Welcome to The Orville.
Photo courtesy of Orville Wikipedia
Seth MacFarlane’s The Orville wasn’t exactly well received by fans and critics alike when it premiered in September of 2017. They criticized its humor, its perceived lack of authenticity, and its seemingly straight out of the box replication of Gene Roddenberry’s Star Trek franchise. However, those who looked through the online disdain and chatter to see the depth of potential this series had have been rewarded many times over for waiting on their proverbial diamond in the rough. Season Two not only came out the gate swinging with confidence and tenacity, it’s finale shined with facets of well crafted visual and auditory art that has set a new bar for Sci Fi TV.
Opening on a high note. Season Two hits the ground running by revisiting the past as Bortus and Klydon prepare for the future in Ja’ loja. Photo courtesy of sciencefiction. com
Winding elements in from season one, such as Topa’s forced sex change or the struggles of Ed and Kelly’s interpersonal relationship, season two is still has its own separate journey with its own storyline themed with very relatable and, at times, controversial topics that encourage discussion and provoke debate, which is a fantastic thing to see.
Love can transcend many things, but what about reality? Leighton Meester guest stars opposite Scott Grimes in Lasting Impressions as a love interest existing in another time and place. Photo courtesy of trek movie. com
Issues such as racism, sexism, and playing politics all the way through to genocide and war are handled with maturity and depth while interwoven with every day life needs and wants. That’s no easy task, but they get it done in spades.
A warm send off for a respected and much admired member of the crew in episodes 8, Identity. Respected and admired until Isaac becomes pro genocide and wants to assist in killing all biologicals. That’s typically a turn off. Photo courtesy of Den Of Geek
On top of solid storylines and fantastic action sequences, you have absolutely brilliant special effects created by the geniuses at FuseFX and Pixomondo who created multi universes, nebulas, and battle scenes that had even the most harden Sci Fi veterans making rain compliments on the series. Pair that with the deeply inspiring music scores via Joe McNeely, Andrew Cottee, Bruce Broughton, and John Debney recorded with a live orchestra, and you have utter magic before you.
Here’s hoping we get another season of fun and intriguing guest stars, incredibly talented directors, plot twists, throw backs, brilliant special effects, and music scores that inspire.