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Ja'loja (event)

This article is about the Moclan urination ritual. For the episode, see Ja'loja.

> *In the sight of those who stand with me, and those for whom I would sacrifice my being, I begin the release.*— Bortus
>
>

A ***Ja'loja***,or "**Great Release**," was an important ritual in Moclan culture celebrated annually during the start of a Moclan's urination cycle.

The ritual site was called the ***n'kafas***, a place selected during one's childhood. Moclans were expected to return to their *n'kafas* for the *ja'loja* ceremony.

The ritual symbolized the cleansing of the spirit and beginning of a new year in the celebrant's life.

## Description

*Ja'loja*, literally "great release" in the Moclan language, was a ceremony celebrating urination by the Moclan species, occurring once a year.

The ritual itself consisted of the celebrant standing over a cliff while whispering a prayer followed up by them urinating into the cliff's abyss. After its done the celebrant shouts "*ja'loja*" and then the observers shout it as well.

The Great Release was seen as a moment of celebration. A party often followed with the celebrant's friends and family.

## Production

Creator Seth MacFarlane has confirmed that *ja'loja* was based on *pon farr* in the *Star Trek: The Original Series* episode *Amok Time*. In the show, First Officer Spock must return to his home world of Vulcan once every seven years to copulate with a mate. Vulcans return to a ceremonial place for a *koon-ut-kal-if-fee* ("marriage or challenge"), which corresponds with the Moclan *n'kafas*.

## Trivia

* Guests to the *Ja'loja* were strongly encouraged to bring a partner to the celebratory party, as going alone is believed to be bad luck.

## Gallery

Bortus relieves himself in the presence of his friends and family.*Star Trek'*s Spock walking to his *koon-ut-kal-if-fee* served as the inspiration for Bortus' *n'kafas*.

## References

1. ↑ Episode 2x01: Ja'loja
2. ↑ @SethMacFarlane. "For the sci-fi deep divers: Tonight’s show contains a little nod to writer Theodore Sturgeon, who was blending sci-fi and comedy before any of us #theorville". Twitter. Dec. 30, 2018.
Baglish

Inspector **Baglish** was an Alibar police officer.

## Career

In July 2421, Baglish investigated Ed Mercer and Kelly Grayson, two Planetary Union officers who had been captured posing as Alibars in the home of Ycil's mother.

Baglish recognized Ed and Kelly's comscanners as Union equipment and confronted them in their jail cell. The two tricked him, saying the Union truly loathed the Alibar way of life and had sabotaged the Quantum Shifter to fail. The expected Launch Day would be nothing more than "a huge galactic fart." Ed doubled down, saying, "I'm going to enjoy telling leader Pret that you knew ahead of time and did nothing about it." Baglish ordered the pair to the government building, but Chief Engineer John LaMarr and Helmsman Gordon Malloy intervened and stunned Baglish and a fellow officer with PM-44s.

## References

1. ↑ Ed Mercer. Episode 2.5x02: Launch Day, Pt. 2
2017 press kits

The **2017 press kits** were limited-release promotional boxes given by Fox in preparation for the nation-wide premiere of *The Orville* in September, 2017.

All press kits contained an informational booklet on the show, a metal water bottle, a black laptop sleeve, and a letter written by Admiral Tom Halsey, given to attendees of Fox's August, 2017, press tour.

Exclusive press kits given to members of the Television Critics Association contained an additional DVD of episodes *Old Wounds**, Command Performance,* and*About a Girl.*

## General contents

Press kits contain a booklet was titled "Planetary Union Central TheOrville Space Travel Manual." It has a page with the Season 1 promotional photographs of each main character and another page with a description of the ranks of each section: Command, Science, Medical, Engineering, and Security. The booklet's obverse side displays the Union's circular emblem.

### In-Universe Message

The kit holds an enlistment letter written by Admiral Tom Halsey to a young graduate from Union Point (written from the perspective that the kit's recipient is the new graduate), which is most notable in that it ties the start of Ed Mercer's career as Captain of the USS Orville to September 10, 2419. The letter confirms that the show's canonical start mirrors the start of the show; The Orville premieres and the USS Orville embarks on September 10, separated by 402 years.

> *Welcome Space Cadet!*
>
>

> *You have graduated from Union Point and now are prepared to serve onboard one of the Planet Union's 3,000 Ships.* *Get ready for the greatest space adventure of your life!*
>
>

> *Your first post will be on the U.S.S. Orville, a mid-level exploratory vessel, led by the newly promoted Captain Ed Mercer.*
>
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> *Before reporting for your new assignment on Sunday, Sept. 10, familiarize yourself with the contents of the enclosed materials.*
>
>

> *--- Admiral Halsey*
>
>

## 2017 Television Critics Association press kit

A novel press kit was given by Fox to Television Critics Association members during their summer press tour in August. The kit contained all of the items of the generic press kit but also a DVD with the first three episodes of the season. The purpose of the kit was to allow a small bevy of professional critics to review the show in advance of its premiere.

## See also

* *The World of the Orville*
* 2018 promotional items
* 2019 promotional items and merchandise
* 2020 promotional items and merchandise
* Season 1 DVD

## Notes

1. ↑ The name "Planet Union" is a misspelling. The title of the Union was "Planetary Union" since April, 2016.
2. ↑ The actual day of September 10, 2419, will be a Tuesday.

