The Orville Gets Star Trek: The Legend of the Next Generation Blessing

Posted by Jonathan Klotz | Published 22 seconds ago

A sci-fi series under Seth MacFarlane The Orville may have been included as a comedic parody of Star Trek: The Next Generationbut it didn't take long for Jonathan Frakes to give his blessing. The man who invented the Riker Maneuver not only directed “Pria,” the show's fifth episode, but during 2016's Comic Convention, he explained, “The Star Trek that we have has really found its voice, too. Adoption you really got it's word. Again The Orville fill in the blank. For many people The Orville their new Star Trek because it tells stories like this [The Next Generation]and has a wild sense of humor.”

Jonathan Frakes is an Orville fan

The Orville earned Jonathan Frakes early praise, when the actor-turned-director noted that Seth MacFarlane made the choice to fill the writer's room and production team with Star Trek veterans. From the introduction of Brannon Braga, the writer behind some of the best Trek television episodes and its best movie, First Contactto another actor-turned-director in between Star Trek VoyagerTom Paris, Robert Duncan Macneil, who hosted the second episode of the show, “Command Performance.” Even the photographer, Marvin Rush, was brought on board, all of which Frakes approved, saying: “He filled the room Next gen people for the show to look and feel like. I think he did.”

Deeper why The Orville achieved success, Jonathan Frakes also said, “I think Seth's fans expected the show to be bigger Family Guy than he intended. Of that, part of what he does is hiring [Star Trek veteran] Brannon [Braga] and another to tell Star Trek stories that happen to have absurd moments, and those jokes we know. But it wasn't drawn out and it was never extended and if you blinked sometimes you missed the jokes and I think that approach worked in the first season. Now in season two, we have these character studies.”

It wasn't about capturing the morals at the heart of the best Star Trek episodes for MacFarlane and nailing the feel of the classic series. The Orville's blocking shots, camera movements, and framing are all things that Jonathan Frakes says fans are used to seeing The Next Generation. Frakes believes there's room for fans to embrace MacFarlane's romantic homage once and for all Star Trek: Discoverywhich took the franchise in a bold new direction.

The fans weren't there Adoption, which, unlike the orville, he left the classic Star Trek and adopted the cinematic style of JJ Abrams Kelvinverse, even Jonathan Frakes points out the difference, explaining that the style is “Very cinematic, a lot of crane work, and a lot of movement, a lot of Dutch angles.” Strange New Worlds and adopted a more cinematic style, but it was more focused on following the classic Trek compared to its parent series, which is why one is a fan favorite and the other… Adoption.

The Orville is the next generation's spiritual successor

The Orville again Adoption both share the distinction of having episodes directed by Jonathan Frakes in their first seasons. Frakes would eventually return to both shows The Orville The Season 2 episode, “The Sanctuary,” in which he came with Marina Sirtis, and seven episodes of Adoption and one A Wonderful New World episode. So when he says it's possible to be a fan of both and enjoy each series for different reasons, he knows what he's talking about.

While The Orville couldn't get Jonathan Frakes in front of the camera, still hoping for a Season 4. Tim Russ, Tuvok Voyagermade an appearance, as did his co-star, Robert Picardo, as well Business even represented by John Billingsley, Phlox, from “Home.” That's not even counting the main characters who appeared in both franchises: Seth MacFarlane (Business), Penny Johnson Jerald (TNG and DS9), and Scott Grimes (TNG).

Not all fans Star Trek: The Next Generation he is a fan of The Orville as Jonathan Frakes is, but he should. Frakes are good; no other game has captured the look, feel, and tone of the greatest sci-fi series of all time like Macfarlane's comics. Now, how can we get Patrick Stewart to appear in Season 4?