Orphan Black: The Antisocialism of Sex
May 27, 2016 9:06 AM - Season 4, Episode 7 - Subscribe
Sarah goes back to old habits to cope with her decisions and Cosima attempts a Hail Mary back at the lab.
"some offense taken".
This was such a mixed episode.
I hated some parts (Sarah's threesome, BethGhost, S's bitchiness and whatever), but I loved the hotdog line, I loved other bits (the birthday party, Scott, Alison's prayer, Rachel's whatever, and the Victorian conspiracy, and Felix).
I think this was the worst episode of the show, ever, and yet, it did not suck. And they included the 'megastar in the dive bar' trope (hey, Peaches!) which I hate (I knew it was Peaches, thanks, Sam Bee) .. but I can't hate the episode because it kicked the plot along so far it was solid.
And, I really thought they were going to kill Sarah.
So, even though I thought this came close to being the Worst Episode Ever at times (Cosima, really?), it kept slam dunking home runs.
posted by Mezentian at 9:36 AM on May 27, 2016
This was such a mixed episode.
I hated some parts (Sarah's threesome, BethGhost, S's bitchiness and whatever), but I loved the hotdog line, I loved other bits (the birthday party, Scott, Alison's prayer, Rachel's whatever, and the Victorian conspiracy, and Felix).
I think this was the worst episode of the show, ever, and yet, it did not suck. And they included the 'megastar in the dive bar' trope (hey, Peaches!) which I hate (I knew it was Peaches, thanks, Sam Bee) .. but I can't hate the episode because it kicked the plot along so far it was solid.
And, I really thought they were going to kill Sarah.
So, even though I thought this came close to being the Worst Episode Ever at times (Cosima, really?), it kept slam dunking home runs.
posted by Mezentian at 9:36 AM on May 27, 2016
Yeah, it was definitely the most uneven episode of the season. I zoned-out during the Sarah-consumes-more-alcohol-than-is-humanly-possible-again scenes. It felt too much like a gratuitous throwback to when were just finding out who Sarah was, as if we needed reminding just how irresponsible/self-centered she can be.
posted by Thorzdad at 10:30 AM on May 27, 2016
posted by Thorzdad at 10:30 AM on May 27, 2016
Sarah-consumes-more-alcohol-than-is-humanly-possible-again scenes.
Oh, me too. I couldn't drink that much wine, much less spirits.
I guess the US doesn't do responsible service of alcohol.
as if we needed reminding just how irresponsible/self-centered she can be.
That, nah. Seeing her snap on a bender, I found refreshing. She's been a self-centred bitch all season, seeing her fall back on old (6 month-old, apparently) habits made sense.
posted by Mezentian at 10:38 AM on May 27, 2016
Oh, me too. I couldn't drink that much wine, much less spirits.
I guess the US doesn't do responsible service of alcohol.
as if we needed reminding just how irresponsible/self-centered she can be.
That, nah. Seeing her snap on a bender, I found refreshing. She's been a self-centred bitch all season, seeing her fall back on old (6 month-old, apparently) habits made sense.
posted by Mezentian at 10:38 AM on May 27, 2016
I'm having a harder time this season too. For the first time I'm thinking, that just doesn't make any sense. And I'm thinking this a lot.
In part, this newest conspiracy is lame. It seems as if Evie and bad cop couldn't taken over the company with a lot less drama and violence. And if cloning is obsolete then there's no need to kill them all off, or destroy everyone's research.
And now that I write this, if Evie now owns Neolution, she also owns all the research under it. This is even more reason not to destroy it.
Maybe there were holes before, but I was enjoying the clone club too much to notice. I don't enjoy pouty Felix and pouty Cosima and pouty Rachel and pouty Mrs. S as much.
As such, I'm in the minority in thinking that Sarah's behavior is fully justified. It's everyone else that is being irritating.
posted by kanewai at 12:57 PM on May 27, 2016 [1 favorite]
In part, this newest conspiracy is lame. It seems as if Evie and bad cop couldn't taken over the company with a lot less drama and violence. And if cloning is obsolete then there's no need to kill them all off, or destroy everyone's research.
And now that I write this, if Evie now owns Neolution, she also owns all the research under it. This is even more reason not to destroy it.
Maybe there were holes before, but I was enjoying the clone club too much to notice. I don't enjoy pouty Felix and pouty Cosima and pouty Rachel and pouty Mrs. S as much.
As such, I'm in the minority in thinking that Sarah's behavior is fully justified. It's everyone else that is being irritating.
posted by kanewai at 12:57 PM on May 27, 2016 [1 favorite]
I loved the hotdog line
I didn't like that line, but only because it often bothers me how badly Allison treats Donnie a lot of the time. Like shrugging off his attempts at comfort, treating him like a child, ordering him around ("shut up and go rent a jackhammer").
But whenever I think this (or something similar about Cosima and Scott, or Sarah and Fee), I also think--I don't know exactly how to say this, but I also wonder if it is some kind of internalized "what about the menz" thing that is informing my response.
