# 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:** 6
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2017, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/101 "2017-09-11T18:28:33Z")
Nice to see a futuristic NYC agleam. Great sfx of the starship. I especially liked the cute, spunky, superstrong security chief. Here’s NPR’s overly-harsh (IMHO) review: [The Orville review : NPR](http://www.npr.org/sections/monkeysee/2017/09/10/549407669/make-it-so-so-fox-s-the-orville) > [@carnivorousplant](#): > > OTOH, transporters are a setup for humor. “Very funny, Scotty. Now beam down my clothes.” > [@terentii](#): > > Tuna comes in tins. 😃 So it does: [Exactly What It Says on the Tin - TV Tropes](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin) > [@Finagle](#): > > …I guess I’ll give it time to find its stride. Although it’s not on a network [that’s known for letting that happen.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9xForBuqpI) Love it! ---
**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 11, 2017, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/102 "2017-09-11T18:39:03Z")
> [@Quimby](#): > > The first shot of the original pilot of Star Trek is literally the camera going through a window in the ceiling of the bridge like that 🙂 In _ **TOS** _, the upper dome of the saucer housed a sensor array and was “transparent to all forms of electromagnetic radiation.” How they were able to see through the array into the bridge, I’ve never been able to figure out. 😕 In _ **TAS** _, the ceiling of the bridge was shown to house an automatic defense system, installed I guess after the Eymorg stole Spock’s brain. In _ **TNG** _, I believe there was a skylight on the bridge that always showed black whenever the camera was at an angle to see it. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2017, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/103 "2017-09-11T19:23:24Z")
Absolutely nothing like I expected & looked forward to. The previews were terribly deceiving. The previews and Seth’s other work, indicated this. [https://goo.gl/images/r9Z9m3](https://goo.gl/images/r9Z9m3) Instead we get an odd Sci Fi show that throws in humor, almost like an after thought. I might have enjoyed it more if my hopes weren’t raised for a madcap parody. I’ll continue to watching. See how the show develops. I wouldn’t be surprised if they dump the humor. It really seemed a bit forced and doesn’t work in a show that takes itself too seriously. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2017, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/104 "2017-09-11T20:07:07Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I wouldn’t be surprised if they dump the humor. It really seemed a bit forced and doesn’t work in a show that takes itself too seriously. I’d be very surprised if they _did_ drop the humor…it’s Seth MacFarlane, and he’s been involved in very few non-comedy projects (notably, he was a producer on Neil deGrasse Tyson’s “Cosmos,” and recorded three albums of swing music). ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2017, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/105 "2017-09-11T20:10:00Z")
Yeah, if anything, I think they might try to make it funnier and ditch any semblance of playing it straight. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2017, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/106 "2017-09-11T20:12:52Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Yeah, if anything, I think they might try to make it funnier and ditch any semblance of playing it straight. Exactly. OTOH, given the long production lead-times on this sort of show, it also wouldn’t surprise me if Fox just kills it, if the ratings don’t look good after a half-season. ---
**Author:** ![leftfield6](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leftfield6/32/18780_2.png) [@leftfield6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leftfield6)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2017, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/107 "2017-09-11T21:02:02Z")
I liked it. But then I guess I had accurately guessed what mix of humor/serious drama it would be, so my expectations were pretty much spot on. It’s going to have some goofy humor in it, because that’s what Seth M. does. And I knew it was going to be a little bit serious sci-fi because apparently Seth M. has always been a huge fan of the genre and the chance to do this show is a lifelong dream. Only thing I hate is the time slot. Following football on FOX means you can’t really count on it actually starting on time if the games run long. And that screws up my TIVO. Dammit. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2017, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/108 "2017-09-11T22:28:31Z")
I was never a fan of the Star Trek franchise, altho I’ve seen a lot of the shows since my husband controls the remote. I was hoping this series would be more fun than it was but I expect to see more, due to the aforementioned remote controller. If it gets better, great. If not, no biggie to me. ---
**Author:** ![WotNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e19b73/32.png) [@WotNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WotNot)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2017, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/109 "2017-09-11T23:22:55Z")
> [@Arkcon](#): > > Here’s an aside: Remember the Next Gen episode, where Q sent everyone into a Robin Hood reality? I was watching it at college, and everyone went “Aw. Copying the new Kevin Coster movie just out now.” And I believed them. Which is silly. The episode had to have been written a year and half before, filmed a year before, then the CGI phasers added in. Someone in this thread will soon say --“Ah, see, they improved that character, just like I said they had to, Fox must have laid down the law” And that’s a – Nope, not until next season statement. What? Broadcast TV doesn’t have production schedules anywhere near that long. “Qpid” was shot in February 1991 and aired in April. US TV doesn’t wait till they’ve shot the entire season before they start broadcasting. And yes, they really did make it a Robin Hood episode because of the Kevin Costner film. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2017, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/110 "2017-09-11T23:31:05Z")
