# The Orville-Seth McFarlane **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 17, 2017, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814 "2017-05-17T03:28:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2017, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/181 "2017-09-13T15:09:21Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > There are no absolutes in the external Universe, so there are undoubtedly regions where time \*does \*flow faster than it does for you and me here on Earth. Time dilation only becomes significant at very high speeds or very high gravity. We on Earth are very close to as light and slow as we can possibly be–there is far, far more room to be faster and heavier than the conditions that we experience than there is to be slower and lighter. So while there are things in the universe that experience time moving more quickly than we do, it is by amounts so tiny that it would take a very precise atomic clock to measure them–think a difference of one second every so many million years. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2017, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/182 "2017-09-13T15:10:17Z")
I was wondering about the redwood tree aging one hundred years. I thought it took them a lot longer than that to grow as big as that tree was. (On the other hand, there was no explanation of how the tree got enough nutrients, water and sunlight to grow, so perhaps I shouldn’t think about it too much.) ---
**Author:** ![tonyfop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/85f322/32.png) [@tonyfop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tonyfop)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2017, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/183 "2017-09-13T15:46:28Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > I was wondering about the redwood tree aging one hundred years. I thought it took them a lot longer than that to grow as big as that tree was. (On the other hand, there was no explanation of how the tree got enough nutrients, water and sunlight to grow, so perhaps I shouldn’t think about it too much.) It has been mentioned upthread that they did explain that. In the scene where they got the redwood seeds, the scientist states they have combined the redwood with tardigrade DNA so that it could survive in space with no nutrients. Yes, impossible science, but it was explained. ---
**Author:** ![tonyfop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/85f322/32.png) [@tonyfop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tonyfop)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2017, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/184 "2017-09-13T15:56:21Z")
All in all, I enjoyed it immensely. When I see low-level sci-fi like this, I don’t care if the science is possible, all I care for is if the show is internally consistent. This show was. Yeah, looking back you can see Chekhov’s redwood seeds, and Chekhov’s super strong, but really sweet, head of security. But it was internally consistent. Like others have said, they will have to tweak the humor/serious ratio, and get the pacing down. But I do see the potential. There was one scene that bothered me. While “hugging the donkey” both of the helmsmen look back at the second officer and talk to him, while on the screen the ship is still rotating around the larger ship. If it was such a difficult maneuver, you would think that one of them would actually have to be driving. I don’t know if it was an attempt at humor, or just poor post-production work, or poor direction, but it really stuck out for a show that had that good cinematography. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2017, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/185 "2017-09-13T16:03:41Z")
> [@Helena330](#): > > The show seems to be doing well with viewers but terribly with critics. Some have “meh” reactions while others _hate_ it. What’s going on?? Critics are stuffy assholes with sticks up their assess who are too impressed by their own opinions. They hate about 75% of things I love. Yet viewers of, whatever, seem to love about 75% of things I also love. So I never pay attention to the “critics”. That being said. I liked the show more than I thought I would. I thought Seth would do his Family Guy over the top humor but he toned it down and kept it appropriate for the show. I thought it was well done and can only get better from here. So I’m hoping it does. It’s already one of my must watch shows this season. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2017, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/186 "2017-09-13T16:12:56Z")
This may have already been asked and answered, but any idea when Fox will make it available “On Demand”? I tried to pull it up last night on my U-verse On Demand and it was not listed yet. Usually stuff will show up under On Demand a day or two after it airs, but that is probably up to each network. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2017, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/187 "2017-09-13T16:35:47Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > We on Earth are very close to as light and slow as we can possibly be–there is far, far more room to be faster and heavier than the conditions that we experience than there is to be slower and lighter. Good point. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2017, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/188 "2017-09-13T17:04:20Z")
> [@Shoeless](#): > > This may have already been asked and answered, but any idea when Fox will make it available “On Demand”? I tried to pull it up last night on my U-verse On Demand and it was not listed yet. Usually stuff will show up under On Demand a day or two after it airs, but that is probably up to each network. It’s being reaired Tuesday (apparently, they forsaw the game running long and prepared for the fact some or all of it would be preempted), so it’ll probably go up after that. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2017, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/189 "2017-09-13T17:13:35Z")
> [@Shoeless](#): > > This may have already been asked and answered, but any idea when Fox will make it available “On Demand”? I tried to pull it up last night on my U-verse On Demand and it was not listed yet. Usually stuff will show up under On Demand a day or two after it airs, but that is probably up to each network. I watched it On Demand on Cox last night. I also noticed they reran it my local time at 9PM on Fox last night. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2017, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/190 "2017-09-13T17:21:59Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > I was wondering about the redwood tree aging one hundred years. I thought it took them a lot longer than that to grow as big as that tree was. (On the other hand, there was no explanation of how the tree got enough nutrients, water and sunlight to grow, so perhaps I shouldn’t think about it too much.) “Coast redwoods may put on six, eight or even more feet of height in a single season whereas the giant sequoia is more likely to grow about [two feet in height per year](https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=1151) throughout its first fifty to one hundred years.” ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2017, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/191 "2017-09-13T17:51:41Z")
