s1e3 about a girl (again)
Can someone explain me all the conformance expressed by people replying to this post?
As it is archived, I can't poke them there, so I will poke the conformants here!
They seem to praise abusive cultural values?
Or the praise is about throwing undeniable reality at our face? In a sense that a normal person can do anything against the abuse of the governments?
Because the way they speak there, they seem to agree with the abuse!
I only skimmed the thread, but most people seemed to be praising the ending for not giving us the easy win. It is a total downer of an ending, but it shows that no matter how persuasive your arugments may be, sometimes you can't just undo centuries of repression and prejudice.
I didn't see any comments from people speaking in favor of the Mochlans (though I'm sure there were some in the audience like that unfortunately).
But having the downer ending here cleared the way for us to eventually get some really powerful episodes in season 3 that are much more affirming.
I have just reached s1 end ep, I spoiledly read they go back to this subject later too, thx
Tho, I really missed at least one actor venting emotionally against it. They all like give shoulders up and surgery on her.. giving a feeling it was actually a minor organical problem to that species. In a sense that, it was not like a mutilation, but more like just switching a button.
I'm not sure which comment you are referring to, but If I'm understanding correctly from the rest, they're not praising the abuse, but praising how the story was written. A society that had for generations been indoctrinated into believing something won't simply fall apart and crumble over night. You can't simply march into enemy territory and expect them to sing your morals. It's a realistic approach to writing a society confronting the sins of their indoctrination. Even if one or two people became open-minded, the rest will conform and maintain it. Breaking an indoctrinated society will take years of work and not a single massive revelation will break that stigma open.
I think you're oversimplifying the conflict of the episode. It's not simply about (gov't turning a blind eye to) abuse, but rather, how far can the Union impose it's will and values against a member state.
Just like you can enjoy funny media or awesome media, you can enjoy tragic media, grim media, and horrifying media.
There's a risk with going over content like this, where the story might 'give' the protagonists an unearned outcome, simply because the alternative is too sad, or dark, or clashes with the tone or the characters.
The Orville, 3 episodes in, was shaping up to be a Star Trek parody, and with Seth MacFarlane at the helm, a lot of casual observers assumed it would stay that way. S1ep3 was the first indication that, no, sometimes the story will take a darker turn, and sometimes despite doing everything 'right', the good guys will still lose. It showed the audience that there are always stakes, and that it's not just conventional outcomes that are possible.
Also, to your point, About a Girl completely deflates long established Trek Tropes. The captain gives a moving speech, but no speech is just going to move centuries of social doctrine. They use the science to explain how backwards the Moclan position is, but they refute the science. They eventually bring in proof that their greatest living philosopher is actually a woman, and they DON'T CARE! None of it moves the needle.
Can you imagine a trek episode where Picard, Data and the special guest star completely fail to save the day?
Yeah, that's when I knew i was going to love Orville.
And the real kicker is that it's not shocking in universe: its solemn. This was always the default condition they were trying to fall off.
Victory isn't default. I like yhat
I at first thought the Orville would be Family Guy in space. About a Girl was kind of gut punch, but kind of beautifully tragic. You expect Mercer to save the day. You expect the Moclans to be like yeah we wrong, Topa can stay a girl. Then you get hit with the reality that there are not enough pretty words and moving speeches and science and even the revelation that their greatest philosopher of all time is a female to fundamentally change the Moclans as a society. But of course there isn’t. That’s closer to how things actually work.
It also sets us up for some really fabulously portrayed interpersonal relationship struggles with Bortus and Clyden. Their divorce, the porn addiction, Topas declining mental health, and then the redemption (sort of, I still don’t forgive Clyden). They got one person to change their core beliefs, but it was hard. Everything else hit harder because they failed at first.
No, what happened in the end was horrible and that's the entire point. If the Moclans would have caved, it would have just been yet another fun space adventure where you get a bit of conflict but in the end, the "good guys" win
I think the wrong thing on the episode was the ending having no highly emotional enacting disagreeing with the result.
It was like everyone in the scene just accepted it publicly and privately.
And that felt overly biasing to me, like we, the audience, should also shutup and accept. Because when the common people accepts the abuse, it is the end of the hope.
That is the feeling about it that clearly tells me there is something wrong in the episode itself.
Tbh, I don't see any acceptance from any of the characters. Bortus is crestfallen at the end of the tribunal. They all fought all day and it was still not good enough. Where should they even take the energy to cause a scene? Especially knowing that it won't change anything about the decision.
The mood of the episode isn't indifferent in the end (at least not in my view) but sombre and centred around the characters, especially Bortus, trying to come to terms with the new situation. Bortus realising that his foremost duty is to be a good father to Topa, regardless of their gender, is beautiful and I honestly couldn't think of a better ending
A liked ending is not the same as "The good ending".
A liked character is not the same as a good Character, I really like The Joker, but there is nothing good about him.
people love a good debate lets poke away
everybody loves a good debate about girls right