User Reviews

What can I say about this series? I started watching it with zero hype. I knew it was from Seth MacFarlane, and honestly, I delayed watching it for so long because I expected it to be filled with crude humor—sex jokes, fart jokes, and the usual Seth tropes. I finally gave it a chance (now in 2026), and man, what a terrible mistake it was to wait this long. This is, without a doubt, one of the best sci-fi series of recent years. While the first season was just okay, it did a great job of fleshing out the main characters. From there, what a wild ride it became! I laughed, I cheered, and I actually cried. This series really hits you right in the feelings. By the third season, everything shifted into high gear—the visuals, the budget, the storytelling; it all looked bigger and better. As I rushed through the final episodes, a wave of sadness hit me, knowing that we don't have a fourth season yet (I know it's heavily rumored and discussed, but Seth is currently tied up with other projects). My final verdict: this is a masterpiece that every sci-fi fan needs to watch.

Das sich das 4 Staffeln gehalten hat wundert mich sehr. Der Humor ist schwach und billig, die Besetzung nur Durschnitt und die Storys zu albern.

The Star Trek series (without the Star Trek) that we wanted, we deserved and we got but couldn't hold on to apparently... There is something here for almost any fan of sit-coms, sci-fi, or space dramas and it does it in all the right ways! Seth MacFarlane understood the assignment and got an A+ from the fans (or at least this one)!

I'm not sure if the Orville will continue past the episodes that are out, but I genuinely enjoy this show and the discussions it brings attention to. It's important to consult with and include voices from the communities being represented, too (whether literally, or through sci-fi windows like Moclans.) I hope more shows dare to go where The Orville has, and beyond.

The Orville is basically Star Trek with a sense of humor — and it works. It’s the first show where I didn’t care about who’s gay or not, because the focus stays on the story and the comedy, not pushing agendas. Some critics missed the point: it’s sci-fi and satire to Star Trek TV Show.

The series, which began as a parody of existing sci-fi universes, has managed to create its own powerful fanbase that will eagerly await a possible sequel.

More like Star Trek Discovery than Star Trek the Next Generation. Seth McFarlan isn't very good at writing science fictions. The writing is soft and comes across as very American at times (count the times you hear "cool" or "ok" in the show). He just doesn't get what made the old Star Trek shows great. Season 3 in particular falls into the trap of embedding social political commentary into almost every episode. It's all meta commentary on issues such as mental health, Trans rights, inter racial relationships, etc. I'll be blunt in 2025 I'm board of seeing this in my escapism hobbies.

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]

Watch the first season only. I'm a fan of both Family guy, at least the older seasons and Star Trek, prior to Discovery so this show would be the perfect mix for me. Well, kinda. I really liked the first season, I don't mind and actually embrace humor and SciFi so long as the humor is well done and enhances the story rather than distract from it and this show manages it well. The first season for me had the perfect amount of both and the storyline was interesting. Season 2 was okay, less memorable than 1 but I liked the relationship between Claire and Isaac. The storylines were okay, nothing impressive or bad. Season 3 unfortunately veers off into bad territory. First way too much time is spent on Claire's children. They're okay as side characters but they wanted to make them main characters. They suffer from the Wesley from Star Trek problem in that, no one cares about the children of the main protagonists. DS9 actually did it really well where they didn't overuse them and used them for specific storylines rather than making them main cast. Also the turnaround with the evil robots at the end of the season was fun. Unfortunately S3 goes deep into wokeness. Over half the season is spent on the trans child of one of the main cast. Overall through all 3 seasons, probably 10-15 episodes are centered on this topic. It's not interesting and goes for way too long. They really couldn't think of anything more interesting to do than what literally everyone else in Hollywood is doing? I don't mind them wrapping up the story but the overwhelming majority of the season is this topic and leaves too little time for other more interesting and thought provoking things which Star Trek which this show tries to copy did so well. Also they introduce a new hot officer and tease that she was sad for her friend dying and they make her a lesbian at the end of the season, I think literally the last episode. Shoddy, surface level Hollywood sensibilities. Why did we have to know she was a lesbian, why is a character's sexuality even important if it doesn't add anything to do story, why also such a divisive topic? Before the woke mind virus took control of Hollywood, a characters sexuality, whatever it was, was almost never disclosed, for the purpose of not being relevant to the plot. However as we've regressed, this is now the personality, sometimes the whole personality, of some characters. So season 3 to summarize is, almost the whole season spent on a trans child, a lesbian new officer who dies and Claire's children which are not badly written but irrelevant and not that interesting. There is some good with the robots storyline and Claire and Isaac's relationship which were well-written but out of the whole season I got maybe 1 hour, maybe 2 hours of fun and was bored for the rest. This retroactively now makes the whole series not worth the watch.

