Orphan Black General Discussion

Shocker that Leakey disagrees with Rachel's persecution of Sarah. Of course it turns out she didn't kidnap Siobhan and Kira after all.

She tries to be all badass and coldblooded, but then Sarah fires the gun and she understands she's not in control at the moment.

The look on Art's face as he watched Alison rehearse the musical was priceless.

Good premiere. 4 stars.

I don't trust Siobhan either. And this episode gave me several reasons for that. First of all, she was almost right that she did a better job keeping Kira safe than Sarah did. Until she wasn't. Big dealbreaker.

Also the fact that she was SUCH a convincing liar about not knowing what Leda is, says when she claims she is on Sarah's side I have no reason to believe it.

Third, Kira's getting bad vibes. I trust that kid's vibes more than most.

Rachel is as big as sociopath as Helena is, but for different reasons.

Cool episode. 4 stars.

And the difference between this and Game Of Thrones is that I'm properly horrified. Game Of Thrones would try and titillate me at the same time because it is the worst.

I love that Felix ultimately wanted to go back to Alison.

Cal is the father? Interesting.

That was a pretty shocking episode on a lot of levels. 4 stars.

Cal is not cut out for this. While he was outside of it, that's his selling point. When he gets into the thick of things it turns into a drawback. If he survives the season I will be shocked.

Sometimes you haven't been kidnapped to a top secret facility. Sometimes you're just in rehab. Why the FUCK should I ever care about Alison's unrelated nonsense? And why does it always amuse me anyways?

Is it just me or does the wedding dress play like it's Helena's straightjacket? It feels like some sort of visual prison at any rate. It Gets. The Point. ACROSS.

Baller ending here. "Clever girl." 4 1/2 stars.

By the way, Rachel is purely fucked up.

It is amazing that her, Sarah, Alison, and Helena each look and sound nothing alike. I can tell which character is which on-screen even though they are played by the same person. I've never seen a performance like that, where the actor disappears so far into the character you can't even tell it's them.

This episode is a turning point for Paul. It's the first time he's never had any plausible deniability for his actions. Not saying he's definitely turned against Sarah or her friends. What I'm saying is there is no evidence left that he hasn't. The thing with Felix and the gun is not a sin that can just be explained away.

Mark's kiss to Grace was horrifying enough (as were the lips sewn together), but the idea that she'll have to carry the child if they don't find Helena? This is why I hate Godbotherers. It's pretty much the brand.

Alarming episode. 4 stars.

This episode is filled with revelations, and for the mystery genre there is a right way to do things (rare) and a wrong one (common). The wrong one is to cut off the information before anything important is learned, often by killing the infodump character off mid-monologue. Bad TV shows with mysteries don't actually want to give the viewers anything EVER, and think viewers can be shit on repeatedly, and will tolerate it with no objections. They are often right about the second thing.. For David Lynch and Twin Peaks, that was sort of the point. For The X-Files and Lost, it was because the writers were dicking us around. Lost actually eventually started revealing enough to satisfy the character arcs by the series finale (although most fans of that show disagree with me) while The X-Files ultimately collapsed under the weight of its own bullshit. The fact that Orphan Black gave us this much without dicking us around first is a very good sign. This was the right way to do things. Not a guarantee it will ALWAYS do the reveals the right way. But as the first real big infodump, it's promising we were dealt as square as we were.

I am not happy to see Vic. Because the character is so hapless I predict he's gonna get his dumb ass killed soon. And I don't actually want that. Him and Alison were cute together.

So was Helena and her "boyfriend". God, Maslany is just unrecognizable. Where did they find this chick? Helena's frightening, funny, and shockingly adorable, especially considering she's a serial killer.

The baby teeth were Kira's? This will not end well.

Is Siobhan the light at the end of the tunnel for Paul? Or a train? To be determined. But I liked her offer because it suggests there is a way out from under Paul being Rachel's puppet.

This did the big reveals right. Played fair and didn't hold back too much. Satisfying. 5 stars.

Shocked Vic AND Cal appear to have survived. But maybe this is not the bloodthirsty show I thought it was. Maybe Vic is allowed to be pathetic enough to ask Sarah to go back with him and then face-plant into a table full of glitter. And maybe Cal's story doesn't end here either.

Dr. Leakey's fate is great. And Michelle Forbes is the second big name the show has gotten, so it's clear she's gonna have his role in the future. Rachel shows him mercy. As he's escaping Donnie confronts him. He dismisses Donnie, but at least convinces him not to kill him. Until the gun accidentally goes off, feeding into the general haplessness of the men in Alison's orbit.

I don't like Donnie. But his outrage over the realization that Leakey had his wife probed is genuine. That is literal rape, and you understand for the first time he actually didn't know about it until today. He thought Alison was making that part up until he saw Sarah.

