Alexx Aplin
Alexx AplinWarning: This review contains spoilers for the finale of The Orville’s first season.
We’ve made it to the end of the first season of The Orville. Season finale episodes are usually somewhat telling when it comes to a new series. For a series that has been enjoyable all the way from episode 1, I have to admit that my expectations here are a bit high. I hope that The Orville’s finale is fitting for such a strong first season.
To recap the last episode, Commander Newton took a new job, thus leaving the Orville in need of a new Chief of Engineering. Kelly discovered that John had been hiding high test scores and a large amount of intelligence, hiding behind jokes and presumed idiocy. During a harrowing journey involving a spatial distortion, John’s intelligence and skill are tested, leading him to take the job as Chief of Engineering. With that, let’s get into this episode.
Episode Spoilers begin here!
The episode, titled “Mad Idolatry” begins with Ed showing up at Gordon’s room to grab a beer after their shifts are over. Gordon is already ready for bed, so he goes to check with John. John has a lady friend over, so he goes over to Bortus’ room. Bortus and Klyden have just put the baby to bed, so they invite him in for a drink.
Ed asks Klyden and Bortus what Moclans do for fun when they’re not working, and in response, they teach him about a game called Latchcomb. Latchcomb is essentially hot potato for Moclans, but with a more painful end result.
Afterward, Ed is unable to sleep and is bored in his room, so he calls Kelly. Kelly can’t sleep either and ultimately Ed invites her down to the mess hall for a late-night drink. Ed mentions that after meeting with Darulio, and after Darulio implied that his pheromones were why Kelly cheated, perhaps it wasn’t her fault after all.
Ed admits that he’s been lonely all year and that he’s been thinking about the possibility of them getting back together. He asks that Kelly consider going on a date with him this week and she agrees. The next morning, Kelly and Ed are hungover while they’re in the midst of a discovery of an uncharted star. Bortus and Isaac pick up strange readings coming from open space beyond the star, readings of a spatial anomaly that scanners can’t seem to process.
Isaac suggests that they investigate the anomaly with the shuttle and Kelly agrees to go with him. Ed tells her not to take any unnecessary risks and after the anomaly they dealt with last week, I’m inclined to agree. Kelly, Ed, and Gordon approach the anomaly, and according to Isaac, the readings they are getting don’t make sense.
As they approach, it is discovered that the anomaly is a planet that has just materialized out of nowhere. The shuttle starts descending through the atmosphere, surprising them all by its sudden appearance. They manage to set the shuttle down on the planet’s surface, however, the engine on the shuttle needs repairing.
While Gordon and Isaac are working on repairs, Kelly decides to take a look around the area. She discovers (from a distance) a primitive village and decides to take a closer look. However, she has to be careful, since there is a danger of “cultural contamination” if she makes contact with such a primitive race.
She is spotted by two children, and one of the children (while trying to get away) accidentally falls and busts her head open. Kelly, out of the goodness of her heart, heals the young girl’s wound with a medical device, but then realizes she has been seen by other natives.
When Ed contacts the admirals, he conveniently leaves out Kelly’s cultural contamination in his report and tells Kelly that he thinks she did the right thing. Kelly thanks him for covering for her and says she owes him one.
Back on the bridge, Isaac is continuing scans, when the planet disappears again. They watch it phase out of existence and it gives Isaac an idea. He hypothesizes that the planet is part of a Multi-phasic orbit and that instead of simply orbiting around a star, this planet orbits around a star in two separate universes.
John suggests that the planet will return to our universe in approximately eleven days, so Ed decides that they will wait for it to return, and see what has changed. Ed and Kelly proceed to have their date, and Kelly admits that she wants to retain her independence but she doesn’t want to be alone either. Their date then progresses to them making out, which is a result of some surprisingly smooth moves on Ed’s part.
When the planet returns to our universe, Isaac and the crew are surprised to discover that in only 11 days, the planet seems to have evolved greatly. What was once a primitive village, is now akin to a 14th-century city. Isaac then tells them that when the planet passes into the other universe, time accelerates. What is 11 days in our universe has 700 years passing on the planet.
Ed, John, Gordon, Alara, and Kelly try to steal some clothing (temporarily) from a local farmhouse and are found by the owner. She sees Kelly and immediately asks her to bless her son, which immediately isn’t a good sign. This gets worse when they realize that Kelly has become some sort of Messianic figure to the people and anyone who denies her “teaching” is killed.
They then bear witness to three men being punished for theft. Kelly wants to help them, but Ed points out that doing so would be the worst thing she could do for them. It would only contaminate them further. When they finally make their way to the religious center, they discover that there is a giant statue of Kelly.
Admiral Ozawa is upset that Ed didn’t include this information in the initial report. She tells them that they are not to reach out to the planet again until the planet attains space travel capabilities. Kelly blames herself and tells Ed that she wants to be alone. Ed disobeys the admiral’s orders though and shows up at Kelly’s room in costume, telling her that they’re going back down to the planet.
They visit the religious leader, Valondis, and Kelly explains how her “healing” worked. She also explains that she is a mortal, just like them. Valondis agrees to show his people that Kelly is a mortal like them but his advisor kills him, not wishing to let go of their control of the people.
The next time the planet emerges, it is more like our 21st century Earth. They are fighting over religion and Kelly is still the messianic figure. Talking in the conference room, Kelly suggests that perhaps this time she should stay behind, to guide them. Ed says that in the computer age, they’d be more likely to lock her in an asylum.
Isaac suggests, however, that he stay behind. Kaylon are artificial lifeforms, he wouldn’t die on the planet, and he is different enough that they would take him seriously. Isaac stays behind on the surface of the planet to put the plan into motion.
When the planet re-emerges this time, it is a vastly advanced planet, and a vessel approaches the Orville. Two emissaries bring Isaac back onboard the Orville, and they tell Kelly that had she not been the one in their mythology, it would have been someone or something else. Isaac’s presence quickly became normal for them and they progressed just as they would have otherwise.
Isaac also mentions that it was fascinating to watch this civilization grow and change, but that he didn’t really have to do anything. Ed mentions that before long this civilization will surpass them and one of the emissaries suggests that in time, perhaps they will study The Union.
Kelly then goes to meet with Ed in the mess hall and tells him that they can’t get back together. She tells him that when they’re together, it jeopardizes his judgment, and this time Isaac spent 700 years in exile because of it. Ed admits that she is right and they agree that their feelings need to be unexplored at least for now. It’s a sad way to end the episode and to end the season.
Now, I was very confused as to this episode serving as the finale, because it doesn’t feel like a finale episode. It was a great episode, but it didn’t feel like the end of anything. I have a strong feeling that this isn’t the last we’ll see of Kelly and Ed’s relationship, and this episode really just didn’t have the stakes that a finale episode needs.
Overall I have to say though, Season 1 was very impressive. The Orville is a show that caught me off guard in how much I like it. I have been told that Season 2 is even better, and I hope that is true because The Orville is a great sci-fi show. This finale episode was a great example, combining time travel elements, the consequences of interfering with primitive civilizations, and more.
Next week I’ll be starting Season 2, so stay tuned for that! I’m hoping that by the time I make it through Season 2, we’ll have some sort of idea on when Season 3 begins. Who knows, maybe by the time I’m done with Season 2, I’ll be able to dive right into Season 3.
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🔥526The Orville
Pros
- Unique Premise
- Great Self-Contained Plot
- Good Costuming
- Realistic Cautionary Tale
Cons
- Didn't Feel Like a Finale
