Warning: The following review contains spoilers for episode 9 of The Orville’s third season, titled “Domino,” as well as references to previous episodes.

After last week’s review of The Orville, we’re finally getting to the home stretch. With this episode (titled “Domino”) and the finale, we’re gearing up for what is likely to be an explosive finish for The Orville: New Horizons. Surprisingly, “Domino” takes things in a direction I wasn’t expecting, resolving a major conflict while leaving things open for future problems.

The episode begins with something I will admit, I expected. The Moclans, now being expelled from the union, join forces with the Krill against the Kaylon threat. No longer allied with the Union, the Moclans clearly are hoping to join forces with the Krill to bolster their chances of success. It is more surprising for the Krill to join forces with them, but since both groups dislike the Union and believe them to push their beliefs on other cultures, they have common ground.

Moclus offers weaponry in exchange for protection by the Krill’s superior fleet. Teleya calls Moclus out on their misogyny, especially after the Moclan ambassador insists that Moclus lead the alliance because she is a woman. She stipulates that the alliance will only work if they are equal partners. Moclus doesn’t like being called out, but it is obvious they have little choice. It is also implied that once the Kaylon is no longer a threat, the alliance would target the Union next.

The next scene involves the Orville in a battle with the Kaylon, preparing to use a new device against their opponents. The device works, releasing a pulse that destroys their attackers, obliterating them effortlessly. It is a clear win for the Union, but knowing what we know about the Kaylon’s history… it is somewhat bittersweet. To this point, The Orville has done a great job of positioning the Kaylon as tragic villains.

They want to destroy biological life, but it is obvious that all they know is the cruelty of their masters. Seeing one device devastate so many Kaylon ships is somewhat horrifying. Surprisingly, in the next scene, we discover that Isaac and Charly worked together to create the device. Admiral Halsey commends them for their work, and as they discuss the device, we learn that its range is only limited by the amount of power it has access to.

We also learn that the device works because it takes advantage of the Kaylon being connected. Isaac isn’t connected to the other Kaylon anymore, so the device didn’t affect him. The admiralty wants them to develop a quantum core that would allow them to eliminate the Kaylon entirely. Ed questions the wisdom of that, as it would amount to genocide.

Kelly and Ed try to cite Timmis as an example of Kaylons being able to change and evolve, but the Admirals disagree, as it did not work on Isaac. Admiral Halsey admits that there are ethical concerns, but that it is up to the Union Council to make that call. The ethical implications become a hot topic on the Orville.

Charly and Gordon believe that killing the Kaylon is the better idea. Lamarr and Talla point out that it could easily just be revenge rather than justice, and that there are serious implications to killing an entire species. The Council ultimately decided to use the device as a deterrent. If they show the Kaylon what the device can do, the Kaylon will logically agree to stand down in fear of being wiped out.

I would like to point out that they’re really playing fast and loose with Charly’s characterization here. After meeting Timmis, it seemed like Charly was getting to a point where she didn’t want to judge all Kaylon by the actions thus far. Yet now she wants to wipe them all out? This makes no sense. I understand her desire to get revenge for Amanda, but it seems like her character growth went forward, and then regressed backward.

The ship approaches the Kaylon system. The first attempt at diplomacy fails, but after a show of force, Kaylon Primary agrees to parley. They explain their terms, and while Kaylon Primary is skeptical of their intentions, they have no choice other than to acquiesce. It is a tense exchange, and Kaylon Primary insists that they will find a weak spot in regard to the weapon, but for now, it is enough.

Next, we see a quiet moment of peace for the Orville crew. Charly and Gordon sing at a gathering with the other officers, and Topa, Ty, and Marcus can be seen playing together. The crew is celebrating their landmark step toward peace. I love seeing them all together, taking a moment to just be a family.

We see another moment with Charly and Ed, where she affirms her belief that destroying the Kaylon was the better idea. Ed points out that she isn’t alone in that belief, but that they owe it to themselves and the Kaylon to give the armistice a chance. Charly worries that because the Kaylon haven’t changed their minds about biological life, one day the pacifist approach will get them all killed.

