The Orville:New Horizons EP9 Domino Is A Masterclass In All Things Sci-Fi

L-R Mark Jackson (Isaac), Chad L. Coleman (Klyden), Peter Macon (Lt. Cmdr. Bortus), Seth MacFarlane (Captain Ed Mercer), Adrianne Palicki (Cmdr. Kelly Grayson), Anne Winters (Ensign Charly Burke), and Scott Grimes (Lt. Gordon Malloy) in The Orville: New Horizons 309 Domino. All photos courtesy of Hulu

Mercer: ‘For great achievements, two things are needed: a plan, and not quite enough time.’
Admiral Perry: Churchill.
Isaac: Leonard Bernstein.

Season three is not lacking in surprises. In Domino, we see the creation of an unbelievably powerful weapon that emboldens The Union to attempt a truce with the Kaylon, confident in the new weapon’s abilities to annihilate their enemies. Created on the Orville and operated by Isaac and Charly, the new weapon proves to be highly effective against the Kaylon, especially in the battle to save Xeleya from attacking forces. After two major skirmishes, the Kaylon relent their attacks, meet with representatives from the Union and agree to an immediate cease-fire with the promise that they will find a weakness in the weapon’s design soon. Undeterred by the threat, the Union begins preparations for the ceasefire, including drawing up the terms of the agreement, and the senior officers from the Orville enjoy some R&R at a little cabin in some woods involving good food, good music, and some really good booze. I’d say that’s a proper way to celebrate.

However, at dawn’s first light, while everyone but Talla and the kids are nursing hangovers, Admiral Halsey calls to inform them that there may have been an incident at Union Central and that may or may not have involved the theft of one weapon of mass destruction and now everyone is needed back at the office to figure out what happened and plan out the next steps. We soon learn that Admiral Perry (oh come on Sam) is the one who orchestrated the heist, taking the device to an awaiting Krill ship (Captained by Teyla) with the intent of him coming back to planet earth and turning himself in once the drop off has been completed. If the Union has the weapon but will not use it against the Kaylon, then the Krill, enabled by Perry, along with their new BFF The Moclans, will use it to destroy the Kaylons, preventing another war and/or a possible Kaylon/Union alliance. Sure, it’s mass genocide but what’s a few million dead Kaylons when compared to an incalculable amount of dead biologicals across the galaxy? The moral and ethical paradox here is astoundingly loud but only to those willing to listen.

Admiral Perry’s shuttle leaves just enough of a trail to give the Orville crew an idea of who Perry jetted off to meet with the weapon but when the trail grows cold Bortus is the one to provide insight into where the terrorists could be holed up. It seems Moclas has a brilliant weapons scientist with access to a quantum core and a facility with the resources to connect the Union’s weapon to the core and take out planet Kaylon without having to leave the comfort of the uninhabited planet. A bit of covert recon by the Orville confirms their suspicions and after a very awkward call to the Kaylon Primary and Admiral Halsey, a massive plan is put in place to get an away team into the facility to destroy the device and then bail. While the away team is heading down to the planet’s surface under the hail of heavy fire, a massive battle is happening above the planet with Kaylon and Union ships battling Krill and Moclan fighters for control of the skies and it’s phenomenal to watch.

The relatively unscathed away team makes it into the compound and into the control room where the Moclan scientists have already started the device and cannot stop it. Above the facility, a team of Pteradon fighters led by Lt Cmdr LaMarr is trying to do as much damage to the facility’s focal point where the pulse from the weapon would fire from, and it’s proving to be far more dangerous and difficult than anticipated. With no other options but to overload the core and blow the facility up, Charly demands everyone go back to the ship while she stays behind and completes the coding for the overload. Unwilling to do so but knowing it’s their last option to prevent the upcoming genocide, the crew leaves, with a belligerent Teyla (captured earlier in the episode) in tow. Fair warning, Charly’s last words to Amanda right before the explosion are something you can’t shake even after the episode ends.

The death of Ensign Burke devastates the Orville crew, with a deeply moving eulogy delivered by Captain Mercer that tries to balance the pain and loss of their friend and family with the promise that it was not in vain. Because of her sacrifice, the Kaylons agree to a peace treaty with the Union and even discuss a possible future Union membership. With Teyla in custody, the possibility of Ed bringing Anya to live with him is floated but, at least for now, Teyla isn’t having any of it because it wouldn’t bring glory to Avis. This is going to be one hell of a custody battle.

Written by Brannon Braga and André Bormanis and directed by Jon Cassar, Domino is lofty in every aspect and delivers nothing but the highest quality of action, storytelling, music score, and of course VFX. Every cast member was incredibly moving to watch; it would be damn near impossible to choose any single standout performance.

Building a legacy series like The Orville is no easy task, especially when done through, in, and around a global pandemic but here they are doing it, and doing it very very well.

Domino, along with all previous episodes, is available to stream right here on the one and only Hulu.