Hulu
The Orville: New Horizons has been all over the place so far. We are only on episode three, but the themes and genres it covers have been vastly different than the rest. The first episode was dramatic while the second episode delved into the horror genre. The latest episode, ‘Mortality Paradox’, feels like a classic sci-fi episode with plenty of twists and intriguing moments.
There is a lot of set up for the eventual journey. Lieutenant Keyali (Jessica Szohr) returns after a break from episode two. She was visiting her parents and brings Selayan chocolate for the crew. She mentions to Commander Grayson (Adrianne Palicki) that she came across Kaylon activity on her way back and everyone should consider it a threat. Isaac (Mark Jackson) gets electro-magnetic signals from a planet made of rock, Narran 1. Of course, Captain Mercer (Seth MacFarlane) wants to investigate. When they arrive, Isaac scans the planet and learns that it isn’t barren like they thought. Isaac confirms that there are transportation networks, power sources and housing. To investigate properly, Bortus, Keyali, Malloy, Grayson and Mercer take a shuttle to the surface. Upon their descent, the only thing the crew sees is a forest that goes on for thousands of kilometers.
Bortus picks up something on his scanner, which indicates life forms. They discover a high school building amongst the forest. Once the team enter the building, the doors lock behind them. The school is filled with teenagers, which is a cause for concern since their previous scanners indicated no life on the planet. Onboard the Orville, Isaac and LaMarr still are getting readings that there is no life, including the crew that is in the high school. LaMarr decides that a second landing party would be beneficial. Once more crew members arrive, they also see that Narran 1 is desolate. Inside the high school, the crew meets Randall, an alien who captures Malloy. He freezes up and later describes that it was like his brain was freezing, like an out of body experience. Several crew members like Mercer, Bortus, and Grayson all go through the same experience, which all focus on survival. There are several deep moments that the crew face from there on out, adding to the intensity of the episode.
Hulu
The episode is filled with mystery. From the crew learning about Narran 1 to the out of body experience, the episode grabs ahold of you and never let goes. This episode, more than any this season, offered several moments that felt like there was a lot at stake. Once the doors shut at the high school, the sensation that the team was trapped and there were no ways to get out, provided a sense of urgency that many episodes have been lacking. Not only was there tension within the high school, but the writers also continue the tension amongst the crew that was set up in episode one. Ensign Burke, who confronted Captain Mercer about Isaac’s presence onboard the Orville, still is upset about the whole situation. By continuing the tension in the relationship, the writes have created an atmosphere that isn’t perfect, which is realistic for a crew stuck on a ship together.
Episode 3 is my favorite entry so far in this new season. The mystery moves the story forward and kept me engaged throughout. The first two episodes focused heavily on Doctor Finn, but episode three gave a chance for the other characters to have storylines throughout. This reminded of many episodes in the past that balanced its diverse group of characters. While I do like Doctor Finn, it was nice to finally see more of the other characters rather than just a brief sequence. The episode had a little bit of everything with an insight into some of the characters deepest fears. So far in Season 3, the show is living up to its subtitle by exploring new horizons.
What did you think of this episode? Tell us in the comments section below!
Share this post