The next scene is where the other shoe drops. The device is stolen from The Orville by a group that seems to be serving Admiral Perry (Ted Danson) who betrays the union out of fear that the Kaylon will develop a countermeasure. We don’t see for sure that it is Admiral Perry right away but considering his reaction to Ed’s questioning of the ethics, it only makes sense.

The next morning, Kelly and Claire talk as they watch the sunrise. The peaceful mood is shattered when Admiral Halsey reveals that the device has been stolen. We learn in the next scene that Admiral Perry is the cause (as suspected) of the theft and has brought the device to Teleya to ensure that the Kaylon will be destroyed.

Of course, he gets his just reward. To buy time for them to figure out how the device works, Teleya ensures that Admiral Perry’s shuttle is destroyed with him aboard. Teleya also intends for this to hide their knowledge of the alliance between the Moclans and the Krill. Back on Earth, the crew and Admiral Halsey discover Perry’s involvement.

The Orville follows Perry’s shuttle’s trajectory, discovering that the shuttle was destroyed. They also manage to figure out that the Krill and the Moclans are working together. Luckily, Bortus knows where they are taking the device. He says they will seek out Dr. Kalba, a renowned weapons expert who is viewed as the most brilliant scientist of their race.

Ed directs the ship to go to Kalba’s outpost, and they discover that the Krill and the Moclans are guarding the planet heavily. Ultimately, the Orville has no choice but to enlist some help. Ed proposes an alliance with the Kaylon, and the Kaylon agrees on a temporary basis since they have no choice but to protect their own existence.

Kaylon Primary boards the Orville, and over the course of battle plans, it is agreed that if the device cannot be extracted then it will be destroyed. Kaylon Primary insists on joining the ground fleet, though he agrees to follow Kelly’s orders.

The diversion begins and the ground team is dispatched to the planet. As always, I am impressed by the CGI and effects involved in the space battles. The Orville is a feast for the eyes, and the bigger budget really shows. The Kaylon take the Krill by surprise, evening the odds and turning the tide of the battle.

This is also a good time to mention that it is interesting seeing each faction’s ships and how they represent the group they belong to. The Union’s ships are curvy and fluid, while the Krill’s ships are sharp and sleek. The Moclan ships are all hard lines but are more blunt and brutish while the Kaylon ships are heavily mechanized and show no need for things like amenities or luxuries.

Charly, Talla, Kaylon Primary, Isaac, and Kelly wind up bailing out of the shuttle, leaving them no way off the planet until the job is done. They make their way into the facility but are met with resistance from both Moclans and Krill. The group splits up, with Charly, Isaac, and Kaylon Primary heading toward the core and the device.

Teleya is with the device and Dr. Kalba. He tells Teleya that after the device is armed, it will take 8 minutes for the device to get sufficient power to wipe out the Kaylon. Our crew is officially on a time limit, and the enemy knows they are coming. Kelly and Talla take the fight to the reinforcements, but Talla sends Kelly to go help Charly, Isaac, and Kaylon Primary, covering her so she can get a head start.

This section is intense. Between Lamarr and Gordon trying to take out the communications array, the group underground trying to make it to the device, and the battle in space, there’s a lot going on. It eventually culminates in a battle between Kelly and Teleya, and things just get more tense from there as the weapon begins arming itself.

Charly, Isaac, and Kaylon Primary make it to the device. Dr. Kalba reveals that they cannot stop the countdown now that it has begun. As Charly and Isaac try to stop the device, the battle between Teleya and Kelly continues. One of the Moclans tries to kill Charly, and Isaac stops him. Isaac doesn’t kill the man, and when asked why by Kaylon Primary, he responds that it wasn’t essential to the mission.

Luckily, Talla comes to Kelly’s rescue just as Teleya gets the upper hand. When they rendezvous with Charly, Isaac, and Kaylon Primary, Charly reveals that she can overload the core, but it will destroy the outpost and part of the planet. She tells Kelly and the others to leave because she can’t set a timer, so she’ll have to stay.

