Go behind the scenes of The Orville as series embarks on a new season

Enlarge / Dr. Claire Finn (Penny Johnson Jerald) dispenses sage medical advice in this exclusive image from The Orville Season 3. (credit: Tom Constantino)

Pretty much every film and television production in Hollywood is currently on hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic, and The Orville is no exception. But just before city- and statewide crackdowns kicked in, Ars Technica had the chance to visit the set and chat with the folks who work the behind-the-scenes magic to bring one of our favorite shows to life. We can't reveal any specific details about the forthcoming third season as the series moves from Fox to Hulu-because SPOILERS-but we can give you a spoiler-free peek behind the curtain to whet your appetite for S3, whenever it should finally air.

(NOTE: Having said that, there will be a couple of spoilers for S2 below.)

The series is set aboard the USS Orville (ECV-197), an exploratory spaceship in the service of a 25th-century interstellar alliance known as the Planetary Union. Series creator and star Seth MacFarlane (Family Guy), who plays Captain Ed Mercer, was a huge fan of Star Trek growing up, particularly The Next Generation, so it's not surprising that The Orville has embraced a similar sensibility. As I wrote in my S2 review, "This is a smart series that combines humor and witty dialogue with cutting-edge science, ethical musings, the occasional literary reference, and genuine heart."

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