Here
we are at the penultimate episode of The Orville's
first season. If the time since the show's premiere seems short,
hold on to the sensation. The show has been renewed, but it is not
likely to return until fall 2018. We have a long wait ahead of us
after next week's finale. It does not help one of the first season
installments will be delayed until the second season.
“New
Dimensions” revisits the frequent theme of crew members struggling
to believe in themselves. In this case, it is mercer and LaMarr
facing self-reflection. Mercer is filled with self-doubt when he
learns Grayson pulled strings for him to be awarded a command. He
learns this while she is advocating for LaMarr,
who is brilliant, but a goof off, to
be promoted to chief engineer. LaMarr does not want the job because
of the responsibility. Naturally, both Mercer and LaMarr face a
crisis in which they both prove their capabilities to themselves.
“New
Dimensions” is not a bad episode, but it rehashes elements that
have gone on before. A spacial anomaly causes yet another incident
for the crew to overcome. Yet another crew member is torn up with
self-doubt, but is proven worthy in the end. Mercer keeps flip
flopping between a capable commander and a whiny, insecure teenager.
Hopefully, the time until next season's premiere will give the
writing staff a chance to develop some different character themes
with which to work. The special effects were quite good. We got
plenty of views of a 2-dimensional civilization and scenes of a
shuttle towing the Orville to
safety.
The
humor often falls flat here. I laughed out loud a couple times, but
generally the humor was thin. For instance, Yafit excuses mercer of
racism because laMarr is being considered for chief engineer even
though he is next in line for the job. The plot line serves no other
purpose that I can discern other than to be funny, but it really is
not. Perhaps it is fluffy filler. Whatever the case, I did not see
the point.
Yes,
I note the TNG homage. LaForge was promoted from the comm to chief
engineering the same as LaMarr has been. It is a neat nod to one of
The Orville's primary
influences.
Rating:
*** (out of 5)
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