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Kelly Grayson

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Ed: You don't exactly look ready to relax.
Kelly: No. I'm not.
Ed: Do you still want to get drunk?
Kelly: Ed...this isn't gonna work.
Ed: You mean us.
Kelly: None of this should have happened. You defied an admiral's orders to protect me, and it sent our science officer into a 700 year exile. You and I, together...it jeopardizes your command. It jeopardizes the smooth operation of this ship, and it jeopardizes our friendship. It can't happen.
Ed: When I'm really honest with myself, I know that you're right. But that doesn't change the way I feel.
Kelly: I know. But for now, those are feelings we need to forget. Dismissed, Captain?
Ed: Dismissed, Commander.
~ Kelly explaining to Ed that they can't be together anymore because of the chaos it causes.
I was always someone who was comfortable with responsibility. I was usually the one who volunteered to watch the younger kids on a field trip, or captain the soccer team. And I liked the satisfaction of helping other people succeed at their jobs. I knew a command position in the Fleet would mean a long, slow climb through a system, but I also knew it would be worth it.
~ Kelly explains why she joined the Fleet.

Kelly Grayson is the deuteragonist of the sci-fi comedy television series, The Orville. A 25th century woman and a member of the Planetary Union, Kelly was Ed Mercer's wife until their divorce after Ed found her in bed with a Retepsian because she was tired of Ed being more at work than her. A year later, Kelly secretly helped Ed get the captain of the USS Orville as a way to atone for her guilt while becoming the ship's first officer. Despite occasional tensions with her ex-husband, Kelly works the best she can with her unorthodox team across the galaxy.

She is played by Adrianne Palicki who also played Bobbi Morse in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Wonder Woman in the cancelled Wonder Woman 2011 series and Lady Jaye in G.I Joe: Retalition.

Physical appearance

Kelly is a beautiful young woman in her mid-thirties with broad shoulders, an imposing chest, quite thin but in good physical condition and tall.

She has blonde hair with a slight dark touch, slightly chubby cheeks, her eyes are blue and has a large mole between her eyebrows. Early in her Commander career, Kelly had wavy hair but later left it tangled.

She usually wears a fleet uniform consisting of a blue jacket with metal shoulder pads and the Federation badge, then a black pants and shoes.

In her youth, Kelly had lighter, loose hair and also sported a blunt.

Personality

Kelly: He was faithful in the marriage, and I... was not. And yet I am his first officer.
Ed: Because I value, respect, and depend on her expertise, her judgment, and her professional skill. I would trust her with my life.
~ Kelly Grayson and Ed Mercer.

A sympathetic woman, sarcastic at times, professional, determined, pragmatic and kind-hearted, Kelly is generally outspoken but is able to hide things or lie for any cause she deems right. In her youth, Kelly was much more social and considerably less confident, as shown when her younger counterpart was moving back in time and learning about her future, she literally turned the timeline upside down. Kelly has also shown the ability to forgive, making peace with Klyden despite their past resentment when he finally changed for the better.

Faced with danger, Kelly keeps a cool head and shows resistance when threatened, taken prisoner or even beaten up. She has a tendency to be wary of people who are a little too nice at times, like Prea, but it was also a little out of jealousy of the attention Ed was giving the newcomer. She says that as an officer, it's her job to worry about. She also adheres to the principles of not interfering with the timeline in the event of unintended time travel. Despite her professionalism, she has some alcohol problem. She's not above not making mistakes, having contaminated the multiphase planet culture because she just wanted to heal an injured little girl while helping observed. As Commander, Kelly deeply respects the Union's principles of never interfering with a developing world, even if it is with good intentions. When Lysella wanted to improve her world, Kelly didn't reprimand her harshly and simply showed her what the consequences of her actions would have been while making her realize that things had to be left to improve on their own.

Regarding her relationship with the crew, Kelly gets along quite well with them although she is often teased about the breakdown of her marriage to Ed. Her most positive relationship was with Alara Kitan, having full confidence in her willingness to prove herself and her dedication. Although she generally gets along well with Bortus, Kelly does not personally approve of the whole Moclan culture, openly admitting to hating Klyden for his misogyny and disrespect for the female gender. Her most chaotic relationship is with Ed, as despite their mutual respect, she tends to question some of her decisions and choices. Although she regrets cheating on her ex-husband, she generally supports her share of the blame in their divorces due to his continued absences, which usually puts them in conflict whenever he brings up the subject. As their new life together progresses, their relationship has improved a lot. She sympathized with Ed's sadness when he found out he had a daughter which he did not know existed, making Kelly realize how sad it was that she and Ed never had time to start a family.

