Orphan Black - Community of Dreadful Fear and Hate - Review: "Family"

   After an epic and explosive episode last week, Orphan Black took a little break in the intense Castor story and last week, in "Community of Dreadful Fear and Hate, Allison and Cosima were the center of attention. They totally deserved it, after spending the season in small storylines, away from the big action. It was a fairly entertaining and light episode, which I very much enjoyed.
   Allison’s relationship with her mother was the highlight of the episode, I was really looking forward meeting Connie and getting to know her better,  I wasn’t disappointed. It shed some light on Allison’s personality. Plus, Felix was Allie’s campaign manager and that was just hilarious.
   As for Cosima, I must say I was a bit less thrilled about what happened to her. I still hate Shay with all my guts and I didn’t understand why Cosima would forge her analysis for Delphine. I get it was harder to trust her now, after everything that happened but yet, Delphine has always deeply cared for Cosima and she would do anything to protect her. Of course, the best scene of Cosima this week was when she was playing Allison. It was so good !

   But first, after that shocking ending of last week, where Paul blew himself up to hurt Coady and Rudy, I was a bit disappointed we didn’t see them and we still don’t know if they’re hurt. I really want to see Coady hurt and all bloody.
   Sarah and Helena made it out of the desert, the sestras are stronger together and they found shelter in a Mexican cantina. Sarah was still shocked after Paul’s death (she was luckily she didn’t see him went boom) but at least the cantina waitress was super nice with her. It seemed a bit strange she was that nice to Sarah and knew Helena was pregnant just by looking at her. Could she be something more than just a waitress ?
    Anyways, Helena was having quite fun in Mexico, playing poker and drinking and eating as usual. She was clearly happy to be reunited with her sister. Sarah is a better friend than her scorpion. But the best part of Helena scenes was her scenes with Mrs S. It was quite funny to watch Helena making death threats to Mrs S, for selling her out to Castor and there Mrs S came in. I loved how Sarah protected Helena and Mrs S.
   Helena was legitimately angry at Mrs S, she betrayed her, even if she didn’t have much of choice. Of course she protected Sarah and Kira over anyone else. Their face to face in the cantina was excellent, Helena wanted S to hit her, so she’d have a good excuse to kill her but Mrs S didn’t respond... for a while and then she just punched Helena. It was both surprising and funny, clearly it was like a reflex for S. But what Mrs S told Helena was powerful, emotional and true, Helena couldn’t have only Sarah, she had to accept the whole clone family, including Mrs S. I expected Helena to hit Mrs S harder but when Mrs S held her tight in her arms, apologizing it was clearly Helena never really had the intention of really killing S. She was mad, she felt rejected and abandoned again so it hurt her but she respects Mrs S and recognized she acted as a protective mother. I was very satisfied how the whole Mrs S/Helena situation got resolved. The Leda family needs to be together and strong for what is coming.

   Allison was the star of "Community of Dreadful Fear and Hate". It was her big day, despite Sarah’s missing and the castor stuff, Allison was focused on her school trustee election and her drug dealing business. The change of focus and the lighter tone felt really great and so enjoyable.
    Allison had everything planned for her big day, she was supposed to meet the parents at the school and make a wonderful speech to be elected school trustee, and also buy some drugs from Pouchy, and also buy Bubbles from her mother to use it as a front. And of course, nothing went according to her plan because of a simple and stupid mistake. The whole situation was really funny. Donnie, with Jason went to Pouchy, Vic’s dealer who cut his finger ! Donnie had the envelope, but not the one with the money, it was the one with the school trustee stuffs. Oops.

