User Reviews

This appears to be The Orville equivalent to "The Best of Both Worlds" in Star Trek: The Next Generation. However, rather than do a rehash, the creators have managed to create this phenomenon at an unexpected time, place, and involving individuals that could not have been predicted without previews. A story about family and tragedy, quickly turns into exploration and diplomacy, and leads to mystery and betrayal. Set designs, world building, and pacing are also true standouts in this episode. I would have given it a 9.5, due to a child sneaking off a starship just as a plot device, but the ensuing scenes, setting up the payoff and eventual second episode completely made up for it. Congratulations to The Orville for their greatest success yet, in a season that has hit highs but has been dragged down by some odd choices.

This season has had its share of the sophomore slump so far but this episode is the worst. I can see and understand what Seth McFarlane is trying to accomplish in this episode But there are way to many problems. Lots of spoilers ahead!!! 1. Isaac is a robot with NO emotions and the Doctor some how keeps expecting Isaac to feel the same if not something in return. Some how this doctor keeps forgetting that Isaac is a robot that is incapable of emotions. Then around the end of this episode she actually explains this fact to Ty. Then at the very end of the show she forgets this fact again. 2. How come this "advanced race" can not detect the Orville scanning the planet? 3. How does Ty have the codes to the doors to exit the ship? 4. How come the kaylons can not detect a little child screaming out Isaacs name? 5. When Lt. Alara decided to leave there was really no big fuss? Yes, he's been seeing the Doctor (actually she's been seeing him and using him) and the kids but again, HE's A ROBOT with NO emotions! The doctor knows this and again she made that emotional attachment to Isaac and let her kids do the same. 6. Again apparently the kaylons can't detect a small landing party searching for a child thats screaming Isaacs name? 7. And once again the kaylons boarding and taking everyone hostage cannot find one little boy hidding behind a chair????

It was dramatic for me when Isaac just shut down.

It was sad to see Isaac go, to see the kid's reaction, to see Clair's reaction, to see Isaac's no reaction.

The going away party was great. Was that really Scott Grimes voice? .... man, he could find another profession!

Then, of course, the HUGE twist..... all I could think about was VOY: 'Prototype'.

Interesting how they set this table.... the planet could no longer allow for Isaac's species' (can't think of the name) growth? ... does that mean they had used up all the natural resources and they needed to find a new home? ... I do not think they specifically said that - but I think that's a pretty good guess.

Billions of skulls..... Issac tries to justify the extermination.... that was interesting to me.

Some kick ass Kaylon units.... a new definition of "head shot" ...no chance for the Orville Crew... Are those Orville crew members that were shot all dead? .... stunned?

Suspenseful!!

I think 'The Orville's' finest episode thus far.

Fantastic visuals!!

I have to mention how moved I was when the Orville was flying down to the specified coordinates on Kaylon. The music brought me back to Spock soaring into V'Ger in TMP. 'The Orville' has intermingled Star Trek classic musical themes in before, but none moved me as this one did. Well done.

It certainly will be interesting to see how they wrap this thing up. This by all indications is 'The Orville's' BoBW. The first part was better back then, here's hoping part II here nails it.

What to do with Isaac? ... how will this be resolved not only with Orville's crew but the Union?

I'll make a weak prediction that somehow the Krill get involved here.

Can't wait for Part II!!!!

Honestly one of the best science fiction episodes of any series to date. An excellent storyline which requires no prior knowledge of previous episodes while still retaining a strong and cohesive story. Full of twists and turns and thrilling plot details. Ends on a cliffhanger comparable to that of Star Trek: The Next Generation: The Best of Both Worlds Part 1. Must watch

You go into the setup on the planet expecting some kid of conflict, it is part 1 of 2 after all; something feels shady as the Kaylon are stalling for time on their answer to join the union or not, and they're building multiple buildings very rapidly on another part of the planet with energy signatures that could be a concern. The first part of the dark twist comes when the doctors younger child, then a couple crew members sent to find him, discover something. Then when the captain confronts the Kaylon for an explanation the twist turns out to be even darker than it seemed a minute ago (which is saying something because it was already pretty damn dark for a show like this, but in a good way). Given the spirit of the show up to this point I admit I was caught completely off guard, again in a good way. Excellent episode and I can only hope part 2 is equal to to part 1.

