The Orville backdrop
Drama•Comedy•Sci-Fi & Fantasy

The Best Episodes of The Orville Season 1

Every episode of The Orville Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of The Orville Season 1!

Binge this in 8h 47m•Peaking at 8.4/10

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

Airs on
FOXHulu
BestEpisodes
WorstEpisodes
BestSeasons
AllEpisodes

Seasons3

All123

Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    The Orville Season 1 Episode 12 - Mad Idolatry
    8.4/10(3948 votes)

    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

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  2. The Orville Season 1 Episode 4 - If the Stars Should Appear
    8.2/10(5214 votes)

    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

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  3. The Orville Season 1 Episode 7 - Majority Rule
    8.2/10(5149 votes)

    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

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  4. The Orville Season 1 Episode 10 - Firestorm
    8.0/10(3816 votes)

    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

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  5. The Orville Season 1 Episode 6 - Krill
    7.9/10(4490 votes)

    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

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  6. The Orville Season 1 Episode 11 - New Dimensions
    7.9/10(3394 votes)

    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

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

    7. Trending NowTRENDING NOW

    The 20 BEST Episodes of The Orville

    READ
  7. The Orville Season 1 Episode 5 - Pria
    7.8/10(4731 votes)

    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

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  8. The Orville Season 1 Episode 9 - Cupid's Dagger
    7.8/10(4021 votes)

    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

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  9. The Orville Season 1 Episode 2 - Command Performance
    7.6/10(5236 votes)

    S1:E2

    When Ed and Kelly are tricked by a hologram of a ship in distress and find themselves prisoners in a replica of their former home, Alara must step up in her first command of the Orville and attempt a heroic rescue. Meanwhile, Bortus and Klyden receive some happy, yet unexpected news.

    Director:Robert Duncan McNeill
    Writer:Seth MacFarlane

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  10. The Orville Season 1 Episode 3 - About a Girl
    7.6/10(5659 votes)

    S1:E3

    The Orville crew is divided between cultures when Bortus and Klyden debate if their newly born offspring should receive a controversial surgery.

    Director:Brannon Braga
    Writer:Seth MacFarlane

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  11. The Orville Season 1 Episode 1 - Old Wounds
    7.4/10(6040 votes)

    S1:E1

    It's 2417, and the Planetary Union promotes Ed Mercer to Captain of the exploratory vessel The U.S.S. Orville. Ed's enthusiasm for his new position is dampened when his ex-wife, Kelly Grayson, is assigned to be his First Officer. While on their first routine mission, the Orville crew is ambushed by the Krill, a vicious alien race, who are bent on stealing a device that can cause time to accelerate.

    Director:Jon Favreau
    Writer:Seth MacFarlane

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  12. The Orville Season 1 Episode 8 - Into the Fold
    7.3/10(3996 votes)

    S1:E8

    Ed and the crew set out to save Dr. Finn, her two sons and Isaac after their shuttle gets thrown into uncharted space and they crash-land on a moon that is light years from the Orville.

    Director:Brannon Braga
    Writers:André Bormanis, Brannon Braga

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

Season 1 Ratings Summary

"Mad Idolatry" is the best rated episode of "The Orville" season 1. It scored 8.4/10 based on 3948 votes. Directed by Brannon Braga and written by Seth MacFarlane, it aired on 12/7/2017. This episode is rated 0.2 points higher than the second-best, "If the Stars Should Appear".