# 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:** 19
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2017, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/361 "2017-09-19T04:48:34Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > So if Bortus’s species is all male how would he even be able to recognize his offspring as female? :dubious: The first thing the hatchling did was ask for directions. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2017, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/362 "2017-09-19T04:58:29Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > So if Bortus’s species is all male how would he even be able to recognize his offspring as female? :dubious: Unless all life on their homework is monigendered, they’d be familiar with the concept. At the very least, they’d have discovered it when they encountered bigendered aliens and decided as a species that they were more masculine than feminine. The better question, as Lamarr asked, is where the egg comes out. “From the butt? How could that not be the first thing you asked?” ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2017, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/363 "2017-09-19T05:10:59Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > … > So if Bortus’s species is all male how would he even be able to recognize his offspring as female? :dubious: > … Maybe it’s a common birth defect in their species. It happens in about 50% of their offspring. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Ace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/6bbea6/32.png) [@Johnny\_Ace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Ace)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2017, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/364 "2017-09-19T05:53:42Z")
> [@Dale\_Sams](#): > > Pretty meta in that, I would watch the eps and despite their awfulness, I would like them anyway cause i was starved for Trek.\* > > It’s meta in that i can’t be sure if I’m liking Orville for the same reasons. > > \*They’re so unlike the later seasons they are enjoyable now just for being so odd (Guys in skirts??) > > Watched that first Traveller ep today. Really, it would have been fine without Wesley being Mozart of the Warp Drive. They could have kept the same concept and just toned it wayyyyyyy down for Wesley. ex: “For a couple of seconds I understood what he was doing.” I remember sitting with a bunch of like-minded people at a party to watch the 2-hour pilot of TNG, and watched enrapt until the almost uniformly disappointing denouement. Not the same with Orville, for me. I’ve been overdosed with Trek. I don’t _need_ another Trek series, probably ever again. I like this on its own merits; the Trek references are just Easter eggs to me. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2017, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/365 "2017-09-19T06:47:52Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > Maybe it’s a common birth defect in their species. It happens in about 50% of their offspring. Bortus’ mate specifically said it was impossible, so that seems unlikely. > [@Johnny\_Ace](#): > > I don’t recall seeing any evidence that the rest of the crew can’t get intoxicants from the replicators. In fact, the whole point is that THC is as widely accepted as alcohol in the future. See also Capt. Ed and Kelly joking about the joint she gave him before the opera…the ‘weapons-grade weed.’ Still, you’d think alcohol and THC would be contraband on a starship even if they’re legal and acceptable in civilian life. Aircraft carriers don’t have taverns, right? You want your crew to be clear-headed and ready to respond to a crisis at any time. Maybe they’re rationed to a certain amount per day, or it’s low-potency. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2017, 9:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/366 "2017-09-19T09:23:29Z")
> [@Johnny\_Bravo](#): > > Cherry Chevapravatdumrong. She’s worked on Family Guy forever. Ignorance fought! Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2017, 9:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/367 "2017-09-19T09:30:49Z")
I really liked this although it wasn’t perfect. I’m irritated with the critics who are panning it so near-unanimously. It’s an interesting question, as to whether they should lean more into the comedy or less. I think it should be less, but not eliminated entirely. They have to pick their spots. For instance, in the pilot the bit with the ogre on the “holodeck” was inspired. But when the same character asked about wearing shorts on the bridge because of the awesome maneuver he pulled off, when they were _still in great danger as the space battle was ongoing_, that was not the right timing. ETA: In the pilot, what do you suppose the experience was of the woman who was aged to death? Lying there watching a still image that changed mostly imperceptibly but maybe noticeably after a year or so? But then of course she should have starved or died of dehydration long before getting so old. And in the second episode, it’s nice that they freed the little kid, but kind of dark that all those other species were presumably left unrescued. ---
**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 19, 2017, 10:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/368 "2017-09-19T10:56:38Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Bortus’ mate specifically said it was impossible, so that seems unlikely. If the members of that species can both impregnate one another \*\*and \*\*give birth (in the form of laying eggs), they’re clearly … what’s the correct term … _bisexual_? :dubious: 😕 If the eggs don’t come out of their butts, they all must have the equivalent of a cloaca. ---
**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 19, 2017, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/369 "2017-09-19T11:00:12Z")
> [@SlackerInc](#): > > And in the second episode, it’s nice that they freed the little kid, but kind of dark that all those other species were presumably left unrescued. Maybe their keepers let them all go once they’d discovered that TV is superior to real life. 🆒 They wouldn’t have to feed and take care of them any more, either. That shit gets expensive. ---
**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 19, 2017, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/370 "2017-09-19T11:31:02Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > If the members of that species can both impregnate one another \*\*and \*\*give birth (in the form of laying eggs), they’re clearly … what’s the correct term … _bisexual_? Hermaphroditic. ---
**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 19, 2017, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/371 "2017-09-19T11:33:27Z")
> [@Kamino\_Neko](#): > > Hermaphroditic. Does that mean they can impregnate themselves as well? :dubious: 😕 ---
