"The Orville" is Star Trek You Need to See!

11.05.2017 – Catching up on the first two episodes of “The Orville” for the first time, which recently aired its 8th episode in the US and it seems this “Star Trek” rip-off, is getting some positive raves from longtime Trekkies. Taking a look at the pilot episode “Old Wounds” and “Command Performance”, it appears this series is like your alternate ‘Star Trek Flavor’ with nostalgia from the time the series which inspired it was campy at the same time the 'usual' Trek you know.

While CBS and Netflix are well ahead in getting “Star Trek Discovery” underway with its series Fox has gone to renew “The Orville” for a second season. Though it’s still getting some negative reviews most of them are directly targeting Seth Macfarlane who is the creator, executive producer and taking the lead role as Captain Ed Mercer, the series is not entirely that bad.

Honestly, this may sound like a lopsided review but the more I watch an episode of this series it takes me back from the “The Next Generation” era of Star Trek that doesn’t take itself too seriously. I agree in one thing about the series about Seth Macfarlane’s performance, but entirely this series has its good side to look in its entirety. If you haven’t seen an episode well why not try watching the pilot since its directed by Jon Favreau.

Rooted in Trek

The quality of its maiden season judging from its first two episodes you’ll be surprised that it’s also co-executive produced by Brannon Braga. He’s the helmsman to Rick Berman, who was the original torchbearer of the former Star Trek series that they both produced in the past prior to the JJ Abrams films and Discovery.

So it’s no surprise that the feel and visuals of the series have “Star Trek” written all over it. MacFarlane approached some of the best people behind old trek series with some inspiration to bring “The Orville” series its classic trek nostalgia. If you heard the names Jonathan Frakes and Robert Duncan McNeil you got trek royalty with these actors taking the director’s chair for some of the episodes. Matter of fact Duncan McNeil who portrayed Lt. Paris on Star Trek Voyager directed the second episode.

Go Beyond where no Sci-Fi Comedy has Gone Before

Yes, it rips off Star Trek, obviously. It also takes some elements from the Twilight Zone as MacFarlane revealed in SDCC back in July. Though I’m not a fan of his humor or even ‘The Family Guy’ that he also produced he sure has the right people in the cast that’ll get any Trekkie’s curiosity.

The set up with Ed Mercer as Captain with his ex-wife taking the first officer is sure going to bring humorous drama in the bridge. Based in the episodes that followed it has some interesting guests, but like anyone who has to find this series interesting, there won’t be any spoilers to reveal on the who’s who.

Overall “The Orville” can be humorless in its first episodes, but it slowly grows on you the more you see it and get that familiar ‘trek feeling’ that you’re watching a series that never even was ‘Star Trek.’