Sarah in the role-playing skit is why Alison adds value to the show. She's always introducing stupid, unneeded complications that are both ordeals for Sarah and the other Orphans to fix, and also so dumb and funny that you'll forgive her poor judgment.

Siobhan IS like Sarah and a person who likes blowing shit up. The difference is she's much better at it.

Fantastic episode. 5 stars.

When Tony kisses Felix I was skeeved out, but when he leaves calling him a "Sister kisser" I laughed. What a weird scenario.

Alison and Donnie have more in common than they thought. The difference is that Alison is better at this.

Rachel did NOT take the idea of why she was barren well. Honestly? I get why she's pissed. It's a beyond cruel notion.

Wild episode. 4 stars.

The stuff with Kira and Rachel is freaking horrible and yeah, it's upsetting.

Do you know what else is? The Proletheans stuff. This pushes EVERY button I have against religious fundamentalism. Mark's creepy infatuation with Grace is encouraged. The women are literally chattel. I love when the lady hits the kid Helena grabs her by the throat and threatens to kill her the next time she does that. I think that's the point Grace started to accept her.

The episode is refreshingly not all horrible. They actually brought Vic back for yet another final bit of humiliation (still without killing him off) and the show is goofy enough to give Donnie what passes for a Crowning Moment Of Awesome. Yeah, the levity is needed here after everything else.

It's a damn great episode. 4 1/2 stars.

The ending is a gamechanger. Although not too big of a surprise. Would have been a bigger shock if the male clone was either Adam or Cal instead of Mark.

Glad Rachel was killed. Her smashing the marrow said she needed to freaking go.

I will get shit for the following opinion, but I hated the dance scene at the end. It was so far the first scene on the show that was Purely Television. And I fucking HATE Television.

Cal survived the season which I did not predict.

Mark and Grace's wedding is fucking gross. What kind of sick preacher would sign up to perform it?

I don't know whether this show has the best act breaks on TV or the worst. I'll lean towards the worst. But especially in the second half of each episode, each commercial break ends on such a dire moment, for any other show they'd be the episode ending cliffhanger. The episodes are relatively short (41 minutes) and each of these supposed false-seeming endings make it seem like the show spends a LOT more time with the viewer than it actually does. Neat trick, although it IS somewhat aggravating.

Another good episode for answers. 4 1/2 stars.

Ferdinand is a vile scumbag, and played by James Frain, who is pretty much a genre legend at this point. Rachel is a piece of shit too. I liked that Delphine was done putting up with her crap.

I guess now that the cat’s out of the bag I can actually like Donnie. He IS kind of lovable.

I love the talking scorpion. Helena is nuts.

It always amuses me how Felix is SO good at fashion and make-up.

Good premiere. 4 1/2 stars.

I am glad Kira is moving on the road with Cal because the “Kira in jeopardy” thing is totally played out by this point. I hope it doesn’t return, and if it does, I hope it isn’t anytime soon.

Paul always gives off this sinister and untrustworthy vibe to me.

It’s kind of amazing how easily Sarah slips back into the Beth Childs persona. It clearly disturbs Art too (for obvious reasons).

Helena is the wrong person for that specific psych test. The whole thing with the scorpion is turning out to be very funny. She’s nuts.

Solid. 4 stars.

I think it’s very possible Alison may be the most diabolical Leda clone.

I loved Cosima relating to Art over the fact that she also knew Beth.

Art secretly being in love with Beth: Does it track? Absolutely. I speculated about this very thing in a previous season.

Mark and Gracie are creepy and when Gracie threatens Finch she’s actually scary. But it bothers me Sarah and everyone else is taking that marriage at face value instead of loudly calling it what it is: Statutory rape.

Felix shouldn’t have looked.

Finch himself is skeevy but he has a good beard.

The show is really firing on all cylinders at this point. I was never as comfortable with either Breaking Bad OR The Wire as I am this show. 4 1/2 stars.

Regardless of the fact that Sarah may sometimes see Mark as an ally, I will never forgive him for Gracie. If the show expects me to ever look past that I will think that is its first and biggest misstep. Not happening.

There IS something intrinsically spooky about religious fundamentalists running around in corn fields. Stephen King used the notion and visuals to great effect and the show seems to be channeling that precise horror story / movie aesthetic.

Helena is crazy but she is also crafty.

Gracie’s shit with the rest of the family is similarly disgusting. She is literally being treated like useless chattel by supposed people of God. It’s sickening.

The shit with the bullet is pure cringe. My heebies are officially jeebied.

Good episode, but if they are planning some sort of redemption for Mark the child rapist, I will never accept it. 3 1/2 stars.

Now the show is saying Gracie is 18 as if that somehow magically excuses Mark grooming her. Not even a little.

Her stuff with Felix and Mrs. S was actually a bit creepy to me.

I felt like things were running in place a bit for this episode. 3 1/2 stars.

