The Orville: New Horizons drops a bomb for Captain Mercer

This post contains spoilers “Gently Falling Rain,” the latest episode of The Orville: New Horizons.

The Orville: New Horizons upped its game on Thursday (and certainly improved over the last two episodes) when it brought the ship and its crew to the Krill homeworld, presumably for the signing of a treaty that would unite the Planetary Union and its former enemiesl, especially against the Kaylon. Though someone from Captain Ed Mercer’s past was on hand to not only disrupt the signing but take him and his team captive. Teleya, the Krill woman Mercer had a relationship with back in season two, won the election on her homeworld and became the Supreme Chancellor. The treaty was quickly quashed.

Teleya promised her people there would be retribution for the “crimes” committed against them by the Planetary Union so she planned on killing everyone but Mercer. He’d freed her once, and she wanted to return the favor. But he didn’t leave when he was supposed to. Instead, some Krill who weren’t so sure about Teleya’s tactics took him to visit someone he’d never met before…his daughter, Anaya.

The Orville: New Horizons has added a twist to the future for Captain Mercer.

Introducing Mercer’s daughter was a surprising twist that no one saw coming. Those are, of course, the best kind of twists. Mercer had to leave his daughter on Krill when he and his team escaped from captivity, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that’s where she’ll stay. With Teleya now in command of the Krill, she’s not interested in peace so it’s almost guaranteed that her world and Mercer’s will intercept again. And another battle between the worlds may not end as well for her.

Bringing another child aboard The Orville, one Mercer would parent, could inject new life into the series. It would put additional focus on Mercer as he struggles to learn to be a father, but I would be surprised if the Krill didn’t try to bring Anaya back to their world even though she isn’t 100% Krill. So the battles wouldn’t be over.

However this plays out, one thing is certain. Mercer now knows he has a daughter who is in the hands of his world’s enemy. And the next confrontation between the Krill and the Planetary Union could put her life at risk. It’ll be interesting to see if this changes how Captain Mercer approaches the next battle with the Krill.