History

Growing up, Kelly dreamed of one day becoming a captain, thus following in her father's footsteps as an officer and also dreamed of finding love. In her twenties in the year 2413, she met Ed Mercer and the two had a date that Ed enjoyed so much that he offered Kelly another one the next day, which she agreed to.

They ended up getting married in 2414 but things were not going very well for the couple, Kelly feeling abandoned and alone because of Ed who seemed to put his work before her. As if things couldn't get worse, Kelly met a Retepsian named Darulio four years later and the two eventually had an affair which Ed found out on his way home from work, resulting in their divorce.

Season 1

Using her father's friendship with Admiral Halsey, Kelly ensures that Ed succeeds in securing the captain position aboard the USS Orville. Ed took it very badly that Kelly, whom he had not seen for a year, is now his first officer, especially since she applied for it herself but intends to make another request to be transferred elsewhere. However, after their first mission which led to the destruction of a Krill ship, Ed was kind enough to keep Kelly on board.

Aboard the Orville, Kelly and her friends went through different adventures as she and Ed being captured by the Calivons to be placed in a zoo, the discovery of a gigantic bio-ship where she was captured, beaten and tortured almost to death and a new encounter with Darulio, creating tensions between Kelly and Ed. Ed would eventually learn that Kelly was partially responsible for his gaining command of the Orville much to his frustration but he ultimately moved on.

In About a Girl, Kelly reluctantly becomes Bortus's lawyer for the right to keep his newborn child, Topa, as a female because the Moclans always have female Moclans operated on at birth to be males. Having to endure the natural misogynist of this people, Kelly does her best as a lawyer (Ed having recommended her because she had a year of interplanetary law) to prove that females are worth as much as males but despite her efforts and the presence of the famous phylosopher writer who was actually a Moclan woman named Heveena, Topa suffers in the end the "correction".

In Pria, the Orville saves a scientist named Pria stuck on a comet and Kelly becomes a little jealous of the bond that quickly forms between Ed and Pria so that it turns to mistrust. Kelly's suspicion finally turns out to be true when Pria is revealed to be a thief from the future coveting the Orville for an alien client. The two women subsequently come to blows and Kelly wins, breaking Pria's nose who is erased from existence a few hours later.

In Mad Idolatry, Kelly crash lands on a Bronze Age planet with the Exploration Team and heals an injured little girl with a healing tool. Returning to The Orville, the crew witness the passage of the planet into another universe so that on its return 11 days later 700 years have passed. They also discover that following Kelly's action, the inhabitants take her for a goddess caring for only those who are worthy. Kelly tries to fix her blunder by convincing a church that she is not a goddess, only so that 700 years later, things get even worse. However, it all worked out when Issac stayed on the planet for the next 700 years.

Season 2

In Ja'loja, Ed and Kelly try their best to mend their past relationship but Kelly ends up forming a relationship with the ship's school teacher, Cassius.

In Home, Kelly spends the majority of the episode emotionally supporting an Ed worried about Alara's declining health. At the end, Kelly and the other crew members say goodbye to Alara who has decided to return to her family.

In All the World Is Birthday Cake, Kelly participates in the first contact on Regor 2 just to be taken prisoner because of her birth month which on this planet is considered a period of birth to people predisposed to violence. She and Borgus, whose birthday is close to her, are sent to a prison camp from which they try to escape but are quickly recaptured and condemned to death. Fortunately, The Orville crew managed to fool Regorians with a fake star, narrowly sparing Kelly and Borgus.

In Deflectors, Kelly and Cassius' relationship begins to deteriorate due to their seriously differing opinions on their responsibility aboard the Orville, so much so that Kelly thinks they shouldn't see each other anymore. At the same time, Kelly helps investigate Locar's apparent murder until Keyali finds out it was just a staging. Later in the evening, Cassius comes to ask Kelly if she still has feelings for Ed and when she does only answer that she will always have a share of love for him, Cassius announces to her that he has asked to be transferred to another ship. Although saddened, Kelly accepts his departure.

In Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, due to an incident related to the Aronov Device, a younger version of Kelly is time-shifted on the Orville and her overly laid back aptitude puts her in conflict with the Kelly of the present. When young Kelly is sent back to her time, her memory has not been erased and remembering the revelations about her future, she decides not to make the second date with Ed, changing the future.

In The Road Not Taken, Following the change in the timeline, Ed never became a captain and the Kaylons destroyed the federation. Knowing this is her fault, Kelly reunites the entire original crew to find a way back to the past. It is also revealed that the erasure of young Kelly's memory did not work because her ship does not have the beta-secretase enzyme. The timeline finally returns to normal when Doctor Finn manages to correctly erase young Kelly's memory.

