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. pchernik
    Oct 10, 2017
    10
    This once again proves to me that critics are either idiots or only rate positively once they are paid off and that I should not look for shows to watch based on their reviews, and instead look at "user reviews". This show is totally opposite of "Star Trek Discovery" in that respect. It's funny and it's enjoyable. If I can't have a good serious sci-fi show I'd much rather have this. If youThis once again proves to me that critics are either idiots or only rate positively once they are paid off and that I should not look for shows to watch based on their reviews, and instead look at "user reviews". This show is totally opposite of "Star Trek Discovery" in that respect. It's funny and it's enjoyable. If I can't have a good serious sci-fi show I'd much rather have this. If you are looking for a space adventure to watch, and can't stand the Discovery garbage, look no further!… Expand
  2. pgreens
    Oct 10, 2017
    9
    i see what theyre going for here, and hope they can continue. i dont know what bug crawled up these critics asses; they probably dont like anything they cant easily categorize. the show is a solid 80% star trek. Yes, the crude jokes sometimes dont land and are odd in the prestigious sci fi setting. Yes, Norm McDonald is really shoehorned in there, probably a huge drain on the animationi see what theyre going for here, and hope they can continue. i dont know what bug crawled up these critics asses; they probably dont like anything they cant easily categorize. the show is a solid 80% star trek. Yes, the crude jokes sometimes dont land and are odd in the prestigious sci fi setting. Yes, Norm McDonald is really shoehorned in there, probably a huge drain on the animation budget for no reason. If you can forgive those two sins, which are easily ignored, you have a pretty good star trek show. its far better than nothing.… Expand
  3. ahnehnois
    Oct 10, 2017
    8
    The main surprise about the show is that there's not much humor. It doesn't need that to work, though.

    They have slavishly recreated the Star Trek aesthetic, from the recycled chords in the music to the distinctive James Conway overhead shots. The occasional gag is in there, but for the most part, the writing seems composed of rejected pitches for one of the long-gone Trek shows. Even    The main surprise about the show is that there's not much humor. It doesn't need that to work, though.

    They have slavishly recreated the Star Trek aesthetic, from the recycled chords in the music to the distinctive James Conway overhead shots. The occasional gag is in there, but for the most part, the writing seems composed of rejected pitches for one of the long-gone Trek shows. Even in a few episodes, that writing has generated some intriguing surprises, and the chemistry between the characters have grown. It works for much the same reasons a non-parodical Star Trek does: the writers, despite having to adhere to the tropes of the genre, are freer than the ones churning out regular network shows.

    It has a ways to go to get up to the impactfulness of its predecessors, but it's been good enough so far that it ought to get the chance to go on a while.    … Expand
  4. Absolon47
    Oct 10, 2017
    10
    Very nicely done. Honestly being a Star Trek fan myself, I actually enjoy this show more than the newest Star Trek series, Discovery. I don't care what the so called professional critics think (they are wrong most of the time anyways)
  5. VanGheist
    Oct 10, 2017
    9
    This show honestly impresses me. It's timing couldn't have been any better either. The Orville has everything we wished for from Star Trek: Discovery and more. The friendly banter, the Roddenberry message, and the episodic feel to the show make it very enjoyable to me and most likely any of you Trekkies out there. I give it a solid 9. Don't listen to these so called "Professional"This show honestly impresses me. It's timing couldn't have been any better either. The Orville has everything we wished for from Star Trek: Discovery and more. The friendly banter, the Roddenberry message, and the episodic feel to the show make it very enjoyable to me and most likely any of you Trekkies out there. I give it a solid 9. Don't listen to these so called "Professional" critics, they don't know what they hell they're talking about. You have a fan base now, just keep developing those characters in interesting ways and I for one, will continue to promote this show to my family and friends.… Expand
  6. BlobTheCat
    Oct 9, 2017
    10
    Fantastic show in the spirit of Star Trek The Next Generation.
    You can clearly see that Seth Macfarlane is a true Star Trek-Fan. He's one of us.
    It's exactly that what i was craving for all these years. Thank you for this masterpiece of space opera!
  7. LordoftheDance
    Oct 9, 2017
    10
    Its TNG meets A Million Ways to Die in the West. Some jokes fall flat or feel forced, but some are absolutely hilarious and unforgettable. Jokes aside, there has also been storytelling that is spot on Star Trek that was really well done. I've only seen 5 episodes, and so far I am absolutely pumped. It's everything you like about Star Trek with comedy thrown in.

