With season three of The Orville in production, fans are eagerly awaiting the return of their favorite Star Trek stand-in show. Indeed, The Orville ranks higher among traditional fans than the massively flawed Star Trek: Discovery, which is a testament to its own success. A large part of this has to do with the colorful assortment of interesting and likable characters.

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While The Orville balances parody with a nod to classic TNG-era Trek, it succeeds due to each character feeling authentic, rather than a stereotypical caricature. This makes the show far more complex and deep than it actually seems, which is why fans love it so much. Many of these characters are instant fan favorites, while others have a ways to go before they're accepted into the fold.

Lieutenant Taliya Keyali

Lieutenant Talla Keyali, Chief of Security on The Orville

One of the newest additions to the Orville crew is Taliya Keyali, the new Chief of Security onboard the Orville, following the departure of Alara Kitan. The two are from the same species, Xelayan, which means Keyali is every bit as physically strong as her predecessor. Still, she has a ways to go in order to prove herself.

In contrast to Kitan, Keyali is much more outgoing and bold in her duties. She's far more willing to fight if the situation calls for it, and she's no shrinking violet in matters of diplomacy, either. It's always hard when a new character replaces a fan favorite, which means Taliya Keyali still has a ways to go before she rises higher on the list.

Fleet Admiral Halsey

Fleet Admiral Halsey, Captain Mercer's superior on The Orville

Admittedly, Admiral Halsey doesn't really get enough screen time for audiences to decide whether they love or hate him, but he's certainly no bad guy. Perhaps it's his bureaucratic nature as a high-ranking military officer that makes some fans bristle. Thankfully, the sting is lessened somewhat by the fact that likable actor Victor Garber is in the role.

Halsey is hard-edged but fair, and he was the guy willing to give Ed Mercer a shot at the big chair. Hopefully, his role expands as the show progresses into season three, which already has a laundry list of fan do's and don'ts attached to it. Still, he needs more time before audiences see him as anything but a by-the-books authority figure.

Doctor Claire Finn

Doctor Claire Finn, chief medical officer on The Orville

Doctor Finn is easy to both hate, and love at the same time. It's a fact that some fans find her maddening, as she will do something wonderful one moment, only to botch it by going in the opposite direction right after. For instance, she's a loving mother, but sometimes a terrible parent. Likewise, she's level-headed and rational, but she'll decide to date Isaac.

It's hard to know where Doctor Finn's mind is at from one moment to the next. When she's on top of her game, she's an excellent character that stands her ground on every issue she believes in. When she slips, she ends up doing something befuddling and out of character for someone supposedly so bright.

Lieutenant Commander John LaMarr

Lieutenant Commander John LaMarr, Chief Engineer on The Orville

John LaMarr started out as highly unliked by the audience, and that's partly due to his attitude. He gave off the impression that he didn't care much about his duties, and only seemed to do the bare minimum to get by. The rest of the time, he acted like a jerk by using people and keeping potential friends at bay.

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That has since changed since it was revealed that LaMarr downplayed his own intellectual brilliance in an effort not to stand out. Since then, he's been made Chief Engineer and seems to be opening up more to his shipmates. As the episodes continue, LaMarr becomes more likable by the day.

Lieutenant Gordon Malloy

An image of Lieutenant Gordon Malloy looking shocked on The Orville

How a guy like Gordon Malloy ever made it as an officer is anyone's guess. He's uncouth, unprofessional, and has nothing close to an inner mental filter. The upside is that he's the single-best pilot in the entire Planetary Union, a fact that has pulled the Orville out of the jaws of death several times (and counting) throughout the series.

This is partly what makes Malloy so likable. When push comes to shove, he's going to be a hero, whether he wants it or not. Plus, there's no denying that his own signature brand of dry humor isn't wildly entertaining. Being on the bridge of the Orville means never knowing what Malloy is going to say next.

Commander Kelly Grayson

Commander Kelly Grayson, First Officer on The Orville

Audiences love Kelly Grayson, but there's a bit of hate thrown in there as well, and that's probably by design. She was portrayed by actress Adrianne Palicki, who played the badass, yet very funny Bobbi in Marvel's Agents of SHIELD. She's Ed Mercer's ex-wife, who decided to have an affair behind his back. This ended up ruining their marriage and tarnishing their relationship right across the board.

Putting her on the Orville as second in command was a stroke of genius. It creates a lot of funny moments, sexual tension, and romantic longings for things to go back to where they were. The character arc can be seen from the next galaxy over, but that's no reason to stop rooting for Commander Grayson, while secretly wanting her to trip up once in a while.

Lieutenant Alara Kitan

Alara Kitan, Chief of Security on The Orville

Alara was a fan favorite, primarily because she was viewed as an underdog by the audience. She started out as Chief of Security onboard the Orville due to her species' innate super-strength, which was developed by living in a high-gravity homeworld. Though diminutive in size, Alara made up for it with determination.

Still, she was a flawed character, and that's why audiences loved her so much. She always viewed herself as incapable, mostly due to childhood trauma. She finally conquered those fears, only to get a disappointing sendoff when actress Halston Sage departed the show under ambiguous circumstances.

Isaac

Isaac, a member of the robotic Kaylons on The Orville

The character of Isaac was meant to emulate the Star Trek: The Next Generation character Data, making him one of the most intelligent members of The Orville. However, the showrunners decided to eschew Data's humanist relationships with fellow characters in favor of something more alien. With little in the way of physicality to rely on, Isaac comes to life primarily by voice.

This character started out largely as a means for comic relief, but that quickly changed in season 2 when his people, the Kaylon, went on a genocidal rampage. Isaac has grown considerably since that fateful event, and he has shown solidarity with his organic crewmates onboard the Orville. Where he goes from there remains to be seen.

Lieutenant Commander Bortus

Lieutenant Commander Bortus, second officer on The Orville

Bortus is the underdog that everyone loves to laugh at, and root for at the same time. As a member of the Moclan species, Bortus is extremely short on humor, thanks in large part to their military-industrial culture, which might be a nod to the ever-mysterious Klingons from Star Trek. Still, Bortus is honorable, even if he doesn't always understand why humans and other species go to such great lengths for one another.

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Over the course of the first two seasons, Bortus has evolved on a number of levels both professionally, and personally. His family situation has been thrown into disarray several times, yet he remains committed. When it comes to his duties, Bortus is finally learning how to lighten up, and that's good news for season 3.

Captain Ed Mercer

Ed Mercer, the Captain of the The Orville

It's hard to find fault with a guy like Ed Mercer. For all of his personal flaws, foibles, and bad habits, he's a straight arrow with a keen sense of duty, honor, and morality. Actor Seth MacFarlane uses the character (and the show at large) to tackle a variety of extremely controversial topics while presenting arguments from both sides in the most non-invasive manner possible.

This is part of what makes Mercer so likable. He'll pick a side, while still acknowledging the other. The rest of the time, he's helping audiences either laugh it up with his antics or cheer for him as he wades into brutal battles against dangerous foes like the Kaylon and the Krill.

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