The Orville

:

Season 1
  • Network: FOX , HULU
  • Series Premiere Date: Sep 10, 2017
Season #: 3, 2, 1
User Score
8.4

Universal acclaim- based on 1016 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 877 out of 1016
  2. Mixed: 46 out of 1016
  3. Negative: 93 out of 1016
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  1. RADErX4
    Apr 20, 2019
    0
    This was abysmal..a show that is inherently flawed in conceptualization..it doesn't know what it wants to be.... it's not STNG and not quite Galaxy Quest, and fails miserably at being in between.
  2. Rakshall
    Feb 16, 2019
    3
    Has potential ... but unfortunately its completely destroyed by frequent unfunny and embarrassing toilet-level "gags". They have no real purpose other than shatter any viewer immersion in the world. Its really hard to watch. Its a shame because under this cesspool there is occasional good and deeper story, but one has to be really immune to poor "humor" to see it.
  3. mdiperna
    Feb 12, 2019
    0
    A show that can literally take you on a space trip and make you feel the excitement of traveling the Universe, is an amazing feat! As a child, I couldn't wait to watch Lost In Space, Star Trek, and Battle Star Galactic. These shows were visually exhilarating and creative in their depiction of space and other life. The Orville is such a journey. The Universe, the many planets and theA show that can literally take you on a space trip and make you feel the excitement of traveling the Universe, is an amazing feat! As a child, I couldn't wait to watch Lost In Space, Star Trek, and Battle Star Galactic. These shows were visually exhilarating and creative in their depiction of space and other life. The Orville is such a journey. The Universe, the many planets and the possible life out there, is the most exciting and hopeful thought anyone can have. Seth's creation helps to continue the dream that everyone, regardless of age, must have. There is nothing more exciting that these kind of space exploration stories! I hope Seth can continue to make many more seasons!!!… Expand
  4. Karsazilla
    Jan 31, 2019
    0
    This season the Orville has been a drag to watch, to many SJW references and not a lot of scifi. How do you make a parody about sci fi and turn it into this? No real conflict at all just 1 episode so far vs the bad guys and its 6 episodes in. Not enough to keep me watching.
  5. Nemo888
    Jan 6, 2019
    3
    Poorly done Star Trek fan fiction IMO. I don't get how some people like it.
  6. Tiger_X
    Dec 31, 2018
    0
    Watched every single episode. Laughed once.

    Story: 0/10 Humor: 0/10 CGI: 4/10 Acting: 2/10 If The Orville is a comedy, it completely fails at that. If this is sci-fi, it's not cool or interesting. If this wasn't a spoof on Star Trek - I would have canceled after two or three episodes. It doesn't improve in anyway over the course of season one either. Instead, the characters only    Watched every single episode. Laughed once.

    Story: 0/10
    Humor: 0/10
    CGI: 4/10
    Acting: 2/10

    If The Orville is a comedy, it completely fails at that. If this is sci-fi, it's not cool or interesting. If this wasn't a spoof on Star Trek - I would have canceled after two or three episodes. It doesn't improve in anyway over the course of season one either. Instead, the characters only devolve into more awkward less entertaining versions of themselves.

    The Metacritic user score for The Orville is woefully unreliable in this case. Here are a few critic quotes that sum up my feelings best:

    "Moved from one lull to another."

    "Have aliens kidnapped MacFarlane and replaced him with a clone who doesn't know how to make funny TV?"

    "A superficial and undistinguished voyage."    … Expand
  7. cinemabon
    Apr 8, 2018
    0
    I've tried several times to watch this show and all I can do is laugh at its phony premise as being science fiction. This is more about Seth McFarland than it is about telling a good story. Not only is the acting and the scripts terrible, it isn't even decent sci-fi. Forget it. YouTube has better stories than this junk.
  8. tasmaniandevil
    Mar 6, 2018
    3
    This review is based only on the first episode because that's all I needed to see. If not for the simply gorgeous set designs and CGI I would've given this a 2 out of 10. The jokes don't land. The character interaction is awkward. Scenes that I assume should've been emotional were not. The final resolution does not feel earned because there is no suspense. I was just not emotionallyThis review is based only on the first episode because that's all I needed to see. If not for the simply gorgeous set designs and CGI I would've given this a 2 out of 10. The jokes don't land. The character interaction is awkward. Scenes that I assume should've been emotional were not. The final resolution does not feel earned because there is no suspense. I was just not emotionally invested. Additionally to all that, there is not one character I like. The main character is boring and uncharismatic. I hate the fact that the first episode set up his cheating wife to be a sympathetic, helpful figure that had hints towards potentially becoming a love interest. I do give partial blame to the music score that was not very emotional or well done as well as the unsuccessful framing of the shots which, I think, along with some editing pacing wise, could have saved this episode and kept me watching.… Expand
  9. Ededed
    Jan 3, 2018
    1
    This show doesn’t know what it’s trying to be. It’s all over the place. It tries to be a comedy, but also tries for dramatic situations and social commentary. Does not do any of those things well.