Warning do not read unless seen epsiode.

This is part one of the first two parter of "The Orville" and oh boy is it a big one as this is probably one of the darkest episodes ever.

I really like the humor in this episode it hits all the right notes for me. From that scene with Bordis whom wanted a particular cut cake, I found that funny because it's true even I sometimes want a cake that has a frosted decoration or two. The game Isaac plays with Ty and Sean which is cool, I'd love to know the rules of that game let alone play it, it seems to be some sort of matching puzzle game and a versus type as your trying to blow your opponents away. It was funny when there was a little of that conversation Isaac has with the kids, it's just funny how Isaac just always says some of the wrong things which makes sense as he still doesn't have a full grasp or experience on human emotion, much like any foreigner trying to understand customs of a country. But of course, one highlight was seeing Gordon sing a song to Isaac at the good bye party, it was funny because it's clearly a song for a female singer but kind of touching considering the content of that song and Scott Grimes is surprisingly a pretty good singer.

When we see Isaac's planet K lon it doesn't disappoint, it looks pretty much like Cybertron from "The Transformers" franchise, just looking how well detailed that world is, I honestly wouldn't mind if Seth Macfarlane directs a "Transformers" movie, a good one mind you (for the record the "Bumblebee" film was good). It's very interesting as in one scene we see a group of Robots are working nonstop on a computer which is a big wall screen that seems to have all different kinds of bars dropping down which probably represents a data stream though I wonder how the heck they can read the code.

Though also the place has a creepy vibe as we see everything is sterile and white, which reminds me of the classic sci-fi film "THX 1138" which is possibly another inspiration for this episode. And with the amount of silver faceless robots around it's much like with the presence of those creepy silver faced mannequin robot cops in that movie, and from the color of their eyes the leader whom has red eyes. From their mannerism toward the crew, I already know that something rotten is going on in Denmark or K lon for that matter.

I really like the scenes with Clare and Isaac along with the kids Ty and Sean. There is a touching Asimov like family dynamic going on, you get a feeling that things could possibly become more between Clare and Isaac but also it shows once again how you still can do more with the family dynamic. One scene I really like is when after Isaac departed, Ty was upset about it and Clare talks to him. Ty says something that I feel is profound about Isaac, how he is a person with emotions despite not showing on the surface, which is probably part of the theme of this two parter which may come into play on part two of the two parter.

But of course, in the final half of the episode, The Orville crew and we all get a rude awakening, as we see in a rather horrific scene that gave me a cold chill, there is a cave channel which turns out to be a bone yard of the entire human species of the planet. In a way this shows the consequence of what happens when Asimov's first law is broken or even if the Terminators ever won the war against humans.

We see now the Orville have another threat to deal with other than the Krill, as we finally get the full scope of their plan which of course is an homage to the Borg as their plan is to exterminate all life in the universe and assimilate the entire star system. We then see in slightly chilling fashion the Orville being taken over really like how we see the Robot's eyes transform into guns which I thought was cool and a unique transformation; despite the crew putting up resistance as the Borg always say, "Resistance is futile".

So now they have control of the Orville and their now targeting Earth (no surprise seriously why is that planet always numero uno on every alien's list), will the Orville crew find a way out of their predicament and turn the tables to save themselves and the universe.

But the big question for me is whether Isaac is really a turncoat or not. Personally, I doubt he is because that would be too easy; after all he was shut down around the beginning of the episode and was taken into the planet's supposed med facility. A lot of things could have happened in that facility, either Isaac's programing has been overridden by the forces of his home planet or his consciousness has been replaced by another program in his body. This could explain that one scene where he looked at Ty's cute drawing and then just disguards it as if it's nothing.

But also, I really like this character as he's became a favorite of mine I really don't want him to be bad, I'm really sick of the turncoat cliché as it's been done too many times already most of the time badly (the TV show "Andromeda"). I don't know, whatever the case we're just going to have to wait and see, till part two.

Rating: 4 stars

This felt like a sci-fi movie moreso than an episode of this show. It was good though and The Orville continues to surprise us with such a deep and original second season.

Curious to see how it all wraps up next week.