Seriously one of the best episodes so far. Movie quality special effects and a moving personal story dealing with physical and mental disabilities. It's nice to see an episode featuring a minor character. Anyone recognize Dr. Phlox from Star Trek Enterprise? Robert Picardo ( from Star Trek Voyager continues Orville's tradition of using former Star Trek Veterans both in front and behind the cameras.. Kudos to Seth McFarland for willing to get away from space battles to tell a more personal story about dealing with a disability and at the same time showing that you are still valuable for your talents. Some truly scary moments.
44 Reviews
God, I just can't,
wignut28 January 2021
Can you go home again?
MrGoog11 January 2019
Warning: Spoilers
******SPOILER ALERT******
Star Trek connections - Once again, we saw Jason Alexander as Olix. Once again, we saw Robert Picardo and Molly Hagan as Ildis and Drenala Kitan. Cambis Borrin was played by John Billingsley, who played Doctor Phlox on Star Trek - Enterprise.
Family Guy connection - Patrick Warburton, who played Lieutenant Tharl (the double-esophagus interim Security Chief), also provides the voice of Joe Swanson in Family Guy.
Theory - The spelling of Alara's homeworld might be unusual - Xelayah - because, in the Star Trek universe, Vulcan's tallest mountain is Mount Seleya.
In this episode, Alara experiences a problem which is common in lower-gravity situations: decreases in muscle mass and bone density, a.k.a. getting weaker. Indeed, when astronauts and cosmonauts are in orbit for extended missions, the long exposure to zero gravity causes the same ailments. Many Xelayahans experience this when they are away from Xelayah for extended periods. Claire tells Alara (and the other officers) that she must return to Xelayah to re-acclimate herself to the heavier gravity. The problem: there is no definite time period for this; it could be days, weeks, years, or a lifetime.
I agree with Gordon: Xelayah is a very beautiful planet, and not just because of the rings.
Because of Xelayah's heavy gravity, the Orville's shuttle uses a gravity shield, and Ed needs a gravity suit just to stand briefly on Xelayah. Also, Alara needs a zero-gravity chair to get around the planet until she regains her strength. Leave it to Gordon to use a goofy way to demonstrate the heavy gravity: he tosses a metal bottle out of the shuttle, and it is pulled down immediately and squashed flatter than a pancake. (BTW: Star Trek's Vulcan is a high-gravity planet, but Kirk and McCoy had no problem visiting Vulcan in "Amok Time" - one of the very few scientific errors in Star Trek.)
We see in the Xelayahans an elitist disdain for the military that is too common in our society. In this nation and other nations, there are pseudo-intellectuals who look down their elitist noses at a military career. Alara's parents and older sister, Solana, subtly encourage her to stay on Xeleyah. Ildis never gave encouragement to Alara when she was growing up; instead, he believes that Alara chose a 'lowly' military career because she isn't smart enough for an intellectual career. However, in the scenes at the beach-house, Alara shows her quick-enough mind by asking specific questions about the (alleged) break-in at a neighbor's house and the disappearance of Serris, the caretaker of the Kitans' beach-house.
Also, the intellectual neighbors, Cambis and Floratta, show very little intelligence by (a) blaming Ildis for the suicide of their son, Galdus; and (b) torturing Ildis and threatening to mutilate Solana. A few years earlier, Galdus accused Ildis of creating an unsafe vaccine for children, even though there was no hard evidence of such harm. (This reminds me of the panic-mongers who claim that the polio vaccine causes autism.) This essentialy destroyed Galdus' career.
Alara regains enough of her strength to stop Cambis and Floratta and save her family, obviously by using her 'lowly' military skills. After that, Ildis is very proud of his daughter.
John and Claire create a high-gravity Simulator program which would let Alara regain her strength and stay on the Orville. After watching that, I - and many others - thought, "A happy ending for Alara. Now she won't leave." But Cherry Chevapravatdumrong, who wrote the script, pulls out the rug from under us when Alara announces that she is staying on Xelayah, wanting to spend time with her family. Her farewell gift for Ed was very appropriate: a jar of pickles.
The ending reminded me that, near the end of the 1st Season of Star Trek - The Next Generation, Tasha Yar (also a Security Chief) left the series (of course, Tasha was killed in action).
This was a marvelous episode, but I shall miss Alara Kitan very much.
Star Trek connections - Once again, we saw Jason Alexander as Olix. Once again, we saw Robert Picardo and Molly Hagan as Ildis and Drenala Kitan. Cambis Borrin was played by John Billingsley, who played Doctor Phlox on Star Trek - Enterprise.
