Majority Rule

This is first ever 10/10 I gave to anything on IMDb - I normally review things I like, and my average is about 7/5.

I don't think "Majority Rule" is somehow flawless; my score reflects the feeling after watching that episode. This could be descent TNG episode, easily!

It is, perhaps blunt, but on point commentary on our modern social- media controlled world. World in which hashtag activism became a valid form of social participation.

This episode doesn't focus on Mr. MacFarlane or relationship of his character with Cmdr Grayson, instead giving front seat to Lt. LeMarr with support of Grayson, Alara and Dr. Finn - giving the show proper feeling of being an ensemble endeavour - which is what Star Trek always was (with notable exception of STD).

This episode isn't extremely clever and it's not a deep philosophical debate that let us look upon ourselves through lenses of sci-fi storytelling, but it is the best a show like Orville could do, while appealing to a modern audience.

For that, it deserves, in my opinion, the highest praise and rating.

I don't care about critics who claim "Hey Black Mirror did this before!". This episode is all the more relevant to today's political landscape given events of recent years. Coming from an authoritarian country with a populist government that manipulates social media and thus its citizens with false information and misdirection (not America though), I can attest that this is so much more than a worst case scenario sci-fi set piece. This is reality. And worst, most of us don't realize we are living through it.

What started as a parody of Star Trek is finding its own style episode after episode. In this 7th installment, we're treated to a new setting very much reminiscent of the good old Sliders episodes. A group of close friends trying to blend in a familiar yet alien environment. A dystopia mimicking some of Earth's shortcomings. What's surprising is that it works so well. The mix of familiar urban landscape and alien society feels completely natural and unforced. The point is driven with such ease that it doesn't matter that it's obvious or trivial. And the final solution, the last 5 minutes, is hilarious.

I'm hooked now.

Or if you've seen "Nosedive", then watch The Orville: Majority Rule.

Both attack the same subject. Both have their good points and method of presentation.

Nosedive is better. The execution of the special effects are superb. There was definitely more that went into them, all build especially for that story.

But the best point of Nosedive was Bryce Dallas Howard; she keeps up a steady character development throughout the piece. She is the singular center of the drama and does her father proud.

I've always thought Seth MacFarlane was a clever writer but this episode (an allegory of present-time social media) was fantastic. A "true" democracy and why it cannot work in the real world. I loved it!

This series continues to impress: the writing, the production values, the special effects -- all just terrific.

I hope it continues for many years.

Go go, Seth!