Domino

Half way through the episode, it suddenly hit me, I felt like I was watching a blockbuster movie with a £200m budget. Everything was done to perfection, the acting and the story was above and beyond anything ever shown before.

Without spoiling anything, this episode came across as if the whole thing felt personal to every actor and actress. I do not believe this show will ever be able to top this episode.

I'm just blown away, everything was 11/10.

This is an ultra-high quality sci fi movie that could have run in cinemas. 80 minutes full of plot development, character development, thrill, action and amazing effects. Roughly 20 minutes into this episode the writers already turned the universe as we knew it from the previous seasons upside down. And boy was the finale satisfying! The only sad thing is that Seth MacFarlane is clearly building for a possible series finale next week by wrapping up most plots and subplots while only foreshadowing instead of starting new ones. He seem to be unsure about a possible renewal for season 4, despite today's installmant making The Orville the best sci fi show in recent years.

I'll try to do this review in a way that conveys how brilliant this episode is without giving too much away. Seth MacFarlane and his amazing Team have created what I believe will be forever remembered as one of the greatest single episodes in the history of Science Fiction television! In my opinion, The Orville's Domino stands along side the best installments of Star Trek, Star Wars, Doctor Who, et al. Even the opening strains of the orchestra brilliantly convey the riveting story that follows.

It is so amazing on so many levels: Writing, acting, directing, pacing, VFX, camerawork, score, foley-work, editing, physical sets, makeup, lighting, sound-design, etc., this episode has it all. It's literally a Master Class unto itself (I'd give it an 11 if I could). I was having as much 'edge-of-my-seat' fun as I did decades ago when watching Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope as a teen in the theater on opening week. I doubt I'll sleep for hours (if at all tonight)! In fact, I'm going to watch it again after writing this review. Everything about this episode got my adrenaline pumping. If Seth could figure out how to put that level of brain-engaging excitement in a bottle on convenience store shelves, he'd make (yet another) fortune!

Domino combines so many of the greatest elements the best science fiction ever presented on the screen (television or film). From the realistic pacing, interpersonal interactions and believable slice-of-life moments, to the moral dilemmas presented, to the political intrigue, technology, military strategies, air and space battles and multiple/ongoing twists and turns, it is exhilarating. And wow, IMO the knock-down drag-out fight scene between two of the ensemble cast's female characters is far more believable than so many other current attempts to depict "strong female characters". In fact, it was reminiscent of the best classic male mano-a-mano fight scenes depicted in television and film. No weapons, no superpowers, just dogged determination from two characters who passionately believe in their opposing causes.

Speaking of the state of modern science fiction: To me, many sci-fi properties today suffer from a lack of believability. I find today's Mystery Box style of storytelling to be unfulfilling (where the writers try to subvert expectations with plot elements that, under scrutiny, range from the unlikely to the absurd). I also find that many science fiction shows today try to engage the viewers feelings, without providing adequate or believable reasons for the emotions they try to evoke. Not here! In this episode, in spite of the many complexities involved, everything happens for a reason, the reactions to the situations are totally believable and it all makes sense.

This is the kind of science fiction storytelling that I've loved all my life and yet (to me) is largely missing from today's science fiction storytellers, including the current versions of the very franchises that used to be so good at it. In my opinion, The Orville's Domino is an outstanding example of high quality science-fiction storytelling. Ironic, since The Orville began as a semi-comedy homage to the once great science fiction of the past. "The circle is now complete" (the learner is now the master)!

When I first started watching this some 5 years ago my SciFy friends told me it won't make it. Has it made it? YES! It is every bit as good in all aspects - cinematography, writing, acting, excitement! I love it. Please please let there be a 4th season! Am tired of the Jedi and Star Trek. This series is awesome! Thank you Seth MacFarlane for your brilliant inspiration. Don't stop now. More. More. Please?

Star Trek, Star Wars and now The Orville. It has truly stepped out of the shadows of the giants and stand firmly beside them. This episode elicited an array of emotions I didn't know I needed to experience today. Bravo, simply Bravo!