The Orvillehas incorporated many elements from theStar Trekfranchise, but there’s one facet of the iconic sci-fi universe that Seth MacFarlane’s space opera has avoided. AlthoughThe Orvilleisn’t set at any point in theStar Trektimeline, the intentional similarities between the two have inevitably caused them to become intertwined in popular culture. All theideasThe Orvilleborrowed fromStar Trekhelped the former become much more accessible from the beginning. However,there’s still one big thing missing fromThe Orvillethat would complete itsStar Trektribute.
The tech andalien races in theStar Trekuniverseare some of the most recognizable in sci-fi.The Orvillehas made a conscious effort to ensure it has a counterpart for many ofStar Trek’s famous elements. Despite evolving into an impressively dramatic saga in its own right,The Orvilledid begin as a loving parody ofStar Trek, and it’s easy to spot in almost every frame of the Seth MacFarlane show. Interestingly, there is a very good reason whyThe Orvillehas stayed away from a legendary piece of canon from the franchise that inspired it.
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The Orville Has Never Parodied Star Trek’s Transporters
Captain Ed Mercer doesn’t have the highly useful tech at his disposal
WhileThe Orvillehas introduced versions ofStar Trek’s weaponry and other advanced tech, the show’s titular vessel doesn’t have the ability to beam its crew up and down from the surface of alien worlds or between ships. Instead, Captain Ed Mercer and the other members of the USS Orville’s crew make the trip the “old-fashioned” way - by taking a shuttle. Given thatStar Trek’s transporters are incredibly well-ingrained in the general zeitgeist,it’s surprising thatThe Orvillewould sidestep parodying the techwhen everything else has been replicated in such impressive detail.
WheneverStar Trekwants to sideline the Transporter for plot reasons, the show has often had to come up with a variety of reasons for why they’re not working.
Iconic asStar Trek’s transportersare, they haven’t been immune to criticism through the decades. The technology to instantly move people and objects from one place to another is incredibly convenient,and sometimes even to the detriment of the story being told. Transporters can be something of a cure-all for an obstacle that would otherwise be incredibly difficult to overcome. WheneverStar Trekwants to sideline the Transporter for plot reasons, the show has often had to come up with a variety of reasons for why they’re not working. So, it’s possibleThe Orvillewanted to avoid this downfall.
Star Trek: The Original Series Introduced Transporters For Budgetary Reasons
Star Trek once couldn’t afford to shoot shuttle landing sequences
Transporters may seem like an idea introduced to aidStar Trek’s worldbuilding, but they were actually first used for financial reasons. WhenThe Original Serieswas being shot, it was much easier, quicker, and cheaper to film a Transporter sequence than it was to show one of the USS Enterprise’s shuttles flying down to the surface of a planet.Exploring alien worlds was and continues to be a huge part ofStar Treklore, so with the frequency it was happening, the invention of Transporters made it a possibility.
MacFarlane’s show opted not to lean on the Transporter trope, possibly to avoid the narrative issues the tech has caused in some corners of theStar Trekfranchise.
By the time ofStar Trek: The Next Generation, the spinoff’s budget had been increased. This is proven byThe Next Generation’s numerous shuttle landings. However,Transporters remained a big part of the formula due to their popularity inThe Original Series. Interestingly,The Orvilleclearly had the option to follow inThe Next Generation’s footsteps and use shuttles as well as Transporters. Alas, MacFarlane’s show opted not to lean on the Transporter trope, possibly to avoid the narrative issues the tech has caused in some corners of theStar Trekfranchise.
Throughout much ofStar Trek: Enterprise, a prequel show toTOS, the Transporters are in their early stages and are considered unsafe for uses other than moving inanimate objects.
Transporters Do Exist In The Orville Universe
Groups other than the Planetary Union can Transport people and objects
WhileThe Orville’s Planetary Union doesn’t have access to Transporter technology, it does exist within the show’s canon.Transporters are considered incredibly advanced inThe Orville, and only a select few species have developed the technology that mirrors its counterpart inStar Trek. Members of the USS Orville’s crew have even fallen victim to being Transported against their will. While this has happened inStar Trektoo, the development has much more weight inThe Orvilledue to the main characters not being able to reclaim their friends using the same methods.
10 Ways The Orville Is Better Than Modern Star Trek
The Orville has often borrowed from the Star Trek franchise, but now it’s become its biggest competitor thanks to being better than modern Star Trek.
WhileThe Orvillewouldn’t exist withoutStar Trek, the former mostly avoiding the use of Transporters is almost like a preview of whatThe Next Generationcould have been ifThe Original Serieshad the budget to accommodate endless shuttle landings.The crew of the USS Orville often have to come up with much more complex rescue missionsthan theirTNGcounterparts because they can’t just resort to a fly-by beam out. WhileStar Trek’s Transporters captured the minds of many when they were introduced,The Orville’s limited use of the same tech works much more consistently.
The Orville
Cast
Created by Seth McFarlane and set in the 25th century, The Orville follows the crew of the titular ship and its captain, Ed Mercer (McFarlane) as they explore the galaxy. Inspired by Star Trek, it also spoofs the sci-fi classic, taking a comedic approach to its serialized story and science-fiction premise. Adrianne Palicki, Penny Johnson Jerald, and Scott Grimes star alongside McFarlane as part of an ensemble cast.
