Claire Finn

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> *The most responsible person I know.*— Kelly Grayson, on Claire Finn
>
>

Doctor **Claire J. Finn** was a human Lieutenant Commander and Chief Medical Officer aboard the USS *Orville* in the early 25th century.

Prior to joining the Orville, Doctor Finn was a seasoned officer who had served aboard many Planetary Union vessels. Claire transferred to the ship shortly before September, 2419, when she learned the ship was getting a new, inexperienced captain.

Claire lived on the Orville with her two sons, Ty and Marcus Finn. Her relationship with Isaac, a Science and Engineering Officer, was the primary reason Isaac betrayed the Kaylon, helping the Union win the Battle of Earth in February 2421. Although she was upset at the time at Isaac's original betrayal, she later forgave him and resumed their relationship. They eventually married following the conclusion of the Kaylon conflict attended by their friends and even the Kaylon themselves.

She is portrayed by American actress Penny Johnson Jerald.

## History

### Early history

Claire was born in Baltimore, Maryland on Earth to a sensible but "open-minded" mother.

When asked about her childhood in late 2420, Claire recalled Baltimore was full of arts and entertainment then, and, while she preferred life aboard the Orville, she had not returned to her hometown in some time and missed the rain.

*I used to sit outside on the front porch before a thunderstorm and smell the ozone in the air. And then the rain would come crashing down in big, dark curtains, and it was exciting and beautiful and humbling and wonderful. And I always thought to myself, 'This is what being alive is all about.'*
She later tried to recreate her childhood experiences in the Environmental Simulator, but "the smells are never completely accurate."

She joined the Planetary Union as a commissioned officer in the Medical wing. She specialized in molecular surgery, DNA engineering, and psychiatry and took an interest in temporal field technology, the acceleration of time within a quantum bubble. At that time, Claire worked on an unknown project with Lewis, a civilian Union anthropologist, and the two became close friends.

Claire was a single parent. For most of her life, Claire had desired children but, by her own description, she never found a man suited to be her husband. Despite this, she did briefly marry Paul Christie, during her tenure at Union Point. The two secretly saw each other while student and professor, but kept it a secret until after she graduated and married six months later. Claire ultimately considered the relationship unsuitable, finding that Paul seemingly did not want a wife, but simply a young, smiling face to come home at the end of a day's work. This relationship had suited her while she was in school, but afterwards, she wanted a partner and he, according to her, wanted a bed-warmer. She gave him an ultimatum and he chose to walk away. Near the year 2409, she decided to have a child on her own through artificial impregnation, and gave birth to Marcus. Several years later, she used artificial impregnation again to bear a second child, Ty.

In 2419, after years of service in the Union, Doctor Finn requested a transfer to the Orville. By that point, Claire was already a highly experienced doctor and over-qualified for the post. She later recalled that she requested the Orville because she wanted a ship with a freshman captain: "I always request my transfers based on where I'm needed. I'm more stimulated that way."

### Career under Captain Mercer

> *"...you implied that you don't think I have the balls to do this job."
> "Well, I am your doctor, sir, and if your balls are under par, I'll know."*— Ed Mercer and Claire Finn
>
>

Doctor Finn arrived at the Orville shortly before Captain Ed Mercer in September 2419 and almost immediately ingratiated herself among the crew as a smart and collected senior officer. "This is your first command," she told Ed at their first meeting. "And I think you can use my help."

Claire worked in the Chief Medical Officer's Office at the front of Sick Bay, where she led a staff of medical officers. From the earliest days under Captain Mercer, she quickly established herself as a source of strength for the rest of the senior staff and frequently remains on the Bridge to stay abreast of the ship's affairs. Yet her presence both on the Bridge and in Sick Bay placed her in the unique position to help the bridge officers and to communicate the needs of the rest of the ship. Claire became a tough but loving therapist and adviser.

Claire served as acting commander in October 2419 when Ed and First Officer Kelly Grayson went missing, Second Officer Bortus was on a leave of absence, and Chief of Security Alara Kitan joined Isaac for an away mission to the Calivon system to rescue Ed and Kelly. As the highest ranking officer on the ship, Claire was placed in the captain's chair.

Claire had other responsibilities as well. In December 2420, she wrote a paper on the use of nanosynthesis in Xelayan tissue regeneration and supervised the shipment of a vaccine to Alamak 3.

