"The Orville" premiered Sunday and was rebroadcast tonight. What do you think?

=======================Spoilers ahead=======================

The bridge is laid out like the Star Trek bridges, but that is a good layout. They have no transporters, turbolifts or Jeffries tubes. The captain's office isn't on the bridge deck. They have holodecks (at least at HQ), stairs and bathrooms.

However, they made the same mistake that "Star Trek: The Next Generation" did: they don't have a chief engineer. Will we have a case of "Mr. Chief-Engineer-of-the-Week"? TNG eventually had to reassign Geordi La Forge to that position. Will Lt. Commander Bortus eventually be assigned to that position? He's the only one who doesn't have another job.

My husband watched it and said he might have to give it one more week to decide if it's worth watching.

Totally loved it. I'm hooked !!! It was weird I expected the transporters, and felt somehow like I was missing something when they didn't use them.

Are you serious? Who cares, it's a sitcom!... Seriously, it's a sci-fi parody, based 400 years in the future, with no basis in reality. And your big complaint is that no chief engineer was introduced in the pilot episode? Ugh!... Overall, it was great parody (occasionally brilliant), loaded with enough Easter Eggs to keep even the most diehard Star Trek/Sci-fi fan busy.

And your big complaint is that no chief engineer was introduced in the pilot episode? Ugh!

Not a complaint, just a comparison to "Star Trek: The Next Generation". This is something that will probably be solved as TNG did. But they can avoid this by staying out of the engineering section. They didn't build that set so they'll be more likely to stay out of a set that they haven't built. Any guess as to how long they'll be able to stay away? Even "Galaxy Quest" went to engineering.

Since it's a parody they'll probably deal with the transporter tropes.

I don't get your logic. I think you're expecting wayyy more reality and continuity from a comedy than you should be. You're even assuming that this is a problem "that will probably be solved". Why do you assume that? Not that I know any more than you about it, but my guess is that this is an issue that has just as much of a chance of never even being mentioned, let alone dealt with.... Remember, it's a comedy. Even the good ones rarely, if ever, get hung up on details like that. It's about the humor....

I also just did a quick Google search on the topic, and came up with nothing. You might be the only person on the planet to even have noticed.

Remember, it's a comedy. Even the good ones rarely, if ever, get hung up on details like that. It's about the humor....

As the Love Theme from MST3K so beautifully put it:

If you're wondering how he eats and breathes
And other science facts,
Just repeat to yourself "It's just a show,
I should really just relax
For Mystery Science Theater 3000."

I have to admit that I was a bit disappointed with this show. I'm not sure exactly what I was expecting, other than I was expecting to laugh a lot more than I did. I'll give it another chance, because pilot episodes are rarely the best a show has to offer. But I'm really hoping it will get a lot better very soon.

TG

I don't get your logic. I think you're expecting wayyy more reality and continuity from a comedy than you should be. You're even assuming that this is a problem "that will probably be solved". Why do you assume that? [...] I also just did a quick Google search on the topic, and came up with nothing. You might be the only person on the planet to even have noticed.

I watched when Seth MacFarlane was the guest on "The Tonight Show". I really expected them to show a clip, but nothing but talk. (On a talk show now less. ;-) Anyway, Seth said that they'd be taking the science fiction seriously, but not the situation. From the first episode it seems most like ["https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galaxy_Quest Galaxy Quest]"

Engineering is very necessary to the function of the ship so it will become important to the plot in some episodes. I expect them to visit engineering many times during the series.

Let me recall all those science fiction television series that I've seen which are set on an interstellar ship large enough to have a separate engine room or engineering:

• Doctor Who: (1963) Yes; Journey to the Centre of the TARDIS. A living ship so the ship itself is sort of the engineer. Visiting the engine room was a recent episode and was done only once (that I know of) so you can count this as a "No" if you'd rather.
• Lost in Space: (1965) Yes
• Star Trek: (1966) Yes
• Star Trek: The Animated Series: (1973) I haven't seen enough/recently to know, but I don't recall any engine room scenes. James Doohan was on it so I expect that engineering was in several episodes.
• Pigs in Space: (1977) No
• Quark: (1977) No
• Battlestar Galactica: (1978) No
• Galactica 1980: (1980) No
• Red Dwarf: (1998) Yes, on multiple ships
• Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: (1993) Yes, on the Defiant.
• Star Trek: Voyager: (1995) Yes.
• Space: Above and Beyond: (1995) No
• Stargate SG-1: (1997) Yes, on their interstellar ships
• Farscape: (1999) Yes; visited the engine room. This was a living ship, so the ship was sort of the engineer, but there was a pilot who was bonded to the ship.
• Crusade: (1999) No
• Futurama: (1999) No, but didn't see it much.
• Andromeda: (2000) Probably, but I don't recall
• Star Trek: Enterprise: (2001) Yes
• Firefly: (2002) No, I don't think so
• Stargate Atlantis: (2004) Yes (sharing ships with SG-1)
• Stargate Universe: (2009) Yes, on the Destiny

Remember, these are the television series that I've seen that I can think of now. Please fee free to add to this list.

