SDCC 2019: What’s coming in The Orville Season 3
By D. Goodman
While the big news may have been The Orville moving to Hulu, Seth MacFarlane also brought some information about the upcoming third season.
When it came to The Orville, Seth MacFarlane’s homage to Star Trek: The Next Generation, the big news was the fact the series is moving to a new home. Starting with the upcoming third season the series will air exclusively on the Hulu streaming platform.
The move became necessary as The Orville became a victim of its own success. It had grown and evolved to the point where MacFarlane felt he needed more time to get Season 3 right, which would have become an issue for Fox.
Thus the move to Hulu and the late 2020 debut for the premiere of the third season.
Speaking of which, while the Hulu news overshadowed much of The Orville San Diego Comic-Con panel, the cast and crew did bring some news about Season 3 as well as some reflections on the second season.
MacFarlane said that when it came to the tome of Season 3, you will see the show delve more into contemporary social issues, much the way Star Trek has been doing since the days of The Original Series.
"As we progressed through our second season, we really felt there was a connection with the audience and they wanted to see more of what we liked to write. So, yeah I think you are going to see a lot more of that. The challenge is always to keep it relatable. You will see more exploration of relevant material presented in a way that is just like people going to work."
Unfortunately for the fans, that probably doesn’t include a musical episode of The Orville.
"We get asked that often. I have no idea how that would work. Buffy did it, but that is a very different show. There would have to be a reason for it. It would feel very fourth wall and maybe a little self-indulgent."
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When asked about the possibility of Halston Sage, who left The Orville during Season 2, returning to the show at some point, MacFarlane didn’t rule anything out.
"The door is always open for Alara to make an appearance. We love that character. We don’t know yet if she will appear in season three, because we are not finished writing the shows, but it is always a possibility. The audience loves her. We love her. And I think a cameo here or there, I think is fun for the audience."
Executive producer and Star Trek veteran Brannon Braga spoke about the second season episode “Identity” and how it may be looked back on as The Orville’s “Best of Both Worlds” moment.
"My first day on Star Trek: The Next Generation was when “Best of Both Worlds, Part 1” had just aired and the comparisons to “Identity” are obvious. We were taking a big narrative risk with a major character. We knew it would be a disaster or a real turning point for the show. The real question is, would you guys accept this turning point, with Isaac becoming a bad guy. And you did!"
The panel also included a pair of deleted scenes from Season 2 which have now been released online.
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Having to wait almost a year and a half for the third season of The Orville is going to be tough and the whole move to a pay service is sure to rankle many fans of the series. But if it gives viewers the best television show possible, it will be worth the wait. The Orville Season 3 is scheduled to arrive on Hulu sometime late next year.