When Isaac suddenly shuts down, Ed takes the Orville to Kaylon-1 to try to save him. What they find there will change everyone’s lives forever.

This episode hides a big knife behind its back. The reveal is slow; starting with a neat continuation of Claire and Isaac’s romance and taking us out to Kaylon-1 and some staggeringly pretty special effects. The Kaylon sky cities are lovely and interacting with them gives Isaac some welcome colour. He’s not quite the faceless AI we’ve seen for two seasons. Designed specifically to interact with humans, Isaac is no longer quite anything and his desire to be Kaylon again causes a lot of the problems here.

Because the reveal – that the Kaylon murdered the race who created and subjugated them and are terrified of other biological life forms – is an absolute doozy. They, of course, claim their actions are logical but the truth of the matter is there for all to see. The Kaylons’ curiosity doesn’t come from inquisitiveness, it comes from fear. Their desire to save and study all the information is based in their need to not be hurt again. And, perhaps, their guilt. After all, the mass graves serve no purpose. Unless they want to remember what they did…

This is uncharted territory for the show and it’s not only phenomenally brave to go here but it’s really well done. There’s a tangible sense of menace and betrayal and the massive stakes are starkly displayed in the final shot of the Kaylon battle fleet heading for Earth. It’s still funny, it’s still fundamentally kind but this week The Orville shows its teeth and it’s all the better for it.

Verdict: Tightly plotted, cleverly paced and chilling this is yet another brilliant episode in a great season. 10/10

Alasdair Stuart