The Orville’s karaoke night, and Bortus’ no doubt heart (and perhaps flesh) rending rendition of ‘My Heart Will Go On’ is interrupted by a priority alert. Lapovius, a world long fought over by two races, has a chance at peace. An artefact recovered there contains alien DNA. If it’s either race, the other has agreed to relinquish any claim on the world.

So the good news is the Orville will be neutral ground for the peace talks and study of the artefact.

The bad news is the archaeologist chosen to verify it is Darulio, the man Kelly cheated on Ed with.

The worst news is something is driving members of the crew wild. Especially Ed and Kelly…

This could so easily have gone south. To be honest bits of it still very nearly do. However you slice it, the crew basically save the day here by essentially roofying two senior diplomats and that’s not a good look for anyone, ever.

That being said, there is the tiniest of hints that the cause of the problems this episode is less something that enforces behaviour and more something that brings subconscious behaviour and desires to the surface. Looked at that way, well, the whole thing is still creepy. But it’s no longer actively worrying.

That aside this is another of the best hours The Orville has given us so far. MacFarlane’s script not only sets up a nest of interesting dilemmas but gives the show it’s second genuinely compelling supporting character. And, to our amazement, it’s Darulio.

Rob Lowe’s eyebrow-jaculating archaeologist has come a long way from the terrible one shot joke he’s the punchline to in ‘Old Wounds’. Here, Lowe plays him as arrogantly unconcerned with anything outside his own sphere of influence but not inherently bad. He’s a definite antagonist but there’s both a hint of ignorance behind his actions and a moment of very definite emotional growth. Which, when compared to his last appearance, is amazingly well written. Darulio brought out the worst in Ed and Kelly last time he was in their lives. This time they bring out the best in him.

Plus, and this can’t be stated bluntly enough, this is a mainstream, Fox-airing show which pretty definitively states that its male lead is bisexual. And makes no big deal about that at all. That’s the definition of a pleasant surprise, especially from a show that could so easily have skewed the other way.

The other pleasant surprise this episode is how well served the crew is. Claire and even Yaphit (YAPHIT!) get a fun sub plot although it stops rather than ends. Bortus gets the best joke of the episode and a set up for what’s clearly an upcoming plot for him. Alara continues to frequently be the most grown up person in the room. Hell, even Gordon gets to do something other than be a punchline. This feels like the most crew-centric episode so far and the one with the strongest sense of identity.

Verdict: This is another strong entry in a show that has suddenly course corrected and found itself. It’s got some problems but the elements that work, and the way it progresses every arc along while still being a great stand-alone hour of TV, make up for them. 8/10

Alasdair Stuart

Check out our all-new interview with Adrianne Palicki discussing this episode