    Could do without the political and social issues ‘cause the forced way they do it, it plays weak, stereotypical, and unfocused. A few episodes in we are given Rob Lowe in blue makeup to give    This show doesn’t know what it’s trying to be. It’s all over the place. It tries to be a comedy, but also tries for dramatic situations and social commentary. Does not do any of those things well.

    Could do without the political and social issues ‘cause the forced way they do it, it plays weak, stereotypical, and unfocused. A few episodes in we are given Rob Lowe in blue makeup to give the first officer a pass on the infidelity that was the trigger event in the breakup between her and the captain. She is now the victim? No one knew about this aspect of that particular species?

    An obvious ripoff of Star Trek for certain. They’ve been careful to label fictional future technologies with different names, but they have warp drive, a robot crewman, and a holodeck (the weak literary device to let the writers stray into any setting). Interesting that they opted out of a matter transporter clone. Has most of the stereotypical characters as well. Hoped for better and if better doesn’t show itself, will be taking it off my DVR record list.

    Find it interesting the reviews have been mostly all or nothing. Either you really like this show or you really hate it! I understand why people want to like it during a time when Star Trek Discovery is marginal and not worth subscribing to CBS All Access. I just cannot understand how a show that is so close to plagiarism and a weak copy job at that actually wins over such a large fan base. Guess that’s par for the YouTube generation.    … Expand
  10. hegyitaho
    Dec 24, 2017
    2
    lowbrow, unfunny, cringefest. i could barely sit through the pilot, if this gets much better afterwards then sorry.
    it should be always suspicious when either the critics or users hate something this much.
  11. genepoz
    Nov 24, 2017
    2
    (Written after the laugh-killingly dead serious plot of Thanksgiving's show!) "Hi. I'm Seth McFarland, creator of 'Family Guy' and other low-brow comedies. I fooled the Fox Network into thinking that 'The Orville' would be a hilarious, laugh-packed version of Star Trek. But I fooled them. With every episode I'm sneakily turning it from a 1-great-joke-every-10-minute comedy to a dramatic(Written after the laugh-killingly dead serious plot of Thanksgiving's show!) "Hi. I'm Seth McFarland, creator of 'Family Guy' and other low-brow comedies. I fooled the Fox Network into thinking that 'The Orville' would be a hilarious, laugh-packed version of Star Trek. But I fooled them. With every episode I'm sneakily turning it from a 1-great-joke-every-10-minute comedy to a dramatic sci-fi blockbuster, because I AM A FREAKING ARTIST GOD DAMN IT!"
    _No, Seth. You're just damned full of yourself, and you suck.    … Expand
  12. Castigear
    Nov 22, 2017
    0
    I have to say that more and more, I get the impression that tv critics are a little clique who all get together and decide collectively whether they are going to sink or float new shows. This show is absolutely charming, fun, actually thought provoking at times, and as a TNG fan, is more like that show than anything Paramount has produced in twenty years.

    Yes, it is at times tongue in    I have to say that more and more, I get the impression that tv critics are a little clique who all get together and decide collectively whether they are going to sink or float new shows. This show is absolutely charming, fun, actually thought provoking at times, and as a TNG fan, is more like that show than anything Paramount has produced in twenty years.

