Orphan Black: Things Which Have Never Yet Been Done

June 15, 2014 7:19 AM - Season 2, Episode 9

Cosima takes a turn for the worse, forcing Sarah to take desperate action – with tragic consequences for those she loves. The Proletheans set their ultimate plan in motion. Alison and Donnie tangle with the law.
posted by joethefob (71 comments total)

Alison and Donny were fantastic in this episode. And I think we all wanted to see Helena go medieval on the Proletheans.
posted by Thorzdad at 7:54 AM on June 15, 2014 [7 favorites]

Yes, absolutely my favorite Alison and Donny ep so far. Who knew Donny had balls?

Maslany's acting as Rachel disintegrating into actual emotion gave me chills.
posted by pjern at 8:20 AM on June 15, 2014 [4 favorites]

Donnie manned up, finally. Seems like him and Alison will be alright, after all.
Helena gave Henrik a taste of what it's like to be treated like an object, and he deserved it. But what is she going to do with all the embryos in that liquid nitrogen container she was carrying? Didn't she feel guilty to burn down all those kids she met earlier? She'd developed a softer side recently, I thought.
Oh, I wondered why Rachel would consider a hood appropriate attire but didn't see it coming that she would impersonate Sarah. The white-pink kid's room at the end was creepy, poor Kira.
posted by travelwithcats at 10:18 AM on June 15, 2014 [1 favorite]

I NEVER thought I would like Donny, so this episode was really a treat.

And I was absolutely fooled by Rachel-as-Sarah, right until she jabbed Felix in the neck! What is her plan here, to raise Kira the way she was raised? She clearly knows that's not a great way to grow up.
posted by leesh at 10:19 AM on June 15, 2014 [1 favorite]

I thought Helena burned down the clinic/barn, not the whole house--she really was into those kids!
posted by leesh at 10:19 AM on June 15, 2014 [10 favorites]

I think Rachel has this deep desire to be a mother, but not sure if she really wants to keep Kira and raise her or use her in some way to get to Sarah.

Yeah, when Helena looked back, it all was on fire.....but maybe not?
posted by travelwithcats at 10:24 AM on June 15, 2014

I was surprisingly underwhelmed by this episode. I dunno, it was just... flat. I don't think it was the lack of action sequences either. I just think that they're trying to wrap things for this season up quickly and that makes the story fall... flat.

Also, Mrs. S in pigtails? What was that all about? Where the hell is Paul? What happened to Cal? Did they throw him under the bus? Did Helena really burn down the entire commune? Even the little girl she so recently defended? That didn't make sense to me at all. I can't imagine her burning innocent women and children in their sleep. And last but not least... ewwwww Donnie butt.

Also, speaking of Alison and Donnie who's watching their kids all this time while Vic the Dick is lurking about and they're doing their nefarious deeds? She's already shooed them out of the garage and now knows that they need watching but she and Donnie spend all this time out of their sight. She's supposed to be a much better mom than that.

Honestly, I had a lot of issues with this particular episode.
posted by patheral at 11:36 AM on June 15, 2014

From Tumblr: someone close to the production of the show said they had to cut the kids-running-away scene.

Also: looks like she burned down only the hospital/lab building.
posted by floatboth at 11:40 AM on June 15, 2014 [1 favorite]

I just think that they're trying to wrap things for this season up quickly and that makes the story fall... flat.

Oh, absolutely. The episode was very definitely a "wrap-up some loose threads" affair. But, it gave us things we wanted. For me, especially, was Helena taking her demented revenge on the Proletheans. Honestly, I think the Proletheans were a dead-end storyline, so I really hope that's all for them.

Still an enjoyable ep, though. And Kira and Rachel's scene at the end was the perfect set-up for next week.
posted by Thorzdad at 12:17 PM on June 15, 2014

Yeah, I saw that as Helena burning down the lab section with the rest going with enough time for people to get out. I was happy to see Helena get her revenge. The proletheans were always creepy, but they kicked it up several notches this episode.

And here we have the second episode where no one else wonders where Helena is. Wasn't Art going to check up on her? Wouldn't Sarah want to know what happened after she saw Helena being dragged away by cops?