In early 2421, the Kaylon seized the Orville and imprisoned Claire and other surviving officers in the Shuttle Bay. She allowed Ty to sneak with Lieutenant Yaphit into the communications array to send a warning to Planetary Union Central of an imminent attack. After the officers retook control of the Orville, Claire worked in Sick Bay during the Battle of Earth.

#### Mission to Epsilon 2

Main article: Battle of Epsilon 2
Claire's skills would be put to the test one week into her transfer to the Orville on a resupply mission to the Epsilon Science Station on Epsilon 2. Claire joined Ed, Kelly, and Alara to speak to Doctor Aronov. Aronov was adamant that the Krill were interested in stealing a *quantum accelerator*, a device which could accelerate the flow of time, for themselves. They were interrupted by Doctor Derek Ashton, a lab technician and undercover Krill operative, who took Claire hostage. She was rescued by Alara, who distracted and subdued Derek.

Derek had already called for Krill support, and a cloaked Krill destroyer emerged from hiding to raid the facility. Faced with two teams of Krill soldiers, Claire and the others battled their way to their shuttle and returned to the Orville. Along the way, she treated Ed for a shoulder wound. The experience solidified her place as both a valuable medic and a practiced voice of reason for the crew.

#### Mission to the Bio-ship

Main article: If the Stars Should Appear
The senior officers had not yet needed Claire for her medical abilities aside from basic treatment. That would change two months after the battle at Epsilon 2 when Claire was again sent on an away mission, this time to visit a mysterious bio-ship adrift in space.

When the team entered the massive ship, communications with the Orville were blocked. Alara was shot by a bio-ship officer. With no easy way back to the Orville, a crisis erupted. Claire was able to treat the wound using her Foreign Object Retractor and dermoscanner from her Medical Kit, and saved Alara's life.

#### Search for Lewis and Tom

Main article: Majority RuleIn late 2419, Claire's close friend Lewis went missing during an undercover assignment with fellow researcher Tom on Sargus 4. Union command was unable to re-establish communication with the pair. She joined a search team in the winter of 2420. Unfortunately, the team was too late. Tom was killed by a Sargun Department of Corrections guard attempting to flee Social Correction, a dramatic neurological operation similar to a frontal lobotomy. Claire was devastated when she finally finds Lewis: he had been "corrected," his personality erased and mind forever altered, and the old friend as she knew him gone.

### Shuttle crash and kidnapping

Main article: Into the Fold
Claire had proven her worth as a doctor and a capable fighter, but her greatest test came six months into working on the USS *Orville*. Wanting to spend more time with her sons, Marcus and Ty, she planned a vacation to Arboreus Prime. The trio left the Orville in January or early February 2420 in a shuttle piloted by Isaac. However, *en route* to Arboreus, an uncharted spatial fold sent the shuttle into an unknown area of the galaxy, the shuttle crashing into a nearby moon.

### Survival

> *Hey, baby. I heard you weren't feeling so great. Mama got held up, but I'm coming. You just hang on, okay?*— Claire comforting Ty Finn
>
>

Claire was separated from the others during the crash. Drogen, a survivalist, discovered her unconscious and carried her back to his compound. The moon's nations had recently been at war, and one side poisoned the water supply with *poloxus*. Drogen had foreseen the attack and stockpiled food and weapons in his fortified compound. He refused to allow Claire to leave, and she became Drogen's prisoner.

Claire injured herself to send Drogen to the crash site in search of antibiotics. Meanwhile, she scoured the facility and found a knife. She stabbed Drogen when he returned; later shooting and killing him with his own handgun. With Drogen dead, Claire recovered her comscanner and rejoined Isaac and her children. The four sufficiently repaired the shuttle to hail the Orville for rescue. Meanwhile, other inhabitants of the moon were alerted to the noise. Driven to cannibalism through sheer starvation, the inhabitants attempted to kill and eat the four. Using PM-44s set to stun, Claire and Marcus drove their attackers away.

#### Aftermath

The Orville rescued Claire and the others. The experience marked a transformative moment between Isaac and the Finn family, as Claire's relationship with Isaac grew into a friendship over their first six months together on the *Orville*.

### New Horizons

#### Isaac's suicide

In 2422, one year after the Battle, Isaac committed "suicide" after being bullied for so long by the *Orville*'s crew.

