best episodes of The Orville poster

Follow the crew of the not-so-functional exploratory ship in the Earth's interstellar fleet, 400 years in the future.

3 Seasons
36 Episodes
Returning Series
Drama Comedy Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Cast & Characters
episode image Domino
9.1/10 (4060 votes)

#1 Domino

S3:E9

The creation of a powerful new weapon puts the Orville crew — and the entire Union — in a political and ethical quandary.

episode image Identity (1)
9.0/10 (4645 votes)

#2 Identity (1)

S2:E8

Ed and the crew travel to Isaac's home planet, Kaylon.

episode image Identity (2)
9.0/10 (4306 votes)

#3 Identity (2)

S2:E9

The Kaylons take control of the Orville with the intention of destroying all biological lifeforms.

episode image Lasting Impressions
8.8/10 (4812 votes)

#4 Lasting Impressions

S2:E11

The Orville crew members open a time capsule from 2015.

episode image Twice in a Lifetime
8.8/10 (3857 votes)

#5 Twice in a Lifetime

S3:E6

The crew must rescue Gordon from a distant yet familiar world.

episode image The Road Not Taken
8.5/10 (2978 votes)

#6 The Road Not Taken

S2:E14

The crew must contend with the disastrous fallout from Kelly's decision.

episode image Mad Idolatry
8.4/10 (3628 votes)

#7 Mad Idolatry

S1:E12

Ed and Kelly consider the possibility of reforging their relationship, but Kelly soon crash-lands on a planet in another universe with Isaac and Gordon.

episode image From Unknown Graves
8.4/10 (3031 votes)

#8 From Unknown Graves

S3:E7

The Orville discovers a Kaylon with a very special ability.

episode image Gently Falling Rain
8.3/10 (3295 votes)

#9 Gently Falling Rain

S3:E4

The Orville crew leads a Union delegation to sign a peace treaty with the Krill.

episode image If the Stars Should Appear
8.2/10 (4862 votes)

#10 If the Stars Should Appear

S1:E4

Ed and the Orville crew encounter a massive vessel adrift in space, which is in danger of colliding with a star. While some of the crew set out to help the ship's inhabitants, Bortus, Gordon, and John stay behind and fend off a Krill attack on another Union ship

episode image Majority Rule
8.2/10 (4792 votes)

#11 Majority Rule

S1:E7

When two Union anthropologists go missing on a planet similar to 21st century Earth, Ed sends a team led by Kelly to find them, but the mission quickly goes awry when they realize the society’s government is completely based on a public voting system to determine punishment.

episode image Nothing Left on Earth Excepting Fishes
8.2/10 (3752 votes)

#12 Nothing Left on Earth Excepting Fishes

S2:E4

Ed finds himself behind enemy lines when he crash-lands on a mysterious planet. Meanwhile, Kelly questions why Gordon wants to take the Command Test.

episode image Sanctuary
8.2/10 (3139 votes)

#13 Sanctuary

S2:E12

Ed discovers that Moclans aboard The Orville are harboring a secret.

episode image Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow
8.2/10 (2860 votes)

#14 Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow

S2:E13

A time distortion affects Ed and Kelly's relationship.

episode image Home
8.1/10 (4043 votes)

#15 Home

S2:E3

Ed, Gordon and Alara visit Alara's home planet of Xelayah.

episode image A Happy Refrain
8.1/10 (4131 votes)

#16 A Happy Refrain

S2:E6

The Orville crew is surprised when Claire's personal life takes an unexpected turn, and Gordon makes an unusual grooming suggestion to Bortus.

episode image Midnight Blue
8.1/10 (3220 votes)

#17 Midnight Blue

S3:E8

The crew visit Haveena's sanctuary world and embark on a journey that may leave the Union more vulnerable.

episode image Future Unknown
8.1/10 (2674 votes)

#18 Future Unknown

S3:E10

A celebration is underway aboard the ship.

episode image Firestorm
8.0/10 (3531 votes)

#19 Firestorm

S1:E10

When a fire breaks out on The Orville and a crew member dies, Alara begins to question if she is fit for her job, just as unusual and terrifying things start happening on the ship.

episode image Krill
7.9/10 (4182 votes)

#20 Krill

S1:E6

After the Orville crew defeats a Krill attack on a brand-new colony, the Union sends Ed and Gordon on a dangerous undercover mission to infiltrate a Krill ship and obtain a copy of the Krill bible, the "Anhkana," to better understand the enemy.

episode image New Dimensions
7.9/10 (3109 votes)

#21 New Dimensions

S1:E11

Kelly discovers that Lt. John Lamarr is smarter than he lets on. So, she pushes Ed to consider him for a key leadership position on the ship after The Orville gets damaged by a mysterious spatial anomaly causing harrowing effects to all things living.

episode image A Tale of Two Topas
7.9/10 (4737 votes)

#22 A Tale of Two Topas

S3:E5

Tensions between Kelly and the Moclans result when she helps Topa prepare for the Union Point entrance exam.

episode image Pria
7.8/10 (4357 votes)

#23 Pria

S1:E5

After the crew saves a stranded ship and its attractive captain, Ed becomes smitten with the Orville’s new guest, while Kelly suspects all is not what it seems. Meanwhile, Gordon attempts to teach Isaac the art of pulling off a practical joke.

episode image Cupid's Dagger
7.8/10 (3726 votes)

