The Orville
2017
Original language: English
- drama
- comedy
- sci-fi & fantasy
The story
Follow the crew of the not-so-functional exploratory ship in the Earth's interstellar fleet, 400 years in the future.
What it’s like
Bright, clean sci-fi lighting: sunlit corridors of white and pale blue, warm practical glow on the bridge, and a polished, glossy digital look that recalls 1990s Star Trek more than gritty modern space opera. Camera work is conventional and steady, with plenty of medium two-shots of crew members talking across consoles and smooth, sweeping shots of planets and ships against star fields. The score leans on orchestral swells and cheerful brass, with space-battle sequences that are big and busy but never grim. Its vibe is warm, nostalgic and amused, a comfortable hangout in a hopeful future where everyone is mostly decent and the jokes come easily. It suits a lazy weekend afternoon, background viewing while folding laundry, or a comfort rewatch when you want adventure without dread. Episodes move briskly, with a light sitcom rhythm: a self-contained problem, some banter, a neat resolution. The ensemble's arcs are gentle, with workplace friendships, awkward romance and a captain learning to be a better leader. Violence is present in the space battles and occasional fights, with some bloodless injuries and brief sexual innuendo and mild crude humour, but nothing graphic or frightening. It is for viewers who enjoy Star Trek-style optimism with a lighter, sillier edge.
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