I felt sorry for Rachel for the first time ever. I mean, I GET why Felix lost it, but geez.

I cannot begin to unpack Helena eating the Scorpion. It was hilarious and totally fucked up in equal measure. Girl don’t just have issues, she has a full subscription.

DAMN. 5 stars.

By the way, Jason? I'm not saying you can't take Donnie. But he has friends and resources you can't imagine. And the teaser hints Jason's getting fucked.

I will not say I didn't see the Rachel and Dr. Nealon doublecross coming (impersonation is built into the fabric of the show). What I will say is it's entirely appropriate.

Felix was SO kind to Crystal. He's right that she deserves better.

Gracie is a bit alarmed by Helena but so far they seem all right together.

Solid as hell episode. 4 stars.

Even Donnie is starting to love this crazy chick. I love when he calls her family.

Wild twist at the end. It seems a little too perfect though. We'll see.

Another great episode. 4 stars.

I love that Donnie found Jessie. That is great pay-off. I especially love that he WANTED to be found and sincerely digs Helena.

Another funny bit was Ferdinand realizing his enforcer was playing him, and then beating him to death in front of everyone else. James Frain has always been the best.

Cosima's apology to Delphine was very sweet (remember when Cosima actually held the high ground in their relationship?) and necessary considering Delphine's fate.

Kendall is so horrible and yet her story is truly heartbreaking and tragic. All three actresses in the scene played the drama to the hilt.

Mrs. Duncan being alive and the mastermind is not exactly a surprise, but in the context of the show, it still played as one.

This finale was the best episode so far. 5 stars.

Does everything fit? Mostly. I mean it's kind of surprising Beth is a cokehead, she and Art actually did it at one point, and she was once a hair-trigger away from killing Paul, but the little things, including the death of Margaret Chen work brilliantly.

I thought it was a cool choice to do this for the first episode back. 4 1/2 stars.

Oh shit!

I don't disagree with Sarah that Team Leda is Felix's actual family, but the truth is that's not up to her to decide. As a foster kid, she should already know this. Perhaps her views would actually be different if she literally hasn't found her entire family but she's forgotten the loneliness of being an orphan. Well, THAT kind of orphan anyways.

Isn't Kendall having leukemia going to fuck up any gene therapy for Cosima? Not sure Scott actually has doctor / patient privilege if that's the case.

So Dylan Bruce will still be a series regular (for this year at least) but his appearances will all be Beth flashbacks. Gotta say, that's not quite as intriguing a new hook for a show that's been on the air for awhile as the flashforwards were on Lost. But ballpark.

Oh shit! 4 stars.

I loved Alison ordering Donnie to rent a jackhammer and him wisely saying at this point they should probably just buy one.

Ferdinand is equal parts help and hindrance. He always has useful information. But he always seems to be doing damaging crazy shit before he imparts it.

Kira troubles me. That's all I'll say for now. Very much in "wait-and-see" mode there.

I find Sarah annoying for blowing off Felix's anger. Frankly, if her life isn't in danger, Felix is right this specific thing is more important. The problem is he doesn't know her life IS in mortal danger. If he had he would have helped. She can't blame him while he didn't know.

Both Sarah and Art are starting to realize how fucked in the head Beth was.

That single tear of Rachel's running out of the fake eye when it did was visual drama that landed perfectly.

Super gross and super funny episode. 4 stars.

I don't like Mika. She'd rather punish Ferdinand than help her sisters. Worse, she doesn't even kill him, so you understand her wants are avarice and nothing more.

I don't know what to think about where Ferdinand is at the end of the episode. Does his and Sarah's alliance fall apart? Can it even afford to?

Donnie and Helena are so great together it saddens me what he told her made her leave, especially because he wouldn't have wanted that. But narratively? It's the right move. And I don't like it. But despite me being happy to see Helena enjoy the Hendrickses and be happy for the first time in her life, it's outside of the character's whole intention. She's the Wild Card, a vital role on the show, and that aspect of her has been set aside entirely since she moved in with the Hendricks. I WANT Helena to be happy. But the show will be stronger if she isn't. But it's something to strive for in a series finale, isn't it?

I appreciated Felix's lecture to Donnie about mincing, but maybe Donnie wouldn't have such a backwards idea about that if Felix weren't ALWAYS so openly flamboyant. Donnie claims he doesn't have any gay friends. Wrong. Felix counts as a friend. And if he's all Donnie has to go by, he won't understand the intricacies of being in and out. And it would be weird if he did.

Very interesting episode. Also it was another gross one. So far every one this season has been. Not a trend I love, but it's one I notice. 4 stars.

Speaking of which, that baby is horrifying.

Cosima tells Donnie she'll give him a pass for the lesbian thing. I wouldn't have in her place.

