# 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:** 43
**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:** [October 9, 2017, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/841 "2017-10-09T17:29:49Z")
> [@MrAtoz](#): > > I can remember hearing it said (always in non-canonical sources like message boards and such) that she was supposed to be fourth in command, after Scotty, but I don’t think we ever heard that officially, and I don’t remember ever seeing it happen. If anyone was fourth in command, it was Sulu. There was at least one episode where Kirk and Spock were offship and Sulu, at the conn, asked Scott if he’d like to assume command, but Scott preferred to stay in Engineering and let Sulu carry on. I recall an issue of the DC _Star Trek_ series (set around the time of the third film) where Kirk turns the conn over to Uhura, who takes it while muttering “Better late than never.” ---
**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:** [October 9, 2017, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/842 "2017-10-09T17:32:50Z")
DeSall(e) was in command once. I believe he was also in _Catspaw._ ---
**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:** [October 9, 2017, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/843 "2017-10-09T18:38:34Z")
> [@MrAtoz](#): > > I don’t remember Uhura ever assuming command. She took the helm in one episode that I recall. I can remember hearing it said (always in non-canonical sources like message boards and such) that she was supposed to be fourth in command, after Scotty, but I don’t think we ever heard that officially, and I don’t remember ever seeing it happen. My mistake, it only happened in the animated series, not TOS. ---
**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:** [October 9, 2017, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/844 "2017-10-09T18:54:07Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > He dated Danaerys Targaryen. He’s got something going for him. Money, Perhaps. ---
**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:** [October 9, 2017, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/845 "2017-10-09T19:34:41Z")
I really like the design of the [Binzians](https://imgur.com/a/3cCiJ) from the latest episode. Nicely alien aliens. Hope that they show up again. ---
**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:** [October 9, 2017, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/846 "2017-10-09T21:00:52Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > My mistake, it only happened in the animated series, not TOS. Sulu was both Helmsman and Weapons Officer. In addition, we were told he was “an experienced combat officer.” **Of course** he’s going to be fourth in command instead of some junior communications officer. ---
**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:** [October 9, 2017, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/847 "2017-10-09T21:08:47Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Sulu was both Helmsman and Weapons Officer. In addition, we were told he was “an experienced combat officer.” Well, we all know that he loves sword fights. What? I meant [in _The Naked Now_](https://www.google.com/search?q=sulu+naked+now+swords&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjL9PmhueTWAhVnz1QKHTO6B24Q_AUICigB&biw=1056&bih=518)! Get your mind out of the gutter! ---
**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:** [October 9, 2017, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/848 "2017-10-09T21:10:44Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > She was Sr Comms Officer; a department (or at least division) head. Cite? :dubious: According to _ **The Making of Star Trek** _ (1968): _Since childhood she had been interested in communications and was already a highly proficient communications professional at eighteen years of age when her sense of adventure led her into the Space Service. … Uhura is torn between the idea of someday becoming a wife and mother, and a desire to remain in the service as a career officer._ One would hope that by the time of the movies (or even _ **TAS** _) she had risen higher, but in \*\*\*TOS \*\*\*she was definitely junior to Sulu. ---
**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:** [October 9, 2017, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/849 "2017-10-09T21:13:02Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > Well, we all know that he loves sword fights. > > What? I meant [in _The Naked Now_](https://www.google.com/search?q=sulu+naked+now+swords&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjL9PmhueTWAhVnz1QKHTO6B24Q_AUICigB&biw=1056&bih=518)! Get your mind out of the gutter! Isn’t that the episode where he asks Riley if he’d like to join him for a “workout session” in the ship’s gym? (All hot and sweaty, no doubt.) :dubious: ---
**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:** [October 9, 2017, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/850 "2017-10-09T21:13:26Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > Well, we all know that he loves sword fights. > > What? I meant [in _The Naked Now_](https://www.google.com/search?q=sulu+naked+now+swords&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjL9PmhueTWAhVnz1QKHTO6B24Q_AUICigB&biw=1056&bih=518)! Get your mind out of the gutter! “I’ll save you, fair maiden!” “Sorry, I’m neither.” ---
**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:** [October 9, 2017, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/851 "2017-10-09T22:03:05Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Cite? :dubious: > > According to _ **The Making of Star Trek** _ (1968): > > _Since childhood she had been interested in communications and was already a highly proficient communications professional at eighteen years of age when her sense of adventure led her into the Space Service. … Uhura is torn between the idea of someday becoming a wife and mother, and a desire to remain in the service as a career officer._ > > One would hope that by the time of the movies (or