The group leaves, but it is clear something has changed in Kaylon Primary. He wasn’t expecting her to sacrifice herself for the Kaylon. The group evacuates, with Teleya in custody. The Union and their allies retreat as the outpost explodes, killing Charly and any Krill or Moclans left inside.

This is where I have a severe issue with this episode. I could talk until I’m blue in the face about how they clearly under-served Charly’s character here, but it all comes down to one problem. Her character arc was incredibly inconsistent. She had one moment two episodes ago of feeling like the Kaylon weren’t all bad, she walks that back in this episode, and then sacrifices herself?

Never mind the fact that this is a lesbian (or bisexual, it’s not clear) character whose sole purpose was to be a foil for Isaac and then die after having nothing but tragedy befall her. This is one of the more egregious examples of “Kill your Gays” that I’ve seen in a while. I can excuse her abrupt arc being due to an abbreviated season order but killing her was incredibly unnecessary.

When the Krill shuttle arrives back at the Orville, Kelly explains to Ed what happened. When asked what happens next, Kaylon Primary questions them about why Charly sacrificed herself. Isaac explains that the biological lifeforms that he works with are not like their builders. Kelly points out that Charly hated the Kaylon but she saved them anyway. This seems to strike a chord with Kaylon Primary, who admits they might have been wrong about the Union.

In the brig, Ed visits Teleya and tells her she will be brought to the Union to be tried for war crimes. Ed tries to plead with Teleya to let him give Anaya a home, but she refuses. He tells her he doesn’t know what will happen to Teleya once she is tried, but that he can give Anaya a safe and loving home. Teleya vows that as long as she is a prisoner, Ed will never see Anaya again.

The Kaylon are offered provisional membership in the Union Council. In exchange for this membership, the Union asks for help against the Moclan/Krill alliance. Surprisingly, they accept the terms, and it seems as though a new era of peace between the Kaylon and biological life forms is beginning. Additionally, with Teleya in custody, the Moclan/Krill alliance has been dealt a heavy blow.

The episode ends with Charly’s funeral. She is posthumously given a medal of valor for her sacrifice, and her unwavering sense of duty. With yet another surprise, Isaac gives a eulogy, detailing what he knew of Charly, but also expressing how her sacrifice led enemies to become friends. It is a bittersweet way to end the episode, but it at least tried to honor what arc Charly had.

Admittedly, I’m torn on this episode. It was a heavily cinematic episode, with tense battles and the culmination of a season-long struggle. Not only with the Kaylon, but also with the Krill as they were led by Teleya. The Krill are still out there, and someone will fill the vacuum of power left by Teleya unless they try to rescue her. Additionally, the Moclans still pose a threat.

This was an episode worthy of a Season Finale placement. However, I still find myself frustrated by the writers’ treatment of Charly’s character. Not only was she just beginning to be likable, but her arc was inconsistently written. The writers created this character as a vehicle for sacrifice, which is heavily disappointing.

There are people who will say that gay/lesbian/bisexual characters should not be immune to being killed off, and I agree. However, The Orville has a main cast of characters that includes 6 straight characters, one gay couple who constantly has issues and is rarely actually happy together, an interspecies couple, and a transgender secondary character.

As such, adding a lesbian/bisexual character (it wasn’t specified) to this list only to kill her off just feels wrong. Why spend so much time on her character, including details such as her connection to Amanda, just to kill her?

I know there are people who will disagree with me and I’m fine with that. However, this continues to remain a big problem in television across the board. Overall “Domino” is a solid episode, but it shows that The Orville has some pacing issues, not to mention some issues with treating its added characters respectfully.

Phenixx Gaming is everywhere you are. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram.

Also, if you’d like to join the Phenixx Gaming team, check out our recruitment article for details on working with us.

Phenixx Gaming is proud to be a Humble Partner! Purchases made through our affiliate links support our writers and charity!

The Orville

8

Score

8.0/10

Pros

• Solid conclusion to the Kaylon War
• Great CGI
• Fantastic Teleya/Kelly fight scene

Cons

• Charly's character arc was uneven
• Kill Your Gays
• Charly's character deserved better