Season 3

In Electric Sheep, during repairs and upgrades to the Orville shortly after the Kaylon attack, Kelly is among those appalled by the mounting hatred towards Isaac. She later attends the summoning of new Ensign Charly Burke, a survivor of the Kaylon assault who openly despises Isaac and objects to Ed's earlier decision to keep him on board. Following Isaac's suicide by electromagnetic pulse, Kelly goes to comfort Claire who was Isaac's closest person and advises her to remember why she loved him so much. After the Orville escapes a Kaylon sphere using a planet's electromagnetic storm, Kelly witnesses Charly's impeachment for refusing to obey an order from Ed to help Lamarr restore Isaac. However, a Charly begged by Marcus Finn ends up bringing Isaac back to life, much to the delight of the senior officers.

In Shadow Realms, in view of Admiral Paul Christie's negotiations for access to the unexplored sector of Naklav in Krill space territory, a small get-together party takes place in the mess hall during which Claire asks Kelly to come and drink with her out of the crowd. She surprised to learn that Claire was once married to Christie and how their relationship ended dramatically. Kelly later attends the negotiations with the Krill where she objects to the installation of a tracking beacon on the Orville but Christie affirms that it will pass then the ambassador warns the humans of the dangers of the Kalarr Expanse where apparently reign demons. Once in the Naklav sector, the Orville picks up a distress signal from the Expanse and discovers a visibly organic spatial strangeness. Kelly is part of the group exploring the station but on returning to the ship, Christie is suddenly taken by a violent infection which transforms him into a dangerous insectoid creature which infects several crew members. Using a virus developed by Claire, the infected are forced out of the Orville, led by a Paul Christie who is definitely no longer himself.

In Mortality Paradox, Kelly greets Talla returning from her vacation on Xelaya while learning that she has found traces of a Kaylon ship in the Avior system. Quickly, modulated electromagnetic waves typical of multiple life forms are detected on the barren planet Narran I. In orbit of the planet, the crew finds that this world is no longer a desolate world, now comprising a population of 8.5 billion people and cities. With Ed, Gordon, Bortus and Tella, Kelly goes to Narran I to investigate all these sudden changes.

The group lands in a forest as towns disappear without explanation, prompting them to follow signals from lifeforms until it leads them to a 21st century high school. They go inside and immediately lose contact with the Orville while being unable to open the exit door. With no choice but to continue, the group splits in two to find a way out of the facility. After Gordon gets beaten up by some bullies working for a certain Randall, they all go to the cafeteria to ask the high school kids for information, not a big hit. They finally manage to get out when the students go outside, only to find that a town has taken the place of the forest and there is no trace of the shuttle anymore. Going to the football field, Randall shows up, turning out to be a giant monster trying to kill the group.

Fleeing through the school, they find themselves without explanation in a plane in flight before sitting down at the request of the flight attendant. When the plane is constantly buffeted by violent turbulence, the group enters the control cabin to find that no one is flying the plane. The stewardess frantically continues to order them back to their seats, infuriating Kelly to the point that she knocks the woman out by punching her in the face. Gordon manages to land the plane in the mountains but the other passengers suddenly disappear.

Stepping off the plane takes them to a Moclan crypt then to a staircase above nothingness and finally to Xelaya but Ed realizes it's all wrong due to the lack of Xelaya's typical dense gravity. The group split up again to cross a lake on a raft to reach a light on the other side and Kelly asks Ed to give up his place because of the injury he had in the head when the plane crashed. In the middle of the crossing, the light signal disappears and Kelly is dragged underwater by a giant cephalopod. On the verge of being devoured, Kelly briefly falls into the same trance state that the others have experienced halfway to death since beginning this mission. Kelly rescued by Tella, the group sees a door appear but refuses to take it because Ed has understood that someone is behind all that. They then find a holographic generator in a cave and by destroying it, they finally break out of the illusion.

Returning to the Orville and working on the apparently Kaylon generator, a Federation convoy arrives but Isaac unmasks them as Kaylon. The Orville is caught in enemy fire, sustaining critical damage, and meets its end when a sphere ship rushes straight for the bridge. However, the group realizes that the environment around them has been frozen. Tella is then revealed to be a mysterious purple humanoid named Dinal, having taken the place of the real Tella. Once the illusion is truly faded, Dinal explains to the group that she is descended from the civilization of the multiphase planet where Kelly had accidentally been worshiped as a goddess two years earlier, an occurrence for which she again apologizes but Dinal does not blame her. Dinal then recounts 50,000 years has passed for her people and that they have acquired immortality, at the expense of becoming complacent of death as well as life and that is why the four member of the Orville were placed in a micro-universe, in order to be able to experiment with them the experience of mortality. After Dinal leaves, the group finally returns to the real Orville and discusses over drinks the perspective that immortality brings.

