# 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:** 8
**Author:** ![Helena330](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/helena330/32/531_2.png) [@Helena330](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helena330)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2017, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/141 "2017-09-13T00:10:47Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > I agree, I’m not even going to look into the new series until it becomes available on a more mainstream outlet like TV, Amazon or Netflix. I’m another one. I wonder how long it will last on their service until they decide it’s not working. I read one review that called The Orville “unethical and immoral”. The reviewer was outraged by it. I wish I could remember where I read it so I could share it. Talk about over-the-top. 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?? ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2017, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/142 "2017-09-13T00:20:08Z")
> [@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?? I honestly don’t know what critics were expecting. The show was pitched as an hour-long dramedy Star Trek parody and that’s exactly what they delivered. After seeing only the pilot (dunno if critics have seen more; sometimes they get the first few episodes) I think there is definitely room for improvement in the pacing, characterization, and figuring the kind of jokes that will work in the format. But a lot of the criticism seems unduly harsh. Maybe it’s just fashionable to dislike Seth MacFarlane - I get that. _Family Guy_ ran out of steam years ago, and _A Million Ways to Die in the West_ was a flop. ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2017, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/143 "2017-09-13T01:58:13Z")
I’m fairly certain the once-a-year-piss guy is going to piss out a huge fire, ala **Strange Brew**. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2017, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/144 "2017-09-13T02:31:50Z")
It was Star Trek with actual human beings in it. I’ll stick around for the novelty factor, at least for a few more episodes. If they can get their feet under them, this could be genuinely great. ---
**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 13, 2017, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/145 "2017-09-13T03:39:27Z")
Incidentally, the XO (and “XW”) mentioned her next possible ship was the _Chanute_, which I assume was a reference to Octave Chanute, who advised Wilbur and (wait for it) Orville Wright: [Octave Chanute - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octave_Chanute) ---
**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, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/146 "2017-09-13T03:48:44Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Incidentally, the XO (and “XW”) mentioned her next possible ship was the _Chanute_, which I assume was a reference to Octave Chanute, who advised Wilbur and (wait for it) Orville Wright: [Octave Chanute - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octave_Chanute) I was wondering how long it would take someone to pick up on the “Pioneers of Aviation” theme. 🆒 I’ll bet the next few starships are named the _Leonardo_, the _Lillienthal_, and the _Langley_. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2017, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/147 "2017-09-13T03:56:13Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > I was wondering how long it would take someone to pick up on the “Pioneers of Aviation” theme. 🆒 It’s either that or the pioneers of popcorn. Who knows what they’ll be naming ships after in the 25th century. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2017, 8:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/148 "2017-09-13T08:20:22Z")
> [@simster](#): > > Now see - the villain on the viewscreen was actually done perfectly - as its intent was not to be funny to us (directly) - but to throw the villain off his game and delay him (long enough to build the redwood weapon). I could see a version of that scene that works that way. But, as portrayed, I saw him as lying about the whole delay tactic just to annoy his XO. And then, when she also starts doing it, it’s clearly out of spite. But even that I could buy, if not for the the villain actually stopping at the start and then answering questions later on. It read to me like a comedy bit, not something that could have naturally happened in the scene in question. It felt like a Family Guy gag where everything stops for the joke. YM(apparently)V. I assume you mean “long enough to think up the redwood weapon.” They didn’t actually build it until after they cut the guy off. Normally I wouldn’t nitpick, but that’s a great example of the type of joke I’m talking about. It’s nice and subtle, having them just flat out say “cut him off,” unlike on Star Trek where it just goes off sometimes when it’s convenient. And they didn’t play the old tired version of the joke where the villain can still overhear them. No, just a nice, subtle jab. And, yes, I agree with **Miller** about these seeming like normal people in a Star Trek setting. He found the words I was trying to think of. