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The Best Episodes of The Orville

Every episode of The Orville ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of The Orville!

Follow the crew of the not-so-functional exploratory ship in the Earth's interstellar fleet, 400 years in the future.
Genres:DramaComedySci-Fi & Fantasy
Networks:FOXHulu

Best Episodes Summary

"Domino" is the best rated episode of "The Orville". It scored 9.1/10 based on 4030 votes. Directed by Jon Cassar and written by Brannon Braga, André Bormanis, it aired on 7/28/2022. This episode scored 0.1 points higher than the second highest rated, "Identity (1)".

  • Domino
    9.1/104,030 votes
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    #1 - Domino

    Season 3 Episode 9 - Aired 7/28/2022

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

    Director: Jon Cassar

    Writer: Brannon Braga, André Bormanis

  • Identity (1)
    9.0/104,633 votes
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    #2 - Identity (1)

    Season 2 Episode 8 - Aired 2/21/2019

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

    Director: Jon Cassar

    Writer: Brannon Braga, André Bormanis

  • Identity (2)
    9.0/104,297 votes
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    #3 - Identity (2)

    Season 2 Episode 9 - Aired 2/28/2019

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

    Director: Jon Cassar

    Writer: Seth MacFarlane

  • Lasting Impressions
    8.8/104,774 votes
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    #4 - Lasting Impressions

    Season 2 Episode 11 - Aired 3/21/2019

    The Orville crew members open a time capsule from 2015.

    Director: Kelly Cronin

    Writer: Seth MacFarlane

  • Twice in a Lifetime
    8.8/103,818 votes
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    #5 - Twice in a Lifetime

    Season 3 Episode 6 - Aired 7/7/2022

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

    Director: Jon Cassar

    Writer: Seth MacFarlane

  • The Road Not Taken
    8.5/102,962 votes
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    #6 - The Road Not Taken

    Season 2 Episode 14 - Aired 4/25/2019

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

    Director: Gary S. Rake

    Writer: David A. Goodman

  • Mad Idolatry
    8.4/103,633 votes
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    #7 - Mad Idolatry

    Season 1 Episode 12 - Aired 12/7/2017

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

    Director: Brannon Braga

    Writer: Seth MacFarlane

  • From Unknown Graves
    8.4/103,008 votes
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    #8 - From Unknown Graves

    Season 3 Episode 7 - Aired 7/14/2022

    The Orville discovers a Kaylon with a very special ability.

    Director: Seth MacFarlane

    Writer: David A. Goodman

  • Gently Falling Rain
    8.3/103,272 votes
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    #9 - Gently Falling Rain

    Season 3 Episode 4 - Aired 6/23/2022

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

    Director: Jon Cassar

    Writer: Brannon Braga, André Bormanis

  • If the Stars Should Appear
    8.2/104,871 votes
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    #10 - If the Stars Should Appear

    Season 1 Episode 4 - Aired 9/28/2017

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

    Director: James L. Conway

    Writer: Seth MacFarlane

  • Majority Rule
    8.2/104,792 votes
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    #11 - Majority Rule

    Season 1 Episode 7 - Aired 10/26/2017

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

    Director: Tucker Gates

    Writer: Seth MacFarlane

  • Nothing Left on Earth Excepting Fishes
    8.2/103,743 votes
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    #12 - Nothing Left on Earth Excepting Fishes

    Season 2 Episode 4 - Aired 1/17/2019

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

    Director: Robert Duncan McNeill

    Writer: Brannon Braga, André Bormanis

  • Sanctuary
    8.2/103,122 votes
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    #13 - Sanctuary

    Season 2 Episode 12 - Aired 4/11/2019

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

    Director: Jonathan Frakes

    Writer: Joe Menosky

  • Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow
    8.2/102,843 votes
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    #14 - Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow

    Season 2 Episode 13 - Aired 4/18/2019

    A time distortion affects Ed and Kelly's relationship.

    Director: Gary S. Rake

    Writer: Janet Lin

  • Home
    8.1/104,025 votes
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    #15 - Home

    Season 2 Episode 3 - Aired 1/10/2019

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

    Director: Jon Cassar

    Writer: Cherry Chevapravatdumrong

  • A Happy Refrain
    8.1/104,121 votes
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    #16 - A Happy Refrain

    Season 2 Episode 6 - Aired 1/31/2019

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

    Director: Seth MacFarlane

    Writer: Seth MacFarlane

  • Midnight Blue
    8.1/103,195 votes
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    #17 - Midnight Blue

    Season 3 Episode 8 - Aired 7/21/2022

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

    Director: Jon Cassar

    Writer: Brannon Braga, André Bormanis

  • Future Unknown
    8.1/102,643 votes
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    #18 - Future Unknown

    Season 3 Episode 10 - Aired 8/4/2022

    A celebration is underway aboard the ship.

    Director: Seth MacFarlane

    Writer: Seth MacFarlane

  • Firestorm
    8.0/103,538 votes
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    #19 - Firestorm

    Season 1 Episode 10 - Aired 11/16/2017

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

    Director: Brannon Braga

    Writer: Cherry Chevapravatdumrong

  • Krill
    7.9/104,191 votes
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    #20 - Krill

    Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 10/12/2017

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

    Director: Jon Cassar

    Writer: David A. Goodman

  • New Dimensions
    7.9/103,115 votes
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    #21 - New Dimensions

    Season 1 Episode 11 - Aired 11/30/2017

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

    Director: Kelly Cronin

    Writer: Seth MacFarlane

  • A Tale of Two Topas
    7.9/104,703 votes
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    #22 - A Tale of Two Topas

    Season 3 Episode 5 - Aired 6/30/2022

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

    Director: Seth MacFarlane

    Writer: Seth MacFarlane

  • Pria
    7.8/104,364 votes
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    #23 - Pria

    Season 1 Episode 5 - Aired 10/5/2017

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

    Director: Jonathan Frakes

    Writer: Seth MacFarlane

  • Cupid's Dagger
    7.8/103,731 votes
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    #24 - Cupid's Dagger

    Season 1 Episode 9 - Aired 11/9/2017

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

    Director: Jamie Babbit

    Writer: Liz Heldens

  • Blood of Patriots
    7.8/102,881 votes
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    #25 - Blood of Patriots

    Season 2 Episode 10 - Aired 3/7/2019

    Ed must initiate peace talks with the Krill.

    Director: Rebecca Rodriguez

    Writer: Seth MacFarlane