In Gently Falling Rain, as the crew relaxes in a Wild West Saloon simulation, Kelly and Ed receive an important message from Admiral Halsey regarding the transport of a Federation delegation to Krill for the peace treaty. Shortly after Halsey is shown a video of a Teleya running for Supreme Chancellor opposing the alliance with the Federation and winning the support of many Krill, Kelly comes to see a troubled Ed who apologizes for not having listened to him when she opposed the release of Teleya, having now realized that he had made a terrible mistake despite Kelly telling him that he is not responsible for Teleya's actions.

While the delegation also accompanied by Ed and Charly arrived on Krill, things take a turn for the worse when Teleya is unexpectedly elected Supreme Chancellor, imprisons the delegation and executes Chancellor Korin for allying himself with the Federation. The Orville is caught in a tractor beam but a Kelly in command manages to get out and launches Directive 21 before escaping the Krills ship. Hidden, Kelly is contacted by Teleya, the latter declares that the delegation is accused of plotting against the Krill government but Kelly knows that she is lying. Teleya then taunts Kelly on her feelings towards Ed being able to prevent her from making the right decisions while threatening her that she will never see Earth again if she returns to Krill space. Kelly contacts Admiral Perry and the latter has a combat fleet prepared. Once the fleet led by Admiral Ozawa reaches the position of the Orville, all enemy ships begin the battle. Kelly also sends Claire and Lamarr disguised as Krill to rescue the delegation, hence Directive 21.

With the rescue successful and Krill space evacuated, Kelly is present when Ed and Halsey meet on what to do next, Ed having discovered that he had a daughter named Anaya with Teleya during their brief relationship and who may have an impact on the conflict to come. Halsey gone, Kelly tries to comfort an Ed who is now worried about the safety of his daughter he has just met. She comes to regret that they were never able to start a family and that she feels like she is living another life now.

In A Tale of Two Topas, while the Orville is carrying out archaeological digs at a Hemblicite temple, Kelly befriends a Topa planning to take the Union Point exam when he is old enough. She takes him around the ship explaining how things work. Topa asks Kelly why she joined the fleet and she replies that she always felt comfortable with the responsibility of helping others see it through. When she returns the question to Topa, young Moclan admits to feeling incomplete so he searches among the stars for answers and this causes Kelly to see that he is not happy. Assuming it might have something to do with Topa's origins, Kelly voices her concerns to Claire and Ed while claiming to think it might be time for Topa to finally know the truth.

She then goes to see Bortus and Klyden having dinner to tell them about their son's situation but every time she brings up the subject of Topa's origins, Klyden is offended until he asks the commander to leave. , which she agrees to do not without having advised Bortus to speak to his son. Topa later comes to see Kelly in her quarters to inform her that Klyden no longer wants her in charge of her training, which annoys the young Moclan who feels a special connection with Kelly. She regrets not having her say even though she hates Klyden but she is obliged to respect the will of the parents. Following Isaac's reports that Topa might want to kill himself, Kelly goes to see a depressed Topa at the mess and advises him to try Kimbok food, in reality wanting him to discover a file regarding his origins.

Topa finds out he was born female, much to Klyden's outrage who literally confronts Kelly in his office for it, even threatening to break her neck if they were on Moclus. He then accuses Kelly of having emotionally ruined his son but an unintimidated Kelly berates him for not seeing his distress sooner. Klyden retaliates by taunting her about being considered a goddess and insinuating that she played god with her family. Kelly does not let it go and purely affirms that Topa is still a female inside, pushing Klyden to try to attack her but Kelly overpowers him with a hand key, chooses to let it pass but orders him to leave her office while warning him that if he does it again, she will smash his arm and hang it on the wall.

After a tearful Bortus admits to her that he deliberately gave Topa the password to open the file, Kelly tries to comfort a still-shocked Topa by showing him the exceptional Moclan female, Heveena, during the events in Moclus three years earlier. Following this, Topa wants to become a female again but the Admiralty does not agree because of the likely deterioration it would cause to their relationship with the Moclans. In the end, Isaac proceeds to operate on Topa as he is not a fleet officer, earning Ed and Kelly a harsh reprimand from Admiral Howland. Kelly later invites a now-female Topa to join the gateway for the departure from the Hemblicite system.