#### An Old Flame Returns

In order for the Union to explore Krill space, Claire's ex-husband, Christie, was chosen as the main diplomat.

#### Marriage to Isaac

Claire married Isaac after the Kaylon conflict ended.

## Alternate timelines

Main article: Alternate timeline
In the original timeline, Claire was killed - along with the rest of the Orville - in a dark matter storm in the fall of 2420.

In an alternate timeline where Kelly does not date Ed, Claire never served aboard the Orville. She had joined because she wanted to assist an inexperienced captain, but Ed never became captain of the Orville. Instead, the highly experienced Griffith took command, so Claire joined Outpost 73 in late 2419 instead.

In January 2421, Claire and her sons visited Arboreus 1 for vacation, which was cut short by an outbreak of Betelgeusean flu back at Outpost 73. While the Jefferson traveled to the outpost, Kelly resigned her commission. Kelly and her husband, Cassius, persuaded Claire to join them in an attempt to find crew members of the Orville from the original timeline.

When the trio disembarked at Outpost 73 in February 2421, they quickly secured a scavenger ship. Unbeknownst to them, the Kaylon destroyed the Planetary Union in the Battle of Earth. Several Spheres attacked the outpost, killing Cassius, but Kelly, Claire, and the children managed to flee.

After the Battle of Earth where most of humanity was destroyed by the Kaylon, Claire and her children joined a scavenger ship with Kelly, Talla Keyali, Ed, Gordon Malloy, John LaMarr, and Bortus. The crew sent Claire seven years back in time to Kelly to correct the timeline. She was successful and vanished.

## Relationships

### Yaphit

After Claire's arrival at the *Orville*, Lieutenant Yaphit developed a profound romantic interest in her, often singing to her with a guitar or giving her gifts. Claire, on the other hand, found Yaphit's persistent wooing to be uncomfortable and annoying.

In November 2419, Yaphit began feigning illness as an excuse to meet Claire in Sick Bay and ask her out on a date, which he attempted three times over the span of a week. When she turned him down, he made a crude sexual pass and she angrily demanded he leave. His persistence grated on Claire, eventually she threatened Yaphit with a formal complaint, if he continued his inappropriate behavior.

In February 2420, Yaphit returned to romancing Claire. He brought a guitar, flowers, and refused to leave without a date. However, Yaphit had bumped into Darulio on his way to see Claire. Unbeknownst to Yaphit and Claire, Darulio as a Retepsian produced powerful pheromones that sparked sexual attraction between carrier and recipient. Yaphit transmitted the pheromones to Claire, creating a powerful romantic and sexual interest in Claire towards Yaphit.

Claire and Yaphit began a sexual relationship lasting several days until the pheromones wore off. During that time, Claire grew increasingly obsessed with the engineer. She later told Chief of Security Alara Kitan: "I just never gave him a chance. But when I finally allowed myself to take down my walls, I realized what an idiot I've been. Yaphit and I are soul mates."

Her obsession grew dangerous during the Navarian-Bruidian conflict, keeping Yaphit at gunpoint from erecting a special barrier between the Navarians and Bruidian war fleets. Claire avoided punishment as she was under the overwhelming influence of alien pheromones, but Yaphit left Claire alone after the incident.

By the time of Claire's wedding to Isaac, Yaphit had made peace the idea. He attended the wedding, raising no objections and applauding along with everyone else when the two were wed.

### Isaac

> *You're willing to give up everything you've experienced for me?
> If you wish.
> Some people would call that love.*— Claire Finn and Isaac
>
>

When Claire and Isaac first met in September 2419, Claire resented his sense of intellectual superiority. "You harbor prejudice against artificial life-forms," Isaac later remarked. She answered, "Only against life-forms that think they're better than everyone else." When Isaac affirmed that he *is* better than everyone else, Claire sarcastically diagnosed, "Oh, and so modest." Further, she disliked that Isaac presumed to offer parenting tips when he was artificial and incapable of parenthood.

After Isaac, Claire, and her sons were rescued in late February 2420, Claire develops feelings for Isaac. The Kaylon officer had protected Marcus and Ty on the moon, and had done his best to comfort them. In a private conversation between the two, Claire noted her sons now adore Isaac and said, "Welcome to the family."