    Also: It keeps    Its TNG meets A Million Ways to Die in the West. Some jokes fall flat or feel forced, but some are absolutely hilarious and unforgettable. Jokes aside, there has also been storytelling that is spot on Star Trek that was really well done. I've only seen 5 episodes, and so far I am absolutely pumped. It's everything you like about Star Trek with comedy thrown in.

    Also: It keeps getting better and better.    … Expand
  8. moviestalker
    Oct 9, 2017
    7
    When I was told this show was closer to Star Trek then the new ST: Discovery, I found that really hard to believe yet curiosity got the better of me. After watching the first three episodes I was pleasantly surprised with how this show turned out.

    Is the show flawless? No, it's not. There are some cringy moments now and then when the Orville tries to be funny and it's not. But I see    When I was told this show was closer to Star Trek then the new ST: Discovery, I found that really hard to believe yet curiosity got the better of me. After watching the first three episodes I was pleasantly surprised with how this show turned out.

    Is the show flawless? No, it's not. There are some cringy moments now and then when the Orville tries to be funny and it's not. But I see room for improvement and I'm more than willing to give this show a chance.

    Are people correct when they say this is the spiritual successor to star trek, that 'ST: Discovery' failed to deliver? So far, I'll say 'yes'

    Finally a personal matter:
    I never really understood why the rating system on metacritic so heavily favors the votes of the so called "experts critics". A rating of '36' is hardly justified while so many people enjoyed this show. Why not show both, the critics *and* user score as Metascore at the same time?    … Expand
  9. kushida2017
    Oct 9, 2017
    10
    It really goes to show you how NOT to listen to the "professional" Critic's..
    These guys are bought and sold on there political biases, Identity tribe mind, and wrong think ideology. These people have no real understanding and out of touch with the world they live in, There the elitist, and i bet they think we of the different opinion are.... Deplorable
  10. Stormwolf
    Oct 9, 2017
    9
    Great show, these guys should have been the ones making the new Star Trek. Sure, some of the jokes are fairly flat, but it's okay when you look at the wonderful TOS/TNG style plots they have.

    This is the show for you if you like the pre-reboot Star Trek and Galaxy Quest, watch it if you haven't seen it already.
  11. slayermcgee
    Oct 9, 2017
    10
    I came to this show expecting a campy riff on Star Trek, and what I have found is a lovingly crafted homage to Star Trek of old, but with new modern issues injected into the well-written story lines. I love this show, and I'm hoping to see it continue to grow!
  12. Vince_Vega
    Oct 9, 2017
    10
    The Orville starts with a weak and becomes one of the strongest "Ship and Crew" shows we had in a long time.
    Personally I think the first episode doesn't do the show justice. While it is solid in it's second half, the very first impression we get of this show can leave a negative impression. it's too busy trying to explain and setup everything, while squeezing in the jokes. This flow    The Orville starts with a weak and becomes one of the strongest "Ship and Crew" shows we had in a long time.
    Personally I think the first episode doesn't do the show justice. While it is solid in it's second half, the very first impression we get of this show can leave a negative impression. it's too busy trying to explain and setup everything, while squeezing in the jokes. This flow starts to become more organic in the following episodes.
    This show delivers a high concept Sci-Fi (highlight Ep.3 here!) while delivering the comic relief other shows were missing. The bridge crew feels like people, relatable normal people working together in an office. Halfway through it's first season The Orville demonstrates great Sci-Fi story lines combined with an established chemistry of the cast.

    This is the Ship and Crew Sci-Fi adventure show that many of us have been waiting for for a long time.    … Expand
  13. PrimeSpeaker
    Oct 8, 2017
    9
    If you love star trek tng then give this one a shot. It's very similar in terms of tone with a little more direct comedy while keeping the heart, The visuals are gorgeous and the it has just been fun overall.
  14. Moilleadoir
    Oct 8, 2017
    5
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. tldr; Well-made, but mediocre.

    I created an account just because I couldn’t believe the huge amount of biased Trekhead reviews here. There has been a huge pile on, creating a spacetime anomaly that’s warping the Metacritic score.

    The biggest problem with The Orville is that it can’t seem to decide what it wants to be. It’s not really a comedy; even the comedy that’s there is often not funny. It’s far too faithful to Star Trek to be even a gentle parody, in fact you can’t help wondering if MacFarlane feels making fun of ST would be heretical. At best it’s a slightly non-serious Star Trek clone with deeply unoriginal plots.