In Twice in a Lifetime, while the Orville is carrying an upgraded Aronov Device, an ambush by the Kaylons leads Gordon to be thrown back to 2015. Using the Aronov, the crew manages to time travel but it depletes their supply of dysonium, they end up in 2025 instead. Kelly and Ed go in search of Gordon and find him at the airport as a elder airplane pilot before discovering later that he founded a family with Laura, a woman he fell in love with after finding her iPhone in the future. The two officers berate their friend for violating the temporal non-interference guidelines but Gordon doesn't care because he refuses to return to his time,. Later that evening, Kelly and Ed return to Gordon's home with Talla in a last ditch attempt to bring him back even if it's by force as they can no longer afford to risk the stability of the timeline. The former helmsman points a phaser at them with the intention of knocking them out if they pushes him over the edge but when Ed learns dysonium has been found the captain decides to go find Gordon in 2015 despite older Gordon's desperate pleas. Once the next time jump is successful, the Orville returns to his time where Kelly and Ed comfort the young Gordon stunned by what he would have become if he had not been saved.

In From Unknown Graves, With the Planetary Union increasingly seeking allies against the Kaylon threat, the Orville is sent to encounter the Janisi species, a female-ruled people where the males are only second class. In the hope of making a good impression and purely illusionary, the male crew resign themselves to more subordinate positions while the women take the lead, Kelly then becomes the captain. Things are going pretty well with the three Janisi hosts until dinner time when one of them wants to mate with Ed. leave as soon as possible, the hope of an alliance apparently doomed.

Later, Kelly is visited by a Claire who is in doubt about her relationship with Isaac since the Orville has on board the emotionally capable Kaylon, Timmis, and Doctor Villka who allowed this. The thing being that since Isaac doesn't seem to see any benefit in having emotions, Claire feels bad for wanting him to change, so Kelly confides in Claire that she secretly wanted Ed to change during the time they were married but what she really regretted was not asking Ed to change. She encourages Claire to ask Isaac to change for her.

The next day, Kelly comes to see Ed after having studied the Janisi culture and submits an idea related to this species changing partners continuously. The captain and the commander meet the representatives again and suddenly explain to them that although their marriage was a failure, they are still able to count on each other. The argument seems to convince the Janisi in chief who hopes for diplomatic continuations.

In Midnight Blue, Kelly continues to have a good relationship with Topa, also coming to advise her at Bortus' request on how to establish a romantic relationship. As the Sanctuary's annual inspection approaches, Kelly encourages Bortus to let Topa come with them as she has never met any other female Moclans. Arrived on the colonial planet, Kelly and Bortus exchange very cold courtesies with the Moclan group led by Commander Kodon who have come to do their own inspection. Throughout the inspection, Kelly takes pleasure in seeing Topa flourish and befriend Heveena.

The next day, Topa goes missing, so Kelly and Bortus return to their shuttle after finding her necklace and conclude that the Moclans are responsible. Their shuttle has meanwhile been sabotaged by the kidnappers but they still manage to leave the atmosphere. Kelly suggests either contacting the Orville or following the reactor tracks on their own, of course Bortus chooses the second choice. The trail leads them to an uninhabited planet with a clandestine outpost occupied only by Moclans. After stealthily landing the ship, Kelly and Bortus make their way to the outpost but along the way, Kelly falls off a ledge and fractures her right shoulder. As Bortus has fitted a medical device to his arm, Kelly apologizes for encouraging him to bring Topa with them, blaming herself for her capture. Bortus doesn't hold it against her and even admits that he wouldn't have made it through Klyden's departure without her, considering her with Topa as member of their family.

Once inside the enemy base, Kelly and Bortus are quickly spotted and attacked by the Moclans, whom they manage to eliminate despite everything. Arriving in the room where a badly beaten Topa is being held, Kelly kills Kodon before he can attack. About to leave, Bortus brutally goes after the one-eyed torturer who personally injured the girl and gouges out his last good eye, only stopping when Kelly orders him to stops. The trio manage to flee the planet and go to the assembly of Union representatives on Earth to denounce the heinous acts of the Moclan government which was behind all this from the beginning, resulting in their banishment from the Union. Later in the evening, Kelly is present when Halsey gives an update on the status of the Union more vulnerable than ever in front of the Kaylons as well as the sovereignty of the colony is now recognized and under their protection, to the great pleasure of Kelly.

She then goes to Bortus's quarters, makes peace with a repentant Klyden following what happened to his daughter and is even invited to stay for dinner with them.