## References

1. ↑ @planetary\_union. "This is what the front cover looks like if you're curious". Twitter. May 4, 2018.
2. ↑ @planetary\_union. Untitled. Twitter. May 5, 2018.
3. ↑ @planetary\_union. Untitled. Twitter. May 5, 2018.
4. ↑ @stjerome. "I hadn't ever seen this". Twitter. May 4, 2018.
5. ↑ Fienberg, Daniel. "'X-Files' Diversity, 'Orville' Confusion Among Press Tour Highlights (and Lowlights) From Day 15". *Hollywood Reporter*. Aug. 9, 2017.
Garrett Immel

## External Links

**Garrett Immel** is an American special make-up effects artist on *The Orville*.

## Background

Immel moved to Los Angeles, California in 1985 at the age of 17 and began working in make-up labs. He met his future boss Howard Berger on the set of *Army of Darkness* as a make-up artist.

## The Orville

Immel was responsible for much of Second Officer Bortus's present look. After Berger made a rough draft sculpture of the Moclan officer in consultation with Seth MacFarlane, Immel added increasingly fine details until the team felt they had a finished product.

Immel was also responsible for a re-design of Chief of Security Alara Kitan. After the pilot episode, the crew decided she needed more human qualities, so Immel reduced her forehead and reshaped the prosthetics to allow actress Halston Sage "to emote more freely."

## Awards

For their work on Season 1 of The Orville, Immel was nominated alongside Berger and Tami Lane by the Make-Up Artists & Hair Stylists Guild Awards for Best Special Make-up Effects - Television and New Media Series.

## Trivia

* After Bortus grew a mustache in *A Happy Refrain*, makeup artist Immel made actor Peter Macon a t-shirt that said "Mustache Ride," which Macon says his wife now wears around the house.

## Interviews

* October 2017: The MuscleCarPlace Podcast

## References

1. ↑ Garrett Immel. IMATS. Last accessed Dec. 26, 2018.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Berger, Howard & Maxine Morris. "Space and Beyond". *The Artisan*. 2018.
3. ↑ Giardina, Carolyn ."'Darkest Hour' Tops Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild Awards". Variety. February 24, 2018.
4. ↑ "The Orville Official Fan Podcast w/ Peter Macon (30)". Planetary Union Network. Feb. 13, 2019.
Drogen's species

**Drogen's species** were a species of humanoid aliens native to Drogen's moon. They first appeared in *Into the Fold*.

## Appearance

Drogen, a member of this species, appeared similar to humans, with the exception of crests on the head.

## Nations

Drogen's species had many nations before one of them used a virus known as Paloxus to wipe out Drogen's nation.
Baral

**Baral** is a child who the USS *Orville* frees from the Calivon zoo in October 2419.

## History

After Captain Ed Mercer and Commander Kelly Grayson are ensnared by the Calivon as attractions in their zoo, Lurenek introduces them to the other residents, including Baral who shows noticeable fear and discomfort being held in the cell without his family. Kelly feeling sympathy for the child attempts to comfort him as best she can.

Acting Captain Alara Kitan and Isaac successfully barter for the Captain and Commander's freedom. However, both insist Baral should come with them and be returned to his homeworld soon enough via the Orville.

## Production

Baral was designed by KNB EFX artist John Wheaton. Wheaton's concept art and test photography are reprinted in *The World of the Orville*.

Concept art.
## Trivia

* Though Baral says his name aloud in the episode, he is listed only as "Greenish Alien" in the episode credits and, in *The World of the Orville*, he is identified only as "one of the zoo's other alien inhabitants." Fortunately, the spelling of the character's name is confirmed by Hurlbert's acting resume and in the episode subtitles.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Bond, Jeff. *The World of the Orville*. Titan Books. 2018. Pg. 133.
Groogen

> *Hey, hey! It's a party, man. Let's keep it going, fill the room.*— Groogen
>
>

**Groogen** was a Katrudian and an old friend of Cassius.

## Life

Groogen stated that he had been friends with Cassius since his children were in his biohistory class on Antares 2. He recalled owing Cassius two favors from that period.

In January 2421, Groogen arrived with a botanical team aboard the USS *Orville* where Cassius had been working as a classroom teacher.

After Cassius' girlfriend, Kelly Grayson, ended their relationship, Groogen appeared in her quarters and pleaded with her to give Cassius another chance. Kelly told Groogen that her personal life was none of his business and Security Chief Talla Keyali removed him.

## Personality

Groogen is gregarious and lively, but offended by being called an "it" rather than a "he."

Groogen is opinionated and blunt as well. Even after Kelly says her personal life is none of his business, he responds, "No offense but fire your decorator."

## Production

Groogen is a surprise cameo by Bruce Willis.

Groogen was designed and digitally created by visual effects artist Taylor Faulkinberry. An alternate, unused concept drawing of Groogen had snail-like eyes and a small mouth.

## Trivia

* Groogen's minor appearance in *Deflectors* is actually a subtle cameo by big budget actor Bruce Willis.

## References

1. ↑ Deflectors
2. ↑ @taylorfaulkinberry. "Anyone catch Last week’s episode of The Orville? If so, you saw my first creature design debut!! Groogen the Katrudian plant alien!". Instagram. Feb. 18, 2019.
Calivon Zoo

Captain Ed Mercer and Commander Kelly Grayson marvel at the Zoo's size

The **Calivon Zoo** was a building on a planet in the Calivon system displaying members of species considered "inferior" to themselves. Exhibit cells contain advanced technology that replicates the home environment of its prisoners.

To capture their victims, the Calivon sent out buoys with holographic projectors that tricked their quarry into entering the buoy. Once inside, the victim was instantly teleported to a zoo holding cell that resembled their most natural habitat.

