Sadly this is an old story told again with only a minor twist. While an away team (consisting of key characters, no red shirts) is exploring a planet that seems to be more developed than it was when last scanned.
Their scanners lead them and betray them and the crew are puzzled by what is going on, however, they're the only ones as most fans of this genre recognize that they're in some sort of simulation designed to get a specific result from the 'trapped' crew.
My favorite guess (that would have made the show better) was that they were lured into this trap to unwittingly participate in a 'Squid Game' or 'The Amazing Race: Galaxy Quest' reality show.
Not for one second did we think they were in any peril as they were ALL key cast members. If there had been a red shirt that got killed, that would have helped.
And in the end it was just the Orville introducing their version of the Q Continuum (OQ?) Sourced up from the first season, they are the 'evolution' of the species the crew met in S1E12. "Mad Idolatry"
So...the are immortal all powerful 'OQ' don't experience death anymore and are bored. 'OQ' decided to trap their old friends and one at a time make them all think they've died, just so "OQ" can experience death once more. Uh...what now?
They're become SO advanced that they look like Tron characters, torture innocent 'friends' and are so powerful reality is whatever they decide to make it. Isn't that convenient for backdoor script fixes when painted into a corner? You watch.
So...then there's this distraction with sending down the search team, you know because scanners can't be trusted. The second crew land on the planet about 1/4 mile away from the first shuttle - why not land right next to it?
They then walk over the the shuttle that's obviously empty (who trust scanners) and announce they're not here. Duh. How far could they have gone on foot? "It's a big planet, can't risk another landing party, return to the ship" - Uh...how about flying around looking for them?? Meh x 2.
Why did we have that scene???
Anyway, it feels like the visual effects folks got all the budget with this new season, the scripts aren't nearly as good as the first two seasons (so far)
Their scanners lead them and betray them and the crew are puzzled by what is going on, however, they're the only ones as most fans of this genre recognize that they're in some sort of simulation designed to get a specific result from the 'trapped' crew.
My favorite guess (that would have made the show better) was that they were lured into this trap to unwittingly participate in a 'Squid Game' or 'The Amazing Race: Galaxy Quest' reality show.
Not for one second did we think they were in any peril as they were ALL key cast members. If there had been a red shirt that got killed, that would have helped.
And in the end it was just the Orville introducing their version of the Q Continuum (OQ?) Sourced up from the first season, they are the 'evolution' of the species the crew met in S1E12. "Mad Idolatry"
So...the are immortal all powerful 'OQ' don't experience death anymore and are bored. 'OQ' decided to trap their old friends and one at a time make them all think they've died, just so "OQ" can experience death once more. Uh...what now?
They're become SO advanced that they look like Tron characters, torture innocent 'friends' and are so powerful reality is whatever they decide to make it. Isn't that convenient for backdoor script fixes when painted into a corner? You watch.
So...then there's this distraction with sending down the search team, you know because scanners can't be trusted. The second crew land on the planet about 1/4 mile away from the first shuttle - why not land right next to it?
They then walk over the the shuttle that's obviously empty (who trust scanners) and announce they're not here. Duh. How far could they have gone on foot? "It's a big planet, can't risk another landing party, return to the ship" - Uh...how about flying around looking for them?? Meh x 2.
Why did we have that scene???
Anyway, it feels like the visual effects folks got all the budget with this new season, the scripts aren't nearly as good as the first two seasons (so far)