In Domino, The Orville and several ships of the fleet enter a space combat against the Kaylons to protect Xelaya and succeed in destroying all the enemy ships present thanks to a shock wave power from the device created by Isaac and Charly. On Earth, Kelly attends a meeting with the Admiralty regarding the course of the war where Ed proposes a last ditch attempt to make peace with the Kaylons instead of slaughtering them. The peace solution envisioned, The Orville travels to Kaylon space and proceeds to destroy two enemy fleets when they refuse to comply. On the planet, Kelly accompanies Ed and Halsey to meet Kaylon Primary who had survived their subsequent meeting a year earlier, then a temporary ceasefire is put in place in the hope of an armistice.

The senior officers later take a leave of absence on Earth, in a country house belonging to Kelly's father, celebrating the potential end of the war and Kelly proposing a toast with 21st century rum. The next morning, Kelly is up and watches the sunrise before being joined by Claire, sharing with her her fear that things were going to get worse with the eviction of the Moclans but not anymore. Halsey contacts Kelly and tells her to wake Ed because the device has been stolen.

With Admiral Perry's involvement in the theft uncovered due to his lack of trust in the Council, the crew of the Orville track their shuttle to the area where he was killed, leading them to discover the alliance between Moclans and Krills. Following Bortus' suggestion, the Orville tracks down the enemy on a planet with an outpost with a quantum core powerful enough for the device to eliminate the Kaylons over significant distances. Lacking the necessary firepower, the Union allied with the Kaylons for a new fight to come.

While the Moclans and Krills engage against the Union and the Kaylons, Kelly infiltrates the planet in a camouflaged shuttlecraft protected by Orville's combat shuttles. The consequent enemy assaults force the team to jump into the void and fly by jetpack to the outpost which they then infiltrate. Krill and Moclan soldiers standing in their way, Kelly and Talla hold them off while Charly, Isaac and Primary advance towards the energy core. Separated from Talla, Kelly is ambushed by Teleya, a knife to her throat and an order to surrender. Kelly pretends to use her communicator to better free herself from the Krill's grip and engages her in combat. The two women end up in a standoff on the ground and Kelly tries to grab Teleya's knife but Teleya takes it back, only to be knocked out by Talla. Joining the rest of the team in the core room, there is nothing more to be done to prevent the activation of the device but Charly thinks she can implode it. Kelly refuses that Charly take the risk of dying in the explosion of the device but Charly stays on her position because there is no other way, forcing Kelly, Talla, Isaac, Primary and a handcuffed Teleya to flee the outpost.

Escaping aboard a Krill shuttle, the team contacts the Orville and Kelly reveals that Charly didn't make it. Charly's sacrifice nonetheless impacted Primary, causing him to reconsider Kaylon's view of biological lifeforms and even make peace with the Union, finally ending the war. Later, Kelly attends Charly's funeral.

In Future Unknown, Kelly attends yet another Moclan tradition, Bortus and Klyden's vow renewal. Later, Kelly and Talla euphorically and drunkenly discuss the marriage proposal Isaac had just made to Claire, Kelly giving her personal opinion based on her own experience as the man married and the man shared life are two different things.

On the way to an appointment at Sargus 4 with researchers, the Orville is suddenly contacted by Lysella, a resident of Sargus 4 whom the crew had met three years earlier and the only person on this developing planet aware of life. outside her world, the latter asks them for asylum because she can no longer bear the oppressive way of life of her planet. Ed accepts the request and assigns Kelly to help Lysella find her feet.

At her office, Kelly receives a visit from an Isaac wanting to become more intimate with her, or even have already had sex. Kelly is a little stunned until Isaac explains that LaMarr advised him to increase his romantic interactions so as not to jeopardize the success of the upcoming marriage, she replies that he shouldn't take it at face value and that they should both go back to work pretending this conversation never happened.

In the Mess Hall, Kelly begins explaining to Lysella what life is like without monetary need, that reputation is something truly rewarding, and to be capable of great respectable talent is the greatest wealth within the Union. On the question of hobbies, Kelly promises Lysella that she will show her something amazing later. She then goes to see Claire in the infirmary to tell her about her previous strange interaction with Isaac and Claire also asks her to be her maid of honor as she is her closest friend.

Taking Lysella to the simulator, Kelly shows her the asteroid Mel'Mirrys where live non-sapience sea creatures named Kamalides known to be the best mathematicians in the galaxy. After talking about the iron silicate core now all in place, Kelly confirms to Lysella that there are many other places like it.

Visiting the Engines and Deflectors Power Room, Lysella reveals to Kelly that she is beginning to feel guilty for leaving her world so unevolved socially because she is enjoying such a utopia that Sagar 4 does not know. Kelly assures her that the people of Sagar 4 will get better and better with time, but Lysella continues to feel guilty. To change her mind, Kelly invites Lysella to participate in the preparation of Claire's funeral.

