Ja'loja

Heard so many good things about this show in light of the Star Trek demise. This show would be great if I was still in high school. This was the first time I watched this show and probably the last. Okay, for the record I turned it off after 20 minutes.

Season 2 episode 1 should have came out swinging, instead it was a Strikeout! With ST: Discovery Season 2 airing Jan 17th The Orville should have rocked, but it was more of a dull soap opera. All 5 stories in this episode were boring and predictable. This was not a good start. Having 1 main story and maybe 1 side story is the way to go. This episode was rushed and unnecessary. Season 1 looked hopeful but after this episode, I see cancelation on the horizon.

I never reviewed this serial, even if watched complete first season. Was surprised seeing that there is season 2 (positively) . And this is actually one man show in big part. Set MacFarlane is writer, director and main actor. Sci-fi's Woody Allen ? :-)

Well, there are some similarities, and yes, Woody Allen made some sci-fi in his early years. But that was just something interesting crossed my mind.

It started with bar scene, ended in same fashion. What was from sci-fi in this first episode of season 2 ? Basically nothing. Could say that 'pee' story was it, but that was rather bad humor by me. And weakest part of episode.

As I see, Set just growing up, and some real life situations are what he is interested for. And that's good for me. Even if some call this soap opera.

And there is cute new female character, which may have more screen time in next episodes ? Yes, all that may be seen as manipulation with audience. But that's what movies are.

I hope this will be at least on level of first season. Then you have my attention :-)

Remember "Captain Picard Day" from TNG? This is where they got the balance between awkwardness and comedy right, while still keeping believable characters that live in a future reality.

The Orville writers might have have screwed this up by tipping the balance into cringeworthy embarrasement or latrine comedy. But they didn't, and started season 2 with a whole episode observing human behavior. As always, not being predictable might not appeal to everyone.

The Orville keeps being more Trek than the current official movies or series. Good Star Trek always was a people show, and defining the crew's personalities is a good start for the season.

The acting was great but the story was a little dull. It would have been better as a mid-season filler. The 'family drama' felt a bit too ordinary for a sci-fi season opener.

That said, it was still much better than other current sci-fi shows, but that's a pretty low bar to beat at this point.