This article added quite a bit to the discussion. For one, U2’s beautiful day was also considered, as was a semi-operatic song performed by Russell Watson. It’s not simply a rehash of the hate it/love arguments. I encourage you to read it.
deleted by creator
That doesn’t mean he has to be demoted. He could take a leave of absence from Star Fleet to deal with his PTSD, during which time Mark Piper becomes the Enterprise’s CMO. Later Piper is replaced by McCoy. When M’Benga gets his mind right, he returns, but by this time Kirk’s in command and likes his command staff as they are, but offers M’Benga a post as general physician.
But if you insist on the demotion idea, he’s already done plenty to warrant it.
Keeping his daughter in the sickbay transporter buffer was a dubious practice, made suspect by him keeping it secret from command. His actions in Under the Cloak of War could get him a court martial, if they came to light.
My head canon is that there’s another stage to the Gorn lifecycle that we haven’t yet seen on SNW. It might be that with full maturity, the Gorn gain significant intelligence and brute strength relative to earlier stages, but lose speed and agility.
Did anyone else notice Nyota’s green hoop earrings? These seemed to me a deliberate callback to those worn by Nichelle Nichols in various TOS episodes.
TOS: The Conscience of the King. The script feels like a stage play. There are no space battles or other big set pieces. It’s just people talking in different settings but it’s a gripping drama.
“Aping” is kind of a pejorative way to describe what The Orville does. If they were “aping” TNG, they’d be imitating it in a very derivative manner. It’s more of an homage to TNG, but in a comedy format with original ideas and character dynamics.
The Orville’s first season is no worse than TNGs. There were some truly awful first season episodes of TNG. Code of Honor is a good example of an awful episode.
I don’t think better or worse comparisons are very meaningful. They’re both good shows. TNG has many of my favorite Trek stories and characters. I think it says a lot that it inspired so much of what The Orville does.