> Also, speaking of Alison and Donnie who's watching their kids all this time while Vic the Dick is lurking about and they're doing their nefarious deeds?

I was wondering why the kids had left Vic in at all. I would expect these kids to have been taught never to let anyone they don't know into the house without one of their parents present. Maybe even to not open the door without adult supervision.

But it was great fun to see bad-ass Donny.
posted by bjrn at 12:37 PM on June 15, 2014

What happened to Cal?

Daenerys sent him to Yunkai.
posted by homunculus at 1:13 PM on June 15, 2014 [6 favorites]

Second rule of Clone Club: NEVER TURN YOUR BACK ON HELENA.
posted by homunculus at 1:30 PM on June 15, 2014 [5 favorites]

And I was absolutely fooled by Rachel-as-Sarah, right until she jabbed Felix in the neck!

Me too! And then I rewound and watched again and the accent is slightly off, with just a touch of Rachel's long vowels. It's so remarkable what Maslany is doing. That scene where Helena runs up the hillside and watches the barn burn down, I thought to myself, wow, she looks so much like Sarah! As if Sarah was played by someone else entirely.

I loved, loved, loved Donnie in this episode. Especially in the van. I also never had any idea I would ever enjoy watching Donnie, but honestly, murder suits him. Maybe he can murder Delphine next!

I turned it off right before the preview for the finale. Last week's episode would have been much more exciting without the massive Cosima spoiler.
posted by mochapickle at 2:02 PM on June 15, 2014 [3 favorites]

I'm a little lost trying to figure out the end game here. What does Marian want? What did Rachel mean by "having Sarah handled"? What do they think Sarah's going to do, expose them to the media? Report them to the cops? Why wouldn't Sarah have done this by now? Why wouldn't Dyad just kill Sarah? They have their guy on the inside (Benjamin whoever) and they don't seem averse to murder.
posted by desjardins at 2:18 PM on June 15, 2014

Also, if I saw a grave-shaped piece of concrete in someone's garage, you better believe I'm asking what the fuck is up with that.
posted by desjardins at 2:28 PM on June 15, 2014 [7 favorites]

They have their guy on the inside (Benjamin whoever) and they don't seem averse to murder

Benjamin isn't really a double agent, Rachel let Delphine see her screen so Delphine would call Sarah & let Rachel slip through in the confusion.
posted by scalefree at 2:33 PM on June 15, 2014 [6 favorites]

I love Helena so much.

And I am not really the queasy sort but I had to give a yeowch when I saw that GIANT NEEDLE going into little Kira. That poor kid has been through so much.
posted by keli at 2:49 PM on June 15, 2014

If only it was just a big giant needle. I'm pretty sure that's a coring drill; as you screw it in it cuts out a circular section of bone so the needle can be inserted through it to get at the marrow.
posted by scalefree at 3:19 PM on June 15, 2014 [1 favorite]

The only thing that gave Rachel as Sarah away was her hair. It was much curlier and shiny than Sarah's had been.

In fact, I warned my husband that I ever leave the room and return with slightly different hair, that's my clone.
posted by teleri025 at 5:22 PM on June 15, 2014 [6 favorites]

I'm so pissed that they were able to read those disks. I'm not even joking.

(I know, I know, clones etc. But if you put your clones in my world, you have to obey my world's rules about data storage life, dammit)

This did feel a bit like a "we need to fill up one more episode between here and there," wherever there is going to be, but I was glad to see Helena take her revenge on Henrik, and also glad to see Gracie GTFO.

Tatiana Maslany continues to be the Greatest Show on Earth.
posted by tzikeh at 6:04 PM on June 15, 2014 [2 favorites]

I knew once Helena was set off, there was going to be hell to pay. Henrik's final moments were beyond what I expected but totally in line with who Helena has already proven herself to be. I didn't think anything could top her "I want to see your tail" moment from the first season but holy shit.

Yes, Donnie and Allison were awesome in this episode. Awesome because none of this is real and it's okay for me to cheer on this murderous duo, even when they're doing the nasty on the deepfreeze where they have been hiding a fucking body.