## Description

The Zoo was built and maintained by the Calivon to house species that were less technologically advanced, and therefore viewed by the Calivon as inferior. The building contained at least five stories, which was maintained by the Administrator.

Each cell was bound by a transparent force field to hold the detainee and to allow visitors to peer inside, the same principle used to seal the brigs and outer hulls of Planetary Union spacecraft. If any of the attractions attempted to touch the force field or otherwise escaped they were dealt a powerful shockwave knocking them back. Each cell came equipped with a method of exterminating its detainees through a "euthanasia sweep", a lethal combination of gases and lasers. The combination also served as an effective method of containing diseases to a single unit, which implied that cells were not perfectly sealed.

## Exhibit residents

* Ed Mercer (*released October 2419*)
* Kelly Grayson (*released October 2419*)
* Ock'or
* Lurenek
* Baral (*released October 2419*)
* Unidentified Krill
* Unidentified Moclans
* Unidentified Xelayan female

## Trivia

* Ed and Kelly were held in unit 484 of the zoo prior to their escape.
* The holographic projector used by a buoy to trick the crew of the USS *Orville* was later adapted by the Union to disguise Ed and Helmsman Gordon Malloy as Krill soldiers.
* The entire set of the zoo was built inside the set of the *Orville*'s Shuttle Bay.

## Appearances

* *Episode 1x02: Command Performance*
* *Episode 1.5x04: The Word of Avis, Pt. 2* (mentioned only)
* *Episode 2x07: Deflectors* (mentioned only)

## References

1. ↑ Episode 1x06: Krill
2. ↑ "The Orville Fan Podcast w/ Jason Roberts (The Orville Unit Production Manager)". Planetary Union Network. April 19, 2018.
Bolodon discs

**Bolodon discs** is a popular computerized board game with a hand-held controller and a holographically projected board. Players compete to stack discs on different levels to change the level's color to the player's.

Bolodon discs is frequently played by member species of the Planetary Union.

## Description

   The controller is made up out of two discs stacked through a thin cylindrical rod. The controller discs and the game's table are touch-sensitive, and changing the orientation of the controller (for example, by flipping it upside-down) will change the orientation of the discs on the game board. It is played by holding the controller with one hand and turning and touching the up facing controller.

The game can be played alone or in groups.

The rules of the game are not known but it looks like the goal is to light up holographically projected discs simultaneously when they are stacked together. Players turn the discs around by turning the controller. Further, several colored symbols are projected atop the discs by touching the colored buttons on the controller. The importance of the symbols is unknown.

## History

Aboard the USS *Orville*, Isaac plays Bolodon discs on numerous occasions with Marcus and Ty Finn. Much to the dismay of the human boys, Isaac emerges victorious every time, insensitively noting that his intelligence far exceeds that of their own.

Leyna Channing plays Bolodon discs by herself in guest quarters. Gordon Malloy observed that she had a "knack" for the game. Orrin claimed that she was fascinated as the Orville was a brand new world for her.

## Production

Bolodon discs was designed by senior concept designer Lex Cassar to be a nod to *Star Trek*'s 3-dimensional Chess, although the way Bolodon discs is played was inspired by other games. "The overall mechanics of the game were *Candy Crush* and *Tetris* played out on multiple disk[s] like planes."

 Unfortunately, the game does not have a complete set of rules as of the close of Season 2. Director Jon Cassar simply gave actors a general sense of how the game would be played. "Although... I'm sure some fan could do that for us," Cassar later joked about the lack of a true rule set.

## Appearances

* *Episode 2x08: Identity, Pt. 1*
* *Episode 2x10: Blood of Patriots*

## References

1. ↑ *Episode 2x08: Identity, Pt. 1*
2. ↑ *Episode 2x10: Blood of Patriots*
3. ↑ Correspondence with Lex Cassar. 2019. Quoted with permission (Aug. 8, 2019).
4. ↑ "The Orville Official Fan Podcast w/ Kai Wener and Jon Cassar (32)". Planetary Union Network. Feb. 23, 2019.
Alert

Aboard Union Fleet vessels and outposts, a series of color-coded **alert** signals are issued. Examples of alerts are the **yellow alert** and the more severe **red alert** which is issued when a vessel is in immediate peril, typically during ship-to-ship engagements. Such alerts are indicated by colored lighting, most notably within the bridge, from were alerts are issued via the Second Officer's tactical console. An alarm tone also typically sounded upon the initiation of such an alert. Tactical alert was also utilized.

## Yellow alert

Acting Captain Kelly Grayson had Second Officer Bortus put the *Orville* on yellow alert when a Moclan Battlecruiser joined the Union vessel in orbit of the Sanctuary planet.

## Red alert

During the Battle of Epsilon 2, the *Orville*, commanded by Acting Captain Bortus, is placed on red alert while engaging a Krill destroyer.

Union Fleet vessels, including the *Orville* and the USS *Spruance* are placed on red alert as they participate in the Battle of Earth against the Kaylon.

When shuttle 1 is caught in the tractor beam of a Moclan Battlecruiser in orbit of the Sanctuary planet, Acting Captain Talla Keyali puts the *Orville* on red alert and orders Isaac to take out the Moclans' emitters, commencing the Battle of the Sanctuary.

In 2422, prior to the Battle of Xelaya, the *Orville* was placed on red alert and Captain Ed Mercer also ordered general quarters and battle stations.

## Tactical alert

In 2422, when the *Orville* approached Kaylon 1 to demand a ceasefire of the Kaylons lest they use their new quantum weapon, Captain Ed Mercer ordered the vessel to tactical alert. This utilized the same lighting as red alert.

