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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!

Binge this in 1d 8h•Peaking at 8.4/10

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

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    The Orville Season 2 Episode 9 - Identity (2)
    8.4/10(48 votes)

    #1 - Identity (2)

    S2:E9

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

    Director:Jon Cassar
    Writer:Seth MacFarlane

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  2. The Orville Season 2 Episode 8 - Identity (1)
    8.3/10(48 votes)

    #2 - Identity (1)

    S2:E8

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

    Director:Jon Cassar
    Writers:Brannon Braga, André Bormanis

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  3. The Orville Season 2 Episode 11 - Lasting Impressions
    8.2/10(49 votes)

    #3 - Lasting Impressions

    S2:E11

    The Orville crew members open a time capsule from 2015.

    Director:Kelly Cronin
    Writer:Seth MacFarlane

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  4. The Orville Season 3 Episode 9 - Domino
    8.0/10(33 votes)

    #4 - Domino

    S3:E9

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

    Director:Jon Cassar
    Writers:Brannon Braga, André Bormanis

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  5. The Orville Season 1 Episode 12 - Mad Idolatry
    7.9/10(54 votes)

    #5 - Mad Idolatry

    S1:E12

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

    Director:Brannon Braga
    Writer:Seth MacFarlane

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  6. The Orville Season 2 Episode 6 - A Happy Refrain
    7.8/10(45 votes)

    #6 - A Happy Refrain

    S2:E6

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

    Director:Seth MacFarlane
    Writer:Seth MacFarlane

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    The 20 WORST Episodes of The Orville

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  7. The Orville Season 2 Episode 14 - The Road Not Taken
    7.8/10(40 votes)

    #7 - The Road Not Taken

    S2:E14

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

    Director:Gary S. Rake
    Writer:David A. Goodman

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  8. The Orville Season 2 Episode 4 - Nothing Left on Earth Excepting Fishes
    7.6/10(44 votes)

    #8 - Nothing Left on Earth Excepting Fishes

    S2:E4

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

    Director:Robert Duncan McNeill
    Writers:Brannon Braga, André Bormanis

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  9. The Orville Season 1 Episode 2 - Command Performance
    7.5/10(69 votes)

    #9 - Command Performance

    S1:E2

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

    Director:Robert Duncan McNeill
    Writer:Seth MacFarlane

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  10. The Orville Season 1 Episode 4 - If the Stars Should Appear
    7.5/10(63 votes)

    #10 - If the Stars Should Appear

    S1:E4

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

    Director:James L. Conway
    Writer:Seth MacFarlane

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  11. The Orville Season 1 Episode 6 - Krill
    7.5/10(55 votes)

    #11 - Krill

    S1:E6

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

    Director:Jon Cassar
    Writer:David A. Goodman

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  12. The Orville Season 2 Episode 12 - Sanctuary
    7.5/10(41 votes)

    #12 - Sanctuary

    S2:E12

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

    Director:Jonathan Frakes
    Writer:Joe Menosky

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  13. The Orville Season 2 Episode 13 - Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow
    7.5/10(42 votes)

    #13 - Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow

    S2:E13

    A time distortion affects Ed and Kelly's relationship.

    Director:Gary S. Rake
    Writer:Janet Lin

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  14. The Orville Season 1 Episode 5 - Pria
    7.4/10(57 votes)

    #14 - Pria

    S1:E5

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

    Director:Jonathan Frakes
    Writer:Seth MacFarlane

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  15. The Orville Season 1 Episode 7 - Majority Rule
    7.4/10(56 votes)

    #15 - Majority Rule

    S1:E7

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

    Director:Tucker Gates
    Writer:Seth MacFarlane

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  16. The Orville Season 2 Episode 10 - Blood of Patriots
    7.4/10(44 votes)

    #16 - Blood of Patriots

    S2:E10

    Ed must initiate peace talks with the Krill.

    Director:Rebecca Rodriguez
    Writer:Seth MacFarlane

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  17. The Orville Season 3 Episode 7 - From Unknown Graves
    7.4/10(29 votes)

    #17 - From Unknown Graves

    S3:E7

    The Orville discovers a Kaylon with a very special ability.

    Director:Seth MacFarlane
    Writer:David A. Goodman

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  18. The Orville Season 1 Episode 11 - New Dimensions
    7.3/10(51 votes)

    #18 - New Dimensions

    S1:E11

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

    Director:Kelly Cronin
    Writer:Seth MacFarlane

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  19. The Orville Season 2 Episode 3 - Home
    7.3/10(44 votes)

    #19 - Home

    S2:E3

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

    Director:Jon Cassar
    Writer:Cherry Chevapravatdumrong

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  20. The Orville Season 2 Episode 7 - Deflectors
    7.3/10(42 votes)

    #20 - Deflectors

    S2:E7

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

    Director:Seth MacFarlane
    Writer:David A. Goodman

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  21. The Orville Season 3 Episode 6 - Twice in a Lifetime
    7.3/10(33 votes)

    #21 - Twice in a Lifetime

    S3:E6

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

    Director:Jon Cassar
    Writer:Seth MacFarlane

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  22. The Orville Season 1 Episode 1 - Old Wounds
    7.2/10(91 votes)

    #22 - Old Wounds

    S1:E1

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

    Director:Jon Favreau
    Writer:Seth MacFarlane

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  23. The Orville Season 1 Episode 10 - Firestorm
    7.2/10(50 votes)

    #23 - Firestorm

    S1:E10

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

    Director:Brannon Braga
    Writer:Cherry Chevapravatdumrong

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  24. The Orville Season 2 Episode 1 - Ja'loja
    7.2/10(51 votes)

    #24 - Ja'loja

    S2:E1

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

    Director:Seth MacFarlane
    Writer:Seth MacFarlane

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  25. The Orville Season 3 Episode 4 - Gently Falling Rain
    7.2/10(29 votes)

    #25 - Gently Falling Rain

    S3:E4

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

    Director:Jon Cassar
    Writers:Brannon Braga, André Bormanis

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Best Episodes Summary

"Identity (2)" is the best rated episode of "The Orville". It scored 8.4/10 based on 48 votes. Directed by Jon Cassar and written by Seth MacFarlane, it aired on 2/28/2019. This episode scored 0.1 points higher than the second highest rated, "Identity (1)".