The Orville

Set about 400 years in the future, The Orville follows the crew of a midrank exploratory vessel in Earth’s interstellar fleet, where adventures range from light-hearted mishaps to morally tricky encounters with alien societies. Captain Ed Mercer, still coping with the fallout of a very public personal rupture, has to lead a ship where his ex-wife, Kelly Grayson, serves as his first officer, which creates ongoing tension and unexpected teamwork. The ensemble cast includes a pragmatic chief medical officer, a gregarious pilot, and a stoic alien second-in-command, and the series mixes workplace comedy with serialized character threads while putting characters into high-stakes, sometimes philosophical, situations without spoiling where those arcs go.

Created and led by Seth MacFarlane, the show premiered on Fox in 2017. MacFarlane stars as Captain Mercer and directs and produces episodes, and the series later continued on Hulu as The Orville: New Horizons, keeping a mix of television comedy timing and cinematic production values.

The Orville has earned recognition within genre and industry circles, collecting nominations and a handful of wins at science fiction and technical award shows. Its visual effects, makeup, and production design have been singled out by peers, reflecting the series’ investment in world building and creature work rather than mainstream award-season sweepstakes.

The show soon became a touchstone in modern sci-fi fandom, often mentioned in the same conversations as classic optimistic space opera. Viewers and critics debated its tonal split between comedy and drama, and several episodes sparked online discussion, fan art, and cosplay. Its blend of familiar Star Trek-style concerns with sitcom rhythms helped it build a devoted audience that appreciates both the jokes and the heavier moments.

Critical response has leaned positive among fans and mixed to favorable among reviewers, reflected in a user vote average around 7.6 out of 10 from over a thousand ratings. Praise centers on the cast chemistry, thoughtful attempts at ethical questions, and upgrade-level effects, while critiques point to uneven tone. Recurring themes include leadership, family and relationships, cultural difference, and how personal flaws affect command and community.