    Yes, it is at times tongue in cheek. No it doesn't take itself too seriously. That being said, it is what Star Trek used to be before it decided it needed to be "gritty": uplifting and optimistic utopian science fiction with allegories for today's issues. Take any lighter TNG episode, add about 10% more comedic moments, and you have The Orville. It isn't slapstick, and it certainly isn't a parody. It is an homage, and a pretty good one at that. I hope it forges its own history, because I'm enjoying it a lot.    … Expand
  13. GalleryHakon
    Nov 15, 2017
    0
    The art direction is great. Everything else is so sub par it feels like a complete waste of time. The most three-dimensional character in the first episode is a computer-simulated ogre. The jokes are not funny. At all. And therefore, whenever it tries to be funny, it just feels off. In fact, the series would have been a lot better if it didn't try to be funny. It blatantly copies many ofThe art direction is great. Everything else is so sub par it feels like a complete waste of time. The most three-dimensional character in the first episode is a computer-simulated ogre. The jokes are not funny. At all. And therefore, whenever it tries to be funny, it just feels off. In fact, the series would have been a lot better if it didn't try to be funny. It blatantly copies many of the Star Trek fundamental concepts, but without the characters, stories and humour of the original. If you feel like watching something like Star Trek, just watch Star Trek again instead of this.… Expand
  14. Nairbjc
    Nov 10, 2017
    1
    I’ve tried watching this show 4 different times and I can’t make it all the way through. The humor is lame and the characters are horrible. I just don’t get it. I can’t believe anyone watching this. This show will be gone soon
  15. Octomort
    Nov 6, 2017
    3
    I am giving this a 3 as the ship designs are pretty good. McFarlane must have a lot of relatives or the job security of his employees must be limited for them to come here and write positive reviews about this nowhere show. Neither drama nor comedy. dull, self important, simplistic characters, it seems more about the creators ego than entertaining the viewer.
  16. TrekNotWar
    Nov 3, 2017
    3
    Cheap rip-off of Star Trek: Next Generation (not really a homage when its almost identical, just with less quality) I really wanted to like this after the first episode but the despair soon set in. Really poor story-lines, scripting and horrific "acting". I'll stick with Star Trek: Discovery (which is fantastically good) for my current Trek fix and if I need to get all "homage", I'll watchCheap rip-off of Star Trek: Next Generation (not really a homage when its almost identical, just with less quality) I really wanted to like this after the first episode but the despair soon set in. Really poor story-lines, scripting and horrific "acting". I'll stick with Star Trek: Discovery (which is fantastically good) for my current Trek fix and if I need to get all "homage", I'll watch Voyager or TNG.… Expand
  17. oracleofjame
    Nov 1, 2017
    1
    The Captain is not a likeable character neither is the helmsmen nor ops officer. The jokes are off (badly timed) and not funny. the sets are nice but the graphic are not that great. In addition, the episodes are way too sexist and for that reason I don't consider this show to be family friendly at all. The show suggest a female officer would run away from duty during a time of crisis theThe Captain is not a likeable character neither is the helmsmen nor ops officer. The jokes are off (badly timed) and not funny. the sets are nice but the graphic are not that great. In addition, the episodes are way too sexist and for that reason I don't consider this show to be family friendly at all. The show suggest a female officer would run away from duty during a time of crisis the first chance she gets and that its okay to berate (lecture, harass, and humiliate) a woman for infidelity in front of the entire command and most visitors that happen to come on board. The shows writer make weak arguments to defend against femicide and these weak arguments you guessed it, results in continued femicide which sickly suggest the writer believe the sexist remarks they write. I can't recommend this show and its sad because I love the Star Trek and Star Wars Universe and parodies like Space balls.… Expand
  18. kdj770
    Oct 28, 2017
    1
    Trying to slog through this show is misery - but episode 7 almost physically hurt it was so bad. Where is the smart humor? The show shoots for idiocy and hits the mark - it is sophomoric and reduced the one black character to a Cliche. This show panders to the lowest common denominator and it needs a reboot to save this mess.
  19. thorshammerbc
    Oct 27, 2017
    1
    Metacritic says of the series:
    "Critics don't seem to love the pilot, finding the show unsure of whether it wants to be a comedy or an earnest sci-fi adventure, and failing at both."
    At least it came close on both counts. Same for the two episodes to follow. But successive episodes - especially six and seven - have lapsed into predictable and cheesy plots too irritating to give a care    Metacritic says of the series:
    "Critics don't seem to love the pilot, finding the show unsure of whether it wants to be a comedy or an earnest sci-fi adventure, and failing at both."
    At least it came close on both counts. Same for the two episodes to follow. But successive episodes - especially six and seven - have lapsed into predictable and cheesy plots too irritating to give a care about. And since this isn't purely sitcom, that part is sorely needed. Was nice while it lasted.    … Expand
  20. HarryNuggets
    Oct 21, 2017
    0
    Colour me surprised. A Macfarlane project that is a smug, derivative, piece of garbage? That pretty much describes the man's modus operandi from day one. About as deserving of fame and fortune as Ron Jeremy.
  21. suthnara
    Oct 18, 2017
    0
    No need to compare this to Star Trek. This is **** all on its own. Bringing up more political and social issues than sci fi. Its greatest flaw is that the stories are illogical.
  22. Iamcritical86
    Oct 18, 2017
    2
    The Orville has some cool special effects. It has it's moments of being entertaining and comical, but overall, it's a disappointment. I've tried, but I'm having a hard time getting into it. Sorry kids, in MY personal opinion it's a flop.
  23. JLC
    Oct 14, 2017
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Orville is a bad rip off.
    You have a "Worf" hatcher, a Bellana that break walls, a Data that's a mix of C3PO with crap.
    Nothing original, and its not a humor show, and he best thing: they are trying to be serius with that thing.    … Expand
  24. gozu
    Oct 13, 2017
    2
    I love Seth McFarlane's cartoons. I came of age during the first seasons of Family guy so I was excited for this show!

