When I first started this show I found it to be a really awkward mix of comedy and seriousness. It had some jokes thrown it at the most inopportune times as some kind of comic relief from a really serious situation. Perhaps the first half of the first season was actually a bit rough or maybe the show just grew on me, but by season 2 I found myself loving this show.
To me it seems as every bit as comfy, intellectually interesting and even funny as some classic Star Treks while still clearly being its own thing. I wish more comfy space shows like this would get made.
What are your thoughts on The Orville? Also I miss Alara.
That take makes me think you haven't watched much of the show
The Orville is the best science fiction show featuring complex moral questions of the last decade. And Seth McFarlane isn't as prominent in the show as early episodes showed.
It's much more focused on crew than other shows, specially Isaac, Bortus, Kelly and Claire. No surprise since they are better actors than Seth. I like Seth Krill episodes though.
The latest season of Orville has so much grey area and conflict in morals it makes TNG look pure black and white with no moral grey areas at all.
It's really well done.
I had the exact same concern, before I watched The Orville.
After watching the first couple of seasons, I think The Orville actually does a pretty good job honoring Star Trek's tradition of raising difficult questions and calling for more empathy in the world.
You clearly haven’t watched it at all lol.