    It really feels like Seth just wanted to do some amazingly expensive ST roleplaying.

    There is a kind of achievement I suppose in combining the worst of Star Trek—episodic plots where characters seldom develop and aliens are either never truly alien or discover that they can only truly find themselves by learning the wonders of humanity—and the worst of MacFarlane—‘jokes’ referring to themselves, cheap pop-culture references. The humour that’s there is more lazy Family Guy (or Ted) than American Dad.

    The most telling piece of ST mimicry so far was the alien race (Moclans) who are introduced as a single-sex race. They present and identify as male (which initially makes no sense) but in the second episode Bortus’ egg hatches a female. This is classic ST—introduce a difference, an alienness, and then immediately normalise it or reduce it to safely known human terms. It’s Science Fiction with all the interesting bits safely removed. At least human morality didn’t win in the subsequent plot; that’s a small difference from Star Trek.

    On the plus side, technically the show is very well made, all the FX are good and the actors do a fine job with what they’re given (which isn’t great). It may even be better acting than actual ST, but on the whole that’s not really saying a lot.

    Will I keep watching it? Probably, but after each episode I’ll still wonder why they made it. I also watched all of Deep Space Nine though, so just because I can devote myself to lost causes, doesn’t mean you should!

    At the end of the day, if you’re a Trekkie you’ll probably love it. If not and you’re a watcher of sci-fi, you might be scratching your head quite a bit. If you don’t mind unchallenging TV, you won’t mind this. Ultimately, for most people there is nothing compelling here, but it’s certainly not unwatchable (as some have claimed).

    For context, I’d give Firefly a 9, I liked Babylon 5 a lot (despite it’s flaws) and a couple of my favourite recent shows are Mr. Robot and Legion.    … Expand
  15. Robobob
    Oct 8, 2017
    9
    Did you love Star Trek: The Next Generation but were always kind of bugged that the crew never mentioned pop culture in film or TV? Did it annoy you that everyone on the Enterprise D was perfect at their job and almost always followed the rules? Did you find it a little stuffy will only a few mild attempts at humor? Well, then you will really love The Orville. This is the kind of crewDid you love Star Trek: The Next Generation but were always kind of bugged that the crew never mentioned pop culture in film or TV? Did it annoy you that everyone on the Enterprise D was perfect at their job and almost always followed the rules? Did you find it a little stuffy will only a few mild attempts at humor? Well, then you will really love The Orville. This is the kind of crew that pops in a classic episode of Seinfeld on the view screen during some down time. This is the crew most likely to get themselves blown up in the first few episodes. They are also the most likely to curse at the bad guy on screen and flip him the bird. Add on top of that the most "Trek" themed episodes seen in a sci-fi show since the glory Trek-days of the 90s. I'm waiting for the day that a member of the crew specially mentions that ancient show "Star Trek: The Next Generation" and notes the similarity in their mission. This show is so good but I'm certain as it goes on and finds it niche that it is headed for greatness.… Expand
  16. dr9188
    Oct 8, 2017
    10
    Firstly... I am dumbfounded how this has such a low "pro-critic" score compared to Star Trek Discovery... This show, in my opinion, is by far the superior show, in terms of humour and quality of storylines as well as respect it pays to the format and universe of Star Trek (more than even anything JJ Abrams managed)

    I just binge watched the first 4 episodes of The Orville... And, being a    Firstly... I am dumbfounded how this has such a low "pro-critic" score compared to Star Trek Discovery... This show, in my opinion, is by far the superior show, in terms of humour and quality of storylines as well as respect it pays to the format and universe of Star Trek (more than even anything JJ Abrams managed)

    I just binge watched the first 4 episodes of The Orville... And, being a person with an internet connection, I naturally couldn't resist the temptation to make my opinions known.

    For the uninitiated, The Orville is the latest Seth MacFarlane comedy. Immediately this may be a cause for concern, as his animation has become increasingly stale (although I was a fan of A Million Ways To Die In The West).

    And yet, within the space of its trailer, my feelings went from curious to optimistic.

