TV Recap — “The Orville: New Horizons” — Seasons 3, Episode 4 — “Gently Falling Rain”

Our episode opens with a speech from Teleya, the Krill female with whom Captain Ed Mercer had a brief relationship. She is against the new peace treaty that is going to be signed by the Krill and Planetary Union. It appears she has quite the following.   We then cut to the cross-species broadway presentation of Annie. We see the high-ranking members of the Planetary Union These members include Admiral Halsey, Admiral Perry, Admiral Ozawa, President Alcuzan, and Speria Balask who is played by the late actor Lisa Banes who passed away last year, this episode is in memory of her. Krill Supreme Chancellor, Korin, and his ambassador are also in attendance. The Krill and Planetary Union are gearing up to sign the new peace treaty but before they can do this Supreme Chancellor, Korin must win the election. Confident he will crush his opponent in the election he invites Admiral Halsey, Ed, Ensign Burke, and President Alcuzan and Speria Balask to the Krill planet to celebrate his victory. As the final numbers from the election are coming in they are shocked to find that Teleya, the Supreme Chancellors’ opponent has gained speed and won the last few districts, Making her the new Krill Grand Chancellor and making the peace treaty nullified. Before Korin can do anything, guards storm into the office and arrest Korin, Ed, and the other members of the Planetary Union. To make matters worse the Krill has also told the Orville to surrender or they will be attacked. Kelly, who is in charge while Ed is planetside refuses and tells LaMarr to execute Directive 21. The Orville fires upon the Krill ship and begins evasion action. Meanwhile, Teleya addresses her people who are celebrating her win. She then brings out Korin and executes him in front of everyone.   Back on the planet, Ed is taken to see Teleya. He tries to reason with her, reminding her that he set her free when she was imprisoned. Unfortunately, she is unsympathetic to his argument and has him taken away. As he is being taken back to his cell the two guards escorting him give him a cloak and tell him to put it on. They lead him through the streets only to be met with some Krill rebels who shoot the guards and then take Ed. The rebels bring Ed to a house where he is met by a Krill woman. She tells Ed that Teleya has a daughter, his daughter. It turns out that when Ed and Teleya were together she got pregnant and gave birth to a little girl. Ed goes to the little girl in the back room and introduces himself to his daughter for the first time. Realizing that she could be the key to getting Teleya to change her mind about the treaty. Back on the Orville, the crew has managed to evade the Krill and he contacted Admiral Perry with the new information. He informs Kelly that he will be sending Admiral Ozawa with a fleet of ships ready to fight if the Krill refuse to release their prisoners. Ed tries his luck with Teleya again and returns to her. He tells her he knows about their daughter and that she can turn the tide of the war that is coming to the Krill. Teleya refuses once again, scared for her daughter as it is considered sacrilegious to breed outside of their species. Ed asks Teleya if she wasn’t willing to accept her daughter, then why have her at all. Teleya explains that abortion is against their religion as well. Meanwhile, in space, Admiral Ozawa and her fleet have arrived and have started their assault! Later we see Teleya addressing the people again. This time she brings out Ed, ensign Burke, Admiral Halsey, Speria Balask, and President Alcuzan. She plans on executing them all starting with President Alcuzan, whom she stabs in the gut. However just as she does this two Krill throw flash bombs, blinding the guards and Teleya. They then grab Ed and the other and take them to a waiting vehicle. The Krill reveal themselves to be Lt. LaMarr and Dr. Finn in disguise, this plan turns out to be Directive 21. After a bumpy and narrow escape, they all make it back to the shuttle and flee the planet. Once on board the Orville Ozawa orders the retreat. Back safe on Earth Admiral Halsey informs Ed that President Alcuzan will make a full recovery. Though they made it out safely it seems the Krill is once again the enemy of the Planetary Union, an enemy we soon won’t see the last of.