the plot has a large number of people occupying a confined space for an extended period of time and apparently no one ever has to use the toilet.

A nice touch with this last episode was how they dealt with the entire ship's crew being held captive for hours in the cargo hold. They designated a back corner where everyone could take a turn doing their business.

Sure, it's literally potty humor, but it really was pretty funny.

 

[zontar]

There were also conspicuous nods to Star Wars in Part 2.

I noticed some as well.
Saw shades of Star Trek (TOS, TNG & DS9-at least), Star Wars & Doctor Who, as well as some old movies.

 

[Gorn]

There are no shades. There are storylines directly stolen from great episodes of Star Trek. Bank robbers don't draw inspiration from the idea of taking money from cash drawers and vaults. They just steal it. I wish Discovery would use some shades of old Star Trek stories.

 

[zontar]

wish Discovery would use some shades of old Star Trek stories.

If they did I wouldn't notice, I stopped watching a while back.
As has been said-The Orville is better Star Trek than Discovery.

As for shades--I guess it depends how you define the word/concept.

 

[HaphAsSard]

If they did I wouldn't notice, I stopped watching a while back.
As has been said-The Orville is better Star Trek than Discovery.

Well, The Orville is a TOS knockoff; it could be argued it's better Trek than even DS9, depending on how narrow one's definition of ST is. Except it isn't.
And as you've said, if Discovery had come to be better Star Trek than The Orville you wouldn't know anyway, would you?

 

[Downunderwonder]

That Krill Admiral sure got theological at the right time instead of jumping in on his tactical advantage after the Cylons I mean CyberMen I mean Kalons took off.

 

[buldog5151bass]

Seems like whoever is writing the scripts now, they seem to finally be creating a early world, and writing actual stories.

I don't care if it is a ST SW ripoff, tribute whatever. I want good shows, and they are starting to deliver.

Star Wars A New Hope could have been done as science fiction, Western, cartoon, or any other genre. It was a good story with great characters.

 

[hbarcat]

I thought last night's episode about the time capsule was pretty lacklustre.

Is it just me or is every subplot about Bortus doing something weird?

 

[zontar]

I thought last night's episode about the time capsule was pretty lacklustre.

Is it just me or is every subplot about Bortus doing something weird?

That Bortus thing is part of the charm of the show, I think.
I do like the stories like the previous three episodes, as I posted earlier.
But somehow I didn't mind this one so much, although it was predictable in many ways.

 

[Bard2dbone]

Strangely, I like that the Bortus/Klyden relationship is strained as all get out. And even with a real reason (Topa's gender reassignment)

On some shows, if they include gay characters in a relationship, they tend to polish up everything, like they aren't allowed to have relationships/marriages that just aren't going to work long term. Or they are. But you're not allowed to see the slow degradation of the marriage/relationship/whatever. It happens with straight pairs, too. But not as strictly. There, it's more likely to show things falling apart. With a same sex pair, it's usually either start->DISASTER! or Start - > fine -> fine -> fine -> DISASTER!. That's not how real life usually works. Usually it's more like : Start -> fine -> less fine -> still pretty good - > not so great -> looking rough -> DISASTER!

Although the Moclan 'divorce' was a bit much.

 

[hbarcat]

Strangely, I like that the Bortus/Klyden relationship is strained as all get out. And even with a real reason (Topa's gender reassignment)

On some shows, if they include gay characters in a relationship, they tend to polish up everything, like they aren't allowed to have relationships/marriages that just aren't going to work long term. Or they are. But you're not allowed to see the slow degradation of the marriage/relationship/whatever. It happens with straight pairs, too. But not as strictly. There, it's more likely to show things falling apart. With a same sex pair, it's usually either start->DISASTER! or Start - > fine -> fine -> fine -> DISASTER!. That's not how real life usually works. Usually it's more like : Start -> fine -> less fine -> still pretty good - > not so great -> looking rough -> DISASTER!

Although the Moclan 'divorce' was a bit much.

The Bortus/Klyden relationship is just unappealing to me because it's clearly dysfunctional and there is a profound mutual disrespect going on. I know that describes a lot of real relationships and I suppose that's what Seth is aiming at, but it still makes me uncomfortable.

I want to like Bortus but he really is kind of a jerk. And Klyden is just rotten. If I knew someone like that in real life I'd punch him in the face.

 

[hbarcat]

That Bortus thing is part of the charm of the show, I think.
I do like the stories like the previous three episodes, as I posted earlier.
But somehow I didn't mind this one so much, although it was predictable in many ways.

There was nothing at all in this last episode that I could point to as wrong. But it was predictable and I was actually bored watching it and found myself waiting for some of the scenes to end.

I did laugh out loud when Bortus revealed his stash of cigarettes in the sofa cusion.
Unfortunately, the fight scene between Bortus and Klyden made me very uncomfortable because it hit me personally. I once had to intervene in a very violent "domestic dispute" with a gay couple (alcohol and drugs were involved) where i was attacked with a pipe and I was compelled to really hurt someone in self defense.

Obviously not the fault of the show, but seeing Bortus and Klyden in a physical fight made me squirm.

 

[buldog5151bass]

Actually, I think the last two episodes were a big step up in quality of writing. Gratuitous jokes at a minimum, characters with legitimate challenges.

Good stories would work in any genre - just because the episode wasn't about zipping through space doesn't mean it wasn't a great space story.

 

[steve_ss]

The last two, maybe three, episodes were written by Seth himself. I'm sure there are other writers who help, but his name is the only one on the credits.

I might have liked if the Orville people had looked up the phone girl in their computer and found out she had become famous after the time capsule had been placed. Or her great great.... grand child was an Orville crew member, or maybe an ex-girlfriend Gordon dated? Or maybe she had become a mass killer and Gordon tried to clear her name 400 hundred years later. Either way, I kind of liked the episode. Nice and light after some pretty heavy ones.

I liked seeing Tim Russ, Tuvok from ST Voyager, as the time capsule scientist guy. Nice touch. I thought the boyfriend of the phone girl was going to be Wil Wheaton from ST Next Gen when I first saw him. Figured out it was someone else in the close up shot.

 

[SharkSandwich]

Invalid Link Removed

Leighton Meester needs a full time role!!

 

[bluesblaster]

never heard of her before the other night, what a hottie

 

[KohanMike]

I watched the 1st season and mostly couldn't take his humor, as with any of his shows, way to juvenile for me. I watched the first episode this season, then took it off my series recording list.

 

[Alkali Ike]

I loved “Lasting Impressions”. Well maybe not “loved”, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.

The cigarette gag made me lol several times. I must be going senile.

I do agree that there’s something “off” about the relationship between Bortus and Klyden, but hey, they’re Moclans.