## Appearances

* *Episode 1x01: Old Wounds*
* *Episode 2x04: Nothing Left on Earth Excepting Fishes*(mentioned only)
* *Episode 2x09: Identity, Pt. 2*
* *Episode 2x12: Sanctuary*
* *Episode 3x09: Domino*

## References

1. ↑ *Episode 2x12: Sanctuary*
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 *Episode 3x09: Domino*
3. ↑ *Episode 2x12: Sanctuary*
4. ↑ *Episode 1x01: Old Wounds*
5. ↑ *Episode 2x09: Identity, Pt. 2*
6. ↑ *Episode 2x12: Sanctuary*
7. ↑ Referenced as a pun by Lieutenant Tharl: "Mellow alert." Episode 2x04: Nothing Left on Earth Excepting Fishes
Halon Entertainment

**Halon Entertainment** is a full-service visualization and previs company based in Santa Monica, California. During production of *The Orville*, Halon coordinated with visual effects supervisor Luke McDonald and previs supervisor Kenny DiGiordano to animate and render battles in space, wormholes and spatial anomalies, the Gatria star, and other stellar material modeled by computers.

## History

Halon was founded in 2003 by Daniel Gregoire as a full-service visualization company. Over the years, Halon created a large digital library of effects called the Halon Asset Library ("HAL"), and expanded its business into London, England and Vancouver, Canada.

## The Orville

During the initial production of the series, Luke McDonald took a week's worth of film of a blue-screened, five-foot scale model of the USS *Orville* and placed it in a computer-generated depiction of space. The strategy worked well for ordinary flight scenes, but he turned to Halon to create more detailed or technical scenes in space that went beyond stars and distant galaxies, such as "Hugging the Donkey."

"We were brought on back in November [2016], when they were still planning the initial, opening sequence of the show," DiGiordano explained. "At that point, there were still a lot of things we needed to figure out - the world and how the ship was moving." As the team worked out the finer points of the title sequence, the crew and Halon wanted to make the USS *Orville* seem more maneuverable in space, and therefore different from other science fiction shows where spacecraft are cumbersome and slow-moving.

Halon developed large point-of-view video to be displayed on the set of the bridge so that actors on the bridge of the Orville could get a sense of what their characters see. The technique was highly effective:

> *[W]hen the effects team played the full rolling pitching video on the giant screen in the Orville bridge set, the crew standing inside immediately fell over - thrown by the optical illusion of the ship rolling when the set was actually static. Basically, one's brain either causes you to lean over, and thus topple over or you suffer massive motion sickness.*
>
>

Producer and science consultant André Bormanis advised Halon on the appropriate look of spatial features like wormholes.

## References

1. ↑ "About Us". Halon.com. Last accessed May 14, 2018.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Seymour, Mike. "Orville, a new Seth MacFarlane enterprise.". *fxguide*. Sept. 14, 2017.
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Romanello, Linda. "Fox's *The Orville* Takes Flight". *Post Magazine*. Oct. 2017.
4. ↑ "The Orville". *Halon Entertainment*. Online. Last accessed Dec. 27, 2017.
Howard Griffith

## External Links

**Howard Griffith** is a co-executive producer and unit production manager on *The Orville*. Griffith appears in *Digressions, Pt. 1* and *Pt. 2* as Captain Griffith.

## Background

According to his personal website, Howard Griffith started in the entertainment industry in 1972 as a driver. He was promoted to transportation captain, then production supervisor, then unit production manager, and finally executive producer.

Griffith worked as a television producer from the 1990s until The Orville, including on the now-cancelled series *Gang Related*, which was shot in the same studio two years before. His earliest credited job is on the 1996 made-for-television movie *The Road to Galveston* as a supervising producer.

## The Orville

Howard Griffith was hired as a production manager for The Orville's first season. One of his chief tasks is to find and approve filming locations. "Finding locations in [Los Angeles, California] for a 25th-century show has been a rewarding challenge," Griffith has noted.

## References

1. ↑ David A. Goodman, Executive Producer and Writer. Quantum Drive. May 10, 2022.
2. ↑ "Howard Griffith". *HowardGriffith.com*. Last accessed May 2, 2018.
3. ↑ Bond, Jeff. *The World of the Orville*. Titan Books. 2018. Pg. 125.
Dirk Rogers

Dirk Rogers in costume as Samm.

## External Links

**Dirk Rogers** is an American make-up artist on *The Orville*. He also portrays a variety of alien creatures on the show: the scientist Samm, an alien bartender on the USS *Orville*, a Krill guard in the episode *Krill*.

## The Orville

Rogers joined The Orville's make-up department in 2016. Howard Berger, the make-up department head for Season 1, used Rogers as a template for experimental alien creature designs. For that reason, Rogers often appears in the show for background characters.

In November, 2016, dressed Dirk Rogers as Lieutenant Dann and presented him to Seth MacFarlane. MacFarlane was impressed and the character Dann was born: "Oh, my God. I love this character. I'm going to write this character into the script."

Initially, MacFarlane wanted Rogers to play Dann but Berger wanted his co-worker free to work on new design prototypes. Actor Mike Henry was cast in his place, although Rogers appeared as an alien scientist named Samm of the same species in the pilot episode.

Rogers later made an appearance as Alien Bartender in the episode *Command Performance* and as a Krill guard in the episode *Krill*.

## Trivia

* Rogers is the only actor in The Orville to portray three separate characters.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "PLANETARY UNION NETWORK: EPISODE 20". Planetary Union Network. June 17, 2018.
Disney+

**Disney+** is an international online subscriber based video streaming service. It is wholly owned and operated by the Media and Entertainment Distribution division of the Walt Disney Company.