I can see Rachel turning on Marian in the near future. There's really only room for one of them.
posted by futureisunwritten at 6:04 PM on June 15, 2014

When Donnie and Alison put the body in the freezer, I kept thinking of similar bits from Bernie, which is another fairly black comedy of a totally different type. It was also nice to see him put the smackdown on Vic and the cop whose name I can never remember, though I doubt we've seen the end of that.

I know they got the information off the disks but they did at least make a nod to it being difficult. I'm not convinced those files have everything, though, or there wouldn't be a point to the book left with Kira.

Also, Rachel as Sarah taking Kira! Agreed that the accents were nicely done.

Also while I can't discuss the content, the iTunes thing this week is a preview and for once it leaves me looking forward to next week instead of grumpy about what they've spoiled for me.
posted by immlass at 6:37 PM on June 15, 2014

One thing that's bugged me for a while now... since Sarah doesn't have the genetic problem that the other clones have (her being fertile and all), why didn't they just take her bone marrow to address the issue that's killing Cosima? I mean, she'd be a perfect match.
posted by patheral at 6:45 PM on June 15, 2014 [1 favorite]

What are the Fanfare rules regarding talking about other (long-since-aired) shows in threads about brand-new shows? There is a storyline going on in OB that is very much similar to another storyline in another tv show that's no longer on the air, but is still discussed from time to time on the site. Would making mention of that be against the rules?
posted by tzikeh at 6:45 PM on June 15, 2014

I'm so pissed that they were able to read those disks. I'm not even joking.

But isn't that offset at least a little by Tech Guy Scott explaining about it not being a 6502 but a 65C02 which is pretty close & Ethan saying the data is encrypted with a Vigenere cypher? That just totally turned me on, I mean come on.
posted by scalefree at 6:47 PM on June 15, 2014

Would you like... horse baby? Cow baby.
posted by George_Spiggott at 6:52 PM on June 15, 2014 [20 favorites]

When Donnie and Alison put the body in the freezer, I kept thinking of similar bits from Bernie

It reminded me strongly of Ginger Snaps, which may be less than surprising if you check the credits on that film...
posted by kittens for breakfast at 7:24 PM on June 15, 2014

I am fully on the Helena train now, but I am less on the Someone Has Stolen Kira Again plot.
posted by jeather at 7:24 PM on June 15, 2014 [6 favorites]

The midwife Alexis was played by Kathyrn Alexandre, who is Tatiana Maslany's double during filming.
posted by plastic_animals at 7:57 PM on June 15, 2014 [4 favorites]

I'm always impressed at how fast they can go from broader comedy to legitimately creepy. The Allison and Donnie stuff was amazing - I loved Donnie's little swagger when he left the police van, and Allison jumping him after they finished disposing of a dead body. Then it switched to the Helena plot, which was hard to watch.

And now we have yet another young ex-military dude - which puts the conversation the young cultist had with Paul a couple episodes in a different light, maybe? There's a lot of ex military running around these days.

I really liked the scenes with Cosima and Ethan Duncan, too - Duncan has same level of polite consideration and creepy paternalism that he has with the other clones as with her, but it somehow works a lot better with Cosima than Sara or Rachel. Or maybe I'm just happy to see Cosima interact with someone new this season.

You'd think that Vic would learn to stay away from that garage. Horrible things happen to him in that garage.
posted by dinty_moore at 8:42 PM on June 15, 2014 [2 favorites]

Did anyone else catch the comment about "topside", ie: Rachel's boss isn't the actual boss, and she was referring to reporting back to them 'topside'.

Initially I wanted to think it was a space ship, but that seems far fetched... So a huge boat of some sort?
posted by el io at 9:09 PM on June 15, 2014 [1 favorite]

Also, Mrs. S in pigtails? What was that all about

That was just flat-out wrong unless you're twelve or Bette Davis in Whatever Happened to Baby Jane.
posted by sfkiddo at 12:34 AM on June 16, 2014 [2 favorites]

Mrs. S was sporting a very 90s look this episode with the pigtails and the dark lipstick.