At this point, Kelly and Talla are looking for a good idea but Lysella's requested opinion quickly turns on the advantage that her planet would benefit from if they possessed the advanced technology of the Orville, prompting Kelly to explain to her that it is against the law to interfere with the development of a world because it is to be taken for gods and that the rich societies would benefit from it at the expense of the lower classes. Lysella is unconvinced that her people would come to this, even asks who Kelly is to judge them, to which the Commander replies that no one is capable of judging correctly and that technology and societal ethics must be able to advance. together for the best.

During the bachelorette party, Kelly has fun with her friends and drinks with joy and good humor. She then expresses concern over a Lysella ultimately not coming to the party in Talla, beginning to doubt that it was the right choice for her to stay on board before being distracted by a holographic exotic dancer Isaac. Lysella comes to see her later and tells her that she wants to go home, the weight of guilt having reached a fever pitch.

After advising Claire on wedding dresses and being advised by Ed to make sure Lysella doesn't do anything inconsistent with what she knows, Kelly goes to say goodbye to Lysella before she leaves. boards the shuttle but discovers from the vehicle's sensors that Lysella was planning to sneak a comm-scanner with all of the Union's tech blueprints. To make Lysella understand the consequence that her actions would have been if she had gone all the way, Kelly shows her in the simulator Gendel 3, a developing world that was once livable in the 23rd century until the first explorers of the Union arrives on this world and shares its knowledge with it, leading to a global genocide in five years and the establishment of the rules of non-interference of the Union, all because of good intention. Kelly then tells Lysella that she can go home but cannot bring her world to the future.

She is then present on the bridge at the arrival of four thousand Kaylon ships invited by Isaac to his wedding. At Claire and Isaac's wedding, Kelly as bridesmaid is delighted for the couple and once declared husband and wife, Kelly happily gives Claire the flowers. At the next party, Kelly reveals happily to Claire and Isaac that Lysella has finally decided to stay. As Kelly and Ed comment on how the Kaylons have changed in a year, they have the pleasure of seeing their old friend Alara come back especially for the wedding. When Gordon begins to sing for the guests, Kelly takes Ed's hand and looks at each other briefly in happiness then continues to enjoy the singing.