   Allison had to deal with that situation during the election. Luckily for her, Cosima was coming to see her, to get some urine from her (eww) so she took her place. Cosima, without glasses, interpreting Allison was really great, they’re so different characters, it was exciting and fun to watch her. The best part was Cosima’s speech in front of the parent saying “As a lesbian…”. I couldn’t help but laughing out loud.
   The whole school situation was very entertaining and fun to watch but the best part of Allison’s story this week was her relationship to her mother. We finally got to meet Connie Hendrix and she was quite the character. It helped to understand Allison’s personality, being raised by such a bossy and confident woman had clearly on impact on her. Connie first revealed she didn’t want to sell Bubbles to Allison and Donnie, and after faking a heart attack/panic attack, Connie explained exactly why she didn’t want to do so. She hates Donnie, he’s not great enough for Allison and for Bubbles. It was really harsh from her, and Allison’s reaction was very good. She defended her choices, her love and what she is.
   But Connie made another and bigger revelation to Allison, of course she knew about it but it was, once again, very hard to have to hear it directly from her mother. Connie thought her husband was weak and not good enough, just like Donnie, so she didn’t use his sperm for the insemination. That woman was awful. Her mother had no confidence in her own daughter, not even to win the school election.

   But Allison proved how great and amazing she is. Honestly, I didn’t believe she could do it both, run for school trustee and deal with Donnie’s trouble. With the help of Jason, Connie got convinced to sell Bubbles to Allie and Donnie. It felt a bit weird Connie would like Jason over Donnie, he looked more like a bad boy. Connie apprently prefer people with strong character. Jason made her realized even if Donnie was co owner of Bubbles, Allison would always be the one wearing the pants. There was not much to argue about that, it was the truth. Donnie's fun and all but Allison is the directive and making decision one in their relationship, because it's how she was raised to be.
   And then Allison delivered the perfect speech for school trustee election, it was a powerful declaration.. Her speech about family, what it represents, what it actually is was great. Tatiana Maslany voice was perfect and the writing was excellent too. That scene really, deeply touched me. It was powerful to hear Allison saying family is inclusion, not exclusion. It was exactly what Orphan Black is about as a show in a way. The clones are a family, with Mrs S, Felix and Scott now. They came from different places but now they’re together now. They’re close and they'll protect each other against anything. It was a really great moment and everyone stood up and applauded Allison. Guess she’ll be the new school trustee ! She deserved it, I'd vote for her if I could.

   Even Connie was ready to vote for Allison, and that was when Allie decided to rub the truth in her face. She introduced her to Cosima, her clone. I was shocked Allison did that, it was a bold move, actually it was typical Allison. She can't deal with too much anger, she needs to act all the time.
   But Connie denied it and she just thought the clinic used the same sperm donor. I was a bit disappointed she deny it, I hope it’ll come in play in the next episode. I really wish Connie’d meet Sarah and Helena too, so she’d understand what an amazing and great daughter she has.

   Family was the focus of "Community of Dreadful Fear and Hate". The Leda clones family is coming together. Even Helena finally forgave Mrs S and told her she’ll be the granny of her child. And they need to be a family to affront what is coming for them.
   First, Cosima had me worried during the whole episode. Delphine’s visited her at Shay’s, so she could check them out together and also warn Cosima about her health. Delphine was worried about Cosima’s number in the test of the castor protein, which also found in Gracie’s blood. But surprisingly, Cosima was reluctant to give Dyad her urine analysis and had Scott cover for her while she’d take Allison’s pee instead. I really didn’t get it. She had history with Delphine, but she’s not the enemy and clearly, Cosima was feeling sicker than before so she should have been more concerned about her analysis. She kept coughing very badly…
   Allison told her exactly what I was thinking in the toilets, after refusing to give her her pee : when it comes to their health, they need Dyad. But Cosima apparently didn’t listen to her clone sister. She went back to Shay to finally tell her about her sickness. I was afraid for a moment she’d tell her she was a clone. But I wish Cosima would have gone to Dyad instead of bathing with Shay. I hate Shay.
   After what she did when Delphine visited Cosima at her place, I'm sure she's up to no good. I don’t know if she fake-showered just to listen to Delphine because she was jealous or because she has another agenda. What really worried was Cosima’s phone call to Scott while Shay might have been listening… She might know Rachel has a code for a secret book. Hmm

   But now Cosima has other troubles than her shady new girlfriend . After telling all about her sickness to Shay in their sweet bath, Cosima starting to bleed out from her vagina… Oh no Cosima… It looked pretty bad. We already almost lost her last year and with all the deaths this season, I'm really anxious about her. Cosima is going to need her sisters, and Delphine, to help her get through this again. I’m glad Sarah and Helena are coming soon.