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2017, 8:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/149 "2017-09-13T08:34:01Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > I enjoyed the first episode. Less Family Guy type humor then I expected and that is a good for me at least. The Arbor Day solution was really bad science of course and I guess played for laughs. I can buy the aging ray (allowing for Star Trek/Doctor Who techno-babble) but a 100 foot red wood would need a huge amount of resources to grow, not just time. That one can be chalked up to rule of funny but pulled me out of the show a little. > > I liked the crew dynamic so far and will keep watching. I was okay with it because it was set up so well. They set up that the seeds would grow anywhere, using whatever was around them. It’s not like Star Trek didn’t have impossible growth. Look at Genesis. Extremely sped up growth on a barren planet with no actual resources for life. Heck, now that I think about it, maybe it was a reference to that. I just saw it as using a clever solution to solve their problems–one that the fans could figure out. Kinda like the metaphors in old Star Trek, before it became so technobabble heavy. ---
**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 13, 2017, 9:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/150 "2017-09-13T09:29:12Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > I was wondering how long it would take someone to pick up on the “Pioneers of Aviation” theme. 🆒 Hell, that wasn’t even the only Easter egg in the character names. The sapient AI is named “Isaac”. The admiral’s last name is “Halsey”. The doctor’s last name is “Grayson”. As in Asimov, the Paul McCartney song, and Spock’s mother respectively. ---
**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, 9:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/151 "2017-09-13T09:39:22Z")
“Halsey” I picked up on immediately; the other two, I guess I wasn’t paying attention. ☹ Though my first reaction to “Grayson” would probably be to associate it with “Dick.” :smack: ---
**Author:** ![standingwave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@standingwave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/standingwave)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2017, 9:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/152 "2017-09-13T09:40:27Z")
> [@kiz](#): > > We saw the first episode on Amazon last night. Parody is an apt description. I’ve never been a big Star Trek fan, but the parody of it is right there in front of you. > > The comedic moments aren’t the LOL kind. The parody itself is part of the comedy, as is the sly asides/commentary characters make. It wasn’t offensive at all. I was surprised McFarland turned it down that much. > > I wouldn’t mind seeing another couple of episodes but I think a show like this tends to either acquire a cult following like Galaxy Quest or quietly dies. I’m not really seeing a parody. I think a parody would be a send up of any of the many Star Trek tropes out there: The captain wants to make it with every alien babe. The red shirt is always dying. The transporter malfunctions. The holodeck malfunctions. They warp to plaid. OK, I;ll grant that the helmsman likes to drink and so did Scotty. What I saw was a wise-cracking yet moderately competent crew. OK, a couple of them are straight men. But the basic story was essentially SF, if a little bit Doctor Who at the end with the tree growing out of nothing. But I’ll forgive that because they never explained exactly how that field was supposed to work anyway. It’s a delicate line blending comedy and drama. I enjoyed it. I want to see it succeed. It didn’t knock my socks off but I’m damned if I’m paying CBS a monthly fee for the privilege of watching _their_ show so this is all I got. Someone upthread mentioned _ **MASH** _ and I was thinking that as well but I think I got something even more appropriate. Here’s what I’m hoping. I’m hoping that this could become an SF version of [**Psych**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psych)\* a police drama that was usually amusing and semi-serious at the same time. That’s the tone I think they need to shoot for. - (As long as The Orville never ever has a [musical episode](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psych:_The_Musical). They do that and I’m gone.) ---
**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, 9:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/153 "2017-09-13T09:41:54Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Yeah, if anything, I think they might try to make it funnier and ditch any semblance of playing it straight. Other shows have managed to pull off a comedy–jeopardy format pretty well; _ **McHale’s Navy** _ and _ **Get Smart** _, f’rinstance. ---
**Author:** ![Arkcon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Arkcon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arkcon)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2017, 9:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/154 "2017-09-13T09:47:18Z")
> [@standingwave](#): > > - (As long as The Orville never ever has a [musical episode](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psych:_The_Musical). They do that and I’m gone.) Yeek. Hadn’t thought of that. Given how often Stewie and Brian break into song, its seems very likely. ---
