Orville: New Horizons (Spoilers)

[Paul Farquhar]

For something that isn't supposed to be getting another series, they are certainly leaving a lot of dangling plot hooks!

 

[Argyle King]

For something that isn't supposed to be getting another series, they are certainly leaving a lot of dangling plot hooks!

Supposedly, MacFarlane has said he'll do more seasons if there is demand for it -but it's ultimately up to Hulu.

 

[Ryujin]

There's something to be said about honesty.

Plus, the entire universe was about to be rewritten so that Gordon never felt that pain. I can see at least letting him know so he can make his choices in that moment. In the end, the only person he hurt with that was... himself.

Well, there's honesty, and then there's cruelty. This felt far more like the latter, than the former. It would be like torturing someone who is seconds from a natural death. It more about the person who does it, than the person receiving it.

 

[Umbran]

Well, there's honesty, and then there's cruelty. This felt far more like the latter, than the former. It would be like torturing someone who is seconds from a natural death. It more about the person who does it, than the person receiving it.

Sometimes, there are no great options.

Could Mercer have kept his mouth shut, and then just changed the timeline further back, yes. Would that have avoided some pain? Perhaps. But it also would have denied Gordon a choice. Mercer was willing to let those ten years stand - Gordon's kids would have continued to exist. Gordon's years of life with his wife could remain in their memories if Gordon chose to come along quietly.

So, I think Mercer had an ethical duty to allow Gordon that choice - have that life stay and be separated from it, or have it undone. You say he's cruel for telling - how horrible a person would he be for denying Gordon agency?

 

[Ryujin]

Sometimes, there are no great options.

Could Mercer have kept his mouth shut, and then just changed the timeline further back, yes. Would that have avoided some pain? Perhaps. But it also would have denied Gordon a choice. Mercer was willing to let those ten years stand - Gordon's kids would have continued to exist. Gordon's years of life with his wife could remain in their memories if Gordon chose to come along quietly.

So, I think Mercer had an ethical duty to allow Gordon that choice - have that life stay and be separated from it, or have it undone. You say he's cruel for telling - how horrible a person would he be for denying Gordon agency?

He gave him the choice. Then he pulled the rug out, when he was already on his way out the door. That's pretty objectively horrible.

 

[Argyle King]

He gave him the choice. Then he pulled the rug out, when he was already on his way out the door. That's pretty objectively horrible.

I agree.

I wonder if it was motivated by the admiral's warning after skirting the rules with Topa. Mercer was warned that he'd be relieved of command.

 

[Stalker0]

I agree.

I wonder if it was motivated by the admiral's warning after skirting the rules with Topa. Mercer was warned that he'd be relieved of command.

Well lets not forget the incident with a younger kelly that COMPLETELY changed everything. Mercer has had raw experience with the power of time, and so his caution in these matters is very understandable.

 

[Ryujin]

Well lets not forget the incident with a younger kelly that COMPLETELY changed everything. Mercer has had raw experience with the power of time, and so his caution in these matters is very understandable.

Though he doesn't remember the worst parts of that.

 

[Umbran]

He gave him the choice. Then he pulled the rug out, when he was already on his way out the door.

That is not what happened. I just rewatched the scene.

They tell Gordon he has to come. Gordon refuses.
Gordon says he'll come if he can take his family. Mercer refuses that.
Talia steps forward. Gordon pulls a gun. He says he'll stun the lot of them, and disappear into the world. At the point, there is a stalemate, and nobody is on their way out the door.

Isaac links in to say they have the Dysonium, and are going back to the shuttle.
Mercer says fine, they'll take Gordon from ten more years in the past.

Then they turn and leave.

 

[Ryujin]

That is not what happened. I just rewatched the scene.

They tell Gordon he has to come. Gordon refuses.
Gordon says he'll come if he can take his family. Mercer refuses that.
Talia steps forward. Gordon pulls a gun. He says he'll stun the lot of them, and disappear into the world. At the point, there is a stalemate, and nobody is on their way out the door.

Isaac links in to say they have the Dysonium, and are going back to the shuttle.
Mercer says fine, they'll take Gordon from ten more years in the past.

Then they turn and leave.

Clearly, we read that same scene differently, from exactly the same occurrences.