The Orville (TV Series) Twice in a Lifetime (2022) User Reviews

Quality episode

[lmk-57374 · 9/10 · 7 July 2022]

Probably one of the best episodes to date imho. I don't wish to spoil anything, but a very compelling episode that presents a terribly interesting and unique moral dilemma, that I am not sure any other show has tackled before (which is really saying something in a world of television that like to recycle).

The episode I've been waiting for for 3 years

[nakrugt · 8/10 · 7 July 2022]

I think it was last year I wrote my for a sequel for "Lasting Impressions". I do not know if they saw my comment, but here we are with this episode.

I asked for some kind of follow-up, and I got it! Great writing and acting.

Am I happy with the ending as a person? Neither here nor there. The important thing, though, the writers and producers did not betray or disrespect the characters and the story.

Thank you.

Edited: I have watched it a few more times. I think, they created another universe, let me explain: At the end of the episode, Lamar says that they arrived a month before. At the beginning of the film, if Lamar did not send the sandwich back 10 seconds later, that would create another universe. Knowingly or unknowingly, I think they let the children live and let them hava a happy life together, which most probably created another reality and another Orville. Am I missing something?

A perfect sci-fi episode or maybe movie...

[jonasarjunior · 10/10 · 8 July 2022]

The moral dilemma in this episode is unique up to this time. I have never seen it before, had never thought of it before, and couldn't even come up with that even in my wildest speculations. It doesn't focus on tech, although tech is involved, it doesn't rely on space, even though space is involved. Is that heroic, or villainous? In that place he cared so much, but of course outside he couldn't care about it because he hadn't experienced that. Wow!!! It's just clever and deeply emotional. Hell... I cried when he cried. The acting was fantastic. And I think this will come back around. This is not over, for sure.

Should've known Gordon would be combative.

[mikebranmb · 10/10 · 11 July 2022]

Time travel episodes are always the best. This season is great so far.

When the obituary of Gordon is on the Orvilke's view screen it shows Gordon married Laura and probably ended with how many kids he had with her. Did they not notice this before thinking he would just come running back to the ship? Big hole in this episode, but overall fantastic.

Loved the Episode, Hated the Ending.

[AGood · 10/10 · 8 July 2022]

In terms of the Orville, like the unwritten rule in Star Trek that the odd films are all awful and the even ones are all brilliant. Well for the Orville, all the Bortus episodes are awful, but the Gordon episodes are all brilliant. This is an easy contender for the best episode of the entire three seasons.

Every time Gordon gets involved in something you really feel for him. I thought he was 100% in the right here and Mercer and Grayson turned into villains here in this episode

I thought the end outcome was awful. It angered me immensely. It honestly felt like Biff in Back To the Future 2 type tactic. If I was Gordon at the end I wouldn't have been so calm and forgiving about it all. I really hope they find a way to bring Laura back into this. She is the best guest character in the show.

I am with Gordon!!

[imaginelovinglife · 10/10 · 8 July 2022]

I am with Gordon. He should have the freedom to do whatever he wants. It was not his fault. He shouldn't be forced to do something he does not want to do. The guy playing Gordon is a good actor. The episode is amazing. The whole "what if" scenario was very well thought out. A little predictable but still amazing! It felt like a star trek TNG series but only better!

Oh My

[pioneer64 · 9/10 · 8 July 2022]

Infuriating, heartbreaking, and exceptional. I will always be mad and captivated at the same time.

-1 star for the temporal paradox that goes unresolved.

It's like a full feature film

[Turanic · 9/10 · 7 July 2022]

The writers really did well on this episode, not only quite a lot happens, but it's an interesting "what if " by itself , this would be a classic Star Trek 2 part episode but they flawlessly fit it into 1 h 10 min... Ironically if you know who Leighton Meester is , it adds a certain spice to see her in a sci fi tv show role ...