Crystal's role is not Helena's in being a Wild Card. She's what's known as "An Unneeded Complication". Otherwise known as "A Nuisance". She is very good in that role.

If I were Felix I'd never forgive Sarah. If she was right, I might have someday. Because her mistake was that damaging I never would.

But I think Sarah is on to something about Alison not pulling her weight. Yeah, if the drug deal and homicide thing IS as close to Team Leda as it seems, Alison's goofiness / criminality is very much something she should have shared with everyone else. Her not seeming to care about Helena is another point against her. Art is legit pissed too.

Another super gross episode. 4 stars.

Alison isn't present because there is nothing comical about the episode.

Okay, Crystal and Felix with the mace was worth a laugh. But that's the only thing that was.

Can't wait to see Evie taken down. I hate her more than any other character on the show. 4 stars.

Duko is a snake. Before he was all "I'm just playing a part", but it's clear he's a LOT more complicit in the monstrous shit than he's been letting on. Art wailing on him felt GOOD.

Didn't like the slumber party getting raided. It was too upsetting, even for this show.

I liked Felix's role as essentially the fixer in this episode, and the one to talk down Cosima and Sarah. Felix is NOT the weak link of the Leda group, and in fact is a big part of keeping it together and healthy.

The swan is a very striking image but I have no idea what it means.

Could have been worse, although this is still the first episode I didn't like. 2 1/2 stars.

And the reason it wasn't clear-cut until then is that Donnie is a character like Felix who is more or less innocent. He's stumbled into bad stuff, but he's a lovable doof with good intentions. The viewer in no way wants to see a bad thing happen to him, so we completely understand why Alison is thinking about betraying Sarah. To be honest, even if she had, I wouldn't have blamed her.

But Alison bet on Sarah. The safest bet and the one that worked.

Just for clarity, Duko has been this huge threat in the background of the season, and apparently the series, and it turns out he's a nothing piece of shit. S shoots him point-blank with a rifle with him begging for mercy because he doesn't actually deserve a more dignified ending. He thinks he's some big mover and shaker? He's really not. He's a loser and so corrupt Art is willing to look the other way on a cop getting murdered. And I have to say for anyone reading this review who has never seen the show, that's pretty fucking, um, UNUSUAL for Art. That how bad a fuck-up Duko is.

I thought it was a great episode and I loved the happy ending for Alison, Felix, and Donnie. And the ending of Cosima on the plane instilled feelings of hope in a season that was starting to traffic in hopelessness. I want to believe the good guys can win. And I always will in fiction and in life. 4 1/2 stars.

Helena living up to her role as the Wild Card. I love when she tells a tied-up Donnie he looks like a roast pig he laughs through the gag. It's pretty damn funny.

The problem with Adele is she's not actually totally stupid and useless. If she were, this wouldn't be a problem at all. Felix's reasoning of wanting to keep her innocent about all this is actually kind of wonderful and beautiful. It's the protective thing a brother would do.

Great Delphine reveal. We were pretty sure she was still alive at this point, but this is the first time we've seen her all season.

Charlotte complaint. As I'm viewing more of her I must sadly say she looks nothing like a young Tatiana Maslany. And the hell of it is, USUALLY TV had been pretty good about that sort of thing in the era this was produced. I'm guessing the low budget much have hindered the young casting search a bit.

On the other hand, NONE of the clones really look or act alike. It's not exactly a failing if that specific thing feeds into the entire brand of the show. You call it bad casting, I might call it plot consistency.

Psst! It's actually bad casting.

I thoroughly enjoyed see Evie fucked over. That video was freaking horrific. 4 1/2 stars.

You know, making Rachel the Big Bad and Ultimate Evil of Season Five, and ultimately the series, is the only correct Narrative move they could have made. Not just because it makes the ultimate struggle clone versus clone, but the beginning of the episode pretty much proved what an inadequate villain Evie actually was. Evie doing the things she did was absolutely vulgar. She had no right. She's not actually a part of this. But Rachel? Has skin in the game and she makes the stakes personal. It couldn't have gone any other way.

Rachel being back also means the alliance with Ferdinand is now kaput. It was useful while it lasted.

Cosima and Delphine's reunion was quite beautiful. It was wonderfully shot and directed. Sort of breathtaking.

I think the worst thing I can say about Evie is it is totally believable she's killed so quickly and brutally for refusing to take the severance package. The fact that I believe she could be felled so easily, by a group of people we barely even knew, said she was NOT the right villain to bring the saga to a close. She never was.

I love that Crystal is still outside of the secret for the dumb reason that she doesn't think Sarah and herself look anything alike. It's ridiculous on some level, but as Felix noted, she's kinda right about the hair. It's stupid and believable all at once.

I am all in on the final season. Really interested to see how this all shakes out. The series has grabbed me in a way Breaking Bad and The Wire never did. 4 1/2 stars.