Family Guy connection - Patrick Warburton, who played Lieutenant Tharl (the double-esophagus interim Security Chief), also provides the voice of Joe Swanson in Family Guy.
Theory - The spelling of Alara's homeworld might be unusual - Xelayah - because, in the Star Trek universe, Vulcan's tallest mountain is Mount Seleya.
In this episode, Alara experiences a problem which is common in lower-gravity situations: decreases in muscle mass and bone density, a.k.a. getting weaker. Indeed, when astronauts and cosmonauts are in orbit for extended missions, the long exposure to zero gravity causes the same ailments. Many Xelayahans experience this when they are away from Xelayah for extended periods. Claire tells Alara (and the other officers) that she must return to Xelayah to re-acclimate herself to the heavier gravity. The problem: there is no definite time period for this; it could be days, weeks, years, or a lifetime.
I agree with Gordon: Xelayah is a very beautiful planet, and not just because of the rings.
Because of Xelayah's heavy gravity, the Orville's shuttle uses a gravity shield, and Ed needs a gravity suit just to stand briefly on Xelayah. Also, Alara needs a zero-gravity chair to get around the planet until she regains her strength. Leave it to Gordon to use a goofy way to demonstrate the heavy gravity: he tosses a metal bottle out of the shuttle, and it is pulled down immediately and squashed flatter than a pancake. (BTW: Star Trek's Vulcan is a high-gravity planet, but Kirk and McCoy had no problem visiting Vulcan in "Amok Time" - one of the very few scientific errors in Star Trek.)
We see in the Xelayahans an elitist disdain for the military that is too common in our society. In this nation and other nations, there are pseudo-intellectuals who look down their elitist noses at a military career. Alara's parents and older sister, Solana, subtly encourage her to stay on Xeleyah. Ildis never gave encouragement to Alara when she was growing up; instead, he believes that Alara chose a 'lowly' military career because she isn't smart enough for an intellectual career. However, in the scenes at the beach-house, Alara shows her quick-enough mind by asking specific questions about the (alleged) break-in at a neighbor's house and the disappearance of Serris, the caretaker of the Kitans' beach-house.
Also, the intellectual neighbors, Cambis and Floratta, show very little intelligence by (a) blaming Ildis for the suicide of their son, Galdus; and (b) torturing Ildis and threatening to mutilate Solana. A few years earlier, Galdus accused Ildis of creating an unsafe vaccine for children, even though there was no hard evidence of such harm. (This reminds me of the panic-mongers who claim that the polio vaccine causes autism.) This essentialy destroyed Galdus' career.
Alara regains enough of her strength to stop Cambis and Floratta and save her family, obviously by using her 'lowly' military skills. After that, Ildis is very proud of his daughter.
John and Claire create a high-gravity Simulator program which would let Alara regain her strength and stay on the Orville. After watching that, I - and many others - thought, "A happy ending for Alara. Now she won't leave." But Cherry Chevapravatdumrong, who wrote the script, pulls out the rug from under us when Alara announces that she is staying on Xelayah, wanting to spend time with her family. Her farewell gift for Ed was very appropriate: a jar of pickles.
The ending reminded me that, near the end of the 1st Season of Star Trek - The Next Generation, Tasha Yar (also a Security Chief) left the series (of course, Tasha was killed in action).
This was a marvelous episode, but I shall miss Alara Kitan very much.
Spoilers
brodieford3 August 2019
Warning: Spoilers
As soon as she said something about someone being in the island I knew where it was going. Awesome episode though. I'm only watching them now so if this is truly Halston Sage's last episode I'm very depressed. I love the show but she was my favorite. 😢
That's how you do a farewell episode
luka-0115629 January 2019
Warning: Spoilers
As a true Star Trek fan, first and foremost I want to say thank you to Mr. MacFarlane for keeping the magic alive.
This episode is my favourite so far, it's rewarding the viewer at every turn.
Incredible casting, every single one made me smile and seeing Robert Picardo gave me goosebumps.
The visuals are so satisfying, I'm glad to see the second season is taking it to the next level.
Alara was one of the most memorable characters to me, but with the way they said goodbye, her spirit remains in the series and the loss is easier to accept. Bravo.
If we could have our nerd itch scratched by using science to introduce and explain the future tech a bit more, I would say it deserves an 11 star rating.
