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A Love Letter to Star Trek: Deconstructing The Orville with Matthew Fox

Mandy Kaplan embarks on a cosmic quest to decode the enigmatic realms of sci-fi aboard the USS Orville, captained by the comedic stylings of Seth MacFarlane, with Matthew Fox, host of Star Wars Generations and Superhero Ethics.

This isn’t a show that’s obsessed with warp speeds or phaser frequencies. Instead, Matthew sees science fiction as a mirror reflecting the complexities of our own world, a lens through which to examine ethics, humanity, and the very fabric of consciousness.

Mandy sets off with The Orville, a show she initially dismissed as “frat-boy humor,” and discovers the surprising depth beneath the surface. Together, they explore pivotal episodes: “About a Girl,” a poignant exploration of gender identity and cultural relativism, and “Mad Idolatry,” a sharp critique of religious fervor and its potential for manipulation. The Orville is a space adventure and a philosophical thought experiment wrapped in witty banter and surprising emotional resonance.

Links & Notes

A mom. A geek. A crash course in nerd culture. Make Me a Nerd throws host Mandy Kaplan into sci-fi, D&D, and beyond—one enthusiastic guest at a time.