    Unfortunately, the only positive are the production value. The show's writing feels dated and the actor performances are terrible. It is a cringe fest to watch with frequent eyerolling.. If you are a middle aged man who sees TNG with rose-colored glasses, this show    I love Seth McFarlane's cartoons. I came of age during the first seasons of Family guy so I was excited for this show!

    Unfortunately, the only positive are the production value. The show's writing feels dated and the actor performances are terrible. It is a cringe fest to watch with frequent eyerolling..

    If you are a middle aged man who sees TNG with rose-colored glasses, this show might be for you, if not, stay away from this crap. I gave it 3 episodes to not suck and it kept right on sucking. I would not give it a chance if I were you.

    Star Trek Discovery, on the other hand, is an excellent Trek show that has kept up with the time. It's a striking difference that makes the Orville look even worse. Go watch that instead.

    I wish this had been a comedy. Maybe it would not have sucked. Maybe we could have had something as good as Red Dwarf.

    Seth, if you read this my man. I'm sorry. The critics are right as they usually are. Don't read too much into the positive user reviews here. Your goal should be to appeal to a broad demographic of people, not some small biased subset of 40-something year old white males.    … Expand
  25. EludiumQ36
    Oct 6, 2017
    3
    "Pria" is my "jump the shark" episode. Charlize Theron, an A-list film actress, on this show, this early in season 1, kissing and in bed with Seth. Really?! And I still can't accept - just can't - Seth MacFarlane in a dramatic role, it's just too foreign, and too forced. And it just seems like he played a trump card to get this high production value series, like he was "I've always wanted"Pria" is my "jump the shark" episode. Charlize Theron, an A-list film actress, on this show, this early in season 1, kissing and in bed with Seth. Really?! And I still can't accept - just can't - Seth MacFarlane in a dramatic role, it's just too foreign, and too forced. And it just seems like he played a trump card to get this high production value series, like he was "I've always wanted to be a starship captain on television and you guys owe me." Again, love the production values, but the cast just is wrong for this series. It's like they don't measure up to the potential that the production offers. It's like putting goofy teenagers in a Rolls Royce - nothing good can come from that. This show just isn't engaging and I think it's because Seth doesn't have the charisma that past starship captains have had. His immaturity poisons the structure of the show. And worse, I don't see a path to improvement without a near 100% cast turnover, and that's not happening. So, I'm out at this point. I think this show should die quietly at season's end, but I'm sure Seth has a guaranteed 2 or even 3 yr deal, but no show should survive with a ratings share under 3.… Expand
  26. jcastlouis
    Oct 4, 2017
    1
    The Orville is so derivative that they literally have to explain in interviews why their legal team thinks CBS won't sue them for violating the Star Trek intellectual property rights. The first show is shallow and full of plot holes and the writing is sophomoric at best. And then the "humor." If your idea of funny is dick jokes and double entendres, then this show has plenty.. but theyThe Orville is so derivative that they literally have to explain in interviews why their legal team thinks CBS won't sue them for violating the Star Trek intellectual property rights. The first show is shallow and full of plot holes and the writing is sophomoric at best. And then the "humor." If your idea of funny is dick jokes and double entendres, then this show has plenty.. but they still aren't funny. And that's kind of the problem. The show is trying to be a serious science fiction entry -- which could be funny IF the writers focused the humor on parodying true sci fi. But the humor is all dick jokes and an alien blob sexually harassing the doctor (now in 50% of the episodes so far). That sort of thing might be mindlessly humorous if it wasn't in a show that takes place in the future where everything is supposed to be better and brighter. It's Star Trek Lite, which is fine for people who just want the comfort and familiarity of The Next Generation back. But Captain Picard never had to explain dick jokes on the bridge of the Enterprise.… Expand
  27. Daniel_Campbell
    Oct 2, 2017
    2
    The Orville...I don't think it's going to hook me. A self indulgent, unfunny mess. It kind of feels like someone took a mediocre sitcom and removed the laugh track. The show isn't funny enough to be a comedy, not smart enough to be good science fiction, and not well written enough to be a good drama. It's just so...bleh.
  28. pjosephson
    Sep 28, 2017
    3
    You know around the 6th season of a once good series the episodes seem to loose that magic they once had, characters leave the show and are replaced by new less interesting characters and episodes seem to repeat plots they did several seasons previously. Well surprise, that is the feeling you get just from watching the first few episodes of The Orville. It felt old a used up. Not thatYou know around the 6th season of a once good series the episodes seem to loose that magic they once had, characters leave the show and are replaced by new less interesting characters and episodes seem to repeat plots they did several seasons previously. Well surprise, that is the feeling you get just from watching the first few episodes of The Orville. It felt old a used up. Not that this series will last six seasons. I be surprised if it lasted one. This series blatantly rips of STNG and embarrassingly so. The characters and scripts are wooden. The acting is meh... especially once again MacFarlane. Don't get me wrong MacFarlane is talented man, just that acting is not one of those talents.

