Watched Seth McFarland's Star Trek tribute show
The Orville. Premise: Ed Mercer (McFarland) is in a spiral when he catches his wife Kelly Grayson (Adrianne Palicki) having an affair. However he is finally given a shot at being a captain of his own ship in the Planetary Union, taking charge of medium ship Orville. Time for adventures across space and some surprises....
All reviews I had going into this said give three episodes before deciding and that seems fair. The 1st episode is an awful comedy that plays into some of the worst aspects of the show and sets the wrong tone. The second gives a better sense of the tone and the style of show (aka optimistic sci-fi adventure) but is a bit flat, the 3rd is a brilliant, intellectually thoughtful episode that would be a classic on Star Trek itself. However while that shows Orville at it's best, don't take that as general quality, only one or two other episodes of really high quality.
This has led to "the real Star Trek: Discovery or Orville." I found Discovery a better all round show, Orville is a paean of love towards the old shows. The costumes, the ship designs, the foes and races among other things could very much be from a (cheaper) version of Star Trek, arguably to the point where it hampers the show a little at times, a more original costume for example might work better. It is an optimistic show about reason and diplomacy over violence though Mercer is more an ordinary bloke (bar love life) then usual captains, it mixes each episode is a different adventure with some long running character strands. It also has a fair few major celeb camero's in the early episodes
The actual quality? It is erratic, you get some very good episodes which then be followed by meh or even poor episodes. At it's best? There are episodes where the writers have picked a theme and been very very thoughtful on it, not only that but have been brave, willing to challenge it's intended audience and those who would be its natural supporters, to leave one thoughtful. It has enjoyable one liners and it's quick jokes involving side members of cast are funny, good holodeck humour, some good adventures. It has some interesting members of the crew, Lieutenant Commander Bortus (Peter Macon) is involved in a lot of the better humour and has a fascinating story strand that sadly gets dropped during second half, Lieutenant Alara Kitan (Halston Sage) is a likeable figure whose strength and background show promise but relies somewhat on Sage's performance at the moment while her love life is a bore, the arrogant robot Issac (Mark Jackson) is no Data but some good humour as he learns about earth and good strands in second half flesh him out.
So why is it erratic? Sometimes an adventure doesn't quite fire but there fundamental issues that need work on second season. Long running jokes do not work or anything that requires a bit of build up, the humours very well with quick jokes and one liners but if allowed to indulge then it falls flat. One episode romances are fine if unremarkable but the two long term ones
really really drag with awful humour, no chemistry and annoyance, one or two pat endings. While it has some intresting members of the helm, unfortunately it's captain and first officer hold it back...
Mercer being a fairly ordinary guy with a good heart rather then elite of the fleet is fine but he is hard to warm to and when an episode relies on him drawing you in as the lead, McFarland doesn't give a strong enough performance. There are also moments where the character can be petulant or it engages in "the captain must be the hero when it would make more sense for other members of the crew to take charge". The dynamic with Grayson brings out the worst in Mercer, lots of unfunny humour, little chemistry and a tiresome plot while we only get flickers of what Palicki is able to bring to such things.
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Saw second season of
Trollhunters. Slow start, not helped by Toby being very annoying rather then funny, but it soon pikcks up pace. Good variety of type of episodes and storylines, some good comic moments, the bond between the cast is good again, enjoyable action scenes, good villain. Led nicely up to an enjoyable finale
“You, are a rebellious son who abandoned his father. You are a cruel brigand who murdered his lord. How can Heaven and Earth put up with you for long? And unless you die soon, how can you face the sight of men?”