OK, but which type of redwood tree did they portray in the show? ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2017, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/192 "2017-09-13T17:55:02Z")
Haven’t read the thread, but I caught the re-broadcast of the pilot last night. It entertained me enough that I set the DVR to record it for however long it lasts. I think it tries a little to hard to “not be Star Trek” while blatantly stealing everything possible from Star Trek. The general arrangement of the bridge/helm set, quantum (not warp!) drive, shields that aren’t called shields, a “Worf” type character, a robot character, a Kirk wannabe who is totally gonna hook up with Executive Officer of SHIELD, Mockingbird. Also not sure about an hour time slot for a show like this. Seems like an awfully long time to fill every week with somewhat comic sci-fi. A half hour might work better. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2017, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/193 "2017-09-13T18:04:28Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > OK, but which type of redwood tree did they portray in the show? The Sequoia and Sequoiadendron are the ones that grow exceptionally large, so 1’ - 2’ a year, 200 feet. I don’t know how large the Bad Guys ship is; apparently considerably less than 200’ in height. [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sequoioideae) ---
**Author:** ![PlumBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@PlumBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlumBob)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2017, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/194 "2017-09-13T18:23:43Z")
I liked the 2 out of three engines being out of commission, good thing they had an extra. Looking forward to seeing the Orville’s sister ship… ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2017, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/195 "2017-09-13T18:29:12Z")
> [@Drunky\_Smurf](#): > > I watched it On Demand on Cox last night. I also noticed they reran it my local time at 9PM on Fox last night. Thanks, I’ll look for it again in the next day or two. I didn’t think anything was on the major networks last night except the hurricane relief thing. ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2017, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/196 "2017-09-13T18:42:20Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > 1.) Yes, time is slowed down by movement and gravity, but there is nothing that we know of that _speeds up_ time relative to the external universe. > > 2.) Even if it were possible to speed up time within an small field, sticking your hand (as in ST:TNG) or head (as in The Orville) into that accelerated time field would not make your hand or head age until it was elderly because your blood is being pumped from your heart _still outside the field_, so that all blood supply would effectively be cut off to that part of your body in the accelerated time field and the cells in that body part would die within minutes from the POV of time passage within the field and virtually instantly from the POV outside. > > As to whether or not the body part (or a banana) will rot takes a little more speculation and depends on the nature of the field. One thing for sure is that it would be very dark inside the field–if time is passing 100 times (to pick one number) more quickly, then there will be 100 times less light available inside the field (the number of photons entering the field per second from the outside is fixed, but there are 100 times more seconds on the inside than outside.) That in itself is enough to end the possibility of growing crops inside such a field (unless you surround it with extremely intense floodlights.) Also air would be diffusing 100 times more slowly into the field than diffusing out of the field (and traveling 100 times more quickly on the inside from the POV of the outside–would that make the interior of the field turn into a partial vacuum? I’m not sure.) The inside of the field would loose heat very rapidly from the outside POV, and the human body part or banana would most likely freeze solid before they had a chance to begin rotting. > > Yes, it is really, really, really stupid science. I know that Larry Niven did a time bubble death scene that was very similar to this one in one of the “Long ARM of Gil Hamilton” stories. Generally he’s not know for writing really, really stupid science, although he does occasionally admit to being wrong (about whether Ringworlds are stable and, somewhat more embarrassingly, about what direction you’d want to teleport if you want to extend your birthday as much as possible). But I don’t think Niven’s time bubble was quite as accelerated – maybe it was a 30:1 ratio? ---
**Author:** ![erysichthon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d07c76/32.png) [@erysichthon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/erysichthon)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2017, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/197 "2017-09-13T18:57:54Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > I think it tries a little to hard to “not be Star Trek” while blatantly stealing everything possible from Star Trek. The general arrangement of the bridge/helm set, quantum (not warp!) drive, shields that aren’t called shields, > a “Worf” type character, a robot character, a Kirk wannabe who is totally gonna hook up with Executive Officer of SHIELD, Mockingbird. One of the reviews described it as “_Star Trek_ with the serial numbers filed off,” which I thought was apt. Although I found the pilot mildly entertaining, I’m baffled that this show exists at all. I have the sense that McFarlane really, really, really wanted to be in _Star Trek_, so he made his own copy of it. It’s essentially fan fiction and cosplaying on a big-budget scale. Why not do something original instead? I’m not a big fan of McFarlane’s humor or his acting style. Most of the gags seemed pretty lame to me. I liked everyone in the cast except him. I’ll probably watch a couple more episodes and see where it goes, but I’m not feeling optimistic. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2017, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/198 "2017-09-13T19:04:00Z")
> [@erysichthon](#): > > I have the sense that McFarlane really, really, really wanted to be in _Star Trek_ He’s actually already been on Star Trek. He had a minor role on Enterprise, Ensign Rivers, who appeared in the episodes The Forgotten and Affliction. ---
**Author:** ![erysichthon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d07c76/32.png) [@erysichthon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/erysichthon)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2017, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/199 "2017-09-13T19:11:32Z")
> [@Kamino\_Neko](#): > > He’s actually already been on Star Trek. He had a minor role on Enterprise, Ensign Rivers, who appeared in the episodes The Forgotten and Affliction. Evidently being an ensign wasn’t enough for him. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2017, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/200 "2017-09-13T19:21:43Z")
> [@Kamino\_Neko](#): > > He had a minor role on Enterprise, Ensign Rivers, “Captain, can we talk?” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814.md?page=11)