Review of 'The Orville' 2.5

An outstanding episode 2.5 of The Orville last night, I'd say best of the season so far. It had everything you'd want from a starship making first contact, including a neat solution to the Star Trekian non-interference prime directive.

Regor 2 sends out a message to the universe, "Is anybody out there?" Of course The Orville is the lucky ship that receives it. Our party lands—it's ok to say hello to intelligences that advanced, and welcome them to the cosmic (comic) community—and all's well, until Captain Mercer and the landing party learn the hard way that Regorians practice a mix of astrology and surgery to make sure babies aren't born during this very month. Why? Because they are believed to have violent tendencies, born under a bad sign, literally. Babies are delivered by c-section earlier than medically necessary to make their births occur before this bad month begins. And the kicker? Kelly and Bortus were born in this very month. When they tell the Regorians (could have been named Rigorians) about their upcoming birthdays, they are promptly locked up. (They should have gotten Michael Flynn to do a cameo and shout, "Lock them up.")

So the problem is, how to get them out of there, without disrupting Regorian custom and law, which no human-centric star-faring civilization in the Star Trekian mode ever wants to do. The solution is brilliant. I won't tell you, in case you haven't seen it. And the hour also includes an excellent replacement for Alara as security officer, and Kelly and Bortus making like the two who escaped from Dannemora (on Earth), which is the reason I gave this review almost that title.

If you have a jones for the best that Star Trek offered, laced with humor and style, see The Orville, especially this episode.