Not my kind of humor. Star Trek may be dead thanks to Mr. Kurtzman, but that didn't make me get aboard the Orville. The strange mix of cringe humor and attempts at serious storytelling just didn't work out for me.

Absolutely top notch Star Trek like show brought to you by yours truly Seth McFarlane

A lot of people accuse this show of pushing "Woke" content A lot of people accuse if of the exact opposite. The reason behind that is that this show, despite being a star-trek inspired show, tackles a lot relevant social issues, that will force you to think about things that you might not want to think about, especially if you are close-minded. It's not pushing an agenda, you got to be a bit paranoid if you think it does. About the show, it's fun, sometimes it might appear as if it's funny in moments or contexts that are not ideal for a joke. That is true, Macfarlane is very new to all this, and it shows, he's learning by experience with every episode, which is a funny parallel to the fact that even his character does that in the plot. Besides this, it's fun to watch, if you can be a bit tolerant about the lack of experience, it's basically a funnier star trek spin-off that deserves to be watched. The amount of negative critic it received, just serves to show how biased, off scope and irrelevant professional critics have become nowadays. Be open minded and don't except too much from this, if you respect this requisites, you sure won't regret watching it.

In 2023 this is my go to for actual star trek content ️ Great stories, actual moral dilemmas. Just star trek.

I really enjoy this show. Delightful i would Say. For Star Trek and sci-fi lovers Is a must Watch. Negative critics are wrong! Is a Star Trek with humor and original stories. I really recommend It.

Eine der besten Serien, die ich je in meinem Leben gesehen habe! Alle 3 Staffeln sind einfach genial!

I wish the show remained as a corny sci-fi sitcom with jokes about the sci-fi genre/tropes, but instead we have a show that decided half-way through season 1 that it wanted to be a real show with a plot. The problem I have with this show post season 1 is that it focuses too much on character romance arcs rather than any fun adventures. When adventure does occur, every character has plot armour and/or specific setup->outcome scenarios that are hard to believe. There are a couple cool looking cgi space battles / scenes. The music is great too.

Who likes science fiction, will find it wonderful, this series is too good !!

This is true and only Star Trek successor. Bright light in darkness that ST:Discovery and Picard represents.

So as usual the critics have no idea what they are on about. Give it half a season and you'll find the best Star Trek show since Voyager.

This is what Star Trek should be. It sticks to the principles and adds a bit of humor on top of that. Realistic humor. Discovery, Strange new world is all woke crap without heart. This is now #1 sci fi in our home.

Been watching this since the start. At first, I too thought that this might be Family Guy in space. After a few episodes you realise the talent that has went into writing, producing and delivering the best episodic space exploration show since ‘Enterprise’. Gritty stories driven by historical and social commentary mixed with amazing casting, humour and performances. This is excellent. Hope that this has upwards of 10 seasons

The better Star Trek. What started as a parody developed so much heart and soul it outshines the original. Great actors, great stories, respectful treatment of political and social topics and fun to boot. I haven't seen the last season yet, as it is not yet available in my country, but I have high hopes for it!

Wow. The Orville has become better than Star Trek - any series thereof. The Orville Series 3 is richly nuanced for adults, yet still accessible to kids. This series has telly arrived. 10/10 and a standing applause.

Its a different take on space. It really became amazing in season 3. A lot of humor

This is really the best Star Trek a like show that is out there I will go this far and say that in my opinion this show is even better in every way! I am flashed again of how good this show is after seeing S03E06. Keep it going!

The Orville is the best star trek series since 2005. It takes what was good about the Next Generation, and iterates it into a modern, thoughtful, often ridiculous (in a good way) show about wonder and exploration. It deserves 7 seasons and then a spinoff set in a space station.

season 1 is a bit too much comedy but it just gets better and better. season 3 is blowing me away every episode. Here's hoping for a season 4.

I absolutely love this show, it’s absolutely hilarious, it makes you almost cry, and it really gets you attached to the characters. Truly recommend it to everyone.

I love this series with all my heart. This is the continuation of the Star Trek we've all been waiting for. Hope there will be more seasons in the future.

The perfect TV-Series who is worth to be the alternative successor to Star Trek The Next Generation. Story is logical and free of woke BS. McFarlane did and still does a great job here. The show is not a comedy like Family Guy but instead deep serious like Star Trek was.

This is a great series; in its own right. Has general appeal, even if you're not a Star Trek fan. If you are a Star Trek fan then you are in for a real treat. Imagine Star Trek with humour (Oz spelling) - good humour. Enjoy

The critics are wrong, watch it and give it a chance on your own and see if you enjoy it. I can't guarantee you will, but I didn't think I would and now I'm here writing this review. Cheers.

