Why Did Alara Leave The Orville? Does Alara Return to The Orville?
by Abinaya | Updated May 31, 2023
Who is Alara from Orville?
Alara, a prominent character in the television series Orville, experienced a gradual loss of physical strength due to the spacecraft's Earth-like gravity. As a result, she faced a difficult decision and chose to depart from the Union Fleet, returning to her family on Xelaya in September 2420. During her absence, interim security chief Tharl assumed her responsibilities.
The role of Alara was brought to life by the talented American actress Halston Sage. Born in the year 2396 on the planet Xelaya, Alara was welcomed into the world by her parents, Drenala and Ildis Kitan. Her father held a respected position as a university professor, while her sister, Solana Kitan, dedicated herself to research on Jintann 9.
When Alara was just an infant of less than eight months old, a tragic incident unfolded. A fire engulfed their family home while Drenala slept and Ildis attended a symposium. Fortunately, Alara's cries startled her mother, who acted swiftly and saved both of their lives. This event left a lasting imprint on Alara's psyche, instilling an unconscious fear of large fires within her.
Alara's intelligence fell below the average level of her fellow Xelayans, a fact that her father often reminded her of. Instead of pursuing an academic degree, she made the unconventional choice of joining the Union Fleet. Her parents believed that her decision stemmed from her perceived intellectual inferiority compared to her peers. They expressed their lack of support for her chosen career path and frequently attempted to persuade her to return to Xelaya.
Why Did Alara Leave the Orville?
In the third episode of Season 2, titled "Home," Alara Kitan bids farewell to the USS Orville and embarks on a journey back to her home planet, Xelaya. This significant development in the storyline was prompted by the real-world departure of the talented actress Halston Sage, who portrayed the character. Unfortunately, the reasons behind her departure remain unknown. Although the door was left open for the possibility of Alara's return, it remains uncertain if she will indeed make a comeback.
Subsequently, two episodes later, a new character named Talla Keyali assumes the role of Chief of Security, stepping into Alara's shoes and taking charge of the important position. While Talla becomes an integral part of the series, the audience is left eagerly awaiting any updates on the potential return of Alara.
However, fans were treated to a pleasant surprise when Alara made a brief cameo appearance in the second season finale, "The Road Not Taken." This unexpected appearance delighted viewers and left them with a glimmer of hope for Alara's future involvement in the series. Furthermore, Alara also made an appearance in the third season finale titled "Future Unknown," further adding to the intrigue surrounding her character.
The question of whether Alara will permanently return to Orville remains unanswered. Fans will have to eagerly anticipate future developments in the series to discover the fate of this beloved character.
Does Alara Return to the Orville?
Following Halston Sage's departure from the series, the opportunity for her character, Alara Kitan, to make a comeback was left wide open. And indeed, in the season 2 finale of The Orville, titled "The Road Not Taken," an intriguing alternate timeline plot provided the perfect opportunity for Alara to reappear. Fans were thrilled to see her once again grace the screen, injecting excitement and anticipation into the storyline.
This unexpected return not only delighted viewers but also fueled speculation about Alara's future involvement in the series. Furthermore, Halston Sage made yet another reappearance on The Orville during the show's third season. In the tenth episode of season 3, titled "Future Unknown," an important event takes place as Isaac proposes to Claire, and she happily accepts.
This development added a new layer of complexity to the ongoing narrative and left fans eagerly wondering if Alara's return in this season was merely a brief cameo or if there are further plans for her character in future episodes. The ultimate question of whether Alara will permanently return to The Orville or play a more substantial role in the series remains unanswered. Fans will eagerly await any updates and twists in the storyline to determine the direction the show's creators have chosen for this beloved character.
About Orville
The Orville is an American television series that combines science fiction, comedy, and drama. Created by Seth MacFarlane, who also takes on the role of the series' protagonist, Ed Mercer, the show revolves around Mercer's position as an officer in the Planetary Union's fleet of exploratory spaceships set in the 25th century.
Drawing inspiration primarily from the original Star Trek and its successor, The Next Generation, The Orville cleverly parodies and pays homage to these iconic sci-fi series. It follows the adventures of the USS Orville's crew as they embark on episodic escapades, while also weaving a serialized overarching narrative throughout the series.
Produced by Fuzzy Door Productions and 20th Television, The Orville made its debut on September 10, 2017. Initially airing for two seasons on Fox, the series also became available for streaming on Hulu the day after each episode premiered. Later, the show transitioned exclusively to Hulu for its third season.
Although the first season garnered mixed reviews from critics, the subsequent seasons two and three received widespread critical acclaim. The Orville achieved significant success in terms of ratings during its time on Fox, emerging as the network's highest-rated Thursday show and the most-watched debut drama since 2015.
The Orville Alara Actress
Halston Sage, born on May 10, 1993, is an accomplished American actress who has made a name for herself in various television roles. She is widely recognized for her portrayal of Grace in the Nickelodeon series How to Rock (2012) and Amber in the NBC series Crisis (2014). However, Sage gained significant acclaim for her compelling performance as Alara Kitan in the Fox series The Orville (2017-2019), where she left a lasting impression on viewers.
Additionally, she showcased her talent in the Fox television series Prodigal Son (2019-2021), taking on the character of Ainsley Whitly. Sage's versatility extends beyond television, as she has also made notable appearances in films. In 2015, she portrayed the character of Lacey in Paper Towns and also took on the role of Kendall in Scout's Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse. These film roles further showcased her range as an actress. In 2017, Sage captivated audiences with her performance as Lindsay in the film Before I Fall.
Orville Cast
Seth MacFarlane
Capt. Ed Mercer
Adrianne Palicki
Cmdr. Kelly Grayson
Penny Johnson Jerald
Dr. Claire Finn
Scott Grimes
Lt. Gordon Malloy
Peter Macon
Lt. Cmdr. Bortus
J. Lee
Lt. Cmdr. John LaMarr
Mark Jackson
Isaac
Norm MacDonald
Yaphit
Jessica Szohr
Lt. Talla Keyali
Chad L. Coleman
Klyden
Halston Sage
Lt. Alara Kitan
Victor Garber
Admiral Halsey
Cast
Character
Why did Alara Leave the Orville - FAQ
Answer: Yes, The Orville achieved relative success in terms of ratings during its time on Fox. It became the network's highest-rated Thursday show and was also noted as Fox's "most-viewed debut drama" since 2015.
Apart from her role as Alara Kitan in The Orville, Halston Sage has appeared in other television series such as How to Rock, Crisis, and Prodigal Son. She has also showcased her talent in films, including Paper Towns and Before I Fall.
The ultimate fate of Alara's character in The Orville remains unknown. Fans will have to stay tuned to discover if there are any plans for her to return in future episodes.
After Alara's departure, the character of Talla Keyali, portrayed by Jessica Szohr, assumed the role of Chief of Security on The Orville.
Some notable episodes of The Orville include "The Road Not Taken" (season 2 finale) and "Future Unknown" (season 3 finale), as they feature Alara's cameo appearances and leave fans wondering about her future involvement