Human

Ed Mercer, the human captain on board the USS Orville

> *I would like to speak with you about the humans."
> "Oh, aren't they wonderful? They're brand-new. The visitors are loving them.*— Isaac and Calivon Administrator
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**Humans** were a quantum drive-capable species native to the planet Earth in the Sol system and a central member of the Planetary Union.

While humanity of Old Earth was characterized by war, slavery, religious conflict, and capitalism, humanity by the 25th century was post-religious and had entered post-economic scarcity; money was no longer used in exchange for goods and services since the advent of matter synthesis, and most humans were non-religious. Humanity in the 29th century achieved the ability to traverse time through the use of wormholes.

Humans were a voting member of the Planetary Union Council, which made their position one of the most politically important within the Union.

Humans made up the majority of the crew on board the USS *Orville*.

## History

During the period that history would later refer to as "Old Earth," humans kept animal species in zoos and enjoyed reality shows. The passage of time made much of this knowledge fragmented though elements of culture persisted into the 25th century. During this period, human society was divided into multiple nation states before they unified under a single planetary government. Specific historical and geographical facts regarding this era were lost to time and not considered common knowledge by the 25th century.

Humans became part of the Planetary Union at some point and rose to prominence in the organization becoming a great presence in Union society. In spite of this, the Xelayans derisively regarded humans as "the hillbillies of the galaxy".

## Biology

Humans were a bipedal species and look outwardly identical to the Sarguns, native species of Kandar 1, and the Nyxians.

Humans were substantially weaker and less durable than Xelayans, Moclans, and Kaylons.

## Culture

Humans of Earth continued to own cats, dogs, and hamsters, as domesticated pets, but zoos were seen as barbaric. The British tale Peter Rabbit remained a common bedtime story for children.

Humans enjoyed bowling and backgammon for recreation.

Cigarettes were abandoned in Old Earth and, according to Claire, "no one has smoked on Earth in hundreds of years."

Neither phones nor phone numbers were used.

### Cuisine

Most foods and drinks widely enjoyed in the 20th century were enjoyed in the 25th as well, such as hamburgers, fries, sushi, scotch, Chardonnay wine, champagne, whiskey, bourbon, potato cakes, cake, popcorn, Twinkies, grilled-cheese sandwiches, and soda-pop.

* Beer and cannabis edibles were consumed by some, such as Gordon Malloy and Kelly Grayson, to calm the nerves.
* Ice cream was a "depression food," and rocky road was the flavor most consumed.
* M&M's and pretzels continued to be favored snacks. Ed Mercer even ordered Bortus to keep pretzels on the Briefing Room table for guests.
* Pizza, including pepperoni pizza, was an Earth delicacy favored for celebrations or just a midday meal.

### Economy and post-scarcity

Well before the 25th century, Union planets including Earth entered into a post-scarcity age where most resources were no longer hoarded and money became a thing of the past. This was implied to have occurred sometime in the 23rd century.

Kelly explained that money "became obsolete with the invention of matter synthesis." However, she was careful to note that vices such as greed and ambition had not vanished:

> *The predominant currency became reputation. The only thing that changed was how we quantify wealth. People still want to be rich, only now rich means being the best at what you do.*
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When asked by the Regorians how society functioned without money, Doctor Claire Finn answered, "We decided a long time ago that forcing people to toil relentlessly in the pursuit of material wealth was an unnatural state for our species to exist in."

Food and matter were generated from stock material through matter synthesis. Food and matter synthesizers helped usher the Union into its post-economy, although items that could not be synthesized, such as unique goods, continued to be valuable even in the distant future.

### Education

Modern humans continued the education system of Old Earth, including high school and first through eighth grades. After graduation from high school, students could enroll as cadets in Union Point.

### Entertainment

Humans of the 25th century mixed artistic achievements of the past with the present.

Television shows like *Seinfeld*, the songs of Bruce Springsteen, and movies like *Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer,* *The King and I*, and *The Sound of Music* were treasured as "classics" but American reality television programming and the music of Billy Joel were forgotten by all but media aficionados.