    In the end, these initial episodes far exceeded my expectations, actually feeling less like a "typical" sitcom than the trailer suggests... Don't get me wrong, there are a lot of one-liners. But the structure of each episode much more closely resembles that of The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine or even Voyager. This actually works incredibly well; as the world is built throughout each episode, the jokes feel funnier as you realise these are people making funny comments in a consistent world, rather than the changing rules of MacFarlane's previous animations. The plots feel like the kind you would find on any past Trek episode, with the humour instead coming from the character's reactions. You could imagine these characters in the actual Star Trek universe, being given a ship because there's no-one else to pilot it. I mean, I'm sure even in the Federation there must be alcoholism, divorce and tension between senior staff...

    Of particular note to me was the third episode "About A Girl". Without giving too many spoilers, it surprised me how well it emulated the way Star Trek would present cultural problems... With my only issues being it was so early in the series there wasn't the chance of more character development which was maybe needed for the situation and characters to feel more relatable. Equally, I can see why an episode such as this was broadcast so early... As a signal that this was aiming to be more than a silly comedy, but to derive humour instead from how it follows (and plays with) the situations from Star Trek itself, I feel it was successful. One thing that did shock me was some discussion this episode was so-called "SJW" and pushing some kind of political message... From people who clearly know nothing about Star Trek or the kind of message that Gene Roddenberry tried to convey from his very first season.    … Expand
  17. StarzSeeker
    Oct 8, 2017
    10
    This is Star Trek TOS meets Next Generation meets Galaxy Quest. I'm 5 episodes in and the show is getting better with each passing week. I was 11 minutes into the pilot and heard myself say out loud "this is Star Trek!". The look and feel of the show is all Trek. The characters are developing quickly and that's a positive. You need the audience to care about the characters and they haveThis is Star Trek TOS meets Next Generation meets Galaxy Quest. I'm 5 episodes in and the show is getting better with each passing week. I was 11 minutes into the pilot and heard myself say out loud "this is Star Trek!". The look and feel of the show is all Trek. The characters are developing quickly and that's a positive. You need the audience to care about the characters and they have succeeded in doing so. The stories are deeper than you would expect for a season 1. It's almost as if they decided to start in season 2 or 3. Users have it at 8.1, very positive. So to all the professional critics out there who are panning the show I would recommend you reconsider your career choice. The show is a hit with the audience therefore you are obviously not seeing what the great majority is seeing. Two thumbs up, and only two because that's all I have.… Expand
  18. SirIsaacBrock
    Oct 7, 2017
    10
    WTF critics, is your only job to crap on anything that doesn't end mid sentence or have sex scenes mixed with dragons?

    Seth MacFarlane created another great show to brighten up our little world and keep us entertained an hour at a time. From the thought provoking story of episode 3 to the little accents such as Kermit the Frog being on his desk, Seth and his team has worked tirelessly    WTF critics, is your only job to crap on anything that doesn't end mid sentence or have sex scenes mixed with dragons?

    Seth MacFarlane created another great show to brighten up our little world and keep us entertained an hour at a time. From the thought provoking story of episode 3 to the little accents such as Kermit the Frog being on his desk, Seth and his team has worked tirelessly to ensure that we are kept enthralled from beginning to end with pop culture references and characters I'd like to have a beer with.

    This show may not have awesome graphics but it sure as Hell makes up for it with heart. I hope this is the beginning of a fantastic lighthearted voyage that puts all those critics that can't help hating dreamers in their places.

    Bravo Mr. MacFarlane and team, keep up the good work!    … Expand
  19. Senatic
    Oct 7, 2017
    9
    It's Star Trek The Next Generation/DS9, with a bit more humor in it. Except it's not Star Trek. That's all you need to know, if you liked Next Generation or DS9 I'm pretty sure you will like this.

    That's literally all you need to know, oh and don't listen to any of the professional reviewers. They have no clue what they are talking about. (Duh what else is new). If you want more details    It's Star Trek The Next Generation/DS9, with a bit more humor in it. Except it's not Star Trek. That's all you need to know, if you liked Next Generation or DS9 I'm pretty sure you will like this.

    That's literally all you need to know, oh and don't listen to any of the professional reviewers. They have no clue what they are talking about. (Duh what else is new). If you want more details see below but what is said above is literally all you really need to know.

    Pros:

    -It's "real" Star Trek, unlike the modern Star Trek movies and the new Star Trek Discovery, The Orville actually understands its source material and i was amazed at how much depth there was in episode three, the complexity and issues tackled are deeper and more nuanced than anything portrayed by the nonstop action crap filled with lens flares and horizontal shoots we've seen during the last 10 years.

    -Great CGI

    -Great Costumes (for the most part)

    -The show examines political and cultural aspects of our modern day by shining a light on them in this alien soap opera just like Star Trek The Next Generation did.