Wonder if they are ever going to address Helena's roots. Months must have passed in show but she's still sporting the same roots.
posted by Kitty Stardust at 4:26 AM on June 16, 2014 [3 favorites]

they're doing the nasty on the deepfreeze where they have been hiding a fucking body.

Another Game of Thrones parallel!

Also speaking of parallels, Helena's burning down the Prolethean lab was a nice reversal on Leekie's burning down the lab that held so much info on the original cloning project.
posted by torticat at 5:08 AM on June 16, 2014 [1 favorite]

I have to say that Alison's mumbled, "He's just so asymmetrical" while wrapping Leeky's corpse sent me into inappropriate giggles.

The show is really finding it's way to blending silliness and sadness.
posted by teleri025 at 6:57 AM on June 16, 2014 [1 favorite]

Wonder if they are ever going to address Helena's roots. Months must have passed in show but she's still sporting the same roots.

Yes! This bugs me more than it should. And although the blond certainly makes Helena look fantastically striking and haunted, it doesn't seem in line that a woman who was raised to believe she was god's chosen would color her hair differently than how nature made her. Does it?

There's A LOT to tie up next week:

- Where did Grace and her new husband go?
- Where is Hot Paul?
- Where is Hot Cal?
- What is Art up to?
- Where's Tony?
- Did the treatment work on Cosima?
- Does anyone see the coffin-sized hole in the Hendrickses' garage?
- Is Felix still under suspicion for murder?
- What happens with Vic and Angela?
posted by mochapickle at 8:39 AM on June 16, 2014

It was also nice to see him put the smackdown on Vic and the cop whose name I can never remember

I don't know how you can forget it, because it's so fantastically ridiculous. Felix's line when he met her was perfect: [arch look] "Angela DeAngelis? I love your work." She needs a drag queen inpersonating her, like, now.

One thing that's bugged me for a while now... since Sarah doesn't have the genetic problem that the other clones have (her being fertile and all), why didn't they just take her bone marrow to address the issue that's killing Cosima? I mean, she'd be a perfect match.

I'm going to go with "generations" and "antibodies" and "parturition" and "hey, look over there!"
posted by psoas at 10:01 AM on June 16, 2014 [1 favorite]

- Where is Hot Paul?

Also, who was Hot Guy Wearing Madonna Headset in the hospital? I think I dozed off a bit, but I have no recollection where he came from.
posted by psoas at 10:02 AM on June 16, 2014

I've wondered the same thing about Helena's roots and whatever it is that is going on with her raccoon eyes.

The show is entertainingly inconsistent with the small things. Helena's hair thing is obviously not right, and Angela borrowing a surveillance van for a rogue investigation doesn't fly, but those oversights are more than made up by Vic throwing deuces when Donnie takes his picture.

More questions for next week/next season:

- What is up with the reveal of Mark's military background? (Could he be a Fed infiltrating the Proletheans? Are he and Paul on the same team and don't know it?)
- Will there be a funeral for Leekie?
- Will there be an Angela-Art confrontation?
- Is Ethan up to more than curing Cosima?
- When will Alison and Rachel get sick?
- Does Rachel become even more insane?
posted by plastic_animals at 1:13 PM on June 16, 2014

I also wondered about Helena's roots this episode. I also thought she looked way more healthy, rested and fed than we've ever seen. Maybe the other girls touched up her roots and they grew out again.

I enjoyed how she was like "My bebbez? Oh ok. Wait, what? Fuck no."

I like how this show clearly makes an effort to not strain credulity too much, but I wish they could just try harder. Like not having new characters pop up without explaining who they are. Or maybe they just need better sound mixing so people's little exposition mumbles don't get totally lost in the high drama music. Like, they could keep up the drama without the music just fine if we could hear what anyone was saying.
posted by bleep at 7:28 PM on June 16, 2014 [2 favorites]

so my partner walks by while i'm near the end of this

her: "...wtf is she doing?"
me: "injecting horse jizz into his ass"
her: "....ok"

pretty much sums up the episode.
posted by emptythought at 9:46 PM on June 16, 2014 [8 favorites]