    When Sarah is back, she will also have to deal with Rachel too. I’m so thrilled Rachel is back on a regular basis, because she is relevant again, she has power. Rachel holds the key to decipher Ethan's secret code and to recreate the synthetic genome as Scott guessed last week seeing her paintings. She and Scott spent much time together in "Community of Dreadful Fear and Hate" playing Scott’s weird game (I didn't get the name) to create a cover so Rachel could decode Ethan's code. It was Ethan and Rachel secret language when she was younger. I was surprised she quickly connected the different symbols and clearly she knew what it meant. She quite enjoyed it, having her power and influence back. Her face when she told "I'll only tell Sarah" was so good, it was amazing acting from Tatiana Maslany again, with just one eye and her face, to give so many feelings. I can’t wait for Rachel and Sarah to meet again and have an explanation. Rachel has the key to help and cure Cosima, but she 'll ask something in exchange for that vital information, especially now Cosima's sick again. I have no idea what can she ask for...

 "Community of Dreadful Fear and Hate" was a amazing episode, it was a change from the pace of the season but it felt good. I’m thrilled the Leda clones are coming together, Cosima is sick and her sisters will be by her side and they might a new ally in Rachel. And Coady might be also interested in the synthetic genome so I have a feeling it's going to be epic. I can’t wait for next Saturday !
   What did you think of "Community of Dreadful Fear and Hate" ? Did you enjoy it as much as I did ? What was your favorite part ? How worried are you about Cosima ? And have seen that promo with that sexy blonde and Delphine ??? Hit the comments !

Clones notes :
- So Helena has a boyfriend and she was planning to go away with him and her baby. I love her craziness.
- Donnie can speak Portuguese. Cute.
- I loved Marci's face when everyone applauded Allison ! Ha ha !
- Jason kissed Allison. He didn't now it was actually Cosima, but he did feel something weird. Anyways, Allison seemed quite excited he wanted to kiss her. Allison having an affair could be fun but I actually like Donnie now…

"Family. That's my agenda. Sometimes, family is more than just the people under your roof. They're people who jump in, head first, who aren't afraid to make fools of themselves to help you, who don't hide their faces in shame if you fall down. If your family is suddenly bigger than you expected and your house gets too crowded, do you tell your family that they need to find a different place to live? You make room. You adapt. You find creative solutions to keep people together. [...] I stand for inclusion, not exclusion. I will be your mother hen, and I will keep our chicks together." Allison Hendrix

About the Author - Romain Ossust

I'm a 29 TV addict. Here is a non exhaustive list of my favorite shows : 12 Monkeys, Ab Fab, 24, Alias, American Horror Story, Banhsee, Bates Motel, Black Sails, Carnivale, Daredevil, Daria, Dead Like Me, Desperate Housewives, Dexter, ER, Fargo, Fringe, Game of Thrones, Girls, Grey’s, Hannibal, Homeland, HIMYM, HTGAWM, Looking, Lost, Agents of SHIELD, Agent Carter, Medium, OUAT, OUAT Wonderland, Orange is the New Black, Orphan Black, Pan Am, Penny Dreadful, Person of Interest, Power, Pushing Daisies, Raising Hope, Rectify, Reign, Scandal, Sex & The City, Six Feet Under, Sleepy Hollow, Spartacus, The 100, The Affair, The Americans, The Big C, The Fall, The Killing, The Leftovers, The Missing, The Strain, The Tudors, The Walking Dead, Transparent, True Blood, True Detective, Tyrant, Ugly Betty, United States of Tara, Utopia, V, Veronica Mars, Weeds.
For SpoilerTV, I'm reviewing The Walking Dead, Fear the Walking Dead, Banshee, American Horror Story, Power, Wicked City, Westworld, Bates Motel, Girls, & Orphan Black

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