#24 Cupid's Dagger

S1:E9

The Orville is called to mediate a peace treaty between two warring cultures, but tensions run even higher between Ed and Kelly when a familiar face boards the ship. Meanwhile Yaphit declares his love for Dr. Finn with surprising results.

episode image Blood of Patriots
7.8/10 (2887 votes)

#25 Blood of Patriots

S2:E10

Ed must initiate peace talks with the Krill.

episode image Mortality Paradox
7.8/10 (3145 votes)

#26 Mortality Paradox

S3:E3

The Orville crew makes a new discovery.

episode image Command Performance
7.6/10 (4873 votes)

#27 Command Performance

S1:E2

When Ed and Kelly are tricked by a hologram of a ship in distress and find themselves prisoners in a replica of their former home, Alara must step up in her first command of the Orville and attempt a heroic rescue. Meanwhile, Bortus and Klyden receive some happy, yet unexpected news.

episode image About a Girl
7.6/10 (5281 votes)

#28 About a Girl

S1:E3

The Orville crew is divided between cultures when Bortus and Klyden debate if their newly born offspring should receive a controversial surgery.

episode image Deflectors
7.6/10 (3295 votes)

#29 Deflectors

S2:E7

One of Bortus's old lovers is assigned to help upgrade the ships defences and makes a surprising admission to Talla.

episode image Old Wounds
7.4/10 (5597 votes)

#30 Old Wounds

S1:E1

It's 2417, and the Planetary Union promotes Ed Mercer to Captain of the exploratory vessel The U.S.S. Orville. Ed's enthusiasm for his new position is dampened when his ex-wife, Kelly Grayson, is assigned to be his First Officer. While on their first routine mission, the Orville crew is ambushed by the Krill, a vicious alien race, who are bent on stealing a device that can cause time to accelerate.

episode image Electric Sheep
7.4/10 (3873 votes)

#31 Electric Sheep

S3:E1

The Orville crew deals with the interpersonal aftermath of the battle against the Kaylon.

episode image Into the Fold
7.3/10 (3697 votes)

#32 Into the Fold

S1:E8

Ed and the crew set out to save Dr. Finn, her two sons and Isaac after their shuttle gets thrown into uncharted space and they crash-land on a moon that is light years from the Orville.

episode image All the World is Birthday Cake
7.3/10 (3438 votes)

#33 All the World is Birthday Cake

S2:E5

The Orville makes First Contact and a new crew member joins the ship.

episode image Shadow Realms
7.2/10 (3177 votes)

#34 Shadow Realms

S3:E2

The Orville explores a mysterious region of space.

episode image Ja'loja
7.1/10 (3911 votes)

#35 Ja'loja

S2:E1

As The Orville heads towards Moclus for Bortus' special once-a-year ceremony, Ed discovers Kelly has moved on and has started dating. Meanwhile, Gordon asks for John's help in getting game, and Claire turns to Isaac for parenting advice.

episode image Primal Urges
6.7/10 (4115 votes)

#36 Primal Urges

S2:E2

Ed and the crew race to save a small group of survivors on a planet about to be destroyed by its sun. Meanwhile, Bortus and Klyden start marriage counseling when Bortus' obsession with the ship's simulation room gets out of hand.

Cast & Chracters

character image Capt. Ed Mercer

Capt. Ed Mercer

Actor: Seth MacFarlane
character image Cmdr. Kelly Grayson

Cmdr. Kelly Grayson

Actor: Adrianne Palicki
character image Dr. Claire Finn

Dr. Claire Finn

Actor: Penny Johnson Jerald
character image Lt. Gordon Malloy

Lt. Gordon Malloy

Actor: Scott Grimes
character image Lt. Cmdr. Bortus

Lt. Cmdr. Bortus

Actor: Peter Macon
character image Talla Keyali

Talla Keyali

Actor: Jessica Szohr
character image John LaMarr

John LaMarr

Actor: J. Lee
character image Isaac

Isaac

Actor: Mark Jackson
character image Charly Burke

Charly Burke

Actor: Anne Winters

The highest rated episode of The Orville is "Domino" (S3E9) with a rating of 9.10.

This episode received 4,060 votes.


The lowest rated episode is "Primal Urges" (S2E2) with a rating of 6.70.

This episode received 4,115 votes.

The highest rated episode is "Mad Idolatry" (S1E12) with a rating of 8.40.

This episode received 3,628 votes.


The lowest rated episode is "Into the Fold" (S1E8) with a rating of 7.30.

This episode received 3,697 votes.

The highest rated episode is "Identity (1)" (S2E8) with a rating of 9.00.

This episode received 4,645 votes.


The lowest rated episode is "Primal Urges" (S2E2) with a rating of 6.70.

This episode received 4,115 votes.

The highest rated episode is "Domino" (S3E9) with a rating of 9.10.

This episode received 4,060 votes.


The lowest rated episode is "Shadow Realms" (S3E2) with a rating of 7.20.

This episode received 3,177 votes.

Name Department Job
Stephen J. Lineweaver Art Production Design
Brannon Braga Production Executive Producer
David A. Goodman Production Executive Producer
Howard Griffith Production Co-Executive Producer
Jon Favreau Production Producer
Joy Fehily Production Co-Producer
Liz Heldens Production Executive Producer
Seth MacFarlane Production Executive Producer

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