The two continued to work together. In December 2420, Isaac corrected Claire's paper on nanosynthesis in Xelayan tissue regeneration, brought her a banana, and noticed that she changed her hair style. "When I'm with him... we get along very well. I feel warmth."

Claire asked Isaac out to the Union Symphony followed by dinner in the Environmental Simulator. The first date was a dud; Isaac downloaded all information about her from the Orville's files, and Claire did not feel "excitement" without getting to know each other. After Isaac woke her up with a cake at 3:00 a.m., Claire told him that she "reached out in the wrong direction."

Isaac deleted his information on Claire and attempted a second dinner date - complete with a simulated Human body. Claire was enamored: "He figured out a way to say, 'I'm trying. Let me try.'" The two slept together. Shortly after, Isaac convincds Claire to end the relationship by acting selfishly.

Isaac began to malfunction following the breakup, realizing (in a certain way) he had fallen in love. To win Claire back, he called her to the Bridge, set the ship's environmental controls to "rain," and played "Singing in the Rain." He apologized and stated that he is better with her than without her, and the two returned to the simulator for dinner at her favorite restaurant on Earth.

The two began dating and, about a month later, announced their relationship to Marcus and Ty. Isaac suddenly de-activated and was returned to Kaylon 1. Upon reactivation, he announced his return to the Kaylon and their brief relationship dissolved. In the aftermath of the Battle of Earth, Claire stated that she will one day forgive him.

Claire was deeply disturbed when, in 2422, Isaac committed suicide after her son Marcus graffitied the Astrophysics Lab in which he worked with the word "MURDERER." Later, when Isaac was revived using a backup module, she came to him and asked him how he was feeling. When he told her that his internal systems were functioning within standard parameters, she asked him directly why had tried to commit suicide. He told her that he felt his presence was a detriment to the crew, having caused them distress, and that he was trying to restore maximum operational output.

She asked him if there was no part of himself that felt a sting from being ostracized, shouting that he had tried to kill himself and she needed to know he wouldn't do it again. She decided that she needed to approach things more logically. She asked if he agreed that her judgment as a medical professional was superior to his when it came to human behavior. He agreed that it was and she told him that if this was so, he had to accept her assertion that the psychological damage to the crew would have been much greater if he had succeeded in taking his own life. She explained that he could not account for how people would feel in the future and that those who attempt their own lives are unable to distinguish future from present, that there is no problem so immense it can't be solved in time. She warned him to come to her first if he ever had thoughts of suicide again, telling him that she was glad he was still there.

Following the transformation of Claire's ex-husband, Paul Christie, into a member of an unknown alien species, Isaac came to her. He noted that he had observed that when a member of the Orville's crew endured a traumatic occurrence, members of their immediate social construct would come to them, asking how they were doing. He asked about Claire's well-being and offered his condolences. He told Claire that he and Paul had talked about her as their shared history of social and sexual intimacy provided a common frame of reference. Claire chuckled at this, stating that she had missed him. She then invited him to sit and he accepted.

Later that year, Claire was called upon after Bortus and Klydens' son, Topa, requested a sex change procedure to again become female after a similar procedure had been performed as a child to change his gender from female to male. She was prepared to perform the procedure, over the objections of Klyden, only for the Planetary Union to forbid the procedure on the basis that inflame relations with Moclans at a time when the Union was already facing a grave threat from the Kaylons. Claire then suggested a workaround, that she could resign her commission and perform the procedure anyway, as it would not be a violation of orders if the procedure was done by somebody not within the Union and would allow the Moclans to save face.

Before Claire could resign, however, Isaac volunteered to instead perform the procedure in her place. He noted that he himself was not a Union officer. When it was objected that he was not a doctor, he pointed out that as an artificial lifeform, he was physically capable of performing the surgery. As such, Isaac was permitted to go ahead with the procedure. Afterwards, Claire met with Isaac, telling him that he had done a good thing. She told him that Topa was very grateful, asking if this perhaps meant something to him. He replied that it did not, stating he had not performed the procedure for Topa's benefit. When she asked him to clarify, he explained that his presence on the ship was still regarded as a disruptive element and that by performing the procedure, he could increase his own standing among the crew and therefore improve their efficiency. "And maybe they'd also like you a little more," she commented. He admitted this was possible and she told him that he was the most honest man she knew. She asked if he wanted to have dinner and he agreed.

