User Reviews

The Orville continues to out Trek Trek, and now it out Star Wars Star Wars. This episodes was amazing and takes Sci Fi to a new level. These longer episodes bridge the gap between TV episodes and movies. There are no "filler episodes" in this season as well. Do things move quickly? Yes, but for the better. There's no need to waste time going through the motions. We don't need to see the chess pieces being set up. This episode in particular has more plot in it than a half season of TNG (and I love TNG). I really hope there is a fourth season.

I'll try to do this review in a way that conveys how brilliant this episode is without giving too much away. Seth MacFarlane and his amazing Team have created what I believe will be forever remembered as one of the greatest single episodes in the history of Science Fiction television! In my opinion, The Orville's Domino stands along side the best installments of Star Trek, Star Wars, Doctor Who, et al. Even the opening strains of the orchestra brilliantly convey the riveting story that follows.

It is so amazing on so many levels: Writing, acting, directing, pacing, VFX, camerawork, score, foley-work, editing, physical sets, makeup, lighting, sound-design, etc., this episode has it all. It's literally a Master Class unto itself (I'd give it an 11 if I could). I was having as much 'edge-of-my-seat' fun as I did decades ago when watching Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope as a teen in the theater on opening week. I doubt I'll sleep for hours (if at all tonight)! In fact, I'm going to watch it again after writing this review. Everything about this episode got my adrenaline pumping. If Seth could figure out how to put that level of brain-engaging excitement in a bottle on convenience store shelves, he'd make (yet another) fortune!

Domino combines so many of the greatest elements the best science fiction ever presented on the screen (television or film). From the realistic pacing, interpersonal interactions and believable slice-of-life moments, to the moral dilemmas presented, to the political intrigue, technology, military strategies, air and space battles and multiple/ongoing twists and turns, it is exhilarating. And wow, IMO the knock-down drag-out fight scene between two of the ensemble cast's female characters is far more believable than so many other current attempts to depict "strong female characters". In fact, it was reminiscent of the best classic male mano-a-mano fight scenes depicted in television and film. No weapons, no superpowers, just dogged determination from two characters who passionately believe in their opposing causes.

Speaking of the state of modern science fiction: To me, many sci-fi properties today suffer from a lack of believability. I find today's Mystery Box style of storytelling to be unfulfilling (where the writers try to subvert expectations with plot elements that, under scrutiny, range from the unlikely to the absurd). I also find that many science fiction shows today try to engage the viewers feelings, without providing adequate or believable reasons for the emotions they try to evoke. Not here! In this episode, in spite of the many complexities involved, everything happens for a reason, the reactions to the situations are totally believable and it all makes sense.

This is the kind of science fiction storytelling that I've loved all my life and yet (to me) is largely missing from today's science fiction storytellers, including the current versions of the very franchises that used to be so good at it. In my opinion, The Orville's Domino is an outstanding example of high quality science-fiction storytelling. Ironic, since The Orville began as a semi-comedy homage to the once great science fiction of the past. "The circle is now complete" (the learner is now the master)!

Half way through the episode, it suddenly hit me, I felt like I was watching a blockbuster movie with a £200m budget. Everything was done to perfection, the acting and the story was above and beyond anything ever shown before.

Without spoiling anything, this episode came across as if the whole thing felt personal to every actor and actress. I do not believe this show will ever be able to top this episode.

I'm just blown away, everything was 11/10.

This show is the best sifi show out right now. It absolutely needs to get renewed! This episode was so epic and with a greatly satisfying ending. It felt like a season finale even though it wasn't.

I agree with what a lot of the other reviews are saying. This episode was so action packed, it did feel a lot like a Star Wars movie but faster paced and more action packed. It's also true that the depth this whole season has provided feels like everything fans wanted from Star Trek but what we got is even better. This show is truly building an incredible sifi world that feels very fleshed out at this point, it would be a shame to end it here when this show deserves to keep going for as long as it can. Seth has proven his concept and surpassed all expectations. This is the kind of show that people will keep coming to over time just like they do with Star Trek. Disney will be a perfect fit for this kind of sifi as long as they keep Seth in charge. Let Seth make as much of it as he wants and then let it age like fine wine.

When I first started watching this some 5 years ago my SciFy friends told me it won't make it. Has it made it? YES! It is every bit as good in all aspects - cinematography, writing, acting, excitement! I love it. Please please let there be a 4th season! Am tired of the Jedi and Star Trek. This series is awesome! Thank you Seth MacFarlane for your brilliant inspiration. Don't stop now. More. More. Please?

This is an ultra-high quality sci fi movie that could have run in cinemas. 80 minutes full of plot development, character development, thrill, action and amazing effects. Roughly 20 minutes into this episode the writers already turned the universe as we knew it from the previous seasons upside down. And boy was the finale satisfying! The only sad thing is that Seth MacFarlane is clearly building for a possible series finale next week by wrapping up most plots and subplots while only foreshadowing instead of starting new ones. He seem to be unsure about a possible renewal for season 4, despite today's installmant making The Orville the best sci fi show in recent years.

