Domino
- Episode aired Jul 28, 2022
- TV-14
- 1h 18m
IMDb RATING
9.1/10
3.8K
YOUR RATING
The creation of a powerful weapon puts the crew - and the entire Union - in a political and ethical dilemma.The creation of a powerful weapon puts the crew - and the entire Union - in a political and ethical dilemma.The creation of a powerful weapon puts the crew - and the entire Union - in a political and ethical dilemma.
J. Lee
- Lt. Cmdr. John LaMarr
- (as J Lee)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaWhen the Kaylon Primary notes that democracy is "inefficient," Admiral Halsey counters by saying that "...the one thing you can say about democracy is that all other forms of government are even worse." This is a paraphrasing of Winston Churchill, who in 1947 said that "Indeed it has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time."
- GoofsThere is a gnat flying around the Krill's head in the cell at 71:20.
- SoundtracksFlowers Never Bend with the Rainfall
Written by Paul Simon
Performed by Scott Grimes and Anne Winters
[Gordon and Charly sing this on acoustic guitar when the crew are enjoying downtime together at the cabin]
Featured review
A Master Class in Television Science Fiction
I'll try to do this review in a way that conveys how brilliant this episode is without giving too much away. Seth MacFarlane and his amazing Team have created what I believe will be forever remembered as one of the greatest single episodes in the history of Science Fiction television! In my opinion, The Orville's Domino stands along side the best installments of Star Trek, Star Wars, Doctor Who, et al. Even the opening strains of the orchestra brilliantly convey the riveting story that follows.
It is so amazing on so many levels: Writing, acting, directing, pacing, VFX, camerawork, score, foley-work, editing, physical sets, makeup, lighting, sound-design, etc., this episode has it all. It's literally a Master Class unto itself (I'd give it an 11 if I could). I was having as much 'edge-of-my-seat' fun as I did decades ago when watching Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope as a teen in the theater on opening week. I doubt I'll sleep for hours (if at all tonight)! In fact, I'm going to watch it again after writing this review. Everything about this episode got my adrenaline pumping. If Seth could figure out how to put that level of brain-engaging excitement in a bottle on convenience store shelves, he'd make (yet another) fortune!
Domino combines so many of the greatest elements the best science fiction ever presented on the screen (television or film). From the realistic pacing, interpersonal interactions and believable slice-of-life moments, to the moral dilemmas presented, to the political intrigue, technology, military strategies, air and space battles and multiple/ongoing twists and turns, it is exhilarating. And wow, IMO the knock-down drag-out fight scene between two of the ensemble cast's female characters is far more believable than so many other current attempts to depict "strong female characters". In fact, it was reminiscent of the best classic male mano-a-mano fight scenes depicted in television and film. No weapons, no superpowers, just dogged determination from two characters who passionately believe in their opposing causes.
Speaking of the state of modern science fiction: To me, many sci-fi properties today suffer from a lack of believability. I find today's Mystery Box style of storytelling to be unfulfilling (where the writers try to subvert expectations with plot elements that, under scrutiny, range from the unlikely to the absurd). I also find that many science fiction shows today try to engage the viewers feelings, without providing adequate or believable reasons for the emotions they try to evoke. Not here! In this episode, in spite of the many complexities involved, everything happens for a reason, the reactions to the situations are totally believable and it all makes sense.
This is the kind of science fiction storytelling that I've loved all my life and yet (to me) is largely missing from today's science fiction storytellers, including the current versions of the very franchises that used to be so good at it. In my opinion, The Orville's Domino is an outstanding example of high quality science-fiction storytelling. Ironic, since The Orville began as a semi-comedy homage to the once great science fiction of the past. "The circle is now complete" (the learner is now the master)!
It is so amazing on so many levels: Writing, acting, directing, pacing, VFX, camerawork, score, foley-work, editing, physical sets, makeup, lighting, sound-design, etc., this episode has it all. It's literally a Master Class unto itself (I'd give it an 11 if I could). I was having as much 'edge-of-my-seat' fun as I did decades ago when watching Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope as a teen in the theater on opening week. I doubt I'll sleep for hours (if at all tonight)! In fact, I'm going to watch it again after writing this review. Everything about this episode got my adrenaline pumping. If Seth could figure out how to put that level of brain-engaging excitement in a bottle on convenience store shelves, he'd make (yet another) fortune!
Domino combines so many of the greatest elements the best science fiction ever presented on the screen (television or film). From the realistic pacing, interpersonal interactions and believable slice-of-life moments, to the moral dilemmas presented, to the political intrigue, technology, military strategies, air and space battles and multiple/ongoing twists and turns, it is exhilarating. And wow, IMO the knock-down drag-out fight scene between two of the ensemble cast's female characters is far more believable than so many other current attempts to depict "strong female characters". In fact, it was reminiscent of the best classic male mano-a-mano fight scenes depicted in television and film. No weapons, no superpowers, just dogged determination from two characters who passionately believe in their opposing causes.
Speaking of the state of modern science fiction: To me, many sci-fi properties today suffer from a lack of believability. I find today's Mystery Box style of storytelling to be unfulfilling (where the writers try to subvert expectations with plot elements that, under scrutiny, range from the unlikely to the absurd). I also find that many science fiction shows today try to engage the viewers feelings, without providing adequate or believable reasons for the emotions they try to evoke. Not here! In this episode, in spite of the many complexities involved, everything happens for a reason, the reactions to the situations are totally believable and it all makes sense.
This is the kind of science fiction storytelling that I've loved all my life and yet (to me) is largely missing from today's science fiction storytellers, including the current versions of the very franchises that used to be so good at it. In my opinion, The Orville's Domino is an outstanding example of high quality science-fiction storytelling. Ironic, since The Orville began as a semi-comedy homage to the once great science fiction of the past. "The circle is now complete" (the learner is now the master)!
helpful•10818
- chuckmarble
- Jul 28, 2022
Details
- Release date
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- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime1 hour 18 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 16:9 HD
- 2:1
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