At some point following this, the crew of the Orville made an unexpected discovery: a Kaylon named Timmis and a scientist, Doctor Villka. Villka had discovered Timmis on a scientific expedition to Sitular 4, a survivor of the Battle of Earth. Timmis was badly injured and Villka not only repaired him, but also modified him to feel emotions. This caused him to become deeply remorseful for the Kaylons' actions during the Battle of Earth. Timmis offered Isaac the opportunity to undergo the same modification. Claire, however, was stunned when Isaac reported this to and the fact that he had decided not to go through with it, feeling that the modification would serve no advantage to effective performance of his duties.

Claire was stunned at his attitude, as she had recently taken steps towards resuming her relationship with him, even going so far as to ask him to call her "Claire" instead of "Dr. Finn." She sought out Kelly Grayson, telling her that every problem between her and Isaac stemmed from the fact that he couldn't feel. She told her that she felt like a horrible person for telling Isaac that he wasn't enough as he was. Kelly, however, shared that she felt that she had to bear some responsibility for the fact that her relationship with Ed failed because she had never really asked him to change. She told Claire that she was afraid that if she had asked him and he didn't, that would be a true rejection. She told Claire that part of mutual sacrifice in a relationship was asking your partner do things that maybe they didn't want to do. Claire then agreed that she and Isaac were, in fact, in a relationship.

Claire then went to Isaac, asking him to undergo the modification. She told him to think of it as a way to collect more data, saying that he might find he had been missing out on the most profound experience of his life. Shortly afterwards, Claire was in her quarters, when she received a gift box addressed to her and containing a stunning red dress. She donned the dress and proceeded to meet Isaac for dinner in the Environmental Simulator. There, he was in his human form and smiled at her, clearly something different about him.

He told her that he had, in fact, undergone the modification, saying that it was wonderful to see her. He described the experience of emotions as immense, enveloping and terrible, saying that he had felt the hunger of waiting to see her. He felt it overwhelming, and was thankful for her and her smile, yet at the same time felt sad for everyone who had to live without her. He told her that he loved her and she said she had always hoped. He told her it was terrifying he almost chose not do this and stated he never wanted to go back to the way he was. He told her he wanted to be a parent to Marcus and Ty and would make up for the past. The two then danced to a romantic jazz song, but then suddenly Isaac stopped.

Confused, Claire asked him what was wrong. He told her that it was gone, that there seemed to be a malfunction in the neural modification and that he could no longer feel. The two went to Villka, and discovered the cause of the malfunction. It turns out that as a second-generation Kaylon, Isaac's systems were programmed to regulate his processors, rejecting the modification. She explained that they could reset them, but the same thing would just happen again. Timmis suggested they could downgrade him to the original programming. Villka agreed that they could do so, but in order to accomplish this, they would have to completely erase Isaac's memory. Isaac immediately stated that he would allow this if it was a necessary relationship compromise. Claire was stunned that he would be willing to give up his entire life experiences for her, saying that some would call that love. She likened it to having a choice between his heart or his soul. She told him that she would not let him give up who he was, that it was who she had fallen in love with. Upset, but determined, she left.

Following the conclusion of the Kaylon conflict, Isaac proposed to Claire which she ultimately accepted and they got married with all of their friends present and even the Kaylon as well.

## Personality

> *I'm not gonna whisper the right answers in your ear, but I'll try to be your Obi-Wan however I can.*— Claire to Alara Kitan
>
>

Doctor Finn was a strong-willed, independent mother and a career-minded Medical Officer. Almost immediately after meeting Captain Ed Mercer for the first time, he put her on the defensive by saying, "You don't think I have the balls to do this job." Claire shot back, "Well, I am your doctor, sir, and if your balls are under par, I'll know." In an alternate timeline, it's shown that Ed was the reason she joined the crew in the first place as she felt he would need her help and she only wanted to work somewhere that she would be needed.

As the oldest member of the senior staff, Claire often serves informally as a ship's therapist. Alara, the youngest senior officer, especially seeks out Claire for guidance. Claire consoles Bortus through a difficult time in his marriage to Klyden as well.

Claire is a woman of science. When she visits the Epsilon Science Station, she is the crewmember most fascinated by the facility's tremendous scientific advances, in particular its quantum accelerator. For all of Claire's talents as a therapist, she often struggles to understand why people choose emotionally satisfying options over factually-based ones.

