In Season 2, Episode 13, Ed Mercer explains that he got a "B+ in Temporal Theory" and that "no one gets an A. It's time travel" suggesting that B+ is essentially top of his class. And yet in this episode shows a complete lack of understanding of the implications already created as Malloy has already spent 10 years on Earth and 7 of those years interacting with people, including having a family. He does eventually arrive at the correct (and obvious) conclusion (which is why this episode got 5 stars rather than 3) but not before demonstrating what a terrible friend he can be.
As Ed and Kelly arrive on Earth they make it out like it's Gordon's fault that he was marooned there for 10 years and that he had to apologise for breaking protocol, suggesting he's a poor officer for doing so, in fact Gordon was only sent into the past for following Ed's orders, to attempt to destroy the time machine before the Kaylon could forcibly take it from their ship in the 25th century. Gordon points out that he's human and humans need society, after 3 years he made the reasonable conclusion that he was stuck there and had to make the best of it, Ed scolds him for doing what anyone would have done.
After arriving at Malloy's house and meeting his happy family, Mercer explains that Malloy must return to The Orville with him? What? Ummm, the timeline is already corrupted, even if he did that it is highly likely that even Malloy himself would not be born into that future and makes arguments like, "it's time travel, nobody really knows", so you also don't know? He continues to blame Malloy when in fact he should do his job and return in time to the right "time co-ordinates" as Malloy points out. Later in the episode Mercer returns with Kelly and Talla to take him by force! Showing that he's STILL ignorant to what a stupid idea this is and how little he cares for his friend's current success and happiness. They leave finally figuring out that they should just jump 10 years earlier in time (now that they have the Dysonium), like they should have done from the beginning, and all they achieved was to traumatise their close friend and his family and we watch Malloy lose what he could have had, future be damned.
This episode shows some blatantly stupid thinking and a dark, disingenuous side to the Captain and to Kelly towards Malloy. They later "explain" to Malloy what they were forced to do but who knows what sort of explanation he received when given from one side of the coin, to me, he seemed far too understanding and forgiving.
As Ed and Kelly arrive on Earth they make it out like it's Gordon's fault that he was marooned there for 10 years and that he had to apologise for breaking protocol, suggesting he's a poor officer for doing so, in fact Gordon was only sent into the past for following Ed's orders, to attempt to destroy the time machine before the Kaylon could forcibly take it from their ship in the 25th century. Gordon points out that he's human and humans need society, after 3 years he made the reasonable conclusion that he was stuck there and had to make the best of it, Ed scolds him for doing what anyone would have done.
After arriving at Malloy's house and meeting his happy family, Mercer explains that Malloy must return to The Orville with him? What? Ummm, the timeline is already corrupted, even if he did that it is highly likely that even Malloy himself would not be born into that future and makes arguments like, "it's time travel, nobody really knows", so you also don't know? He continues to blame Malloy when in fact he should do his job and return in time to the right "time co-ordinates" as Malloy points out. Later in the episode Mercer returns with Kelly and Talla to take him by force! Showing that he's STILL ignorant to what a stupid idea this is and how little he cares for his friend's current success and happiness. They leave finally figuring out that they should just jump 10 years earlier in time (now that they have the Dysonium), like they should have done from the beginning, and all they achieved was to traumatise their close friend and his family and we watch Malloy lose what he could have had, future be damned.
This episode shows some blatantly stupid thinking and a dark, disingenuous side to the Captain and to Kelly towards Malloy. They later "explain" to Malloy what they were forced to do but who knows what sort of explanation he received when given from one side of the coin, to me, he seemed far too understanding and forgiving.