I suspect in the not too distant future (next Sunday, AD?) classes in creative writing and content development will use this season as an example of what can go wrong when a firehose of cash is pointed at good IP and the show runners get free reign to drive the 'message' each episode seems required to deliver.
The first two seasons of The Orville were created under the time and content constraints of broadcast television. The shows HAD to be 44 minutes long and the effects budget modest. The stories were based on current societal issues but amplified by the classic extreme 'the future' would allow (like the original Star Trek.) Most were not dependent on a (problematic) serial story arc.
This particular episode may be the Marianas trench of this season's writing (but there is one last episode that could still get that trophy.) This episode is so contrived and bloated (and not really worth itemizing) - it becomes laughable and not in a good way, more MST3k than Galaxy Quest. I would pay to watch the MST3k folks riff this steaming pile.
The only overdue pleasure in this episode was seeing the end of the "Charly" character, even if it was under one of the most contrived and overused tropes. Since her introduction this season, she's been a horribly written, unbelievable and unlikable character. (AND) She better be really gone, no god damn flashbacks or hologram simulations, NO!!
My biggest fear was that they would just add one more contrivance that would somehow save Charly while she was 'saving the day'. The memorial for her HAD to be satire or done to mock other shows that had memorials for cast members. (I mean shouldn't there be a bunch of memorials for all those who died in this episode anyway?)
Bottom line is there were NO surprises in this episode, not one (other than how poorly written it was.) Sure, they tried to surprise us with some story 'twists' but because the overarching story is so contrived and implausible one just shrugs, laughs and keeps the stream flowing just to get to the end.
But then they cut back to the chick fight and the show just keeps dragging on, one domino after the other.
The first two seasons of The Orville were created under the time and content constraints of broadcast television. The shows HAD to be 44 minutes long and the effects budget modest. The stories were based on current societal issues but amplified by the classic extreme 'the future' would allow (like the original Star Trek.) Most were not dependent on a (problematic) serial story arc.
This particular episode may be the Marianas trench of this season's writing (but there is one last episode that could still get that trophy.) This episode is so contrived and bloated (and not really worth itemizing) - it becomes laughable and not in a good way, more MST3k than Galaxy Quest. I would pay to watch the MST3k folks riff this steaming pile.
The only overdue pleasure in this episode was seeing the end of the "Charly" character, even if it was under one of the most contrived and overused tropes. Since her introduction this season, she's been a horribly written, unbelievable and unlikable character. (AND) She better be really gone, no god damn flashbacks or hologram simulations, NO!!
My biggest fear was that they would just add one more contrivance that would somehow save Charly while she was 'saving the day'. The memorial for her HAD to be satire or done to mock other shows that had memorials for cast members. (I mean shouldn't there be a bunch of memorials for all those who died in this episode anyway?)
Bottom line is there were NO surprises in this episode, not one (other than how poorly written it was.) Sure, they tried to surprise us with some story 'twists' but because the overarching story is so contrived and implausible one just shrugs, laughs and keeps the stream flowing just to get to the end.
But then they cut back to the chick fight and the show just keeps dragging on, one domino after the other.