### Mother of Marcus and Ty

Claire is a loving, doting mother, but at times is frustrated by her children's antics. "Nobody told me it would be this bad," she complains about Marcus' combativeness. "It seems he hates me for no reason." Claire cared deeply for both Marcus and Ty, as well as their future well-being. When Isaac approached her with a proposal of marriage, she was at first troubled, worried among other things what Isaac, who theoretically could survive indefinitely, would do upon her death. She was deeply touched when he told her that he would, among other things, continue to monitor the well-being of both Marcus and Ty, as well as her many descendants.

### Relationship with the crew

Claire's relationship with Second Officer Bortus is tenser, and the two are prone to heated disagreement. In November, 2419, he requests that she perform a sex reassignment surgery on his newborn daughter, a request Claire finds reprehensible. She refuses on the grounds that to perform the operation would violate her Hippocratic Oath. Later that, she is called to testify in a subsequent trial addressing whether to order or enjoin Moclan doctors from performing the operation.

## Production

    Creator Seth MacFarlane invented the character of Claire Finn with Penny Johnson Jerald in mind, and intended Jerald to portray her. Claire was written as a combination of Kasidy Yates-Sisko from *Star Trek: Deep Space Nine*, Beverly Barnes from *The Larry Sanders Show*, and Sherry Palmer from *24* - all characters Jerald had played.

According to supervising producer André Bormanis, Claire's wisdom and wit function as a literary tool to enable other characters to discover solutions to problems. Jerald later described Claire as "the Orville's conscience adult. She has a tongue sharpened with wisdom and fortitude."

MacFarlane aimed for Claire to serve as "the adult of the group," although initial drafting of Claire was spartan and not detailed. In the original pilot script, she is described only as a black woman in her 40s. Actress Penny Johnson Jerald, who portrays Claire, says that she envisions her character as a funny and wise officer with an attitude, calling her "the sage with sass." Later, she said that Claire is an extension of her personality, a level-headed adult in times of crises.

Claire's wig was designed by hair department head Maxine Morris in consultation with Howard Berger, make-up department head for Season 1. In early episodes, Claire wore a wig with a short taper at the neck, no bangs, and a green streak extension added to compliment her uniform. After a few episodes, Morris switched to a wig with bangs but the extension was kept for continuity.

## Trivia

* "Claire" is the French form of the Latin name "Clara", which means "clear". "Finn" is an Irish surname derived from the given name "Fionn", which means "fair, white" in Old Irish.
* Claire's middle initial is revealed to be "J." in *A Happy Refrain*, but what it stands for is still unknown.
* In the episode *If the Stars Should Appear*, Claire reveals that she suffers from near-debilitating *acrophobia*, a fear of heights, and grabs Isaac's hand for comfort. In the episode *Into the Fold*, she is forced to overcome her fear when she has to escape from Drogen's compound. Later, Isaac holds her hand to comfort her.
* While she seems to enjoy giving advice, Claire does not enjoy being placed in command of the ship.
* She hates the planet Moclus because "they've completely industrialized the entire surface. It's amazing they can even breathe."
* She is able to quote the works of Ralph Waldo Emerson extensively.
* Alara fights an evil version of Claire in the Environmental Simulator. She kills a simulated Nurse Henry Park and attempts to kill Alara.
	+ Isaac programmed the evil simulation of Claire based on Helmsman Gordon Malloy's fear of surgery.
* Claire does not attend Chief Engineer Steve Newton's farewell party when he transfers to a space station because she has to work.
* Perhaps out of dedication to her career in medicine, Doctor Finn has a green streak of hair on her left side at the front, the color of the Medical section of the Planetary Union.
* Living aboard a space vessel away from Earth, Claire misses rain the most.
* Claire's favorite food is potato cakes.
* Her favorite movie is film *Mind of Hermes*.
* Her favorite vacation spot is Saint Lucia.
* Her favorite drink is champagne.
* Her favorite animal is the dolphin.
* Prior to Penny Johnson Jerald's casting as Claire on *The Orville,* she portrayed Kasidy Yates on *Star Trek: Deep Space Nine*, where she dated and eventually married Captain Benjamin Sisko, who was the Emissary of The Prophets on Bajor, or simply, "The Emissary." Coincidentally, Claire's love interest on *The Orville*, Isaac, also has a known alias as "The Emissary."
* Claire Finn was born in Baltimore, Maryland, the same location as the birthplace of her actress, Penny Johnson Jerald.
* In late 2420, she leads couples counseling between Second Officer Bortus and Klyden.
* She wears a red or pink band around her wrist under her uniform sleeves which can be seen in *Firestorm*.
* The long jacket she wears on duty is similar to Doctor Beverly Crusher's own duty jacket, from *Star Trek: The Next Generation*.
* Jerald believes that Claire's marriage to Isaac in Season 3 was the result of Seth MacFarlane realizing their relationship was a favorite among fans.
* Her family's quarters was on Deck B.

