With season 3 ofThe Orvillewell underway, fans have quickly picked up how different everything feels now while still keeping that vibe the show is known for. After 2 seasons of seemingly trying to find its niche, the sci-fi homage series may have finally settled into its own identity. But what did it take to get to that point?
It turns out some of that newfound cohesiveness might come fromThe Orville’s new streaming home:Hulu. After debuting on Fox and running for 2 seasons, the show spent some time on hiatus thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic as well as a number of other factors before ending up on Hulu.Hulu already has a solid sci-fi lineup, but this acquisition was mutually beneficial since it allowed for longer episodes as well as a much bigger scale and scope for the story. All of that comes together to create a more engaging experience, which Hulu was more than happy to host.
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In a recent interview with Collider,The Orvillestars Penny Johnson Jerald and newcomer Anne Winters joined executive producer David A. Goodman to discuss the series and everything that got it to this point. Among a multitude of topics, the conversation repeatedly drifted to the show’s new presence on Hulu and what that has meant for how things are done now. While the partnership with Hulu was definitely a boon forThe Orville, it wasn’t just out of nowhere.Series creator Seth MacFarlanespecifically wanted this.
“One of the reasons Seth wanted to move into streaming was he wanted the freedom to tell the story at whatever length they needed to be told,” Goodman said about the new episode format. “All the episodes are longer than they would have been on Fox, but they all vary, and it really just came out of ‘this is the story we’re telling or these are the stories we’re telling; we want to get them to the natural conclusion.'” It definitely seems like these changes toThe Orvilleand how it’s presented are more in line with what the show seemed to want to be from the beginning: a genuine, loving tribute toStar Trekand the sci-fi genrein general that also carves out its own worthwhile identity.
But according to Jerald, who plays Dr. Claire Finn,The Orville’s presence on Huludoesn’t necessarily mean it’s fit to be viewed like other streaming shows. “I think you guys are going to be excited because they are mini-movies,” she said, describing how the show’s episodic format is meant to almost feel cinematic. “But I think you’re going to be disappointed that it really is just too much of a clever genius to binge-watch.” Winters, who is the latest addition to the main cast as Ensign Charly Burke, is intimately familiar with that particular idea of waiting for episodes to come out, especially since she was cast in 2019 and had to wait 3 years for her season to finally premiere thanks to COVID. “The pandemic, obviously nobody could have predicted,” she said. “So that would have happened with, really, any show.”
The Orvilleis an interesting case since it’s a clear homage that’s also trying to be its own thing. But so far, many fans might argue that it’s been successful, particularly now that season 3 has given it more freedom and space (literally) to stretch its creative wings. Here’s hoping it builds up a lasting legacy with the tools it’s been given.
The Orvilledrops new episodes Thursdays on Hulu.
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