IR TV Review: THE ORVILLE - NEW HORIZONS - EPISODE 9 (“Domino”) [Hulu]
The texture of sacrifice reflects in the unease of accepting fate sometimes without full understanding of its repercussions. “Domino”, Episode 9 of “The Orville: New Horizons” again uses the canvas that was used to good effect in “Midnight Blue” and builds on it. These longer episodes, when done right, truly allow the story to resonate since it doesn't need to just get on to the next scene. This of course in reflection is more expensive for the production but in reciprocation is much more fulfilling to the audience. As with earlier in the season, some of the battle sequences bring to mind the complexity of some from “Revenge Of The Sith” which is impressive. Now granted at times it does become overkill in a way, but it is only in this bedlam that small moves inside the melee create impact. Giving away the crux of the episode would be a disservice to ones wanting to watch. But again, like Lt. Malloy's Road Not Taken story a couple episodes ago, this resonates in the story of Charley (Anne Winters), a brilliant person able to see things in many dimensions and yet held back in a way because of her prejudice towards the Kaylon.
However in the past couple episodes with Isaac (Mark Jackson) the vise has become less pronounced showing a texture of movement. And yet when a weapon of unmistakable power unbalances the conflict (as a result of the fallout from the actions of “Midnight Blue”) it forces an interesting forcing of wills per se. While the big action pieces (including one with Grayson facing off with a specific foe) are good, it is very small performative actions especially in the climax that just rip through everything else with a sense of purpose. It is some of these moments that are missing from the bigger blockbusters in the theater now. Those stories are working so much on the spectacle that sometimes they forget the intracies of character work that can be done at the same time. There is a underlying current in certain ways here of “Wrath Of Khan” but in a completely different way than one might be thinking. A quiet sequence on earth that might have been cut on network has great importance here. Think of the parallel with Bones talking to Kirk in his apartment about growing old after giving him a birthday present. That could have been a throwaway scene but it helped define the whole movie with some quiet words and contemplation. That said, “Domino” continues to deliver the greatness that is “The Orville” Season 3 while also realizing that life and path are in many and most ways, finite. B+
By Tim Wassberg