5 episodes will air. Tries to be funny when it shouldn’t in ways it shouldn’t. Can’t not be funny because that’s what Mr. McFarlane is always trying to be. ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2017, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/111 "2017-09-12T00:21:15Z")
As with the reboot ST movies…I’m sure a lot of Star Trek people right now are saying “Christ if we could have had THAT much money for the show!!?” ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2017, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/112 "2017-09-12T00:46:46Z")
I liked the first episode. “Happy Arbor Day”, hee. Anyone else notice that DS9’s Kasidy Yates is the doctor? ---
**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 12, 2017, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/113 "2017-09-12T01:24:07Z")
> [@ekedolphin](#): > > Anyone else notice that DS9’s Kasidy Yates is the doctor? I recognized her as Sherry Palmer, myself. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2017, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/114 "2017-09-12T01:42:09Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > I recognized her as Sherry Palmer, myself. Yeah! Dennis Haysbert gave us Barack Obama. I’ve seen worse. Shit, I’ve seen worse Star Trek. I’m happily back next week. Then there’s Adrianne Palicki. Great-grandpa had a taste for Norwegian girls, which I share, but I married a Polack-based mutt. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2017, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/115 "2017-09-12T01:48:10Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I’ll continue to watching. See how the show develops. I wouldn’t be surprised if they dump the humor. It really seemed a bit forced and doesn’t work in a show that takes itself too seriously. > [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Yeah, if anything, I think they might try to make it funnier and ditch any semblance of playing it straight. I posted this thought on another message board: And while amusing, I didn’t think it was laugh out loud funny, and I think that may be deliberate. Seth MacFarlane is known for his comedy, and it may be that posing this as a comedy is the only way he could get it green-lit. But if you look beyond the obvious laugh lines, what we had was a pretty solid SF episode, that introduced some interesting possibilities. Take a look at the Banana ray and the redwood seeds. The way they combined to make the Super Weapon that saved the day was clever, and worthy of a more serious show. It also showed that the crew, while being goofballs, are also on the ball, so to speak. So, might we see this evolve into a more serious SF story line, with the humour coming at a less-Seth MacFarlane pace, and a more-Joss Whedon pace? ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2017, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/116 "2017-09-12T01:51:31Z")
Just finished watching it. Not bad, but not particularly good. A few funny lines (liked the seat belt metajoke), but the story was strictly routine. I’ll give it a second look. ---
**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 12, 2017, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/117 "2017-09-12T01:58:30Z")
> [@Horatius](#): > > a more-Joss Whedon pace? Don’t even think that. We would get a post menarche heroine who saves the day and the show will revolve around her. ---
**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 12, 2017, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/118 "2017-09-12T02:11:47Z")
Rotten Tomatoes has it at 17% with critics vs. 90% with viewers. Interesting divide, but hopefully this means the show has enough goodwill thus far to keep it from getting Fireflied. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2017, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/119 "2017-09-12T02:13:15Z")
> [@Arkcon](#): > > …No transporters. Thankfully. Shuttle scenes were historically prohibitively expensive (hey, that killed V back in the '80’s.) Seems like the shuttle use is going to be pretty seamless if they have to reuse footage to save money… Either that or just have most of the shuttle trips down to a planet’s surface take place off-screen, which didn’t occur to Roddenberry until after he came up with the transporters. > [@Folacin](#): > > …Oh, and that porthole on the roof of the bridge seems like a real bad idea. The bridge being on top of the ship is a really bad idea for a starship. 😉 Ditto for huge windows all over the hull. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2017, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/120 "2017-09-12T02:24:07Z")
> [@Horatius](#): > > Take a look at the Banana ray and the redwood seeds. The way they combined to make the Super Weapon that saved the day was clever, and worthy of a more serious show. It also showed that the crew, while being goofballs, are also on the ball, so to speak. It’s a total cliche, but my Boy Scout patrol was totally like that, mostly before it became a meme. I can relate. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814.md?page=7)