The Orville

Main

• Seth MacFarlane as Captain Ed Mercer, who commands the Orville.^[12][13][14] Mercer was an up-and-coming officer, believed to be on the fast track to commanding his own heavy cruiser by age 40. However, he caught his wife Kelly in bed with an alien, and, over the course of the following year, he is cited for being lax in his duties and having reported to duty while hung over. Eventually, he is informed that the Orville, a mid-level exploratory ship, needs a new commanding officer.^[13]
• Adrianne Palicki as Commander Kelly Grayson, the first officer of the Orville and Ed Mercer's ex-wife.^[12][14] The two divorced after Mercer caught Grayson in bed with an alien and resulting in Mercer's year-long emotional crisis. Unbeknownst to Mercer, Grayson personally appealed to Admiral Halsey for her ex-husband to be given a command, stating that, despite personal setbacks, he merited it. She requested her involvement be kept confidential after Mercer is assigned to the Orville. When Grayson is assigned as the Orville's first officer, she and Mercer agree to set aside their differences to work as a team and stay friends.^[13]
• Penny Johnson Jerald^[14] as Doctor Claire Finn, the chief medical officer on the Orville, holding the rank of lieutenant commander. A physician of exceptional credentials, she has expertise in molecular surgery, DNA engineering and psychiatry, which afforded her a choice of assignments on heavy cruisers. She instead chose a mid-level exploratory vessel. As she explains to Mercer in the pilot episode, she prefers to serve where she feels she is needed, finding such assignments more stimulating. When she tells Mercer she felt he could use her assistance on his first command, he interprets this as her lacking confidence in him, though she discounts this.^[13] Having never found the ideal opportunity to marry, she chose to become a single mother. Her two sons, Marcus and Ty, travel aboard the Orville with her.^[15] She repeatedly rebuffs Lt. Yaphit's advances,^[16][17] though they become physically intimate in "Cupid's Dagger" after falling victim to a Retepsian sex pheromone.^[18] Claire realized that she was attracted to Isaac in the second season, and eventually began to date him after Mercer helped Isaac acknowledge that he was interested in their relationship beyond as part of his research on organic life-forms.
• Scott Grimes as Lieutenant Gordon Malloy, the helmsman of the Orville and Mercer's best friend.^[12][14] Considered the best helmsman in the fleet, he was relegated to desk duty after he attempted to impress a girl with a precarious shuttle docking, damaging the vessel and losing cargo in the process. Mercer specifically requested he be assigned to the Orville despite Admiral Halsey's lingering concern over Malloy's history of crude and juvenile pranks.^[13] He is generally comfortable with his reputation for limited intelligence, to the point where he willingly answers a series of questions from Grayson, with the expectation that his answers would demonstrate in a Moclan court that males are not always superior to females.^[16]
• Peter Macon^[14] as Lieutenant Commander Bortus, the second officer aboard the U.S.S. Orville. Bortus is from Moclus, a planet where the primary industry is weapons manufacturing,^[16] and whose inhabitants are a single-gender species (although statistically, one female Moclan is born every seventy-five years).^[16] Among the peculiarities of the Moclans are that they urinate only once a year,^[13][14] with this period being of such significance that Moclans return to their home planet with those closest to them to urinate in a sacred spot chosen by each individual. Bortus is married to Klyden, a Moclan, who also resides on the Orville with Bortus and their son, Topa.
• Halston Sage^[14] as Lieutenant Alara Kitan, the Orville's young chief of security. (seasons 1–2) Kitan is from Xelaya, a high-gravity planet that gives her greater-than-human strength in Earth gravity. She can knock down doors and walls,^[13] and crush a solid block titanium and reshape it into a small sphere with her bare hands.^[16] She receives the Sapphire Star for her role as acting commanding officer after Mercer and Grayson are abducted by the Calivon during Bortus' incubation of his egg.^[19] Sage departed the series in the third episode of the second season when her character resigned her post to be with her family on her home planet after it was discovered that she was losing her strength due to her long period away from her home planet's atmosphere, using the opportunity to reconnect with her parents.^[20]
• J. Lee as Lieutenant (later Lieutenant Commander) John LaMarr.^[14] He is navigator of the Orville for most of the first season. He and Malloy strike up an immediate friendship in the first episode.^[13] Though intellectually gifted, he learned to hide his intelligence and settle for modest ambitions growing up in order to fit in with his peers. When Grayson discovers his high aptitude in "New Dimensions", she encourages LaMarr to fulfill his potential. As a result, he acquits himself so well during that episode's crisis that he replaces the outgoing Lt. Commander Newton as the Orville's chief engineer.^[21]
• Mark Jackson^[14][22] as Isaac, the Orville's science and engineering officer. Isaac is a member of the artificial, non-biological race from Kaylon-1 that views biological lifeforms, including humans, as inferior. In the pilot episode, Isaac explains to Mercer that the Union's Admiralty offered a posting to any willing Kaylon, as an attempt to initiate relations between the two powers. Isaac accepted the offer as an opportunity to study human behavior. During the course of his time with the crew, he comes to observe and understand aspects of human behavior, such as relationships, sarcasm, slang,^[6][13] and practical jokes. Isaac perceives his surroundings with his body's internal sensors. His two glowing blue "eyes" are purely anthropomorphic, with Gordon once putting a 'Mr. Potato Head' face on him without Isaac realizing.^[23] He began dating Doctor Finn after she expressed an interest in developing their relationship further, but although he initially considered the relationship over after they achieved intimacy using the simulator, Mercer prompted Isaac to realize that he actually missed Claire's presence when she told him to leave her alone.
• Jessica Szohr as Talla Keyali, the ship's second Xelayan Chief of Security, who replaces Alara Kitan after her resignation.^[20]