Humans often peppered references to media from Old Earth in their conversations, even though those references were usually lost on non-humans. For example, Doctor Claire Finn told Chief of Security Alara Kitan that she would advise Alara as "her Obi-Wan," referring to the *Star Wars* film franchise. Alara, a Xelayan, did not understand Claire's reference.

Reality shows had also died out by the 25th century; Gordon Malloy referred to the era in which they were produced in as "a dark time."

### Fashion

Humans continued to wear watches as an accessory.

### Religion

By the 25th century, humanity had become a post-religious society, abandoning spirituality as technology progresses and secular ethics supplant the need for dogma. Teleya even called the Planetary Union "godless." However, some humans adopted religious beliefs independent of society as a whole, such as Celeste, Karx, Franz, and Doctor Darden.

Some Old Earth religious phrases like "go to hell" remained common in the 25th century, but had lost their meaning by the 29th.

## Trivia

* According to Ildis Kitan humans are the "hillbillies of the galaxy." Whether that is a widely held view of the Xelayans or just his opinion is unknown.
* Three non-human characters have disguised themselves as humans: Isaac, a Kaylon, and Yaphit, a Gelatin, appeared as humans in *A Happy Refrain*, and Teleya, a Krill, took the persona of Janel Tyler.
	+ It is strongly implied in *Home* that Alara Kitan, a Xelayan, wanted to be human.
* Gordon implies that crack cocaine is still used.

## Notable humans

* Aronov - Director of the Epsilon Science Station
* Cassius - Schoolteacher on the USS *Orville* and Kelly's boyfriend in late 2420
* Celeste - Convert to the Krill religion
* Claire Finn
* Darden - Xenoanthropologist who converted to the Krill religion after studying the Anhkana
* Ed Mercer
* Gordon Malloy
* Tom Halsey - Admiral of the Planetary Union
* Janice Lee - Inventor of the quantum accelerator
* John LaMarr
* Kelly Grayson
* Marcos - Captain of the USS *Roosevelt*
* Marcus Finn
* Ozawa - Admiral
* Orrin Channing - Union officer, escapee from the Krill, and vigilante terrorist
* Perry - Admiral
* Pria Lavesque - Time-traveling thief from the 29th century
* Sherman - Historian
* Steve Newton
* Tucker - Admiral
* Ty Finn

## Notes

1. ↑ Claire Finn states that this change occurred "long ago." Episode 2x05: All the World is Birthday Cake
2. ↑ Ed Mercer: "According to our history of Alibar, they didn't use money for over a century."

Kelly Grayson: "*Just like Earth*. Once there were synthesizers you didn't need it." Episode 2.5x01: Launch Day, Pt. 1 (italics added)
3. ↑ Gordon Malloy: "Is this, like, one of those crack house ships I've been hearing about?" Episode 2x14: The Road Not Taken

## References

1. ↑ Episode 1x02: Command Performance
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Episode 2x12: Sanctuary
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Episode 1x07: Majority Rule
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Episode 1x10: Firestorm
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Episode 1x11: New Dimensions
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Episode 1x05: Pria
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Episode 1x02: Command Performance
8. ↑ Episode 1x08: Into the Fold
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Episode 2x01: Ja'loja
10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Episode 2x11: Lasting Impressions
11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 Episode 1.5x02: New Beginnings, Pt. 2
12. ↑ Episode 1x06: Krill
13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 13.5 13.6 13.7 Episode 2x04: Nothing Left on Earth Excepting Fishes
14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Episode 2x05: All the World is Birthday Cake
15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Episode 2x10: Blood of Patriots
16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 16.4 Episode 2x06: A Happy Refrain
17. ↑ Episode 2x14: The Road Not Taken
18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 Episode 1x01: Old Wounds
19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Episode 1x04: If the Stars Should Appear
20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Episode 1x09: Cupid's Dagger
21. ↑ Episode 2x02: Primal Urges
22. ↑ Episode 2x09: Identity, Pt. 2
23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 Episode 1x03: About a Girl
24. ↑ *See generally* Episode 1x06: Krill
25. ↑ Episode 1.5x03: The Word of Avis, Pt. 1