**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, 10:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/155 "2017-09-13T10:02:46Z")
I’m surprised no one (except me) has noted the use of “That’s very \*\*magnanimous \*\*of you!” yet. It’s what Kirk says to Garth of Izar when he gives him Marta as his own personal pleasure slave in “Whom Gods Destroy,” the only other time I can recall hearing the word “magnanimous” in my life (except for my own use of it over the years). ---
**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 13, 2017, 10:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/156 "2017-09-13T10:08:21Z")
> [@standingwave](#): > > I’m not really seeing a parody. I think a parody would be a send up of any of the many Star Trek tropes out there: The captain wants to make it with every alien babe. The red shirt is always dying. The transporter malfunctions. The holodeck malfunctions. They warp to plaid. OK, I;ll grant that the helmsman likes to drink and so did Scotty. > > What I saw was a wise-cracking yet moderately competent crew. OK, a couple of them are straight men. But the basic story was essentially SF, if a little bit Doctor Who at the end with the tree growing out of nothing. But I’ll forgive that because they never explained exactly how that field was supposed to work anyway. It’s more of a soft parody than an outright mockery, I suppose. The humor derives more from hanging lampshades on the space opera genre than in openly making fun of them. The technobabble explanation for the tree was both classic ST and a perfect send-up of the genre. The scientist at the base explains that the redwood seeds have been modified with tardigrade DNA, which - if you watched the MacFarlane-produced reboot of _Cosmos_ - you will remember are microscopic “water bears” that can survive in any climate, including the vacuum of space, for potentially billions of years. It’s just the kind of miracle fix that Kirk/Picard and company would have come up with to save the Enterprise from some unbeatable enemy. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2017, 10:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/157 "2017-09-13T10:49:46Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > “Halsey” I picked up on immediately; the other two, I guess I wasn’t paying attention. ☹ Though my first reaction to “Grayson” would probably be to associate it with “Dick.” :smack: According to fanon, Amanda is a descendent of Richard Grayson, the dynamic mayor of Gotham just before the War. ---
**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, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/158 "2017-09-13T11:57:02Z")
> [@Helena330](#): > > I read one review that called The Orville “unethical and immoral”. [Here it is](http://www.indiewire.com/2017/09/the-orville-review-seth-macfarlane-star-trek-rip-off-1201874080/). When I first saw the headline (and before the episode aired) I figured that it would be because the show had McFarlane’s signature willingness to make tasteless/off-color jokes. But nope, the show is morally and ethically bankrupt–because it is a parody of Star Trek. The writer is apparently a moron. ---
**Author:** ![vislor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vislor/32/5933_2.png) [@vislor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vislor)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2017, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/159 "2017-09-13T12:01:28Z")
I keep thinking that this is more The Office (Or maybe Office Space) in space than Star Trek, as ST had more military discipline. They didn’t have helm, weapons, or tactical doing inane chatter like they did here. At least, not in front of Picard! I don’t think the military would let them get away with some of it. I also didn’t have a problem with the tree solution because, as others pointed out, not having the required resources for it to grow is Trek to m, which is based on something plausible and taken to the implausible. I liked that he had the intelligent joke (Arbor Day) and she had the crude one. I like that it’s optimistic as others have said. Yes, we do need more of that. And while I do think the Krill weren’t bad @$$, I did find them interesting and want to know more about them. I wanted to hear that everyone was using stun on their weapons, so it’s almost a “no harm no foul” kind of diplomacy that allows for guns but it’s not fatal. That’s me, though, nothing we saw on screen supports that. I will keep watching. ---
**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, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/160 "2017-09-13T12:07:32Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > It’s not like Star Trek didn’t have impossible growth. Look at Genesis. Extremely sped up growth on a barren planet with no actual resources for life. Heck, now that I think about it, maybe it was a reference to that. ST:TNG [also had an episode](http://memory-alpha.wikia.com/wiki/Timescape_%28episode%29) that involved pockets of accelerated or slowed time. And yeah, it is really, really, really stupid science (but actually IMHO acceptable in parody form than in what is supposed to be more serious SF.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814.md?page=9)