Ep 4. If the Stars Should Appear

If the Stars Should Appear is the fourth episode of The Orville's first season. The episode starts with the Orville and its crew taking a break from their duties and heading to a nearby planet. However, their plans go awry when they come across a massive vessel floating in space with no signs of life in sight.

The crew of the Orville goes in to investigate and soon discovers that the vessel is home to an entire civilization that has been traveling through space for over 2,000 years. They were originally a planet-bound civilization but had adopted space travel as a means of survival when their planet was about to be engulfed by a star gone supernova. They were meant to journey to a new world where they could settle, but their journey was disrupted when their navigational computer broke down, leaving them stranded in space.

The civilization, known as the "Ark," has its own customs and ways of life that the Orville crew have to learn and understand. The Orville crew also has to help them repair their ship's navigational computer so that they can continue on their journey to find a new home.

However, while the Orville crew attempts to fix the navigational computer, they uncover a conspiracy that could destroy the Ark and the lives on board. It is up to Captain Ed Mercer, played by Seth MacFarlane, to stop the conspiracy and help the Ark continue their journey.

Throughout the episode, viewers are introduced to various members of the Ark civilization, including its leader, Teleya, played by Charlize Theron. Teleya is a strong and capable leader who is willing to do whatever it takes to protect her people. She also shares a connection with Mercer, and their interactions provide an emotional depth to the episode.

At its core, If the Stars Should Appear is an episode about humanity and the universal desire to find a place to call home. It explores themes of identity, belonging, and the lengths we will go to protect our loved ones in the face of adversity.

The writing in this episode is strong, and the pacing is well-executed, keeping viewers engaged throughout. The episode also features impressive visual effects that add to the overall immersion of the story.

Overall, If the Stars Should Appear is a standout episode in The Orville's first season. It is a thought-provoking and emotional journey that explores what it truly means to be human.