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The Best Episodes of The Orville

Every episode of The Orville ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of The Orville!

Binge this in 1d 8h•Peaking at 9.1/10

Follow the crew of the not-so-functional exploratory ship in the Earth's interstellar fleet, 400 years in the future.

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    The Orville Season 3 Episode 9 - Domino
    9.1/10(4274 votes)

    #1 - Domino

    S3:E9

    The creation of a powerful new weapon puts the Orville crew — and the entire Union — in a political and ethical quandary.

    Director:Jon Cassar
    Writers:Brannon Braga, André Bormanis

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  2. The Orville Season 2 Episode 8 - Identity (1)
    9.0/10(4842 votes)

    #2 - Identity (1)

    S2:E8

    Ed and the crew travel to Isaac's home planet, Kaylon.

    Director:Jon Cassar
    Writers:Brannon Braga, André Bormanis

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  3. The Orville Season 2 Episode 9 - Identity (2)
    9.0/10(4494 votes)

    #3 - Identity (2)

    S2:E9

    The Kaylons take control of the Orville with the intention of destroying all biological lifeforms.

    Director:Jon Cassar
    Writer:Seth MacFarlane

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  4. The Orville Season 2 Episode 11 - Lasting Impressions
    8.8/10(5048 votes)

    #4 - Lasting Impressions

    S2:E11

    The Orville crew members open a time capsule from 2015.

    Director:Kelly Cronin
    Writer:Seth MacFarlane

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  5. The Orville Season 3 Episode 6 - Twice in a Lifetime
    8.8/10(4096 votes)

    #5 - Twice in a Lifetime

    S3:E6

    The crew must rescue Gordon from a distant yet familiar world.

    Director:Jon Cassar
    Writer:Seth MacFarlane

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  6. The Orville Season 2 Episode 14 - The Road Not Taken
    8.5/10(3137 votes)

    #6 - The Road Not Taken

    S2:E14

    The crew must contend with the disastrous fallout from Kelly's decision.

    Director:Gary S. Rake
    Writer:David A. Goodman

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    The 20 WORST Episodes of The Orville

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  7. The Orville Season 1 Episode 12 - Mad Idolatry
    8.4/10(3822 votes)

    #7 - Mad Idolatry

    S1:E12

    Ed and Kelly consider the possibility of reforging their relationship, but Kelly soon crash-lands on a planet in another universe with Isaac and Gordon.

    Director:Brannon Braga
    Writer:Seth MacFarlane

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  8. The Orville Season 3 Episode 7 - From Unknown Graves
    8.4/10(3213 votes)

    #8 - From Unknown Graves

    S3:E7

    The Orville discovers a Kaylon with a very special ability.

    Director:Seth MacFarlane
    Writer:David A. Goodman

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  9. The Orville Season 3 Episode 4 - Gently Falling Rain
    8.3/10(3475 votes)

    #9 - Gently Falling Rain

    S3:E4

    The Orville crew leads a Union delegation to sign a peace treaty with the Krill.

    Director:Jon Cassar
    Writers:Brannon Braga, André Bormanis

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  10. The Orville Season 1 Episode 4 - If the Stars Should Appear
    8.2/10(5084 votes)

    #10 - If the Stars Should Appear

    S1:E4

    Ed and the Orville crew encounter a massive vessel adrift in space, which is in danger of colliding with a star. While some of the crew set out to help the ship's inhabitants, Bortus, Gordon, and John stay behind and fend off a Krill attack on another Union ship

    Director:James L. Conway
    Writer:Seth MacFarlane

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  11. The Orville Season 1 Episode 7 - Majority Rule
    8.2/10(5022 votes)

    #11 - Majority Rule

    S1:E7

    When two Union anthropologists go missing on a planet similar to 21st century Earth, Ed sends a team led by Kelly to find them, but the mission quickly goes awry when they realize the society’s government is completely based on a public voting system to determine punishment.

    Director:Tucker Gates
    Writer:Seth MacFarlane

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  12. The Orville Season 2 Episode 4 - Nothing Left on Earth Excepting Fishes
    8.2/10(3932 votes)

    #12 - Nothing Left on Earth Excepting Fishes

    S2:E4

    Ed finds himself behind enemy lines when he crash-lands on a mysterious planet. Meanwhile, Kelly questions why Gordon wants to take the Command Test.

    Director:Robert Duncan McNeill
    Writers:Brannon Braga, André Bormanis

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  13. The Orville Season 2 Episode 12 - Sanctuary
    8.2/10(3305 votes)

    #13 - Sanctuary

    S2:E12

    Ed discovers that Moclans aboard The Orville are harboring a secret.