This was a masterpiece
mergirliliana20 January 2019
The Orville team has really outdone themselves with this episode. I don't think it's possible for me to overstate my adoration of this episode. Can I firstly say how heart wrenching it was to watch Robert Picardo's character, what an actor. The ending scene to this episode must also be mentioned also as it was a perfect send off which allowed us to fully come to terms with the gravity of the moment. The cinematography was top notch a picturesque and awe inspiring, Alara's homeworld was so vividly created you almost felt like you were there. My favourite aspect of the episode was the scoring by Joel McNeely, it was fit for a movie and captured the tones throughout the episode. Welldone Seth and Co!
Home
bobcobb30112 January 2019
Warning: Spoilers
We are seeing a shift in philosophy during Season 2 as this is the third of three sole character-centric episodes. I wasn't crazy about the first two, but this was pretty solid.
If this is the end of Alara on the show it is disappointing, but her character got a fitting farewell here.
If this is the end of Alara on the show it is disappointing, but her character got a fitting farewell here.
That moment when you exclaim at your TV "Whoa @#$% just got dark real quick!"
jackVSjack11 January 2019
Warning: Spoilers
I really liked this episode by the end. It was feeling a little formulaic at the midway point. But then with a unsuspecting twist I was audibly re-engaged. Add in what felt like a meaningful delivery from a sci-fi veteran. A little recall of what it was like to lose Tasha Yar albeit not as finito. Topped off which a last joke which admittedly took a couple if seconds for the penny to drop as I metaphorically scratched my head whilst verbalising what I was seeing. "A jar of pickles?" Clunk then a settling rattle as the coin levels on the floor. "Ah nice touch." Wipes away tear in corner of eye.
Strong showing with a sad undercut of today's Hollywood
sscialli12 January 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Shame to see Alston Sage leave due to the impact of The Hollywood Few who-destroyed integrity and ethical
actions environment because of their warped sensibilities. She will be missed on the show as the ultra strong head of security. It showed how integral her actions were as to save her family. Seth himself could be seen as being very upset went along to actually have his character receive horrible injuries as he left the planets strong gravity. He really is the new classy Hollywood powerhouse , in other words he is the epitome of Class to me and many others.
Renews my interest in the show.
redpin-7055711 January 2019
Warning: Spoilers
A vast improvement. It actually looks and feels like sci-fi, although still not "spacey" enough for a show set on a starship.
I found the gravity issue interesting. The infliction of physical pain and the threat of lopping off a finger was just too dark for this type of show.
The often trite dialog and clichéd scenes was annoying.
Very disappointing to see Alara leave. Her character was cute and fun and should have been used more. Her temporary replacement was a sour joke. The less we see of him the better.
While not as good as the majority of season one episodes, it does renew my interest and raise my hopes for the show.
I found the gravity issue interesting. The infliction of physical pain and the threat of lopping off a finger was just too dark for this type of show.
The often trite dialog and clichéd scenes was annoying.
Very disappointing to see Alara leave. Her character was cute and fun and should have been used more. Her temporary replacement was a sour joke. The less we see of him the better.
While not as good as the majority of season one episodes, it does renew my interest and raise my hopes for the show.
Season two still sagging, but...
Gromstaur11 January 2019
At least we get to see some new scenery, and--for a fan of all things Star Trek--it was a hoot seeing Robert Picardo and John Billingsley onscreen together. There's a few other familiar faces in the mix as well, which was a pleasant surprise. The action and comedy is still sub-par for what we've grown accustomed to in season one, but this episode was much better than the previous two (of which I've been very critical). I'm still clinging on to hope that they'll pull it together.
Thank you for recovering Orville !!
Turperk11 January 2019
Warning: Spoilers
This should have been the season 2 opener over those first two episodes of season two. Yikes they were bad. !!!
I love all the Star Trek universe actors and other famous guest stars playing on the show. It's like watching a fun, giant inside joke with you're self. I love trying to guess who's behind an alien makeup before checking credit for those I know I missed.
It also help The Orville play as a serious, true, stand alone comedy in space, not just a knock off, spoofing Star Trek.
As much as I loved tonight's episode and seeing so old MDs...
I have a feeling, I loved episode 3 much more than I may had, because, after seeing the first two episodes they gave us, I think I'd have loved anything, not
Lt. Bortus. I'm not sure why he's had so many episodes focus on him, But it's time to more on. Just dont focus on someone else just because they are leaving the show too, like tonight.
Well, tonight, My faith is being restored, and I am again looking forward to even better episodes in the season ahead.
** I think if episodes 1 & 2 weren't played back to bsck and came later in the season, they my have been received better.
** I think if episodes 1 & 2 weren't played back to bsck and came later in the season, they my have been received better.
Excellent!
