The Orville EPs Discuss Why Some Trek Fans Prefer Their Show Over Star Trek: Discovery…

CBS’ Star Trek: Discovery and FOX’s The Orville are two wildly different, yet equally valid, takes on Star Trek. Despite only one of them being a canonical Trek show, both series deliver a unique perspective on the franchise, sure to appease different kinds of Star Trek fans. Those that yearn for Roddenberry’s nuanced, yet optimistic vision for the future (and thus, the future of storytelling) are likely to prefer Discovery, while The Orville is sure to satisfy fans who prefer a level of familiarity and comfort in their Trek entertainment, delivering digestible and very tight case-of-the-week installments that pack a sci-fi punch.

Seth MacFarlane’s The Orville has been renewed for a new season, and as it stands, some fans actually prefer this series compared to CBS’ Star Trek: Discovery. Showrunners Brannon Braga and David A. Goodman have an idea on why their Trek-inspired series is actually connecting with more classic Trek fans compared to Discovery.

Talking to CBR at the NYCC, Goodman explained:

“I think the difference for us, is that Seth [MacFarlane]was very much aware…he’s making a show for everybody. That’s what gets lost in the discussion of Star Trek fans liking and not liking a show. The original Star Trek was a show that millions of people watched, all over the world. A subset of them— like me—are super passionate Star Trek fans. I’ve written three Star Trek books. I’m a big fan, but we represent a very small, tiny part of the audience that watch that show.”

Though Star Trek: Discovery is admittedly good, I can understand his point when he says that the show isn’t really for everyone. Goodman continues:

“Seth wanted to do a show that was for everybody. And I think that may be closer to the reason that people are making that connection. That, this is a show, that people don’t need to know the backstory of that universe to get into it.”

Braga then added:

“And you don’t need to watch every episode to swing into the story… It’s more classical storytelling.”

But while each show has something for a kind of Trek fan, which show does Star Trek better overall?