The shuttle has a very rough takeoff because the "launch thrusters are down," yet it has no problem making a precise landing. The same maneuvering thrusters that allowed it to land gracefully should be more than capable of lifting off gracefully. However simple physics tells us that it takes more thrust to defy gravity and take off than it does to land. "Launch" thrusters are obviously more powerful than any "maneuvering" thrusters.
When Captain Mercer enters the bridge following Heveena agreeing to testify, the command chair is unoccupied. The ship would never be left without someone in command, and whoever it was should have taken the command chair until a superior officer relieved them.
It might be protocol to take the command chair but certainly not necessary. Whoever had the conn could have done so from any station on the bridge.
It might be protocol to take the command chair but certainly not necessary. Whoever had the conn could have done so from any station on the bridge.
When infiltrating the Moclan base, Kelly distracts a Moclan guard while Bortus knocks him unconscious with a single blow to the back. Ignoring the matter of whether that would be sufficient to render such a hearty warrior unconscious, Union weapons have a stun setting. It would have been far easier and less risky to render the guard unconscious with a single shot.
A weapon shot would leave a mark, one that could perhaps be traced based on the type of damage that was done to the Union weapons especially when a stun setting was used. A blow to the back could be anyone. Furthermore, a weapon makes more noise than a simple blow to the back.
A weapon shot would leave a mark, one that could perhaps be traced based on the type of damage that was done to the Union weapons especially when a stun setting was used. A blow to the back could be anyone. Furthermore, a weapon makes more noise than a simple blow to the back.
When approaching the nebula, Ed orders Charly to lay in a course. Charly is the navigator, not the helmsman. While she would be in charge of charting a course, it would be Gordon who'd lay it in.
To "lay in a course" is to set a course. That has been established not only in this series but in others, and is common parlance. Gordon, as the helmsman, would implement, or activate the course that had been "laid in" but Charly as navigator would "lay in a course" or "set a course".
To "lay in a course" is to set a course. That has been established not only in this series but in others, and is common parlance. Gordon, as the helmsman, would implement, or activate the course that had been "laid in" but Charly as navigator would "lay in a course" or "set a course".
In episode 2 of series 1, Topa is born female, and is taken to Moclus for gender reassignment. In this episode Topa has changed back to female, which might seem like a continuity error for anyone who missed the corresponding storyline of A Tale of Two Topas (2022) 3 episodes ago, where Topa had gender reassignment surgery to return to being female (and Klydon broke up with Bortus as a result, referenced here in dialogue). This is Topa's first full episode being female again.
The cup of coffee that Ed hands Kelly while at Union headquarters is clearly empty.
Haveena tells Topa she needs her to act as a relay for messages as they "We have no reliable way of communicating outside the nebula" (24:10). As Topa would be outside the nebula herself on the Orville this makes no sense.
The crew of the Orville are intensely concerned about the missing Topa, but don't appear to care at all that Kelly and Bortus are also missing.