Recurring

• Victor Garber as Admiral Halsey, Mercer's superior and old friend of Grayson's father^[13][18]
• Chad Coleman as Klyden, Bortus's mate and father of their child.^[19] He revealed that he was actually born a female and had the procedure to correct his gender when he was an infant, only learning about it when he was first examined by a non-Moclan doctor after joining Bortus on his first ship assignment.^[16]
• Norm Macdonald as the voice of Lieutenant Yaphit, an amorphous, gelatinous, shapeshifting engineer on the Orville,^[24] who repeatedly attempts to obtain a date with Dr. Finn,^[16][17] and frequently flirts with other females on the ship.^[23] Despite his telling her in "Cupid's Dagger" that he is in love with her, she does not reciprocate his attraction, though they become physically intimate in that episode after falling victim to a Retepsian sex pheromone.^[18]
• Larry Joe Campbell as Lieutenant Commander^[19] Steve Newton, chief engineer of the Orville^[23] until episode 1.11, when he leaves to take a new job designing space stations, and is replaced by the promoted Lieutenant Commander LaMarr^[21]
• BJ Tanner as Marcus Finn, elder son of Doctor Claire Finn^[15]
• Kai Wener as Ty Finn, younger son of Doctor Claire Finn^[15]
• Gavin Lee as Nurse Park^[18]
• Mike Henry as Dann, unnamed alien species member of the engineering staff, who suggests music be played in the Orville's elevators and makes unsuccessful attempts to befriend fellow crew members.^[18][21]
• Rachael MacFarlane as the voice of the Orville computer^[25][26]
• Ron Canada as Admiral Tucker^[19][27]
• Kelly Hu as Admiral Ozawa^[28]
• Chris Johnson as Cassius, a teacher on board the Orville^[29] who has a relationship with Grayson during season 2.

Guest stars

• Rob Lowe as Darulio, the Retepsian archaeologist whose affair with Kelly ended her marriage with Mercer.^[13] He came back to the ship to consult during a crucial research mission, where his pheromones caused Mercer and Grayson to be attracted to him and Claire to have sex with Yaphit (although he declines to confirm if his pheromones were the reason for Grayson's original affair).^[18]
• Brian George as Doctor Aronov, the leader of the Epsilon II science station^[13]
• Jeffrey Tambor as Ben Mercer, Ed Mercer's father^[19]
• Holland Taylor as Jeannie Mercer, Ed Mercer's mother^[19]
• Jonathan Adams as the Moclan arbitrator^[16]
• Rena Owen as Heveena^[16]
• Robert Knepper as Hamelac^[17]
• Giorgia Whigham as Lysella, a barista who helps rescue John on a planet where public votes determined a person's social status; Lysella learned of the crew's alien nature when she saw Alara's ears and subsequently provided them with understanding of how to rig public support in John's favor.^[27]
• Liam Neeson as Jahavus Dorahl, captain of the derelict multi-generation ship^[17]
• Rico E. Anderson as The Moclan Doctor^[16]
• Charlize Theron as Pria Lavesque, a time-traveler from the future who attempted to steal the Orville after its historically-recorded destruction.^[23]
• James Horan as Sazeron, the Krill high priest on the Krill destroyer Yakar^[28]
• Michaela McManus as Teleya/Lt. Janel Tyler, a Krill teacher serving on Krill destroyer Yakar, who has developed a particular focus on Mercer after he destroyed her ship.^[28]
• Steven Culp as Wilks^[27]
• Brian Thompson as Drogen, a survivalist on a planet where Finn, Isaac and Finn's children crash in "Into the Fold"^[30]
• Ralph Garman as Kanoot, a karaoke announcer on the Orville^[18]
• Robert Picardo as Ildis Kitan, father of Alara Kitan^[31]
• Molly Hagan as Drenala Kitan, mother of Alara Kitan^[31]
• Candice King as Solana Kitan, sister of Alara Kitan^[31]
• John Billingsley as Cambis Borrin, the angry father of one of Ildis Kitan's students^[31]
• Jason Alexander as Olix, an alien bartender on the Orville
• Patrick Warburton as Lt. Tharl, an alien who temporarily takes over Alara Kitan's position when she goes back to her home planet.^[32] His species has a second esophagus that resembles an elephant's nose, to make it easier for them to eat large amounts.
• Ted Danson as Admiral Perry^[33]
• Bruce Willis as Groogen (the Katrudian "flower alien," uncredited)^[34]
• Marina Sirtis^[35]