So, of 21 series (I can think of) 9 are yes, 4 are probably and 8 are no. If you eliminate the Star Trek and Stargate series, then they are mostly no engineering shown. Nevertheless, I'm still thinking that they're following the Star Trek model of how a starship (including crew) functions. Still, they're much looser with crew discipline than any other starship series I've listed; except "Red Dwarf", "Farscape" and "Doctor Who".

I also didn't include in this count series (that I've seen) where they used smaller ships (or I don't remember the ship): Blake's 7, Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, Homeboys in Outer Space
and Space Rangers.

P.S.: Has it really been since 2009 that a series with a starship debuted on broadcast television? Am I forgetting something?

[...] pilot episodes are rarely the best a show has to offer. But I'm really hoping it will get a lot better very soon.

I told the people at work that the acting was about 90% of what it should be. I expect that it will get better. Acting usually gets better as actors become comfortable with the roles.

The writing should also get better. Star Trek: The Next Generation peaked about season 3 or 4. I expect the writing to get better too as they (also) get comfortable with the show.

Firefly has an engine room, Kaylee is hired after Capt Mal catches her and Bester having sex in the engine room. And she is constantly working on the engines etc.

-Amanda from Seattle

Firefly has an engine room

I guess that I didn't pay enough attention to notice that. Thanks for the correction.

Wasn't the man with the sister who wasn't quite all there (something to do with experiments done on her?) the engineer on the ship?

No, he was the doctor. Kaylee, is most definitely the engineer (having been her for comiccon).

I liked the tension that was created before they announced the ex-wife. I was searching my memories trying to imagine who it would be. Never suspected it would be her.

I liked the tension that was created before they announced the ex-wife.

I watched all of the trailers that I could find, and this interview too. It was still enjoyable even though the trailers reveal parts of the plot.

However, I didn't see the twist at the end coming. It does help explain something that was significant to the episode.

If you eliminate the Star Trek and Stargate series, then they are mostly no engineering shown.

I watched the opening credits for this week's episode. I noticed https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brannon_Braga Brannon Braga] in the credits. He is the executive producer on "The Orville".

In case you don't know who he is, here is part of the Wikipedia article linked above:

Best known for his work in the Star Trek franchise, Braga was a key creative force behind three of the franchise's four modern series. He later became an executive producer and writer on several Fox shows including 24 and Terra Nova. His film credits include Mission: Impossible 2, Star Trek Generations and Star Trek: First Contact.

I believe this is an indication that they are going the direction of "Star Trek".

==== ***Spoilers*** ====

Besides, I think we just saw the chief-engineer-of-this-week in the shuttle bay. We still haven't seen the engineering section though.

And in case you haven't seen it yet, they also have replicators, at least for food. And somebody has transporters.

And they just made a "Star Wars" reference. "Help me Doctor Finn; you're my only hope." ;-)

After watching episodes 2 and 3, I have completely changed my mind about this show. I can't wait to see more, especially after episode 3.

TG

I didn't watch. I don't like Seth MacFarlane so no need for me to watch.

Shiloh

I didn't watch. I don't like Seth MacFarlane so no need for me to watch.

I don't like any of Seth MacFarlane's other shows, but I do like this one. It is much like "Galaxy Quest" in humor.

Besides, I think we just saw the chief-engineer-of-this-week in the shuttle bay. We still haven't seen the engineering section though.

===== ***Spoilers*** =====

In the episode "Pria", we were just introduced to the Chief Engineer in the engineering section/room. He actually has a name, Steve Newton. (Do you think he was named after Isaac Newton, or the unit of force named after Isaac Newton?) And since they've built the set it won't cost as much to set scenes there now. Besides, he's listed as recurring on Wikipedia. (Not a definitive source, but better than nothing.)

BTW, I missed last week's episode, "If the Stars Should Appear". The description sounds a lot like the "Star Trek" (the original series) episode "For the World Is Hollow and I Have Touched the Sky".

BTW, I missed last week's episode, "If the Stars Should Appear". The description sounds a lot like the "Star Trek" (the original series) episode "For the World Is Hollow and I Have Touched the Sky".

I watched it online at Fox Now. (I can do the same on CBS, but not CBS All Access which is why I won't be watching "Star Trek: Discovery".) It is the same idea but totally different implementation. I liked both versions.