The Orville season 2

The second season of *The Orville*, a comedy-drama science fiction series, aired on Fox between December 30, 2018, and April 25, 2019. It contains 14 episodes and marks the show’s final broadcast on Fox; subsequent seasons moved to Hulu.

During this season, Captain Ed Mercer and Commander Kelly Grayson’s relationship evolves. The crew encounters new alien species, uncovers a disturbing secret about Isaac’s people and his home world, confronts the Krill, makes first contact with a previously unknown civilization, and returns to the planet Moclus.

The episode “Primal Urges” was originally produced for the first season after Fox ordered thirteen episodes, though only twelve aired initially. It was broadcast in the United States on January 3, 2019.

The main cast includes Seth MacFarlane as Captain Ed Mercer, Adrianne Palicki as Commander Kelly Grayson, Penny Johnson Jerald as Dr. Claire Finn, Scott Grimes as Lieutenant Gordon Malloy, Peter Macon as Lieutenant Commander Bortus, Halston Sage as Lieutenant Alara Kitan, Jessica Szohr as Lieutenant Talla Keyali, J. Lee as Lieutenant Commander John LaMarr, and Mark Jackson as Isaac. In the episode “A Happy Refrain,” Jackson appears in human form rather than as an android.

Recurring cast members include Victor Garber as Admiral Tom Halsey, Chad L. Coleman as Klyden, Norm Macdonald as the voice of Lieutenant Yaphit (who appears live onscreen in “A Happy Refrain”), Rachael MacFarlane as the voice of the Orville computer, BJ Tanner as Marcus Finn, Kai Wener as Ty Finn, Mike Henry as Dann, Chris J. Johnson as Cassius, Blesson Yates as Topa, Kyra Santoro as Ensign Jenny Turco, and Ted Danson as Admiral Perry. Several guest stars also appear.

A soundtrack album for the season was released by La-La Land Records on January 19, 2021, with a digital release following on January 22.

Critical reception for the second season was very positive, a shift from the mostly negative response to the first season. On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds a 100% approval rating with an average score of 7.6 out of 10, based on 14 reviews. The site’s consensus describes the season as “fun, focused, and surprisingly thoughtful,” noting it makes good use of the cast. Will Harris of *The Verge* praised the two-part episode “Identity” (aired February 21 and 28) as evidence the series was maturing into “serious science fiction” with broader appeal.