Series overview

Season 1 (2017)

Season 2 (2018–19)

Development

MacFarlane originally wrote The Orville as a spec script, which was given a 13-episode order by Fox on May 4, 2016, making it the first live-action television series created by MacFarlane, as well as his first live-action starring role on television.^[59] Following the project's greenlight, MacFarlane stated, "I've wanted to do something like this show ever since I was a kid, and the timing finally feels right. [...] I think this is gonna be something special."^[7] According to MacFarlane, The Orville was inspired by The Twilight Zone and Star Trek.^[60] He was also encouraged to sell the series due to the success of Guardians of the Galaxy and Deadpool.^[61]

On November 2, 2017, Fox renewed the series for a second season.^[9] On November 15, it was reported that one of the thirteen episodes for season one would be held back and instead air during the second season due to a gap in broadcast dates caused by the broadcaster's lengthy Christmas programming.^[62][63] It will be a sequel to "About a Girl".^[64]

On December 10, 2018, it was reported that the California Film Commission had approved $15.8 million of tax credits for a potential third season should Fox decide to renew the series again.^[65]

Casting

On July 29, 2016, MacFarlane's role was revealed to be Ed Mercer, the captain of the Orville, while Adrianne Palicki had been cast as Kelly Grayson, Ed's ex-wife and the newly appointed first officer of the Orville, and Scott Grimes, who voices Steve Smith on American Dad! (another show created by MacFarlane), was cast as Gordon Malloy, Ed's best friend whom he has assigned to pilot the Orville.^[12] On August 19, Peter Macon and J Lee were cast as series regulars.^[66][67] On October 31, Halston Sage and Penny Johnson Jerald joined the cast.^[68] On December 8, Mark Jackson was cast.^[22] On April 3, 2017, Chad L. Coleman was added as a series regular and Larry Joe Campbell was cast in a recurring role.^[69]

At San Diego Comic-Con in July 2017, MacFarlane said that Charlize Theron would guest-star in an episode. The two had previously co-starred in A Million Ways to Die in the West.^[70] Theron appeared in "Pria", episode 5 of The Orville.

On February 12, 2018, Jessica Szohr was cast as a regular for season two.^[71] On February 21, Chris Johnson was cast in a recurring role.^[72]

Filming

On August 24, 2016, Jon Favreau signed on to direct the pilot.^[73] Production on the pilot episode began in late 2016, and the rest of the episodes began filming on March 27, 2017.^[59] Production wrapped on August 23, 2017.^[74] Star Trek veterans Jonathan Frakes and Robert Duncan McNeill, who have directed episodes within the Star Trek franchise, have each directed an episode of The Orville.^[75] Four episodes were directed by Brannon Braga, a long-time Star Trek alum who began as an intern on Star Trek: The Next Generation, was producer of Star Trek: Voyager, and co-created Star Trek: Enterprise. Filming for the second season began on February 26, 2018, and Frakes and McNeill have each returned to direct another episode.^[35][76]

Visual effects

Studios hired to work on the visual effects of the show include Tippett Studio, CoSA VFX, Pixomondo, Crafty Apes, Fuse FX, Eight VFX and Zoic Studios.^[77]

Music

The show uses a 75-piece orchestra for the music in each episode, alongside several different composers, such as John Debney, Joel McNeely and Bruce Broughton, who wrote the show's theme and composed the score for the pilot. MacFarlane said "We score it like a movie" and "We really put as much into that as we do into the effects."^[78] A soundtrack album for season 1 was released by La-La Land Records on January 22, 2019.^[79]

Critical response

Audience response

In the October 15, 2017 episode of The Angry Joe Show, "The Orville Mid-Season Angry Review", host Joe Vargas noted the gulf between the response to the series among critics and viewers, contrasting the Rotten Tomatoes' 19% approval rating from professional critics to the 91% viewer approval rating. Vargas compared this to Star Trek: Discovery, which received an 83% rating from critics but a fairly low audience score of 54%,^[97] and stated "Star Trek fans—at least the ones that watch my show—like The Orville way more than they like Star Trek: Discovery".^[98] Tim Surette of TV Guide also wrote about the critic-to-viewer Rotten Tomatoes rating, noting the balance had shifted to 21/93, and that its Metacritic score was 36% approval from critics, and 82% from viewers. As a critic himself, Surette notes that, as a throwback, The Orville is an anomaly in modern television, and found showrunner David A. Goodman's admission that MacFarlane wants to vary between dramatic and comedic episodes a potentially dangerous strategy, but concedes that the show's viewers appear to like it for that reason.^[91]

Ratings

After its premiere on Sunday, September 10, 2017, the show moved to Thursday nights at 9 p.m. In its first broadcast in the new time slot, The Orville became Fox's highest rated Thursday 9 p.m. broadcast in two years.^[99] After taking into account DVR and VOD, The Orville was Fox's most-viewed drama debut since the premiere of Empire in 2015.^[99]

Awards and nominations