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SBS on Demand: The Orville

Long overdue Seth McFarlane series is about to lift-off via SBS.

Long overdue US scifi comedy-drama The Orville is about to get an Australian screening.

It will screen at SBS on Demand from late September. All twelve episodes available at once.

The series created by and starring Seth McFarlane is set 400 years in the future that follows an exploratory spaceship, as its crew, both human and alien, face the wonders and dangers of outer space.

It also features Adrianne Palicki, Penny Johnson Jerald and Scott Grimes. There have been a swag of guest stars including Rob Lowe, Jeffrey Tambor, Holland Taylor, Liam Neeson, Robert Knepper and Charlize Theron.

In January TV Tonight readers voted it the international show they most wanted to see ahead of Young Sheldon, Colony & Big Brother. 

But as an SBS title it will probably add to questions about off Charter programming.

Despite average reviews, the show is proceeding to a second season.

Down on his luck after a bitter divorce, Planetary Union officer Ed Mercer finally gets his chance to command his own ship. Determined to prove his worth and start a new chapter, Ed discovers the first wrinkle in his plan when the First Officer assigned to his ship is his ex-wife, Kelly Grayson.

As the new commander, Ed assembles a qualified – but eccentric – crew. Facing cosmic challenges from without and within, this motley crew of space explorers will boldly go where no comedic drama has gone before.

The Orville is created by Seth McFarlane (Family Guy, American Dad), and stars Seth as Ed and Adrianne Palicki (John Wick) as Kelly.

Updated: 9pm Monday, 24 September 2018 at SBS VICELAND/ SBS On Demand

17 Responses

  1. It’s terribly uneven, the first couple of episodes (& half the rest) are unlikeable for a whole bunch of reasons, and throughout the whole season it suffers from having Seth McFarlaine involved – but there’s enough glimpses of something good buried there for it to be worth watching.

    I guess my recommendation would be “give it a go – but don’t feel bad, or like you’ve missed out on anything at all really, if you don’t like it.”

    1. As a Star Trek knock-off I’m not sure if The Orville is intended as a parody or not as the satire does get lost on occasion with the terrible dialogue and sight gags. Considering the budget needed the choice of actors for the main roles makes me think of an Adam Sandler movie where all his comedy mates get the regular roles but offer nothing for the plot, The Orville could have benefited from a little more charisma.

      1. Good points there. Structurally, it’s definitely closer to classic Trek than anything since (including TNG). More than anything, though, it put me in mind of – if anyone remembers this one from the vault – ‘Quark’. Which itself was definitely a satirical homage to Trek, with the almost-mandatory ‘moral/social issues’ helpings of a lot of late 70’s TV.

        One big problem with The Orville is that that side of it comes across as box-ticking, or even knowing-wink-disingenuous fauxpology – like it’s saying “Hah! – you can’t call us X-ist Y-ophobes because look, we’ve ticked both the X-box _and_ the Y-box! [heh, pwned you there, haven’t we…]”.

        Which is not a good look, unless you’re chasing the ‘inveterate troll’ audience…

        1. I thought of ‘Quark’ the first time I read about this series; though the gold standard of Trek satire/parody remains ‘Galaxy Quest’-SBS have shown a German Trek satire film a number of times in the past, the title of which escapes me as I’ve attempted to erase the abysmal experience of it from my mind.
          I ‘m more interested in when ‘Orville’ will be shown on SBS fta.

          1. “-T-Raumschiff Surprise: Periode 1” ?

            I name it not to cause mental harm to you, but to warn others against it ?. The joke in the title (the “T” is crossed out, leading to a very slightly … well, ‘amusing’ or ‘humorous’ aren’t the right words, but probably the closest thing in English … play on words) is probably the funniest thing about it.

            (Their earlier spoof on The Lone Ranger / westerns – ‘Der Schuh des Manitu’ – is quite funny though – but I’m a fan of that sort of humour in German & Czech form, so maybe not the best judge…)

  2. Having seen the season already from the US, I’m planning to rewatch it when it lands on SBS. I’m not much of a sci-fi fan, but this show is really creative with typical McFarlane humour.

  3. I happened to catch this show while overseas. I personally think it took a few episodes to get the tone right but I really came to enjoy the show a lot. I’m really looking forward to season two.

    I’m surprised it didn’t end up on Foxtel, Netflix or Stan.

    Honestly, I reckon I know a lot of people who’d tune in and watch it on Netflix and enjoy it. Who’d never even think to browse SBS OnDemand for things to watch.

  4. I like this show but when the season started, there were glimpses of the ‘dangerous’ side of McFarlane that we love, but by the halfway point, it was veering too close to the warm and fuzziness of Star Trek Voyager to really be regarded as a comedy with any edge whatsoever. I do hope season 2 boldly goes in a more risqué direction.

  5. It’s very good and a humorous touch to tour typical Star Trek still sci-fi.

    I wonder if it will be broadcast on the SBS FTA channel at some later date?

    As to … “off Charter programming”. Maybe, but I’m guessing that after all this time none of the other FTA networks, nor Foxtel wanted to broadcast the show. If so, then so what. Having said that though, I’m sure all of the ABC/SBS critics out there will complain yet again.

      1. How does it work with streaming services. Do free to air broadcasters get a look in first then if they don’t want it , streaming services can buy it ? I assume Stan couldn’t get The Orville because it is a Fox show and they don’t have a deal with Fox?

        1. There’s no single answer, but broadly speaking networks / streaming platforms have output deals with distributors. Some of those have been wound back in recent years meaning a bidding war for individual shows that are not covered under these. TEN’s loss of FOX titles (which Foxtel still has a deal with) is seeing some titles going far and wide.

          1. It’s just commercial oversight as FTA are more committed to Reality TV content at the moment and have likely decided that there was no viable time slot for some overseas shows being offered. The irony is that the SBS is demonstrating that there is still a need for some international entertainment diversity on our screens, but obviously it does come with a risk to some major networks financial bottom line.

  6. I am currently rewatching American Dad, so am obviously in the mood for some Seth Mcfarlane style humour.

    I hope Adrianne Palicki is a brunette in this.

  7. It’s an absolutely fantastic show, well worth watching. It’s a more grown up sci-fi and sometimes is better than the series it is sending up with story lines the other wouldn’t touch.

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