Disney+ is the exclusive international broadcaster for the third season of *The Orville*, *New Horizons*, which premiered on June 2, 2022. In the United States, the program releases on Hulu, but this service is not available internationally.

On July 23, 2022, it was announced at San Diego Comic Con that all three seasons of the series would also be made available on Disney+ in the United States beginning on August 10, 2022. This is just under one week following the release of the third season finale, *Future Unknown*.

Creator Seth MacFarlane described the addition of the series to Disney+ in the United States as a "game changer" that could draw a new audience to the series and increase its chances of renewal for Season 4.

*Future Unknown* was not made available upon the initial launch of the series on Disney+ in the United States. This was described as having been a "technical glitch" and was quickly rectified.

On October 12, 2022, Disney+ posted a promotional video for *New Horizons* to its YouTube channel, highlighting the overwhelmingly positive critical reception for the season.

Disney+ posterDisney+ U.S. release posterThe Orville- New Horizons I Disney +
## External links

* Official site
* Disney+ on Wikipedia

## References

1. ↑ Tapp, Tom (July 23, 2022). All 3 Seasons Of Seth MacFarlane’s ‘The Orville’ Soon Available On Disney+. Deadline. Retrieved on July 24, 2022.
2. ↑ Mitovich, Matt (August 6, 2022). Seth MacFarlane on *The Orville*'s Season 4 Renewal Odds: Disney+ Viewing Could Be a 'Game Changer'. TV Line. Retrieved on August 7, 2022.
3. ↑ Flook, Ray (August 10, 2022). The Orville on Disney+: Seth MacFarlane Clarifies Missing Ep Matter. Bleeding Cool. Retrieved on August 12, 2022.
Jeannie Mercer

Jeannie Mercer (left) and her husband, Burt Mercer (right)

**Jeannie Mercer** was the wife of Bert Mercer and mother of Ed Mercer.

## History

Jeannie Mercer lived in Boxford, Massachusetts with her husband Bert, where they raised their son Ed, the future captain of the USS *Orville*.

The pair were friends with another family, the Petersons.

In early October 2419, a holographic version of Jeannie and Bert is created by the Calivon to capture Ed and Kelly Grayson.

## Personality

Jeannie was an outgoing, personable woman, who wore her emotions on her sleeve. After Kelly's affair and Ed's subsequent divorce in 2418, it was a poorly kept secret that Jeannie resented her. According to Ed, Jeannie once called her a bitch "46 times in one sitting" at a restaurant, provoking the people at the adjoining table to complain. Jeannie's conversations with her are stilted and tense.

## Appearances

* *Episode 1x02: Command Performance* (hologram)
Heavy cruiser

> *The* Orville's *only midsize. You should see the heavy cruisers.*— Alara Kitan
>
>

**Heavy cruiser** refers to the largest vessels in the Planetary Union fleet.

Ed Mercer's teachers at Union Point predicted that he would be captain of a heavy cruiser before age 40. His first command, however, would be the mid-level USS *Orville*. Reviewing the credentials of chief medical officer Claire Finn, Mercer noted that she could be posted on a heavy cruiser, however, Dr. Finn chose to join the *Orville* as she believed she was better needed by him.

Admiral Ozawa commanded a Leviathan-class heavy cruiser, USS Olympia, which dwarfed the *Orville*.

When Sargas 4 native Lysella expressed her awe at the size of the *Orville*, Alara Kitan revealed to her that it was only medium sized and that even larger heavy cruisers existed.

## Appearances

* *Episode 1x01: Old Wounds* (mentioned only)
* *Episode 1x06: Krill*
* *Episode 1x07: Majority Rule* (mentioned only)
Alibar (planet)

**Alibar** was a planet in the Alibar system and the home world to a species of the same name. Alibar was a member world of the Planetary Union in the 24th century, but exited in December 2400.

## Description

Alibar was the only planet orbiting a star. It was located in Union space roughly one parsec from Krill.

The planet was terrestrial and Earth-like, with cities dotting its surface, including a large capital city.

Near Alibar in space was the "Construct," a quantum shifter built by the Alibarans from 2401 to 2421.

## Appearances

* *Episode 2.5x01: Launch Day, Pt. 1*
* *Episode 2.5x02: Launch Day, Pt. 2*

## Notes

1. ↑ This is according to Captain Kratok who says it is the only planet. Episode 2.5x02: Launch Day, Pt. 2. A total of six orbiting objects can be seen in the comics, which implies those other objects are non-planet satellites such as moons.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Episode 2.5x01: Launch Day, Pt. 1
Doug Drexler

## External Links

Wikipedia

> *We have an amazing art department and Doug has only enhanced it even further. He’s bringing a little more grounding to some of the technologies.*— Tom Costantino
>
>

**Doug Drexler** is an artist who joined the art department of *The Orville*for the show's third season. He is most famous for his work as an artist in the *Star Trek* franchise.

## The Orville

Drexler joined the art department of The Orville in 2019. "The hardest part about going to work on The Orville was starting over. ... You can end up in a project where the art director and the production designer are nasty. ...Well Stephen Lineweaver and Robert Strohmaier, production designer and art director, are two of the most wonderful guys. ... I'm doing what I feel I should be doing; this is the kind of show I should be on."

Drexler worked as an illustrator when the staff illustrators were "hammed up."

Drexler said that working on The Orville with a different artistic vision than Star Trek has been challenging.

