(Check out my TV ratings website, www.seriesmonitor.com) Last night's episode of BBC America's critically acclaimed drama Orphan Black wasn't spectacular in the ways the series has become well known before, but it was a solid episode nonetheless, with emphasis on unraveling the mystery of how the clones came to be, along with a road trip and bar fight.
We finally have some events slotting into place on the clone timeline. Sarah met Ethan Duncan, who was, one could say, the father of all 12 clones, but who took a single one - Rachel - to be his "true" daughter, shared with his wife Susan. Ethan briefly detailed military involvement in the project before revealing that Dr Leekie effectively hijacked it for himself and his Dyad Institute. That's about all we got from Duncan, and I have to say there's still some gaping holes in the plot that are yet to be filled. I was, however, surprised to learn how Leekie seems to have forcefully taken over the project and runs it virtually on his own. He's becoming more evil and agenda based than I thought possible.
I was rather pleased, albeit surprised, to see former arch-nemesis Helena getting on so well with her twin, Sarah, as displayed in their road trip antics and in their tent shortly prior. I despised Helena in the first season and for several of the opening episode of this season. I was (putting it lightly) very frustrated to find she didn't die in the season 1 finale. Surviving a well aimed bullet to the head from close range is something you'd be lucky to see in video games let alone movies to television so I do hope we get an explanation for this superpower at some point. However the character has grown on me, and I'm more convinced than ever that she has a part to play in the storyline. The confirmation that the Prometheans harvested some of Helena's eggs leaves a loading bay sized door open for future story arcs, and her return to the outfit thanks in part to her maternal instincts will be interesting to follow.
I'll go further to say that she was involved in the funniest scene of the episode in my opinion. It was strangely satisfying to see her absolutely hammer the crap out of someone who deserved it, but who we hadn't become attached to. Perhaps the super strength allowing you to hammer said victims twice your size means you can fend off a 9mm round to the forehead. I also never expected her to fall in love with someone like she did. Her appetite for anything resembling food was again hilariously apparent.
I found Alison's wonderland quite entertaining last night. Our old mate Victor seems to forget to just leave town, but some blackmail by the increasingly rogue Angie has him right in the middle of Alison's world for now, and I'm sensing some friends-with-benefits moments in the future. He really is a puppet used by the writers in pretty innovative ways. The multitude of situations he got himself into are a testament to that, as is his attempt to worship Buddha.
Finally, the duo becomes a trio at the Dyad with the employment of Scott alongside Cassima and Delphine. I have to say I saw this one coming - his appearances this season despite the geographical divide suggested he would join the team eventually. He has been useful in the past and was definitely useful in last night's episode, so hopefully this will be reflected in an accelerated storyline getting to the bottom of how the clones were made.
Next week's episode looks like an absolute cracker. I'll let you watch the promo below and read the press release here to decide for yourself!
Thanks for reading! Share your thoughts and theories in the comments below.
Jimmy
Sarah shot at Helena's heart, not the head, unaware that her mirror twin's bodily organs were reversed; this was hinted at with Helena's left-handedness in season 1, and confirmed by Henrik in episode 2.02 when he held up the x-ray.
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