**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 19, 2017, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/372 "2017-09-19T11:51:26Z")
> [@Johnny\_Ace](#): > > I remember sitting with a bunch of like-minded people at a party to watch the 2-hour pilot of TNG, and watched enrapt until the almost uniformly disappointing denouement. … And it’s _beautiful_! :o ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2017, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/373 "2017-09-19T12:06:36Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Does that mean they can impregnate themselves as well? :dubious: 😕 Clearly, there are a _lot_ of questions about the Moclan reproductive process that are going to have to be answered at some point. On another note, I can’t get this bit out of my head; “I’M GOING TO THE BATHROOM TO READ!” “…Excuse me?” “Elvis Presley’s last words. It was all I could think of.” ---
**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 19, 2017, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/374 "2017-09-19T12:25:10Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Still, you’d think alcohol and THC would be contraband on a starship even if they’re legal and acceptable in civilian life. Aircraft carriers don’t have taverns, right? You want your crew to be clear-headed and ready to respond to a crisis at any time. Like on \*\*this \*\ ***ship**? :o [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZyUVhuOWPuY&t=1009) ---
**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 19, 2017, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/375 "2017-09-19T12:38:49Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Still, you’d think alcohol and THC would be contraband on a starship even if they’re legal and acceptable in civilian life. Aircraft carriers don’t have taverns, right? You want your crew to be clear-headed and ready to respond to a crisis at any time. The Royal Navy had a daily rum issue until 1970. ---
**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 19, 2017, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/376 "2017-09-19T12:49:59Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Does that mean they can impregnate themselves as well? Well, as egg layers, ‘impregnation’ really doesn’t apply. Fertilization… ¯\_(ツ)\_/¯ We don’t know enough about Moclan biology to speculate with any hope of accuracy. For all we know, they’re not even hermaphrodites, and only have one kind of gamete that combine in a way very different than earth species’. Assuming their reproductive biology is analogous to earth-based biology… ¯\_(ツ)\_/¯ There’s nothing inherent to the concept of hermaphroditism that prevents it, but there’s so many confounding factors I wouldn’t even want to guess if it’s actually possible in this specific case. Internal or external fertilization? If internal, how is the sperm introduced to the partner’s body - cloacal kiss, penis, manually? Spontaneous or induced ovulation, or the possibility of either? If induced, how? Are they some sort of sequential hermaphrodite? Is there some sort of chemical or physical barrier to prevent excessive consanguinity? (All qualities that exist in Earth species…and except for the sequential hermaphroditism (obviously) all also apply to the single-gamete idea.) This is just off the top of my head… I’m sure with some thought, some really weird factors could be figured out. Of course, that all only applies to accidental or ‘natural’ fertilization…as a sapient species of a Moclan wanted to have a child where he was the only father, I’m certain they could find ways to get around all of those complications. If they don’t have a taboo against it…and even if they do, that’s not an absolute barrier, it would just make it harder to find help. Dammit, you’ve started me thinking about the subject…now I won’t be able to stop until I have a self-consistent (or at least not _obviously_ flawed) headcanon… (Still better than trying to figure out how the Romance Quadrants and buckets work…) ---
**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 19, 2017, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/377 "2017-09-19T13:31:59Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > The Royal Navy had a daily rum issue until 1970. … And, sadly, Britain is no longer a great power. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2017, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/378 "2017-09-19T14:03:54Z")
They had alcohol on the original Enterprise, NCC-1701. Though maybe only for the senior officers, I can’t quite recall. But we know Scotty and Bones both had stashes at least. But we are talking about the Captain & 1st Officer afterall. Considering THC is probably less debilitating then alcohol, it makes some sense that it would be available for replication. Also as recently as the 80s, the US Navy still had beer days during very long sea periods. We had one on West Pac. Additionally, there were a variety of home brewed alcohols on the ship during long trips and somehow beer and alcohol found its way back onto the ship after liberty ports in small amounts. Go back to the 70s and there was a lot of dope and other drugs used on board the ships. This was strongly cracked down on in the 80s but cigarette smoking was still a thing on US Navy ships until the 2000s I believe. I notice her THC was in brownie form, so maybe that is the restriction. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2017, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/379 "2017-09-19T14:18:25Z")
I seem to remember Guinan having a bottle or two behind the bar in STNG. I’m not sure if it was officially allowed or just winked at. I also recall the term “synthahol”. I’m not sure if it was intoxicating or not. ---
**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 19, 2017, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/380 "2017-09-19T15:19:26Z")
It’s not, to humans and most other common humanoids - [at least not without consuming insane quantities](http://memory-alpha.wikia.com/wiki/Synthehol). That’s the point of it. (Though, apparently the Borg assimilation process screws that up.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814.md?page=18) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814.md?page=20)