Seth MacFarlane's The Orville is a heartfelt and funny homage to classic science fiction, and a huge part of what it makes the whole thing work is its diverse and enthusiastic cast. But there's always a breakout character among an ensemble crew, and if Star Trek taught fandom anything over the years, it's that it's probably going to be the science officer. The Orville knowingly leaned into that with Mark Jackson's highly acclaimed (especially by Trek fans) performance as Isaac, a Kaylon robot whose character arc would become an integral part of Season 2.
Who is Isaac on The Orville?
Isaac is introduced to the show as an emissary of the Kaylon, offering his expertise as a part of that robotic hive mind society in exchange for the opportunity to observe the organic societies that make up the Planetary Union. The Union took the offer as a chance to make a potential ally world of the Kaylon, and Isaac was posted to the USS Orville as an unranked science and engineering officer. His name, chosen to honor Isaac Newton, made him unique among the Kaylon, marking him as an individual unit.
In contrast to his Star Trek counterpart Data, Isaac disavowed any personal concept of humanity or emotion, content in his innate robotic superiority over organics. Season 2 offered Isaac some unique challenges, the first of which was an intimate relationship with the ship's doctor, Claire Finn. Though Isaac treated the affair as a research opportunity, complete with backlash from Finn when he deemed his "experiment" over, the aftermath provided him with the first major push towards a form of chosen humanity. That decision became a massive factor in the two-part story "Identity," where the true intentions of the Kaylon are revealed.
Who Is Mark Jackson?
Mark Jackson is a classically trained English actor, a graduate of the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. It's a select education for drama students, placing Mr. Jackson among the company of artists like Sir Patrick Stewart. Before being cast in The Orville, Jackson's onscreen filmography was spent in brief appearances on British television, including the short-lived medical soap opera, The Royal Today. He also appeared in the short horror film Peppermint in 2013. Jackson appears outside of the Isaac costume in Season 2, Episode 2 of The Orville, "A Happy Refrain."
But before he joined The Orville, Jackson spent time in British theater. A recurring fixture in London's West End, Jackson first appeared on the National Theatre stage in a production of War Horse in the role Benedict Cumberbatch made famous in its 2011 film adaptation. He later performed on familiar territory, returning to the Old Vic's stage for a performance in the comedy Noises Off. Like the crew and the rest of the cast of The Orville, Mark has been safely waiting for production of its third season to resume. Jackson is also a lifelong science fiction fan and has often spoken about his love for Star Trek: The Next Generation and The Expanse.
The Orville stars Seth MacFarlane, Adrianne Palicki, Scott Grimes, Peter Macon, Penny Johnson Jerald, Jessica Szohr, J. Lee, and Mark Jackson. Currently available on Hulu, a date for its third season premiere is not yet set.