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Entertainment • Television

The Orville

The Orville is an American science-fiction comedy-drama television series created by Seth MacFarlane.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

The Orville is an American science-fiction comedy-drama television series created by Seth MacFarlane. It premiered on Fox in 2017 and later moved to Hulu for its third season. The series is set in the 25th century and follows the crew of the exploratory starship USS Orville.

Premise

The series is set about 400 years in the future and follows the crew of the USS Orville as they explore space, encounter alien cultures, and deal with personal and professional conflicts. The show takes place within a future interstellar alliance called the Planetary Union.

Production and release

The Orville premiered on Fox on September 10, 2017. Its first two seasons aired on Fox, while the third season, titled The Orville: New Horizons, was released on Hulu. A fourth season has been reported as in development.

Cast and characters

Seth MacFarlane plays Ed Mercer, the ship's captain, with Adrianne Palicki as Kelly Grayson, his ex-wife and first officer. The ensemble also includes Penny Johnson Jerald, Scott Grimes, Peter Macon, J. Lee, and others.

Reception

The first season received generally unfavourable reviews, but later seasons were better received by critics. The series also achieved strong ratings on Fox, including becoming the network's highest-rated Thursday show. The Orville was inspired by and often compared to Star Trek, while using a comedic approach to science fiction storytelling.

Key facts

  • The series follows the crew of the USS Orville in the 25th century as part of the Planetary Union.
  • It stars Seth MacFarlane as Captain Ed Mercer and features an ensemble cast.
  • The show premiered on Fox in 2017 and later moved to Hulu for its third season.
  • Early seasons received mixed reviews, while later seasons were more critically acclaimed.
  • A fourth season has been reported as in development.
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Canadian context

The Orville has been available to Canadian viewers through television and streaming distribution, and it is relevant to Canadian audiences as part of the broader North American science-fiction television market.

Frequently asked questions

What is The Orville about?
It follows the crew of the starship USS Orville as they explore space, face external threats, and handle ordinary interpersonal problems.
Who created The Orville?
The series was created by Seth MacFarlane, who also stars as Captain Ed Mercer.
When did The Orville first air?
It premiered on September 10, 2017.
Where did The Orville air?
The first two seasons aired on Fox, and the third season was released on Hulu.
Is The Orville still active?
A fourth season has been reported as in development.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Orville
    Supports: Creation by Seth MacFarlane, genre, setting, premiere date, cast, and series overview.
  2. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/orville
    Supports: Premise, cast, release date, and network/platform information.
  3. Hulu — https://www.hulu.com/series/the-orville-21e70fbf-6a51-41b3-88e9-f111830b046c
    Supports: Streaming availability and series premise.
  4. ScreenRant — https://screenrant.com/db/tv-show/the-orville/
    Supports: Series premise and Star Trek-inspired comedic tone.
  5. Common Sense Media — https://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/the-orville
    Supports: Premise, main characters, and premiere date.