Quotes

Ed...I can't apologize enough. I know it doesn't matter to you, but I...I am sorrier for what I did to you than anything I've ever done in my entire life.
~ Kelly to Ed Mercer.
Kelly: We're about to enter an unexplored region of space. It's not the right time for me to say, "Okay, I'm taking two weeks off. Bye."
Cassius: "It's not the right time." You know, you could be saying that until you're 90 if you don't find some balance. What? What's funny?
Kelly: It's nothing, it's just... I've been on the other end of this conversation.
Cassius: Kel, are we okay?
Kelly: I don't know. What do you want out of this? For us?
Cassius: To keep growing. Getting closer. Maybe, someday, get married. Is that not what you want?
Kelly: I've been married. I'm in no rush to do it again. And with this job, it makes the whole idea even worse.
Cassius: Well, you know, I have a job, too, and I feel like I make it work.
Kelly: Yeah but...
Cassius: What?
Kelly: It's not important
Cassius: No, you can say it.
Kelly: Say what?
Cassius: I'm a teacher. You're the commander of a starship. Your job is more demanding.
Kelly: I didn't say that.
Cassius: No, but you were thinking it. Let me tell you something: You ever...break two kids up during a loogie fight? It's way worse than any Krill battle you've ever been in.
Kelly: I did not imply in any way that my job was more important than yours.
Cassius: You've said little things in the past without even realizing it.
Kelly: Well, I apologize if I have, but I don't think that at all. I have a lot of respect for what you do.
Cassius: It's just not what you and your ex-husband do.
Kelly: What? What does Ed have to do with this?
Cassius: Okay, look, forget I brought it up. Let's just take that trip, huh? We need it.
Kelly: Cassius, I... I don't think we should see each other anymore.
Cassius: Oh, come on, don't overreact to this.
Kelly: I'm not. I just feel like we want different things. You wan a marriage, a family, me working less. And I get that, I really do. It's just not what I want.
~ Kelly and Cassius' relationship is at its worst.
Cassius: Kel, are you still in love with Ed?
Kelly: I'm... I'm always gonna have love for Ed. He's part of my life.
Cassius: That wasn't exactly my question.
Kelly: It's the only way I know how to answer.
Cassius: I'm gonna put in for a transfer. I have a standing offer from the USS Watson to head up their educational program.
Kelly: That's amazing. They're a lucky ship.
Cassius: It's been...a pleasure serving with you.
~ Kelly says goodbye to Cassius so their relationship ends.
Kelly: Hi. Listen... I need to talk to you about something.
Past Kelly: What's up?
Kelly: I'm having real reservations about this whole thing with you and Ed.
Past Kelly: You are?
Kelly: I don't think is a good idea.
Past Kelly: Well... I just figured since you aren't together anymore...
Kelly: That's my point, actually. You didn't experience it, but he was pretty devastated when it endend. So was I. And I just... I know me at your age. I don't want to see him get hurt. I don't want to see you get hurt. I know how this turn out.
Past Kelly: Well, I don't plan to let it turn out that way.
Kelly: I didn't plan to, either.
Past Kelly: But you did.
Kelly: Yeah. That's what I'm warning you about.
Past Kelly: With all due respect, Commander, I don't need warnings. I'm not you. I mean what I say. And if this really is a new timeline, how do you know I haven't found my soul mate?
Kelly: Who are we kidding? You are me. Just a younger, more naive me. I mean, I know myself. I used to say things like "find my soul mate." Well, guess what. You don't find soul mates, you become soul mates by growing together. And if you'd been through this marriage like I have, you'd be wise enough to know that.
Past Kelly: So you're saying you have a better handle on our lufe than I do? Have you seen the hot mess you've made of it?
Kelly: You know what? Forget it. I have to get back to the bridge.
Past Kelly: Wait! Just head-on a minute...
Kelly: Listen, if you want to make a massive mistake...
Past Kelly: And I know you don't want to hear it, but you have to.
Kelly: What ?
Past Kelly: You're not married. You're not a captain. You "maintain a distance" from your crew. There were three things I wanted in life, and you haven't come close on one. You've made my future a disappointment.
~ Kelly argues with a younger time-displaced version of her.
Klyden: How dare you!
Kelly: Is there something I can do for you, Klyden ?
Klyden: If we were on Moclus, I would be within my rights to break your little neck.
Kelly: Well, we're not on Moclus, but you're welcome to try. No? Then I suggest you back the hell away from my desk.
Klyden: My son is in emotional ruin because of you.
Kelly: I told him to have a slice of Kimbok. That's all I said.
Klyden: You gave him the password for the trial records!
Kelly: No, I didn't.
Klyden: You are a liar!
Kelly: I pointed him in the right direction, yes, but...
Klyden: Who are you to decide what is best for my child?!
Kelly: Somebody has to!
Klyden: My son was content!
Kelly: Your son was miserable! You wrecked that kid the second you walked into that courtroom, so do not try to pin this bullshit on me!
Klyden: I remember when we were in the Kandar system. You were worshiped as a god by the planet's inhabitants. Perhaps you still believe it yourself. Perhaps that is why you chose to play god with my family.
Kelly: I played god?! Klyden, that kid has been crying out for help, and you've been burying your fat head in the sand because the truth doesn't fit in with your backward worldview! Now, I may have overstepped, but somebody needed to start paying attention. Because that child is in trouble. And no matter how much it hurts you to know it, underneath that manufactured exterior, Topa is still female. [Klyden attacks her but Kelly tackles him against the wall] I'm gonna use my imagination and pretend that didn't just happen. And then I'm gonna let go, and you're gonna get the hell out of my office. And if you ever try to strike an officer again, I'm gonna break your goddamn arm off and mount it on my wall. You hear me? DO YOU HEAR ME!?
Klyden: Yes!
~ Kelly having a confrontation with Klyden.
Kelly: You know, after Ed and I divorced, I tried to comfort myself with the idea that you can't change someone. But as I've thought about it over the years, I've also had to take some responsibility for the fact that... I never really asked him to change.
Claire: I thought you guys argued about it all the time.
Kelly: Oh, we argued. We argued about how much time he spent working, his career. But I never said, "Please change, and do it for me."
Claire: Why not?
Kelly: Because... I was afraid if I asked him and he didn't want to do it... that would've been a true rejection. Never directly making the demand was a way of protecting myself.
Claire : Do you think it would've made a difference?
Kelly: Maybe not. But I never gave it the chance.
~ Kelly to Claire Finn.

Gallery

Trivia

  • Kelly's birthday is November 2.
  • She knows boxing.
  • Adrianne Palicki says her favorite part of the character is when Kelly got into a fight with Pria.
  • In real life, Adrianne Palicki was married in 2019 to Scott Grimes, the actor of Gordon Malloy, but they divorced two months later.
  • In Domino, It is implied that Kelly's father is deceased.
  • She considers Lysella as her adoptive little sister.
  • She has similarities to William Riker.