Good episode but kind of obvious

[vwvoyager · 8/10 · 20 July 2022]

I knew that once they encountered Gordon and his family that they would jump again and that would solve everything. Ed and Kelly were pretty much heartless automatons dealing with the situation, I get it, it's their duty, but that was off putting and bothersome. Seth McFarlane pretty much has one emotion anyway in this show so it fit. What was the point of going to his house with security to tell him they're going back ten years to collect him and terrorize his family?? That was harsh and unnecessary. The best thing about the episode was the interaction between Isaac and Charly, great road buddy banter and we find out why Charly is so upset, having lost a love whom she never told.

What I miss about this show is the humor it has ditched alot of in favor of more drama, would love to have more of it back.

Excellent Story

[rmmil · 8/10 · 7 July 2022]

This season has been all over the place as far as quality goes, but I will always give it its due when The Orville makes a good episode.

This was a good episode.

I really believe that The Orville is showing its strength in its callbacks, as all the best episodes in season 3 (so far) have been in some way linked to a previous season episode. Episode 6 is no different.

The story had a lot to like, it was really nice seeing the actor "behind" Issac get a chance to appear, and having a romantic interest subplot besides the doctor was a breath of fresh air.

The main storyline was familiar, to be sure. I said out loud minutes into this "Oh it's the time travel episode!", but that's not a bad thing. I love time travel sci-fi! Gimmie more! Yum yum feed it to me through a spout!

I thought Mark Jackson and Scott Grimes did really good jobs of acting in this episode.

My only "complaints", minor, are that 1) I feel like Charly as a character and her plotlines felt incredibly forced, all the time. (Oh, you are partnered up with Issac, shocking!), 2) I felt like the ending of the episode was a bit abrupt.

Can we talk about the ending for a moment, specifically Captain Mercer's behavior? Yes, Gordon "broke the law", but....since "plan B" was to just go back to 10 years prior and get Gordon while he still "wanted" to be got...why didn't the captain just do that, first (rather than threaten to literally kidnap him)? Talk about needlessly torturing someone.

Oh, final thought about this episode: If this season teaches us anything, we will see "married Gordon" once again. Assuming there is a season 4, get ready for a "2 Gordon's" episode in the future.

Or...in the past?

Time travel and its dilemma: Great story for Scott Grimes as Lt. Gordon Malloy

[Shadowboy_25cm · 9/10 · 7 July 2022]

The Orville goes time travel.

I didn't really get, how the time travel is possible. It's like the flux compensator: they need a rare ressource for the time travel.

During an attack by the Keylons, the Orville can escape and 'loses' Gordon in the 21st century.

He transmits somehow a signal and 500 years later the Orville gets it and prepares for a rescue mission through time. But ... with some complications.

Nice story, putting Scott Grimes more in the centre of an episode and giving him more deepness about his character.

Entertaining side plot with two completely different characters and their interactions: Issac and Charlie have some good moments in search for the rare ressource on 21st century earth.

Entertaining, not perfect with some logical errors, but good episode.

Good, but...

[wolfstar_imdb · 7/10 · 8 July 2022]

...the ending should have been that when they got back to the 25th century, something was wrong and they realised Gordon was always supposed to have stayed. After all, the sandwich arrived before John sent it, so Gordon living out his life in the 21st century was always part of the show's timeline.

Either that or they should have brought his family to the future with him. The ending is too much of a reset button and too callous, triumphant even, given the cost of what has happened.

Unnecessary ending.

[timriv-429-572433 · 3/10 · 17 August 2022]

SPOILER ALERT

This episode deals with time travel Gordon is sent back to 2015.

They check logs see he lived till 2068 There's the problem Nothing had happened to the time line They go back but arrive ten years to late.

He has a life, wife, son and pregnant unborn He wants to stay They jump back ten years get him and return to their time.

His family ceases to exist Now here's the rub, since they checked the data logs that showed he lived till 2068 and it did not affect the future when they went back to 2025 and found him with a family and not wanting to return. They could have left him without affecting the time line as they knew it hadn't by the ships logs.