## Gallery

Claire investigates the bio-ship.Claire is fascinated by a quantum accelerator developed by researchers of the Epsilon Science Station.S2 promotional stillTomilin guides Captain Ed Mercer, Claire, and Science Officer Isaac to the hideout of the Reformers on the bio-ship.After a disastrous shuttle crash on a moon in uncharted space, Claire finds herself a captive of Drogen.Claire in a stunning red dress gifted to her by IsaacYaphit gives Claire a tour of his apartment. Claire, under the influence of powerful Retepsian pheromones, is dressed to the nines to attract Yaphit.A recreation of Claire's favorite restaurant in the Environmental Simulator.
## Appearances

* *Episode 1x01: Old Wounds*
* *Episode 1x02: Command Performance*
* *Episode 1x03: About a Girl*
* *Episode 1x04: If the Stars Should Appear*
* *Episode 1x05: Pria*
* *Episode 1x06: Krill*
* *Episode 1x07: Majority Rule*
* *Episode 1x08: Into the Fold*
* *Episode 1x09: Cupid's Dagger*
* *Episode 1x10: Firestorm*
* *Episode 1x11: New Dimensions*
* *Episode 1x12: Mad Idolatry*
* *Episode 1.5x01: New Beginnings, Pt. 1*
* *Episode 1.5x03: The Word of Avis, Pt. 1*
* *Episode 1.5x04: The Word of Avis, Pt. 2*
* *Episode 2x01: Ja'loja*
* *Episode 2x02: Primal Urges*
* *Episode 2x03: Home*
* *Episode 2x04: Nothing Left on Earth Excepting Fishes*
* *Episode 2x05: All the World is Birthday Cake*
* *Episode 2x06: A Happy Refrain*
* *Episode 2x07: Deflectors*
* *Episode 2x08: Identity*
* *Episode 2x09: Identity, Pt. 2*
* *Episode 2x10: Blood of Patriots*
* *Episode 2x11: Lasting Impressions*
* *Episode 2x12: Sanctuary*
* *Episode 2x13: Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow*
* *Episode 2x14: The Road Not Taken*
* *Episode 2.5x01: Launch Day, Pt. 1*
* *Episode 2.5x02: Launch Day, Pt. 2*
* *Episode 2.5x03: Heroes, Pt. 1*
* *Episode 2.5x04: Heroes, Pt. 2*
* *Episode 2.5x05: Digressions, Pt. 1*
* *Episode 2.5x06: Digressions, Pt. 2*
* *Episode 2.5x07: Artifacts, Pt. 1*
* *Episode 2.5x08: Artifacts, Pt. 2*
* *Episode 3x01: Electric Sheep*
* *Episode 3x02: Shadow Realms*
* *Episode 3x03: Mortality Paradox*
* *Episode 3x04: Gently Falling Rain*
* *Episode 3x05: A Tale of Two Topas*
* *Episode 3x06: Twice in a Lifetime*
* *Episode 3x07: From Unknown Graves*
* *Episode 3x08: Midnight Blue*
* *Sympathy for the Devil*
* *Episode 3x09: Domino*
* *Episode 3x10: Future Unknown*