    -Good main cast with believable acting.

    -Action is sparse and gives way to the intellectual examination of society and societal issues.

    -The show is very self aware of the silliness and ridiculousness that sometimes goes on which makes for great additional commentary on the tropes and plot devices shows like this sometimes rely on.

    Cons:

    -The Robot crew members costume is stupid and doesn't fit the show at all.

    - Some bad acting from a few of the secondary characters.

    - The jokes in the first three episodes (What I've watched so far) are a bit hit and miss, some were pretty funny and some were totally off for me.

    Summary: I literally can't think of any more cons, though I'm sure there are some. I'm just so happy to finally have an intellectual star trek type show to watch again. Yes some of the jokes are not that funny, but it's a minor nuisance and is completely overshadowed by the feeling of pure joy as the show handles moral, societal and cultural questions with a intellectual approach. I don't want to spoil anything but episode three completely blew me away. It was so refreshing to actually have to think while watching, I had to stop and consider the points and the implications of the characters decisions and statements to examine where I stood on it all.

    Just a fantastic show so far, surely there is room for improvement and I'm sure they will find their feet as time goes on but they clearly have a perfect grasp of what made Star Trek great to begin with and that is all that matters to me.    … Expand
  20. maillard
    Oct 7, 2017
    10
    The series is fresh innovative funny, without all that PC star trek moralist rubbish, overused old characters and overrun storylines. It is not pompous and preachy, in fact, it is much like Kirks original star trek, great show, fab cast. Get over yourselves critics.
  21. gadenp
    Oct 6, 2017
    9
    This show is more Star Trek then the current Star Trek movies and Discovery. And it just seems to grow better and better every episode.

    All the things that make Star Trek what is it, you can find in Orville. The biggest one being the light of hope of a better tomorrow, of working for a better future or making one self and others better. The recent Star Trek shows keep on harping on    This show is more Star Trek then the current Star Trek movies and Discovery. And it just seems to grow better and better every episode.

    All the things that make Star Trek what is it, you can find in Orville. The biggest one being the light of hope of a better tomorrow, of working for a better future or making one self and others better.

    The recent Star Trek shows keep on harping on the darkness within, but that is not Star Trek and is a horrible disservice. On the other hand Orville is a great successor and ode to all that makes Star Trek great.    … Expand
  22. Nebadon_Adams
    Oct 6, 2017
    9
    Once again, the elitist critics are smoking crack and pissing on us commoners trying to tell us it's raining. The ORVILLE is THE NEW STAR TREK. I've only seen the first two episodes (the second directed by Voyager alum Robert Duncan McNeill) and I was THOROUGHLY entertained. Oh, and I HATE Family Guy and American Dad and all that pop-culture crap. But this show is SO GOOD! It's obviousOnce again, the elitist critics are smoking crack and pissing on us commoners trying to tell us it's raining. The ORVILLE is THE NEW STAR TREK. I've only seen the first two episodes (the second directed by Voyager alum Robert Duncan McNeill) and I was THOROUGHLY entertained. Oh, and I HATE Family Guy and American Dad and all that pop-culture crap. But this show is SO GOOD! It's obvious that McFarlane ACTUALLY likes Star Trek and not just the politics behind it.