## References

1. ↑ [[1]]
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Doug Drexler on The Orville. Trekzone. Last accessed June 12, 2020.
Hugging the Donkey

> *You can hug the donkey?"
> "Dude, I've been hugging the donkey since flight school.*— John LaMarr and Gordon Malloy
>
>

"**Hugging the Donkey**" is an attack maneuver in which a smaller, faster spacecraft rapidly circumnavigates a slower, larger ship while firing upon it. The tactic is known to be very difficult. However, Helmsman Gordon Malloy of the USS *Orville* claims he has run the attack since his days as a cadet at Union Point.

## History

In the Battle of Epsilon 2 of September, 2419, a large Krill destroyer surprises the Orville just outside of a science colony on Epsilon 2, the crew must distract the Krill from capturing a shuttle with Captain Ed Mercer and its valuable technology on board.

With the assistance of John LaMarr as navigator, Malloy successfully "hugs the donkey." The Krill ship is forced to defend itself and counterattack the Orville instead of focusing on the shuttle. Because the smaller vessel quickly orbits the warship in this maneuver, only a few shots from the Krill actually strike the Orville. The Orville, however, still loses its shields and suffers severe damage to the upper spatial tensor coil, but survives.

## Production

Originally, the tactic was called "The Electron Maneuver," described in the original script as an electron orbiting a neutron. During the maneuver, the rapid circling of the Krill vessel causes LaMarr to spill his soda. When the maneuver was drawn in storyboards, its name had changed to "Hugging the Belt." The name was changed to "Hugging the Donkey" some time before filming.

The actual maneuver was digitally rendered, rather than filmed, by Halon Entertainment.

## References

1. ↑ Episode 1x01: Old Wounds
2. ↑ MacFarlane, Seth. The Orville 1x01 - Pilot. *Fox Broadcasting Co.*
3. ↑ @TomCostantino. "Some MORE - @theorville to take you into the weekend. Early pilot storyboard. “Hug the belt” @fox @planetary\_union #TheOrville 🚀 http://bit.ly/2YCObSX". Twitter. May 17, 2019.
4. ↑ Seymour, Mike. "Orville, a new Seth MacFarlane enterprise.". *fxguide*. Sept. 14, 2017.
Ensign

**Ensigns** was a commissioned officer rank and the most common officer rank in the Planetary Union. Ensigns served aboard space-faring vessels, space stations, planetary stations, and offices. It ranked directly below Lieutenant and was the junior-most rank in the Union (except for trainee rank of Cadet).

Ensign was the first rank assigned to new officers upon graduation from Union Point, the cadet academy of the Planetary Union, with the goal of development toward future leadership. They generally served under Lieutenants within departments and stations such as Engineering, Security Level and Science/Sick Bay. However, it was occasionally possible for Ensigns to serve on the Bridge, such as in the case of Navigator Charly Burke.

## Notable ensigns

* Bortus: In 2422, then Lieutenant Commander Bortus was briefly reduced back to Ensign as part of a deception for the Janisi.
* Brooks: Worked in the Shuttle Bay aboard the USS *Orville*.
* Brosk: Engineer
* Charly Burke: Served as navigator aboard the Orville starting in 2422
* Davis
* Ed Mercer: Served as ensign aboard USS *Bohr* in 2401. In 2422, then Captain Mercer was briefly reduced back to Ensign as part of a deception for the Janisi.
* Gordon Malloy: Served aboard the Bohr in 2401. In 2422, then Lieutenant Malloy was briefly reduced back to Ensign as part of a deception for the Janisi.
* Hodges: Relief navigator of the BCV *Burton* in the early 24th century.
* Jennings: Technician
* John LaMarr: In 2422, then Lieutenant Commander LaMarr was briefly reduced back to Ensign as part of a deception for the Janisi.
* Jenny Turco: Served in engineering aboard the Orville.
* Parker
* Reed
* Ycil: Served aboard the Bohr before returning to his homeworld in 2401.

HodgesBortusEd MercerGordon MalloyJohn LaMarrParkerYcilBrooksJenny TurcoBrosk
## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Episode 3x01: Electric Sheep
2. ↑ *Episode 3x07: From Unknown Graves*
3. ↑ *Episode 1x09: Cupid's Dagger*
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 *Episode 1x12: Mad Idolatry*
5. ↑ *Episode 1x08: Into the Fold*
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 *Episode 2.5x01: Launch Day, Pt. 1*
7. ↑ *Episode 3x07: From Unknown Graves*
8. ↑ *Episode 3x07: From Unknown Graves*
9. ↑ *Episode 1.5x02: New Beginnings, Pt. 2*
10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 *Episode 1x02: Command Performance*
11. ↑ *Episode 3x07: From Unknown Graves*
Gendel 3

Gendel 3 as it was originally

Gendel 3 after its nuclear holocaust

> *This is how their world looked early in 23rd century. Advance timeline to 2240. This is Gendel 3... five years later.*— Commander Kelly Grayson showing Lysella the damage the Planetary Union caused to Gendel 3
>
>

**Gendel 3** was the third planet of the Gendel system. It was located approximately 600 light years from Sargus 4. The entire planet was decimated by a nuclear holocaust following a visit from the Planetary Union.

## History

In 2235, Gendel 3 had a thriving level of industrialization, achieved nearly 200 years before that of Sargus 4. In this year, early Planetary Union explorers, acting as missionaries, arrived on Gendel 3. These explorers found a divided world, bristling with nuclear weapons and continents sliced up by national borders. They landed and revealed both themselves and their technology, providing it to the world in the hope that it could allow the civilization to skip the growing pains gone through by similar worlds. The spread, however, was rapid and the various nation-states battled, with wars breaking out everywhere, leaders hoping to use the advanced technology for personal gain and political dominance. Within five years, the entire population of 9 billion people was wiped out, those few remaining heavily mutated, diseased, and living ferally. The union then put rules in place to prevent future situations of this nature.