## Notes

1. ↑ The year 2409 is merely a guess based on Marcus Finn's age. Episode 1x08: Into the Fold
2. ↑ Finn can be found on the Bridge during the ship's first departure under Captain Mercer, and during a battle with a Krill destroyer outside the planet Epsilon 2. Episode 1x01: Old Wounds.
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Finn advises and comforts Alara Kitan, whom was acting commander at the time. Episode 1x02: Command Performance.
4. ↑  After playing a song, and confessing his love, Claire fed up, threatens to file a formal complaint. Episode 1x09: Cupid's Dagger
5. ↑ When Ed and Kelly are kidnapped by Calivon zookeepers in October, 2419, 23-year-old Alara is placed in the Captain's chair. However, due to a series of command missteps, the ship is badly damaged and many people hurt. Alara sees her own inexperience as inability to lead and requests Claire to remove her from command. Claire refuses. She acknowledges that Alara may have made a mistake, even one that hurt their own crew, but that Alara learned from her error and is fit to command. The Doctor agrees to advise Alara more often in the future. Later, when Alara must decide whether to follow orders from Planetary Union Central not to rescue the missing commanders, Claire refused to decide for Alara, but simply clarified the problem so that she could better choose for herself. Episode 1x02: Command Performance
6. ↑ When the Reformers explain that, even after presented with proof that Hamelac's government is based on untruths, the Dorahlian people would refuse to accept it, Claire does not understand why people would prefer a comforting lie over the truth. Episode 1x04: If the Stars Should Appear.
7. ↑ Claire thinks that people of Sargus 4 could fact-check manipulative posts uploaded by the Orville onto the planet's Master Feed, but Lysella says, "Don't worry. They won't." Episode 1x07: Majority Rule
8. ↑ In a dream of Marcus Finn, he accesses his quarters on the same floor as the Mess Hall. Episode 3x01: Electric Sheep

## References

1. ↑ Middle initial "J." is revealed in "A Happy Refrain".
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 Episode 1x01: Old Wounds
3. ↑ **Claire Finn**: "I hear my mother's words in my head: 'Be open-minded, but not so open-minded your brain falls out.'" Episode 2x06: A Happy Refrain
4. ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 4.12 4.13 4.14 Episode 2x06: A Happy Refrain
5. ↑ Episode 1x07: Majority Rule
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Episode 1x08: Into the Fold
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Episode 3x02: Shadow Realms
8. ↑ Episode 1x01: Old Wounds
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Episode 1x02: Command Performance
10. ↑ Episode 2x09: Identity, Pt. 2
11. ↑ Episode 1x08: Into the Fold
12. ↑ Episode 1x05: Pria
13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Digressions, Pt. 1
14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Digressions, Pt. 2
15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Episode 2x14: The Road Not Taken
16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 Episode 1x03: About a Girl
17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 Episode 1x09: Cupid's Dagger
18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 Episode 3x10: Future Unknown
19. ↑ From Unknown Graves
20. ↑ **Claire Finn**: "I think it's been brewing since the shuttle crash." Episode 2x06: A Happy Refrain
21. ↑ **Claire Finn**. Episode 2x06: A Happy Refrain
22. ↑ Episode 2x08: Identity, Pt. 1
23. ↑ Episode 3x01: Electric Sheep
24. ↑ Episode 3x05: A Tale of Two Topas
25. ↑ Episode 3x07: From Unknown Graves
26. ↑ Episode 1x02: Command Performance
27. ↑ Episode 2x01: Ja'loja
28. ↑ SciFi Diner Pilots 393 – Our Farpoint Interview with Penny Johnson Jerald (The orville, Star Trek: DS9, 24). SciFi Diner Podcast. Aug. 16, 2020.
29. ↑ DesJardines, Jordan. "NYCC 2017: What’s Up Doc? Penny Johnson Jerald Talks ‘The Orville’". *ScienceFiction.com*. Oct. 13, 2017.
30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 Bond, Jeff. *The World of the Orville*. Titan Books. 2018. Pg. 42.
31. ↑ "Inside Look In 360° | Season 1 | THE ORVILLE". Fox. Sept. 1, 2017.
32. ↑ MacFarlane, Seth. Orville 1x01 - Pilot. *Fox Broadcasting Co.*
33. ↑ DesJardins, Jordan. "NYCC 2017: What’s Up Doc? Penny Johnson Jerald Talks ‘The Orville’". *ScienceFiction.com*. Oct. 13, 2017.
34. ↑ Berger, Howard & Maxine Morris. "Space and Beyond". *The Artisan*. 2018.
35. ↑ Episode 1x04: If the Stars Should Appear
36. ↑ 36.0 36.1 Episode 1x10: Firestorm
37. ↑ Episode 1x11: New Dimensions
38. ↑ Episode 2x02: Primal Urges
39. ↑ Inside The Orville Finale | PENNY JOHNSON JERALD UNCUT. Talking The Orville. Aug. 10, 2022.