    TL;DR: I have found my NEW STAR TREK, and it is ORVILLE.    … Expand
  23. 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
  24. bassoon821
    Oct 6, 2017
    10
    From the trailer, I thought this was going to be a good comedy show, but it turns out to have great story and characters, too. It's currently the show I look forward the most every week!
  25. Dubeau
    Oct 6, 2017
    8
    Orville is a good show that pay homage to Star Trek and some real classic sci-fi episodes that aired on TV. It isn't your sci-fi flick that puts you in a dark political place, like Galactica or Discovery. Instead you get some nice classical stories branded in a more modern style. Even the music pays homage to classic pieces with variations on themes. Yes, the actors or the humour is notOrville is a good show that pay homage to Star Trek and some real classic sci-fi episodes that aired on TV. It isn't your sci-fi flick that puts you in a dark political place, like Galactica or Discovery. Instead you get some nice classical stories branded in a more modern style. Even the music pays homage to classic pieces with variations on themes. Yes, the actors or the humour is not always good...but overall you still get entertainment. Orville was made for fan of classic scifi and should be appreciated has such. I give it a 75%. Note: Don't give in to the critics that want to bash on McFarland and give the show a fair chance of seducing you by it's light tone and respect to old fiction.… Expand
  26. teebizzoo
    Oct 6, 2017
    10
    I have never written a review here before, but given the reactions of the critics, I felt I had to now. I had low expectations of "The Orville." I had feared a kind of low-level humor would prevail, with very little attention to the heart and soul that most shows set in a Star Trek universe possess. Fortunately, I was wrong. I love this show. The characters are lovable, and the humor isI have never written a review here before, but given the reactions of the critics, I felt I had to now. I had low expectations of "The Orville." I had feared a kind of low-level humor would prevail, with very little attention to the heart and soul that most shows set in a Star Trek universe possess. Fortunately, I was wrong. I love this show. The characters are lovable, and the humor is well-balanced with the story lines. The humor also is a terrific balance of the expected and unexpected, and the writers honor both the spirit of the original Star Trek and all of the spoof humor that has been inspired by it. It has just the right combination of reverence and irreverence. I don't know what the critics want from this show, but whatever it is they've got it all wrong. They're either misunderstanding what this show is supposed to be, or they never liked shows like Star Trek in the first place. I think The Orville is charming, entertaining, engaging, and well-written. Even more than that, it's lighthearted and fun, something we all need more of right now. I hope it's on for years to come.… Expand
  27. zohrn
    Oct 6, 2017
    9
    After five episodes, my summary is 4:1 positive. Ep .1-2 were at least nice/decent on an unexpected high level, Ep. 3 was very good (despite being serious), Ep. 4 sadly uninspired, and Ep. 5 very good again. The always present comedy may not work for everyone (like me or most critics), but the sense of Trek clearly works for the audience. My 9 rating may be a bit overdrawn, but for now,After five episodes, my summary is 4:1 positive. Ep .1-2 were at least nice/decent on an unexpected high level, Ep. 3 was very good (despite being serious), Ep. 4 sadly uninspired, and Ep. 5 very good again. The always present comedy may not work for everyone (like me or most critics), but the sense of Trek clearly works for the audience. My 9 rating may be a bit overdrawn, but for now, it's what I feel.… Expand
  28. suaviant
    Oct 6, 2017
    10
    Critics are wrong. I am a lifelong Star Trek fan, even enjoyed the first of the Abrams reboots somewhat but this, this feels like the most Star Trek thing since Star Trek Enterprise. It is funny not always in a laugh out loud way, and it never feels stupid. The drama so far is decent enough. The characters are believable. This is good. I signed up because this show deserves another voiceCritics are wrong. I am a lifelong Star Trek fan, even enjoyed the first of the Abrams reboots somewhat but this, this feels like the most Star Trek thing since Star Trek Enterprise. It is funny not always in a laugh out loud way, and it never feels stupid. The drama so far is decent enough. The characters are believable. This is good. I signed up because this show deserves another voice telling you to support it and check it out. I truly hope this show continues for some time to come and if it gets better then we are all in for a treat :-)… Expand
  29. golibethesda
    Oct 6, 2017
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This show is surprisingly good. They are copying other ST series in many ways but they're doing a good job and it's not a straight copy/paste. It also doesn't have as many stupidities as STD and characters are likeable. First episode was so-so but I liked the second one (Sage is great in her role and the character she plays is convincing and not stupid), third wasn't bad either (the defence strategy by showing how stupid the pilot is cracked me up) and fourth was actually good and felt like Star Trek (and how cool is that they've included a generation ship?). It's ironic that without much effort they've done a much better job than STD creators/writers where everything is ****… Expand
  30. jim_taltontish
    Oct 5, 2017
    9
    Five episodes in and I'm loving it. For all the critics saying this is derivative, of course it's derivative--it's a spoof on ST:TNG. I thought the first episode was pretty weak, but eps two through five are right up there with good eps of their inspiration. There's certainly more drama and plot than humor. It has enough wiggle room to inject silly gags, yet it takes itself seriouslyFive episodes in and I'm loving it. For all the critics saying this is derivative, of course it's derivative--it's a spoof on ST:TNG. I thought the first episode was pretty weak, but eps two through five are right up there with good eps of their inspiration. There's certainly more drama and plot than humor. It has enough wiggle room to inject silly gags, yet it takes itself seriously enough to tell satisfying stories. Live long and prosper, Orville!… Expand
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Awards & Rankings

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

Critic Reviews

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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.
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  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.
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