One of the best series of recent years! Although I am a big fan of Star Trek, I really believe this series is ahead of Star Trek's latest productions. Even with humor, they deliver interesting and deep stories

Season 3 is just aload of woke garbage just pushing "the message". No longer funny just comes off as a very poor mans Star Trek. Loved S1@S2 but they lost me with season 3.

The Orville is the best current Sci-Fi show and a far more appropriate and entertaining successor to Star Trek than everything coming out of Septic Hideout.

This is Star Trek only better. Much better. Where Star Trek is trying to be grandios and super woke, the Orville is all about small, personal stories that deal with real conundrums in a very human way. Simple very, very good TV.

A half comedic spoof star trek, consistent light comedy throughout, a vision of sci-fi very much filtered through the lens of american cultural outlook projected onto the sci-fi world, some signs of early woke and ideological injection re gender and sexuality, a bit basic and plastic in many ways, not too bad but not particularly intellectually stimulating, plots, parables and storys all rather basic generic american and prosaic predictable.

First two seasons were great. In light of Discovery and Picard, they were the best Trek around. Season 3? Not so much. They veered full-on into Discovery territory, dragging my score down. Especially this most recent episode. Talked about one-sided.

The critics are paid to give this negative reviews for made up reasons. The show is well done for the most part. S03e04 was bad propaganda but overall the show is good.

So many opportunities for humor in season 3, but it didn't happen! I think they may not understand their audience.... there's just not enough sophistication for sci-fi only street cred. Would love to see the comedic flair return

Fantastic 'Star Trek' style series which initially starts as a sort of parody, but within a few episodes of the first season it becomes a sublime sci-fi show with great stories with nicely balanced humour. Watch the first season as a whole to get a true feel for the great addition to science fiction.

For my family and me The Orville is currently the better Star Trek. Looking forward to season 3.

The problems here are exactly the same as "Discovery" and "Picard": endless, backwards-gazing, failed attempts to relive the glory days by rehashing old plotlines and played-out, stale ideas from previous series. This is where Star Trek goes to die: the most acclaimed series is... Seth Macfarlane adding "Family Guy"-style jokes to turgid, nearly word-for-word retellings of "Star Trek: The Next Generation" episodes. If this is the series that Trek fans give "universal acclaim" per the current Metacritic score... then, indeed, just let Star Trek die already.

Love this show. It reminds me of old school star trek with a little comedy mixed in. This show is more like Star Trek than Star Trek Discovery is. I hope this show continues for many more seasons.

A worthy successor to Star Trek series, upholding its values and traditions with a bit of humor added :-)

The big disconnect between "critic" and "user" reviews tells you all you need to know: "critics" are shills, and The Orville is where Star Trek lives now. Great writing, thoughtful story and a great cast. Is it perfect? No, but I'll give it a 10 instead of a 9 for keeping Trek alive in these dire Kurtzman times.

I watched one episode and found it crass, dull and deceptive. The episode was on gender reassignment. Two homosexual male monsters from a race of homosexual male monsters have a baby girl!!! Gender reassignment or not? Is the question the show asks. Plot twist, one of the males was actually born a female!!! Glaring failures in logic abound. A species requiring males and females to replicate will die off within a generation if the females are removed. A female cannot become a male with surgery or hormones. Every cell in the body knows if its male or female. The show puts the value of women in the dock and tries to argue they are strong and can fight like men (obviously untrue) and make major contributions to society (yes up to a point but all major modern inventions are created by men).. While ignoring the bleeding obvious that we would not exist without women. So its a show that is lying to its audience. Then I would also say the show is covertly white supremacist. The captain of the ship is white with his ex wife also white acting as his second. But they preside over a mixed group of different races and monsters. It promotes the delusion that the outnumbered few can live as they choose as **** of the hoop which is again delusional. All over the world minority populations white, or otherwise are abused and ultimately destroyed. If you want to watch deranged white supremacy and homosexual baby makers this is the show for you. Otherwise I would avoid

The Orville is a treasure that will have a strong fanbase similar to what Star Trek has inspired. While critics have deemed this show to be insignificant, the fans have spoken, and which I agree with, that this show is the type of new generation Star Trek that embodies the spirit of the original.

The show is a true space opera type series. It combines elements of Star Trek with irreverent humor. Many critics found this type of humor distasteful in series such as MASH, but it work fine and it will serve this series well. Season 2 starts out this way, but ends in an epic battle of all battles. If you like Star Trek and Family Guy, you'll love The Orville. I especially like the Kermit Doll on Mercer's desk. I have the same one on mine, which I bought in 2008.

The Orville is a comedy version of Star Trek. It's very funny, but it doesn't only have jokes. It also deals with serious, real-world topics in a mature way.