    The main problem is it can't decide if it is a bad comedy or misplaced action sci-fi. Neither work as The Orville is setup now. The comedy is often misplaced. In fact this may be the one show that a laugh track might help to let us know they were trying to be funny. Unlike the rip off of those other Sci-Fi trek shows (whoops, I mean homage to Sci-Fi trek shows) wherein the humor was strong banter between to characters and humor was in such a way it was added to accentuate the characters we care about. The Orville takes a strange approach with it's comedy. It is not exactly crude but definitely not light, it continuously references 20th century knowledge in it's humor, but, the banter is off perhaps a little arrogant. Perhaps they should decide to either be one or the other. Either be like Galaxy Quest (a true homage) that was a comedy about misfits with some drama. Or be like all the other Star Treks be a serious sci-fi show, honest and caring to the subject matter but with those little light humorous moments. As it stands now The Orville does the comedy badly and the Sci-Fi drama with no purpose other than to preach. It just awkward and rudderless.    … Expand
  29. xcontractx
    Sep 27, 2017
    0
    Seth should stick to the crude humor of 2004 and leave the scifi to others.

    I didn't know how little I needed this show until they aired it, and now I know.
  30. LucaRanieri
    Sep 24, 2017
    1
    From my impressions of the first episode,Garbage. total disappointment.
    Not god, very disappointment tv show ever.
    there is nothing original in this series
    I would like to clear the memory of my mind, really realy really really bad.
    I hope they will cancel it soon.
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Awards & Rankings

2
#2 Most Discussed TV Season of 2017
47
#47 Most Shared TV Season of 2017

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
36

Generally unfavorable reviews - based on 21 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of 21
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 21
  3. Negative: 10 out of 21
  1. New York Post
    Reviewed by: Michael Starr
    Sep 21, 2017
    50
    It’s got top-notch special effects and terrific makeup (for its space-alien characters). But it just doesn’t quite gel. At least not yet, anyway.
    Read full review
  2. TV Guide Magazine
    Reviewed by: Matt Roush
    Sep 14, 2017
    50
    The show's smirky tone, embodied in MacFarlane's smug frat-boy demeanor as the captain, never quite gels with the universal humanism the episode is aiming for. [18 Sep - 1 Oct 2017, p.27]
  3. Yahoo TV
    Reviewed by: Ken Tucker
    Sep 11, 2017
    30
    Except for Norm Macdonald as the voice of an alien made of what looked like quivering gelatin, I didn’t find much that was amusing about The Orville’s space odyssey. ... From its opening scene with Victor Garber assigning Ed his ship to the final, unsuspenseful shootout with alien enemies, The Orville moved from one lull to another.
    Read full review
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