I mean of course it's not okay for anyone to take others for granted or disregard their needs in favor of one's own or act like a tyrant. However, I think this show subverts so much about gender roles so cleverly. And I love that it makes me stop and think, and second-guess my own reactions.
posted by torticat at 1:03 PM on May 27, 2016 [1 favorite]
I didn't like that line, but only because it often bothers me how badly Allison treats Donnie a lot of the time. Like shrugging off his attempts at comfort, treating him like a child, ordering him around ("shut up and go rent a jackhammer").
But whenever I think this (or something similar about Cosima and Scott, or Sarah and Fee), I also think--I don't know exactly how to say this, but I also wonder if it is some kind of internalized "what about the menz" thing that is informing my response.
I mean of course it's not okay for anyone to take others for granted or disregard their needs in favor of one's own or act like a tyrant. However, I think this show subverts so much about gender roles so cleverly. And I love that it makes me stop and think, and second-guess my own reactions.
posted by torticat at 1:03 PM on May 27, 2016 [1 favorite]
Maybe there were holes before, but I was enjoying the clone club too much to notice. I don't enjoy pouty Felix and pouty Cosima and pouty Rachel and pouty Mrs. S as much.
I have to agree with you. The conspiracy stuff has always been nonsensically terrible, but it was worthwhile simply because it was used to set up unusual and entertaining clone pairings. But it seems this season wants us to care about Neolution-related quadruple crosses without the payoff of clones awkwardly attempting to cover for each other outside of their comfort zone.
posted by Uncle Ira at 1:15 PM on May 27, 2016
I have to agree with you. The conspiracy stuff has always been nonsensically terrible, but it was worthwhile simply because it was used to set up unusual and entertaining clone pairings. But it seems this season wants us to care about Neolution-related quadruple crosses without the payoff of clones awkwardly attempting to cover for each other outside of their comfort zone.
posted by Uncle Ira at 1:15 PM on May 27, 2016
Speaking of the 'bad cop', did they explain how he had his ass kicked in one place but then crashed the sleepover at nearly the same time? pleasedon'tsayclonepleasedon'tsayclone
posted by destructive cactus at 1:22 PM on May 27, 2016
posted by destructive cactus at 1:22 PM on May 27, 2016
I'm reading ahead but the comments are highlighting my "Love/Arghh" feelings about the show. It's not like there is some ambiguity about the existence of various conspiracies and threats. So a tossed line "no I can handle this alone" while walking down a dark ally is full on shout at the writers throw pillow at TV.
But enough juicy fun moments that it's worth ignoring the iffy plot elements.
posted by sammyo at 1:25 PM on May 27, 2016
But enough juicy fun moments that it's worth ignoring the iffy plot elements.
posted by sammyo at 1:25 PM on May 27, 2016
He did have that weird black patch over his ear where he'd had his head smashed, and Evie's new implant could be handwaving fixing injuries and diseases and be her way of controlling a lot of people - you have an implant that magically keeps you healed and disease free, but can also kill you if removed or activated, and she has the remote detonation key.
posted by dorothyisunderwood at 9:29 PM on May 27, 2016
posted by dorothyisunderwood at 9:29 PM on May 27, 2016
Scott better not turn out to be a plant, that's all I can say. Same goes for Dizzy.
Scott: Too good to be true? Y/N
What the hell is up with Rachel's swan-vision, is that poetic licence or does it mean something?
posted by Coaticass at 1:45 AM on May 28, 2016
Scott: Too good to be true? Y/N
What the hell is up with Rachel's swan-vision, is that poetic licence or does it mean something?
posted by Coaticass at 1:45 AM on May 28, 2016
He did have that weird black patch over his ear where he'd had his head smashed
Those are, I think, some kind of ear muff. I don't live anywhere where you might need them, but I assumed that's what they were when I saw them in earlier episodes.
I assume after Art taught him the art of the deal, he decided to strike back via the Hendrixes.
Although, why the cops only arrested Donnie seems odd.
What the hell is up with Rachel's swan-vision, is that poetic licence or does it mean something?
Maybe her eye has some sort of control mechanism or AI that will take the form of a Swan?
posted by Mezentian at 3:51 AM on May 28, 2016
Those are, I think, some kind of ear muff. I don't live anywhere where you might need them, but I assumed that's what they were when I saw them in earlier episodes.
I assume after Art taught him the art of the deal, he decided to strike back via the Hendrixes.
Although, why the cops only arrested Donnie seems odd.
What the hell is up with Rachel's swan-vision, is that poetic licence or does it mean something?
Maybe her eye has some sort of control mechanism or AI that will take the form of a Swan?
posted by Mezentian at 3:51 AM on May 28, 2016
What the hell is up with Rachel's swan-vision, is that poetic licence or does it mean something?
Well, Rachel had seen the engraving in the big book, showing the story of Leda and the Swan. Soooo...Someone is monitoring her robo-eye? Hacked into it? MK, perhaps?
As for what it means? Probably nothing other than a way of easing her into having someone communicating with her via her eye?