    Director:Jonathan Frakes
    Writer:Joe Menosky

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  14. The Orville Season 2 Episode 13 - Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow
    8.2/10(3019 votes)

    #14 - Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow

    S2:E13

    A time distortion affects Ed and Kelly's relationship.

    Director:Gary S. Rake
    Writer:Janet Lin

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  15. The Orville Season 2 Episode 3 - Home
    8.1/10(4223 votes)

    #15 - Home

    S2:E3

    Ed, Gordon and Alara visit Alara's home planet of Xelayah.

    Director:Jon Cassar
    Writer:Cherry Chevapravatdumrong

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  16. The Orville Season 2 Episode 6 - A Happy Refrain
    8.1/10(4323 votes)

    #16 - A Happy Refrain

    S2:E6

    The Orville crew is surprised when Claire's personal life takes an unexpected turn, and Gordon makes an unusual grooming suggestion to Bortus.

    Director:Seth MacFarlane
    Writer:Seth MacFarlane

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  17. The Orville Season 3 Episode 8 - Midnight Blue
    8.1/10(3409 votes)

    #17 - Midnight Blue

    S3:E8

    The crew visit Haveena's sanctuary world and embark on a journey that may leave the Union more vulnerable.

    Director:Jon Cassar
    Writers:Brannon Braga, André Bormanis

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  18. The Orville Season 3 Episode 10 - Future Unknown
    8.1/10(2845 votes)

    #18 - Future Unknown

    S3:E10

    A celebration is underway aboard the ship.

    Director:Seth MacFarlane
    Writer:Seth MacFarlane

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  19. The Orville Season 1 Episode 10 - Firestorm
    8.0/10(3712 votes)

    #19 - Firestorm

    S1:E10

    When a fire breaks out on The Orville and a crew member dies, Alara begins to question if she is fit for her job, just as unusual and terrifying things start happening on the ship.

    Director:Brannon Braga
    Writer:Cherry Chevapravatdumrong

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  20. The Orville Season 1 Episode 6 - Krill
    7.9/10(4374 votes)

    #20 - Krill

    S1:E6

    After the Orville crew defeats a Krill attack on a brand-new colony, the Union sends Ed and Gordon on a dangerous undercover mission to infiltrate a Krill ship and obtain a copy of the Krill bible, the "Anhkana," to better understand the enemy.

    Director:Jon Cassar
    Writer:David A. Goodman

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  21. The Orville Season 1 Episode 11 - New Dimensions
    7.9/10(3289 votes)

    #21 - New Dimensions

    S1:E11

    Kelly discovers that Lt. John Lamarr is smarter than he lets on. So, she pushes Ed to consider him for a key leadership position on the ship after The Orville gets damaged by a mysterious spatial anomaly causing harrowing effects to all things living.

    Director:Kelly Cronin
    Writer:Seth MacFarlane

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  22. The Orville Season 3 Episode 5 - A Tale of Two Topas
    7.9/10(5000 votes)

    #22 - A Tale of Two Topas

    S3:E5

    Tensions between Kelly and the Moclans result when she helps Topa prepare for the Union Point entrance exam.

    Director:Seth MacFarlane
    Writer:Seth MacFarlane

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  23. The Orville Season 1 Episode 5 - Pria
    7.8/10(4561 votes)

    #23 - Pria

    S1:E5

    After the crew saves a stranded ship and its attractive captain, Ed becomes smitten with the Orville’s new guest, while Kelly suspects all is not what it seems. Meanwhile, Gordon attempts to teach Isaac the art of pulling off a practical joke.

    Director:Jonathan Frakes
    Writer:Seth MacFarlane

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  24. The Orville Season 1 Episode 9 - Cupid's Dagger
    7.8/10(3912 votes)

    #24 - Cupid's Dagger

    S1:E9

    The Orville is called to mediate a peace treaty between two warring cultures, but tensions run even higher between Ed and Kelly when a familiar face boards the ship. Meanwhile Yaphit declares his love for Dr. Finn with surprising results.

    Director:Jamie Babbit
    Writer:Liz Heldens

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  25. The Orville Season 2 Episode 10 - Blood of Patriots
    7.8/10(3047 votes)

    #25 - Blood of Patriots

    S2:E10

    Ed must initiate peace talks with the Krill.

    Director:Rebecca Rodriguez
    Writer:Seth MacFarlane

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Best Episodes Summary

"Domino" is the best rated episode of "The Orville". It scored 9.1/10 based on 4274 votes. Directed by Jon Cassar and written by Brannon Braga, André Bormanis, it aired on 7/28/2022. This episode scored 0.1 points higher than the second highest rated, "Identity (1)".