In 2422, Lysella of Sargus 4 attempted to steal advanced technology such as matter synthesis from the USS Orville, hoping to use it to help the situation on her home planet of Sargus 4 with its oppressive downvote culture. Her ruse, however, was detected. Afterwards, Commander Kelly Grayson showed her a simulation of Gendel 3, both before and after the Union's visit, to explain why it was so dangerous to simply give away such technology. She explained that you cannot pull people into the future, that they have to want to do it on their own. Afterwards, Lysella decided to remain within the Planetary Union and try to adapt to its culture.

## Inhabitants

It is not clear what the inhabitants of Gendel 3 originally looked like. The only depiction of them was a holographic recreation, and even then after the planet had undergone a nuclear disaster. Mutated Gendel 3 inhabitants looked humanoid, with orange skin and long, light hair growing from their temples. They had ridged foreheads as well as lumps all over their head, and teeth that were somewhat rabbit-like.

## References

1. ↑ Future Unknown
2. ↑ *Episode 3x10: Future Unknown*
Dojin

**Dojin** was a Moclan Ambassador to the Planetary Union Council in the early 25th century. He represented Moclus in the Council's hearing over "The Sanctuary," a refugee colony for Moclan females.

## Career

Dojin served as ambassador to the Council in New York City, Earth, supported by two members of his delegation.

In 2421, the Planetary Union learned of The Sanctuary, a colony of over 6,000 Moclan women and girls hiding from the Moclan government's policy of required sex transition surgery from female to male. Heveena, leader of The Sanctuary, petitioned the Council for state sovereignty.

Dojin argued forcefully against recognizing The Sanctuary by threatening to withdraw Moclus from the Union. The Union had narrowly survived the vicious Battle of Earth against the Kaylon in February, and Moclus was their primary supplier of weaponry. Dojin seems to have convinced at least the Xelayan and Dann's species delegations, and possibly dissuaded the humans as well.

Meanwhile, Captain Jakohn began capturing females from the colony by force, igniting the Battle of the Sanctuary. With a crisis at hand and the threat of the Kaylon looming, Dojin agreed to Admiral Tom Halsey of Earth's proposal to a temporary pause in hostilities; Moclus would not touch The Sanctuary, the Union would not recognize The Sanctuary, and The Sanctuary would cease the transportation of Moclan females.
Feylar

**Feylar** was a Regorian Doctor in the early 25th century.

## Career

Feylar was a senior doctor at a medical facility near the capitol of Regor 2. Feylar enforced a Regorian birthing system to prevent Giliac births through Caesarean sections of very premature unborn babies. He employed a newly developed "cost-effective means of magnetic resonance imaging for regular monitoring of fetal growth," and his facility became the first on the planet to do so on a large scale. Feylar lamented that while the technology improved each year, many Giliac births remained unpreventable.

In late 2420, the Regorian government selected Doctor Feylar to give Doctor Claire Finn and Chief of Security Talla Keyali a tour of his medical facility. He supervised an emergency Caesarean section surgery in the Obstetrics Ward's Operating Room 3.

## Appearances

* *Episode 2x05: All the World is Birthday Cake*
James Duncan

**James Duncan** is a Human child living on board the USS *Orville*. He is the son of crew members Jody and Nathan Duncan and attends school alongside Marcus Finn.

## Life aboard the Orville

Main article: Ja'loja
James is a civilian child on the Orville and attends class under Cassius. James earned mostly B-minus grades, with the occasional C, but would regularly hack into the Computer to change them to A's. In the year 2420, James becomes friends with classmates Marcus and another boy.

In early August, Marcus brings James to his quarters for permission from Marcus's mother, Claire Finn, to play in the Environmental Simulator. When Claire forces him to retrieve his homework from class, James mutters she is "a pain in the ass," and she sends him home to his parents.

Later, James, Marcus, and his other friend hack into a food synthesizer to generate a bottle of vodka, and drink it in the Environmental Simulator. They are caught by Kelly Grayson and Cassius; James lies to his parents, and claims that Marcus was the one who hacked into the Food Synthesizer. Isaac shows Cassius, the Duncan parents, and Claire that James hacked the synthesizer and his academic record.

## Personality

According to Marcus, "everyone at school" like James. He has several friends and is remarkably intelligent, able to hack into multiple systems on the ship, but he is disrespectful and a troublemaker as well. He behaves poorly in class, proudly admitting to have not done homework assigned by Cassius. He is also highly aggressive even to his peers, insulting Marcus and their other friends to having doubts if they should steal a bottle of vodka.

Cassius later tells First Officer Kelly Grayson that he expects disobedient behavior from James, and is concerned he may be influencing Marcus.

## Production

James is portrayed by actor Jake Brennan.

### Deleted scene

After James, Marcus, and the third boy grab the vodka from the hacked food synthesizer, they run through the corridors to the Environmental Simulator, but are caught by Second Officer Bortus. James lies and says he was running because he ripped his pants.

The deleted scene may be watched on Brennan's Instagram page.

## Trivia

* When he and Marcus snidely tell Cassius that Second Officer Bortus ate their homework, Cassius assigned them 1,000-word essays on the Moclan digestive system.
Holland Taylor

**Holland Taylor** is an American actress best known for her role as Evelyn Haper on *Two and a Half Men*.

She portrays Captain Ed Mercer's mother, Jeannie Mercer, in the episode *Command Performance*.