...................
Scott better not turn out to be a plant, that's all I can say. Same goes for Dizzy.
Judging from the previews, I doubt Scott is a plant. Dizzy, though...Didn't we meet him via MK? A handler gone rogue?
posted by Thorzdad at 4:18 AM on May 28, 2016
Well, Rachel had seen the engraving in the big book, showing the story of Leda and the Swan. Soooo...Someone is monitoring her robo-eye? Hacked into it? MK, perhaps?
As for what it means? Probably nothing other than a way of easing her into having someone communicating with her via her eye?
...................
Scott better not turn out to be a plant, that's all I can say. Same goes for Dizzy.
Judging from the previews, I doubt Scott is a plant. Dizzy, though...Didn't we meet him via MK? A handler gone rogue?
posted by Thorzdad at 4:18 AM on May 28, 2016
Yeah, the swan doing the pixely fade was a message that it's tech, not hallucination.
posted by rikschell at 5:44 AM on May 28, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by rikschell at 5:44 AM on May 28, 2016 [2 favorites]
Hacked into it? MK, perhaps?
Not enough sheep and crappy early '90s techno backgrounds.
And, MK doesn't seem to have the kind of control to make a photo-realistic Swan.
posted by Mezentian at 5:51 AM on May 28, 2016
Not enough sheep and crappy early '90s techno backgrounds.
And, MK doesn't seem to have the kind of control to make a photo-realistic Swan.
posted by Mezentian at 5:51 AM on May 28, 2016
why the cops only arrested Donnie seems odd
b/c they are not ONLY after the Hendrixes, they're after all the self-aware clones (by "they" I mean Evie and Duko, not the cops). And Alison as is more useful to them outside, while they have Donnie for leverage.
posted by torticat at 10:35 AM on May 28, 2016
b/c they are not ONLY after the Hendrixes, they're after all the self-aware clones (by "they" I mean Evie and Duko, not the cops). And Alison as is more useful to them outside, while they have Donnie for leverage.
posted by torticat at 10:35 AM on May 28, 2016
I think Evie killed Kendall to make a point to Susan. Like a total power move. She probably has a lot of issues stemming from the childhood disease, which apparently isn't completely gone.
posted by numaner at 12:38 PM on May 29, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by numaner at 12:38 PM on May 29, 2016 [1 favorite]
I guess the US doesn't do responsible service of alcohol.
Canada, you mean.
Actually, do they ever say Canada or Toronto at all? I'm pretty sure I've seen Canadian license plates, and when Sarah's on the bridge, the CN tower is in the background. And now that I think about it, when Donnie and Alison were throwing money around last season, it was Canadian bills. I don't think they ever say Canada directly, but they don't really hide it.
posted by ShooBoo at 10:09 PM on May 30, 2016
Canada, you mean.
Actually, do they ever say Canada or Toronto at all? I'm pretty sure I've seen Canadian license plates, and when Sarah's on the bridge, the CN tower is in the background. And now that I think about it, when Donnie and Alison were throwing money around last season, it was Canadian bills. I don't think they ever say Canada directly, but they don't really hide it.
posted by ShooBoo at 10:09 PM on May 30, 2016
Actually, do they ever say Canada or Toronto at all?
No, and it's deliberate. Granted, all the actors except Maria Doyle Kennedy are Canadian (and two Canadians particular are playing probably 20 parts between them), and it's easy to spot the Toronto and suburban Toronto locations, drivers licenses, currency, plane tickets, etc, but the city's name is never mentioned, and the producers are on record as saying the show takes place in "Generica". There's more information about it in the Wikipedia article.
posted by ubiquity at 11:02 AM on May 31, 2016 [1 favorite]
No, and it's deliberate. Granted, all the actors except Maria Doyle Kennedy are Canadian (and two Canadians particular are playing probably 20 parts between them), and it's easy to spot the Toronto and suburban Toronto locations, drivers licenses, currency, plane tickets, etc, but the city's name is never mentioned, and the producers are on record as saying the show takes place in "Generica". There's more information about it in the Wikipedia article.
posted by ubiquity at 11:02 AM on May 31, 2016 [1 favorite]
All the Sarah stuff was bad on an entertainment level, but made sense to me on a character level. She really can't go back to who she was before she crossed paths with Beth, and her attempt to do so was just ugly and borderline pathetic. Unfortunately, this sucked to watch, as it was handled in a tacky and gross way that was strangely boring and seemed dated in some way (perhaps this was the presence of Peaches, who to be fair has aged incredibly well). I'm sure this could have been handled better somehow, but whatever. It's twenty minutes none of us will get back. I hope everyone involved thoroughly deloused afterward. Let us leave cheesy club scenes to 1998 films airing Saturday evenings on the Syfy Channel, where they belong.
posted by kittens for breakfast at 7:35 PM on May 31, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by kittens for breakfast at 7:35 PM on May 31, 2016 [1 favorite]
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posted by amro at 9:22 AM on May 27, 2016 [3 favorites]