There's just something evilly cathartic about the fact that Vic's role is to get the fuck smacked out of him, usually for not knowing when to back off and cut his shit out or whatever and instead doing exactly the opposite thing, and he never, ever even comes close to learning so you know he's always going to get the fuck smacked out of him. It's like they're inviting you to imagine that one guy's face instead of his. You know the one. Everybody knows one.
posted by George_Spiggott at 10:01 PM on June 16, 2014 [3 favorites]

My only guess with Helena's hair is that the proletheans wanted to disguise her or otherwise differentiate her appearance from the other clones, so bleach and frizzy perm, I guess.
posted by Kitty Stardust at 5:26 AM on June 17, 2014

I also wondered about Helena's roots this episode.

I'm usually pretty forgiving of shows cutting corners like that, but then I noticed that the insemination room Helena and Gracie were held in is the same set as Alison and Donnie's garage and YOU GUYS THE MAGIC PEELED AWAY.
posted by psoas at 5:28 AM on June 17, 2014

I noticed that the insemination room Helena and Gracie were held in is the same set as Alison and Donnie's garage and YOU GUYS THE MAGIC PEELED AWAY.

I hate you.
posted by jeather at 5:53 AM on June 17, 2014 [10 favorites]

Is it? I had to check, but it looks different to me... The garage is all rafters and rooftops and shaped like a rectangle. The insemination room (in the very next scene, after Allison and Donnie stuff Leekie in the freezer) has these high windows and heavy wood beams, and is shaped like a dog-leg.
posted by mochapickle at 7:37 AM on June 17, 2014

Aargh, now I'll have to go back and look, but I remember thinking "Wow, it's weird that they both have three garage doors [like this, but from inside] and... hey, waitaminute."
posted by psoas at 8:12 AM on June 17, 2014

Pretty gross that Henrik was using his own sperm in his godly plan. Made me wonder if all those kids were his, too.
posted by Kitty Stardust at 11:11 AM on June 17, 2014 [1 favorite]

I think that was the implication, because that is a pretty common trope with cults. I'm surprised he was going to let Mark marry his daughter given that he (likely) wouldn't let Mark have a child with her.

Also ... one of the writers on this show must have a thing for male bondage. I'm just sayin'.
posted by desjardins at 11:31 AM on June 17, 2014 [2 favorites]

I'm surprised he was going to let Mark marry his daughter given that he (likely) wouldn't let Mark have a child with her.

Perhaps he thought it might have a positive effect on Grace, who'd been so erratic and reactive recently. And with Mark being so loyal, it's just another person to help control Grace.

But yeah, that's gross fathering all those kids. The child Helena connected to in the nursery looked an awful lot like Grace. I'd assumed they were sisters.
posted by mochapickle at 12:11 PM on June 17, 2014

I think the series finaly will be Sara (Buttercup), Rachel (Blossom) and Alison (Bubbles) teaming up to form the Powerpuff Girls. Or possibly Cosima (Buttercup), Helena (Bubbles), and Kira (Blossom).
posted by bleep at 9:32 PM on June 17, 2014 [1 favorite]

Sara (Buttercup), Rachel (Blossom) and Alison (Bubbles)

So...Ethan is Professor Utonium?
There's no way Rachel is a Powerpuff Girl. Could she be Mojo JoJo?
posted by Thorzdad at 12:02 PM on June 18, 2014 [1 favorite]

Yes, totally, Ethan = the professor. I just have a hunch that Rachel's going to get double-crossed by Dyad and turn good, Helena-style.
posted by bleep at 2:08 PM on June 18, 2014

What happened to Cal?

Daenerys sent him to Yunkai.

But he went to Nashville and bedded Scarlett instead.
posted by unliteral at 6:53 PM on June 18, 2014

helena isn't good. she's more like chaotic neutral. a "good guy" wouldn't have burned the lab down with that guy in it. at least in the classic hollywood good sense.

maybe in like, the batman "dark and gritty" good sense yea, and i mean i suppose none of the characters in this show are super tropey like that, but helena definitely seems like the most ambigious out of all of the good guys.
posted by emptythought at 7:13 PM on June 18, 2014

After Rachel's sex scene with Paul I started to think that one of the writers might have a malesub thing (& praised the goddesses for it).
posted by Kitty Stardust at 5:37 AM on June 19, 2014 [2 favorites]

I was glad that they finally gave us some indication of what in the ever-loving fuck Alison ever saw in Donnie.
posted by Etrigan at 5:43 AM on June 19, 2014 [2 favorites]

After Rachel's sex scene with Paul I started to think that one of the writers might have a malesub thing (& praised the goddesses for it).