Yet Gorden seems okay with it. I wouldn't have been.

Excellent well written, well acted episode

[perrycs-49152 · 10/10 · 7 July 2022]

Very well written episode. Love the beginning with the guitar, love the story, love the conflict, love the choices...

An excellent well written, well acted episode.

Thank you! :)

Take notes Picard

[syncopatedrhythm · 10/10 · 18 July 2022]

The brilliant writers at The Orville have managed to do in about an hour what the hacks over at Picard couldn't do in about 7 episodes, make an interesting time travel back to our present episode. This story was nothing short of amazing, and very emotional too. Orville just keeps on nailing it out of the park every week while all the New Trek shows just flounder about in their own flotsam. Orville just looks better too, Trek has gotten this thing where everything is frigging dark, no money for lighting. We went from TOS and Next Generation with bright well lit scenes to New Trek where it is pitch dark on the bridge. Enter Orville, back to bright, clean, non cluttered bridge or engineering or whatever. Even the exterior shots are amazingly detailed but not too dark or busy. Keep going Orville, hopefully people will forget about New Trek.

Solid Episode

[thackerjn · 9/10 · 7 July 2022]

This season has picked up steam. Enjoying Strange New Worlds play to make episodic installments like old school, but this show continues to scratch an itch that Trek doesn't hit as often. Macfarlane has done great writing and some directing this episode. Hope there will be a little send off for Norm Macdonald possibly. And really hoping for as many more seasons as they can squeeze out. Longer format on Hulu also suits this well with fleshed out episodes such as this.

Could have been a movie

[HlotSfan2003 · 10/10 · 7 July 2022]

I don't usually leave reviews, but .... D@mn! That was a good episode! I'd say the best of the season so far, top 5 of the series for sure. Scott Grimes knocked it out of the park.

Another winner!

[AvidWatcher101 · 10/10 · 8 July 2022]

How does this show just keep getting better? What an episode!!!! Main storyline was fantastic, and all the side stories still kicked ass. I look forward to this show so much every week. I cannot say that about any other show out there. Not even You know who, Strange new you know what.

Great TV, but how did they do it?

[namob-43673 · 9/10 · 12 July 2022]

They took an overused, very cliche premiss and they made it into something great. The acting, the directing, everything about this is just top class. Not sure how they managed with this story, but they did.

This season has been amazing. It started a bit slow but episode after episode is just establishing this show as the best Scify on TV. Season 3 is the best so far and this episode was top of the line.

If you are not yet onboard with this show, start watching it now. This is great TV.

Seth Mcfarlane is dropping fire!!

[limpfan106 · 10/10 · 8 July 2022]

I never thought we would get another Star Trek show that would be as good as the TNG/DS9/VOY era, but with how good this season has been with one amazing episode after another, I now think this is the best Star Trek show ever made. The transition from Fox to Hulu and giving Seth more creative freedom in the process has paid off in spades.

This show is absolutely incredible. The creative minds behind this show as well as the actors and actresses are all crushing it. This show is showing us what we missed out on when CBS dropped the ball.

OMG ! This was really touching.

[pkpera · 9/10 · 7 July 2022]

Well, my favorite ep. Of Orville was S02E11. Where Gordon and Laura 'met' - it was nice kind of cyber love story. Was not surprised that they made new episode about/involving them . And this reminded me a bit on my favorite ep. Of original Star Trek - yes, Orville is pretty much like Star Trek TOS, and that's good thing. So, there was time travel ep. With Joan Collins called City on Edge of Forever. With sad ending like this. Recommend to watch it if did not see.

I would give it 10, but maybe should work little more on whole time travels, especially that 99.9999 of speed of light was out of space for ships traveling way more than thousand times faster than poor Einstein's snail .

Part with Ensign and Isaac was nice too.

