‘The Orville’ Season 1 Spoilers: Episode 2 Synopsis, Promo Released

Alara must step up her game in Season 1, episode 2 of “The Orville.”

According to the synopsis for the next episode of the Fox series, Alara (Halston Sage) must take first command of the Orville and attempt a heroic rescue after Ed (Seth MacFarlane) and Kelly (Adrianne Palicki) are tricked by a hologram of a ship in distress and find themselves prisoners in a replica of their former home.

“We’re going to revisit the Ed and Kelly dynamics in a great comedic way,” executive producer David A. Goodman told The Hollywood Reporter of what to expect in episode 2. “They get isolated from the rest of the ship … and that’s going to put Alara in a command situation that she’s never been in before, and it's really going to test her.”

Apparently, the unfortunate incident gives Alara the opportunity to prove herself to Ed, who seemingly thinks that she’s too young to be the security chief of the Orville. But is her Xelayan super strength enough to save Ed and Kelly?

Meanwhile, Bortus (Peter Macon) and his mate Klyden (Chad L. Coleman) receive some happy, yet unexpected news. In a promo, teasing the upcoming episodes of Season 1, Bortus reveals to Ed that he and Klyden are expecting a child. “Captain, I have laid an egg,” Bortus tells Ed. “Klyden and I are going to have a child.”

Goodman revealed to TV Guide that Bortus and Klyden’s child will be front and center in Season 1, episode 3. “We get introduced to the culture of the Moclans, which is an all-male alien culture [in episode 3],” Goodman said. “Bortus and his mate have a child, and there’s a controversy surrounding this child, and there’s a controversy that reflects on aspects of our own current society. … I don’t want to give too much away — it’s serious, it obviously reflects aspects of society today. I think it’s going to surprise audiences.”

Also in episode 2, as seen in the promo, Jeffrey Tambor and Holland Taylor guest star as Ed’s parents, Bert and Jeannie.

“The Orville” Season 1, episode 2, titled “Command Performance,” airs on Sunday, Sept. 17 at 8 p.m. EDT on Fox.