## Background

Taylor majored in drama at Bennington College, and after matriculation moved to New York City to pursue acting. She started in theater, performing in a number of Broadway and off-Broadway shows, until taking the role of Denise Cavanaugh on the television soap opera *The Edge of Night*.

Through the 1980s and 1990s,Taylor took a number of television comedy and drama roles, and, in 2009, wrote and produced a one-woman play about the late Texas Governor Ann Richards. In 2003, Taylor joined the cast of Two and a Half Men as Evelyn Harper, the overbearing mother of the protagonists.
Hamelac

**Hamelac** was a former theocratic leader of the Bio-ship from Jahavus Dorahl's species. He was deposed in late 2419 by a combination of the Reformers and crewmembers of the USS *Orville*.

## Life

Hamelac was "First Guardian of the Word of Dorahl" and *de jure* despot of the bio-ship, holding the power to make all law. He violently imposed rule and religious adherence through his government. Hamelac's religion entailed denial of a world beyond the ship's ecosystem, a belief enforced to maintain order and consolidate power. Hamelac's preferred method to punish doubters of the Word was to incite a violent mob and then hand the victim over. He was especially concerned about finding, torturing, and then killing suspected members of the Reformers, whom he saw as an existential threat to his rule.

In late October or early November 2419, a small away team from the Orville was dispatched to the bio-ship to warn the inhabitants that their ship would collide with a nearby star in six months. Hamelac's enforcers found several of the team, First Officer Kelly Grayson and Chief of Security Alara Kitan. They shot Alara, leaving her for dead, and brought Kelly to Hamelac for interrogation.

Hamelac rightly thought Kelly had arrived with other friends, ostensibly because she was a Reformer but secretly because he understood that she entered from "the Beyond" (the name for the world outside the ecosystem). He tortured Kelly in his office until it was invaded by Captain Ed Mercer, the Reformers Kemka and Tomilin, Isaac, Doctor Claire Finn, and Alara. He quickly admitted there was a bare possibility that there was more to the world than what he saw.

Soon after, the Reformers and the Orville's away team discovered the bio-ship's old Bridge, and the Union arranged for a team to rendezvous with the bio-ship in the future. Hamelac's reign is presumed to have ended.

## Production

   An early draft spelling of Hamelac's name was "Hemelac."

Hamelac was played by Robert Knepper, a Star Trek alum who played Wyatt Miller in *The Next Generation*. Knepper confirmed he would appear in *The Orville* in April 4, 2017, though he declined to state further details.

## Appearances

* *Episode 1x04: If the Stars Should Appear*

## Notes

1. ↑ Hamelac "makes all law," according to Kemka.
2. ↑ "UPROXX 20: Robert Knepper Is Very Particular About How He Wants His Margaritas Made". *Uproxx*. April 4, 2017.
Exploring The Orville

***Exploring* The Orville*:* *Essays on Seth MacFarlane's Space Adventure*** is an upcoming book on *The Orville* published by McFarland Books on April 16, 2021.

The book is a collection of essays on the show edited by professors David Kyle Johnson and Michael R. Berry. Creator Seth MacFarlane wrote a blurb for the back cover. A forward is written by André Bormanis, the show's supervising producer, science consultant, and writer. According to an official synopsis:

> *This volume is the first book to take a deep dive into the philosophical, social, moral, political, and religious issues tackled by Seth MacFarlane's marvelous space adventure,* The Orville*. Far more than just "Spaceballs for Star Trek," the episodic sci-fi adventure combines humor and philosophy to create a narrative that both engages fans and sheds light on the realities of today's world.*
>
>

> *These essays explore what* The Orville *has to say on everything from climate change, artificial intelligence, and sexual assault, to gender, feminism, love, and care. Divided into six "acts" (just like every episode of* The Orville*), with the show as its backdrop, the book asks questions about the dangers of democracy and social media, the show's relationship to Star Trek and the puzzle of time travel. It features a foreword by The Orville writer and co-executive producer Andre Bormanis.*
>
>

The book is 238 pages in paperback form and available for pre-order.

## References

1. ↑ Creator Seth MacFarlane received an advance copy of the book prior to publication and wrote,
> *I created* The Orville *because I felt that Hollywood’s science fiction offerings for the 21st century had left a large void when it came to the kind of allegorical, speculative, thoughtful episodic storytelling that I had enjoyed from the genre while growing up. It seemed as though* ideas *that left the viewer with something to chew on had been replaced by* twists*, trading intellectual nutrients for quickly burned calories. With that gap left wide open, the circumstances seemed right for a show like* The Orville*, which, tonally light though it could be, to set out to honor the classic model of science fiction storytelling.* Exploring The Orville *is exactly the kind of response I hoped would emerge from what we were doing. This book identifies and dives deeper into the issues presented in the series, and does so with skill and precision, thanks to a variety of voices offering philosophical analyses and carefully considered takes on the material that in some cases presented a fresh lens even to us, the writers. It’s a fun, invigorating, and inspiring read, providing a better understanding and appreciation of both* The Orville *and the moral, political, societal, and philosophical issues it addresses.* Exploring The Orville *is a must read for any Orville fan.*
>
>
2. ↑ Exploring *The Orville*. McFarland. Last accessed Dec. 13, 2020.
3. ↑ Exploring The Orville: Essays on Seth MacFarlane's Space Adventure (Paperback). Waterstones.com. Last accessed Dec. 12, 2020.