Unnecessarily Cruel and Villainous

[trexdrew-35-405604 · 7/10 · 9 July 2022]

This episode was good and well done up to the end where the crew became so overly cruel to Gordon. The team discovers the secrets to time travel but of course this bleeding edge technological advancement goes horribly wrong. They get attacked by the Kaylon who want to steal the invention and use it to undo their losses and Gordon in his valiant attempt to go scuttle it so they can't gets zapped to the past. He predictably goes and finds the girl who's phone he was almost creepily obsessed with last season and starts a family with her. The crew find a way to follow him in time but whoops they didn't have enough gas to get all the way to his temporal coordinates and it's been 10 years for him here. He takes them to his home and shows them his family but they want to take him back because it's the law. Only problem is, as Gordon points out, that the Union has no idea how terrible and insufficient their temporal laws are. On paper they make sense but in practice they're agonizing to follow, which to his credit he tried to do for 3 years while waiting for his friends to find him. He gave up and moved on while assuming they'd never make it or died in the assault that sent him here.

While all this goes on the halfway insufferable Charlie and Isaac are forced together in order to retrieve the substance that would help them get home. This subplot isn't that interesting tbh and Charlie makes no actual growth as a character here so it just feels useless and lacking. This is only made worse once the end comes and they use the substance they extracted for cruel purposes.

Meanwhile LaMarr and Tala have sex. That's literally all that happens in their scene together other than she gives him a massage with her fingers but she's super strong so it's like a deep tissue massage. It's really out of place and feels weird looking back at the episode. What purpose did this serve?

Gordon tells his wife everything about himself and she's somehow fine with it. Ed and Kelly aren't happy Gordon won't return with him so they bring Tala as muscle to force him to go. He refuses even pulling his old Union weapon on them and threatening them with it though he won't kill them. He tells them he'll stun them and they'll never find him and his family again. So what do the crew do when asked by a desperate man to bring them all with him including the baby that's growing in his wife? Why they'll just go back to 2015 and take the Gordon who wants to go of course! Thereby erasing this timeline from ever existing and effectively murdering his 2 children! As Gordon points out before they leave that they're all about doing no harm through their temporal laws but are just fine with murdering the life he has here and his children for some script adherence to laws that can never be tested in practice. How can you effectively test your temporal laws when they force people to live the rest of their days in seclusion and never getting back into their right time most likely. This is the absolutely evil plan the "good" guys concoct and waste all their gathered substance for instead of getting back home. But wouldn't you know LaMarr discovers they don't need it to get back to the future so they're rewarded for their absolutely cruel and evil actions while rigidly adhering to laws while just the episode before doing everything they could to break other laws. So you'd think as punishment Ed, Kelly, and Tala would be haunted by their actions for the rest of their lives right? No of course not! They tell Gordon what they did who then comforts them and says they did the right thing! He says that he's glad they saved him from such a life, because it totally looked bad right audience?! This episode was overly cruel at the end and then makes the perpetrators feel good for it. They deserved none of that and should've left Gordon alone where he was.

Gordon Makes All The Right Points

[validation_2 · 5/10 · 30 July 2022]

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.

Top Tier Sci Fi

[lujason-45822 · 10/10 · 7 July 2022]

Crazy how Seth's team at the Orville is able to put out such high quality content (1hr+ episodes). Every week you get a TNG level movie from the Orville. Tons of shows have done main characters travel back in time, but this here is unique. You have the 3 season long arc coming at a satisfying ending. The amazing interactions between Issac and Charlie.

Time Travel Can Still Yield New Stories

[peterwcohen-300-947200 · 10/10 · 8 July 2022]

Wow. This is like taking TOS's City on the Edge of Forever, and turning it up a notch. What a great story. And again, my compliments for the clever ST-parallel world building -- this time for the Temporal Laws, paralleling the Prime Directive, but making more sense. Charly is working out great too; nice addition to the cast.