even _ **TAS** _) she had risen higher, but in \*\*\*TOS \*\*\*she was definitely junior to Sulu. I don’t have a cite, I’ll concede I’m wrong as I also don’t care that much. Oddly she started as bridge crew and Sulu as a Science, I believe maybe botany. In one of the earliest episodes he had active plant that detected the salt monster. Possible botany/gardening was just a hobby, but he wasn’t on the bridge the first few episodes was he? ---
**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:** [October 9, 2017, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/852 "2017-10-09T22:13:52Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > I don’t have a cite, I’ll concede I’m wrong as I also don’t care that much. > > Oddly she started as bridge crew and Sulu as a Science, I believe maybe botany. In one of the earliest episodes he had active plant that detected the salt monster. Possible botany/gardening was just a hobby, but he wasn’t on the bridge the first few episodes was he? Actually, he was an astrophysicist in the second pilot. He was on the board of senior officers deciding the fate of Gary Mitchell. Botany (“The Man Trap”), like fencing (“The Naked Time”), was just a hobby. So was collecting firearms (“Shore Leave”). He was definitely at the helm in “The Corbomite Maneuver,” the first episode shot in regular production. ---
**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:** [October 9, 2017, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/853 "2017-10-09T22:21:05Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > I don’t have a cite, I’ll concede I’m wrong as I also don’t care that much. > > Oddly she started as bridge crew and Sulu as a Science, I believe maybe botany. In one of the earliest episodes he had active plant that detected the salt monster. Possible botany/gardening was just a hobby, but he wasn’t on the bridge the first few episodes was he? I thought they said in the salt monster episode that Sulu was in the biology department. ---
**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:** [October 9, 2017, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/854 "2017-10-09T22:28:21Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > I thought they said in the salt monster episode that Sulu was in the biology department. That was “The Man Trap.” Botany was just a hobby of his. ---
**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:** [October 9, 2017, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/855 "2017-10-09T22:46:47Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > “I’ll save you, fair maiden!” > “Sorry, I’m neither.” Even though _The Orville_ has far greater latitude by virtue of being broadcast fifty years later, I doubt it can match this line for adult-level wit and even if it tried, somebody would freak out and call it racist. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2017, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/856 "2017-10-09T23:06:19Z")
No “I’m.” Just “Sorry, neither.” ---
**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:** [October 9, 2017, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/857 "2017-10-09T23:12:01Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > I doubt it can match this line for adult-level wit and even if it tried, somebody would freak out and call it racist. Believe it or not, I don’t think I ever caught the significance of “fair” until just now. I always assumed she was being modest about her beauty, not commenting on her color. :smack: Of course, the line is delivered so smoothly and quickly, I don’t think I even apprehended it until the third or fourth time I saw that episode. (Actually, I first learned what she was saying when I read Blish’s adaptation of “The Naked Time.”) ---
**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:** [October 9, 2017, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/858 "2017-10-09T23:20:47Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Of course, the line is delivered so smoothly and quickly, I don’t think I even apprehended it until the third or fourth time I saw that episode. (Actually, I first learned what she was saying when I read Blish’s adaptation of “The Naked Time.”) I’m pretty sure I also read material citing the line long before I actually noticed it during a broadcast, but to me the smoothness/quickness makes it even funnier - its not some big windup/punchline/pause-for-audience-laugh moment, just a bit of dry (seemingly) off-the-cuff adult humour, which we don’t get nearly enough of, these days. On reflection, I suppose it was _meant_ to be funny when the gelatinous character says Charlize Theron’s character is the first attractive _white_ woman he’s ever seen. I think it would have been funnier still if he was indifferent to Theron _because_ he specifically likes black women, though it still makes little sense that he (if “he” as a pronoun even applies) would find _any_ human sexually attractive. ---
**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:** [October 9, 2017, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/859 "2017-10-09T23:21:20Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > No “I’m.” Just “Sorry, neither.” You know what your problem is, silenus? You [confuse people with the damn facts](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M58aP5DtNqY), silenus, that is your problem. ---
**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:** [October 9, 2017, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/860 "2017-10-09T23:25:55Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > I’m pretty sure I also read material citing the line long before I actually noticed it during a broadcast, but to me the smoothness/quickness makes it even funnier - its not some big windup/punchline/pause-for-audience-laugh moment, just a bit of dry (seemingly) off-the-cuff adult humour, which we don’t get nearly enough of, these days. “Amen to that, Scotty!” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814.md?page=42) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814.md?page=44)