Astrostream11 January 2019
This is the best Star Trek episodes ever.
phonequa-martin_breen-6412811 January 2019
I don't know what is the budget for this episode but not even Discovery can beat those guys on the visual style from the show,and this episode is beter than all Star Fake Discovery episodes and the acting is soooooo stellar compared to the wooden acting from Discovery,and i was surprised to see two REAL STAR TREK and STARGATE STARS in a single episode.
Ok episode but still very disappointing!
liowik11 January 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Here! Get to know and become closer to this character through more detailed character development!.. Ok like her even more now???... Good! Ok now we are taking her away!!! Hah!! That's kind of what this felt like. Not a cool thing to do to viewers. So disappointing - Alara was one of the best characters in this show!
I also have my suspicions over how the gravity variance effect would occur scientifically - Alara likely should have similarly also felt negative pressure effects in an earth-like atmosphere, similar to why people might explode in space with no surrounding pressure.
The violence also bordered on a horror type that's not necessary. Sick home-invasion torture scene violence?!?
And The new security chief is awful... and I highly question whether survival evolution would create a second esophagus rather than just make one larger, or more importantly why it would be external to the body like that?! It's absurd. Attempt at comedy over science-fiction. I hope he is removed instantly.
I also have my suspicions over how the gravity variance effect would occur scientifically - Alara likely should have similarly also felt negative pressure effects in an earth-like atmosphere, similar to why people might explode in space with no surrounding pressure.
The violence also bordered on a horror type that's not necessary. Sick home-invasion torture scene violence?!?
And The new security chief is awful... and I highly question whether survival evolution would create a second esophagus rather than just make one larger, or more importantly why it would be external to the body like that?! It's absurd. Attempt at comedy over science-fiction. I hope he is removed instantly.
I will miss Alara
treyes-369288 February 2019
Still stumbling compared to Season 1
MoistMovies11 January 2019
Sigh.. I really hope some great episodes are on the way.
This one was fine.. Miles above the first two of the season... Which frankly, isn't much of a achievement.
The plot is very by the numbers. Nice to have two star trek doctor alums in the same episode. That was by far my favorite aspect. But they couldve used them in a totally different episode, one with a much more interesting script.
This ep felt like it was written just to get rid of actress that plays Alara. And the effort to make it a good send off felt weak.. I'm wondering if there was bad blood going on for the reason she left the show. Kinda came across that way to me.
This show in its first season was a good trek substitute in many ways. Now i dont really know what to call it, if anything i thought after the positive reaction it got from trek fans, that they'd step up that aspect in the writing, forgoing some of the comedy for more thought provoking dialog. But it seems the opposite is happening, with the writers trying to turn it more into its own weird thing thats a mix of cheesy light soap - uninteresting plots with a thin trek shell.
Nothing wrong with trying to be your own thing... if you start off that way. But this series was clearly created as a homage to trek. I really hope that wasnt just a tactic to pull in viewers, to then try changing things up after they have the eye balls watching.. Its very risky to try that change up.. It could work if they did a good job with it.. But so far this season isn't instilling any faith that they are capable of doing that switch up. So i hope im wrong, and that the rest of the season gets stronger as each episode is released. Score after just viewing 6 1/2
This show in its first season was a good trek substitute in many ways. Now i dont really know what to call it, if anything i thought after the positive reaction it got from trek fans, that they'd step up that aspect in the writing, forgoing some of the comedy for more thought provoking dialog. But it seems the opposite is happening, with the writers trying to turn it more into its own weird thing thats a mix of cheesy light soap - uninteresting plots with a thin trek shell.
Nothing wrong with trying to be your own thing... if you start off that way. But this series was clearly created as a homage to trek. I really hope that wasnt just a tactic to pull in viewers, to then try changing things up after they have the eye balls watching.. Its very risky to try that change up.. It could work if they did a good job with it.. But so far this season isn't instilling any faith that they are capable of doing that switch up. So i hope im wrong, and that the rest of the season gets stronger as each episode is released. Score after just viewing 6 1/2
Good episode but a bad outlook for the future
polite-456928 May 2019
Warning: Spoilers
The two best episodes featured Alara (Firestorm & Home).
Alara is the only likable living character on The Orville.
She is not the typical insincere and/or perverted and/or uninteresting character like the rest of them.
It is very disappointing to lose her.
Uh-oh!
rsvp32112 January 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Excellent episode, but unfortunately, my favourite Orville character is now gone!
Seth better get some talented writers on board for the rest of this season, because so far for Season Two, only one good episode out of three isn't going to keep an audience.
Seth better get some talented writers on board for the rest of this season, because so far for Season Two, only one good episode out of three isn't going to keep an audience.
