The Orville Season 2 Episode 12: The Sanctuary Review

For our review of the last episode of The Orville, click here.

Synopsis: Ed discovers that Moclans aboard the Orville are harboring a secret. (IMDB)

Leave it to a kid to bring down half of an entire species…

After a 3 week hiatus, The Orville returns with a very strong episode dealing yet again with some serious subject matter. This week’s episode, The Sanctuary, focuses on a secret planet that is meant to harbor female Moclans. They are transported in secret from the planet for fear of persecution and corrective surgery to ensure that all Moclans are male.

You might recall from last season the major episode dealing with Bortus and Klyden’s daughter now son, Topa (Blesson Yates), who is made a male as is the Moclan custom. Two Moclan guests are transporting a female in secret aboard the Orville to Bortus’ surprise. In an effort to broaden his son’s understanding of the opposite sex, Bortus shows him this cargo which he inevitably tells Klyden sending the second half of this episode into high stakes territory.

The planet, known as The Sanctuary, is home to over 6,000 Moclan females and is continually growing. With the arrival of the Orville’s crew they quickly realize their time hiding in the shadows is coming to an end and in hopes of preserving there way of life they choose to appeal to the Union Council to be recognized as an independent state, thus avoiding further persecution from Moclus.

Their case is made before the Federation just as the Moclan perspective is as well which holds more political sway due to their advanced weaponry that aids in the Union’s defenses against the impending Kaylon threat. In the end, the Sanctuary isn’t recognized by the Union as its own state, however, they Moclans are ordered to take no further actions against them. While this wasn’t the answer the females were hoping for they also understood that it was still a major step forward that still ensured the Union was protective over everyone when it came to fighting the Kaylons, the true evil.

This reviewer is so glad The Orville is back and even though this episode spent its running time dealing with much heavier subject matter than usual with none of its traditional humor spread throughout. As a result, it continues to show that it can tackle both humorous and serious issues without missing a beat. This makes each upcoming episode worth looking forward to every week if only to see what theme they choose to handle in each episode. With only two episodes left this season, it will be very exciting to see what comes next!

Oh, while we are at it, screw Topa! Snitches get stitches.

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