I know right? We've seen:

- Sarah being sexually aggressive with Paul
- Alison tying up Donnie (twice? or was that Vic?)
- Vic tied up & tortured (see above)
- Rachel and Paul
- Helena and Henrik
- the dude with the tail in the hospital
- didn't Helena (or Sarah?) lock her captor in a cage in Season 1?
- Leekie, mummified (yes, I know he was dead, but just trust me on this one)

I feel like there are more examples, but I just woke up.

Also, Felix at the club in leather, but it's not clear whether he's top or bottom.
posted by desjardins at 6:30 AM on June 19, 2014 [1 favorite]

Well, "good" for Helena just means she is on the side of the clones rather than actively trying to assassinate them.

Before this episode I was also wondering if Rachel would turn good, but her crack up while watching the videos and taking Kira argues against that.
posted by plastic_animals at 7:04 AM on June 19, 2014

Her methods are harsh but she didn't burn that place down for herself. She burned it down because she saw that that guy was abusing the other women and children. Before that she was happy to get her bebbez. That's nothing if not good..
posted by bleep at 7:10 AM on June 19, 2014 [3 favorites]

After Rachel's sex scene with Paul I started to think that one of the writers might have a malesub thing (& praised the goddesses for it).

I don't know if it's a kink or just of a piece with the thread of women being the real actors/protagonists and (straight) men mostly being pawns. Either way, I'm enjoying it too, even when I find it creepy (Rachel & Paul).
posted by immlass at 8:54 AM on June 19, 2014

It's true but I don't think you have to qualify it as straight men. Felix too is used as a pawn. He complains to Sara about this at one point.
posted by bleep at 9:26 AM on June 19, 2014

I exclude Felix not because he's not used as a pawn (everybody is, even the clones, especially the clones) but more as an allusion to the article torticat posted a while back in one of the earlier episode threads and that has become something of a touchstone for me in examining Orphan Black's gender issues. For me, the men in bondage theme works as a part of that theory.
posted by immlass at 11:50 AM on June 19, 2014

Tatiana Maslany won a Critic's Choice award for Lead Drama Actress last night (for the second year in a row).
posted by desjardins at 9:19 AM on June 20, 2014 [4 favorites]

Sara (Buttercup), Rachel (Blossom) and Alison (Bubbles)

So...Ethan is Professor Utonium?
There's no way Rachel is a Powerpuff Girl. Could she be Mojo JoJo?

I'd think that Rachel would be Princess Morbucks. (Who knew she had a last name?)
posted by ZeusHumms at 3:22 PM on June 20, 2014 [1 favorite]

I wonder if Rachel knows any other way to raise a child besides in a laboratory.
posted by ZeusHumms at 3:23 PM on June 20, 2014

Orphan Black clones itself, embracing the comedy: A little show about clones that uses humor to get through the pathos
posted by homunculus at 4:07 PM on June 21, 2014 [1 favorite]

I was hoping for more of Helena shivving people but instead got that whole torture-rape thing. Helena is no longer my favourite clone.
posted by squinty at 11:53 AM on July 2, 2014

But... but... Sugar!
posted by mochapickle at 12:16 PM on July 2, 2014

I enjoyed the fact that the only thing Helena needed for a Serious Menz look was a pipe.

Also, Alison spanking Donnie's ass when they were getting some freezer action was hilarious.
posted by P.o.B. at 10:15 PM on July 6, 2014

I am fully on the Helena train now, but I am less on the Someone Has Stolen Kira Again plot.
posted by jeather

Preach, sestra. Also Kira is approaching Golden Child territory which is a series killer.
posted by TWinbrook8 at 8:16 PM on June 5, 2018