Season 2 Episode 6 of “The Orville“ A Happy Refrain is beautifully touching in which our notions of love is taken out of all comfort zones or qualifying species and presented so wonderfully simple. It shows us a romance between Dr. Claire Finn a single mother of two young boys and Isaac a biomechanical lifeform and officer on board the Orville. Keep in mind Isaac is the Data analog for Star Trek’s Data, and as such he has no emotion, regarding his interactions with other species with purely scientific interests. 
In the episodes leading up to this, the story arc has been bringing the two characters together as Isaac has become more involved in the care of her children as well as her home life. As the episode progresses Claire comes to the realization that she is developing feelings for Isaac. She takes the leap and asks Isaac out on a date to the symphony. Claire has a few telling moments during this date. A significant moment is she is walking with Isaac to the Symphony and is admitting how nervous she is her first date jitters.
During the Symphony the orchestra plays “Singing in the Rain”. Another notable scene in the episode is during dinner after symphony she opens up to Isaac telling him how much she misses the rain. As for Isaac, his willingness to accommodate Claire at every turn during the date is just priceless but the miss on the date becomes apparent as Isaac who has downloaded every file on Claire seems to remove any and all shred of spontaneity. Noting the miss later Isaac seeks advice and this time he is faced with the task of simply surprising her. After a failed attempt with a chocolate cake at 3 in the morning, he makes a last-ditch effort which turns out poorly.
Claire reveals that maybe it is best they remain platonic noting she cannot even kiss him. Isaac facing failure raises the stakes. She meets Isaac in the simulator and the restaurant program is in effect but the most notable element is Isaac who has been reconfigured via the simulator to a human form. He has even deleted all the Claire related files prompting him to ask questions to get to know her better. The night goes perfectly and ending with the two making love.
As we move through the next day Isaac is seen trying to figure out how to end the relationship has been successful in completing his task of understanding human relationships and is given the advice to become unappealing to her. We later see Isaac in a wife-beater t-shirt and underwear acting terribly prompting Claire to want nothing more to do with being in a relationship with Isaac; even going so far as to ask him to erase all data he holds of her.
A wonderfully written episode as two characters are drawn together both inexplicably and understandably at the same time. Claire played perfectly by Penny Johnson Jerald really steals the show because she shines the brightest when she is openly displaying her vulnerabilities. The strength she exhibits in even asking Isaac out is something we can all relate to. She is explaining to Isaac about being nervous as they walk to their first date was performed with so much honesty and openness one can only imagine the monumental amount of courage those few sentences would have taken.
Isaac, on the other hand, is biomechanical and does not have human emotions. It is through his character Claire’s fears are reflected plainly. While his attempts to court Claire were perfect comedic situations in also brings to light what we need as humans to connect to one another. We see Isaac’s arc ramp up after she refutes him and he finds himself not quite right without her. He finds that he is now cut off from her private life and that of her children. He suddenly makes an error while scanning a binary star and decides to run a diagnostic. Here’s what he finds: Attempting to erase all Claire related data is causing the problem as due to the way the systems work he cannot just erase his time with her.
He seeks out one more bit of advice and this time what’s given is actually quite simple, to win her back he’ll have to be creative. And what happens next shines brighter than a binary star. Claire receives a message to the bridge and Isaac plays singing in the rain. He then activates the ship’s water systems causing it to rain in the bridge. As they are getting soaked he apologizes noting that relationships only work when both parties are trying. Claire asks why should she take him back and his response is that his internal systems would function more efficiently if she does.
For those of you that do not speak binary, roughly translated, my life is better with you in it. For a lifeform without the capacity for emotion, the idea here that love, like life, will always find a way is powerful and beautiful all at the same time.
Happy Valentine’s Day.
Written by Victor Mercado