This show puts not only other tv shows but movies in the dark, this episode was so epic that i cried like a little baby at the end, need more please!!!!!!!!!!

No spoilers here, but another fantastic episode with ALOT of action sequences, as well as terrific writing and acting. There are unexpected twists as the show now leads into the Season Finale "Future Unknown". How fitting as the fans await an announcement for Season 4.

#RenewTheOrville.

Star Trek, Star Wars and now The Orville. It has truly stepped out of the shadows of the giants and stand firmly beside them. This episode elicited an array of emotions I didn't know I needed to experience today. Bravo, simply Bravo!

You want a replacement to scratch that sci-fi itch? The Orville is here to scratch it with far superior writing, story and characters. It is a roller coaster where every episode sucks you in. It tackles important issues without being preachy, it does not pull any punches and are more true to the vision of The Next Generation without being part of that universe. What they have created here will be a classic for the future in it's own right, just like TNG are. Bravo.

For your sanity, don't read too much into the plot of this episode. If you do everything will fall flat on its face as highly improbable and sometimes even impossible. On the surface level it has all the standard qualities of a short Sci-Fi movie (it has a similar length of one anyway (118min)), a bad guy, the plot twist, the greater "good one" side wants to bring and the inevitable Sci-Fi movie ending. This can be said about the season as a whole too. Don't read too much into it and you'll be enjoying the show with a 9-10 rating, just like the 10 rating bots :)

I have to join the minority who really disliked this episode, after really loving the last three. To me there was no logical or strategic consistency in the Union's actions. And the grand gesture on the part of a crew member made absolutely no sense in context. Other reviews with spoilers explain the issues, so I won't get into that. And I love you, Seth McFarlane, but unpurse your lips!

This first two episodes of season three were very mediocre and I felt the magic has been lost. I thought this would just be a meandering average season and this show would then be cancelled and then that would be it.

However, episode 3 was very good. And then Episode 4, and especially episode 6 were unbelievable.

What has followed is every episode has potentially been the best episode of the entire Orville run, episode 5, 6, 7, 8, and this current episode 9.

Every episode has a scene in it that makes the tears flow. Episode six it was Gordon, Seven it was Charly, Eight it was Klyden and in this episode it was Isaac's moving speech at the end. This was a fantastic episode. This series needs to be renewed for season 4.

I don't have a lot to say. This episode was just close to perfect to me. Complex plot, unlikely alliances, it was just very surprising. Rain, calm, storm and then a beacon of sunlight.

THE beyond episode, in all aspects, from production values to acting performances to Universal guiding principle messages to inspirational humanity sacrifices but at the cost of an extremely Heartbreaking shocking finale. Despite a fictional episode presentation, the pain of loss is felt, both for character and artist displacement. Absolutely, an outstanding treasure piece from an already amazing series production. Salut!

Orville is becoming the modern Star Trek we so desperately needed!

This episode felt like an epic finale though there is one more episode left! I don't know how they gonna top it but I would not be surprised if Seth and his team of wizards will even manage to surpass this episode! I know some people have problems with the lack of comedy I miss it too but in exchange, we are getting better series than any modern Star Trek or space / alien sci-fi! I was in tears at the end of the episode!

Minor complaints

• Less comedy (Forgivable because Orville has become like modern Star Trek - a true successor to TNG and DS9, etc. ! Tough I wish they do more comedy-orientated episodes in later seasons!)
• Little bit rushed season and stories (Forgivable since we don't know if there will be season 4!)
• Many died in this episode but only one person was mentioned, I wish others who sacrificed themselves also would have been somehow mentioned !)
• Some minor illogical things but overall best Orville's episode and the best modern sci-fi / Star trek episode to date out there!

This episode was absolutely fantastic. Amazing visuals and cast. I even got emotional at the ending part. As a massive fan of Science Fiction movies/series this episode was everything I ever needed in life. Truly brilliant!!!

As a longtime Star Trek fan, I can say I enjoyed The Orville from the very start.. but now it's at the point where I believe it's not only catching up to Star Trek but may even be surpassing it.

This show just keeps climbing upward. This is how you make a budget work... with the script. I really hope we see many more seasons.

How is it possible for this wonderful season to keep improving? I'm a big fan of Sci-fi, and have seen all the Trek shows from when they first aired. Star Wars, Firefly, it doesn't matter. This season of The Orville transcends them all.

Genius.

Seth & team are really knocking it out of the park this season!

The complexity of friends becoming foes & vice versa, combined with self sacrifice for the greater good -- even for beings you once hated -- was too much to keep my eyes dry.

Looking forward to the last episode, but I'm going to be sad when this season ends.