Sleepy
jordanjones11111 January 2019
Good moments, but jarring tonal mishmash and messy overall
wolfstar_imdb12 January 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Hmmmmmmm... this was on course to be a 8-9/10 episode, and could have been a really solid instalment, if it hadn't derailed into that ridiculous, overwrought hostage plot. Not only is it terribly written, the specifics of it are firmly in torture-porn territory, which is a catastrophic tonal mishmash with the rest of the episode (a sentimental hour in which we say goodbye to a regular character who's ill and trying to repair her bond with her family). The conclusion pulls things back somewhat - the goodbye scene and Alara's gift are excellent - but I have to settle on a low star-rating because there's just no cohesion here.
The scenes on the Orville all more-or-less work, and the scenes on the planet don't. Alara's family's disdain for the "military" isn't properly explored or grounded - supposedly it's because Xelaya is a society of intellectuals, but none of the Xelayans we meet seem intellectual, more like WASPs. The idea of a whole planet of snobbish WASPs could have worked, but not as written here. The main issue with the whole episode is the script - Halston Sage is fine as usual, and it's a shame she's leaving (I wonder why?).
The family conflict is incredibly standard and doesn't ring true at all, making it hard for us to invest in, and the series's ongoing gag of aliens who speak and act just like modern Americans (Alara's family, and her successor on The Orville) is wearing a little thin. Really, as soon as Alara arrives home - at the very latest by the point she notices the light on in the other house - we know some situation is going to emerge that will put her skills to the test and remind her that her worth isn't just her strength. I actually think the climax of DS9's Melora (which isn't a great episode) was better scripted and realised in that sense. I don't think Robert Picardo and John Billingsley, both of whom are usually fantastic, were well utilised here.
Whlie Alara's departure is well-handled, her going home doesn't ring true (especially given the suitable treatment developed for her condition). What's she gonna do, just stay at home with her family? Go to college? What about peers and colleagues? There are other issues - Alara has trouble lifting the weight and says she used to be able to lift much heavier weights when she arrived... but just a couple of scenes previously (when Dr Finn diagnoses her), her drop in muscle mass comes as a total surprise to her, even though she says she's been working out a lot recently. Presuming the 20% loss in muscle mass was gradual, she should have noticed it in the gym a lot sooner.
I don't wanna sound like I'm totally down on this one, because there are things in here that work - the extended scene with Alara just sitting quietly on the beach, for instance, is fantastic, as is the scene of her gazing up at the stars before falling asleep. But it's a mess overall.
The scenes on the Orville all more-or-less work, and the scenes on the planet don't. Alara's family's disdain for the "military" isn't properly explored or grounded - supposedly it's because Xelaya is a society of intellectuals, but none of the Xelayans we meet seem intellectual, more like WASPs. The idea of a whole planet of snobbish WASPs could have worked, but not as written here. The main issue with the whole episode is the script - Halston Sage is fine as usual, and it's a shame she's leaving (I wonder why?).
The family conflict is incredibly standard and doesn't ring true at all, making it hard for us to invest in, and the series's ongoing gag of aliens who speak and act just like modern Americans (Alara's family, and her successor on The Orville) is wearing a little thin. Really, as soon as Alara arrives home - at the very latest by the point she notices the light on in the other house - we know some situation is going to emerge that will put her skills to the test and remind her that her worth isn't just her strength. I actually think the climax of DS9's Melora (which isn't a great episode) was better scripted and realised in that sense. I don't think Robert Picardo and John Billingsley, both of whom are usually fantastic, were well utilised here.
Whlie Alara's departure is well-handled, her going home doesn't ring true (especially given the suitable treatment developed for her condition). What's she gonna do, just stay at home with her family? Go to college? What about peers and colleagues? There are other issues - Alara has trouble lifting the weight and says she used to be able to lift much heavier weights when she arrived... but just a couple of scenes previously (when Dr Finn diagnoses her), her drop in muscle mass comes as a total surprise to her, even though she says she's been working out a lot recently. Presuming the 20% loss in muscle mass was gradual, she should have noticed it in the gym a lot sooner.
I don't wanna sound like I'm totally down on this one, because there are things in here that work - the extended scene with Alara just sitting quietly on the beach, for instance, is fantastic, as is the scene of her gazing up at the stars before falling asleep. But it's a mess overall.
2 Star Trek alumni, gorgeous visual
i-8282113 January 2019
I'm happily surprised to see 2 Star Trek alumni, but the best thing of this ep is the filming and visual. Every frames of filming on Xelaya can be used as a desktop wallpaper, and the moment Alara riding "eevek" (similar to a unicorn), she looks like a Goddess.
See also
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