Orphan Black – The Redesign of Natural Objects

By: Alex Steele

After this week’s episode, The Redesign of Natural Objects, there are only two more episodes in the fourth season. Have we got word on a Season Five? If not, can we have it already? Because what I do know is that the slow burn that has been happening so far this season is sure to come to a head, in a big way, in two weeks’ time, especially with some of the twists and turns we and the sestras experienced this week. Remember last week, when Donnie (Kristian Bruun) was arrested in the middle of his daughters sleep over party? Well, we open this episode in a prison; inmates dressed in the well-known orange set to a somewhat suited old-western, country like tune. And then we see him, Donnie. He’s in line for his meal and after finding a spare seat in the bustling food hall, he is joined by a quite inquisitive, shifty inmate. Donnie tries his hardest to talk tough – all prescription drug dealer – but is shot back to Earth, when a rough looking thug (who weirdly knows Donnie’s name) sits and ensures him that he’s got his eye on him. We’re left with a shot of said inmate, holding his hand over his eye, revealing a power button tattoo. We know what that means. Neolution is legitimately everywhere.

Elsewhere, Ira (Ari Millen) is assessing Rachel’s (Tatiana Maslany) vision since she reported seeing a vision of a swan. She’s obviously concerned stating it could be a glitch, but Ira just attributes it to her fall down the stairs. The two, now seemingly a team, discuss what their game plan is now that Susan has given up on Leda. Rachel, manipulative or not, does her best to be genuine when assuring Ira that they’re siblings. Not to mention, she just walked without her crutches and spoke without any aphasia. It seems as though our power clone is regaining her power.

Speaking of siblings, Sarah is seen lying on the floor at Cosima’s lab still nursing that hangover from last week. And from the dynamic between them, the gauge a sense of unity. Checking in with Cosima, she assures her that if Delphine (Evelyn Brochu) is alive, that we’ll find her. Add to that how proud Cosima is of Sarah for making it through the darkness, the sisterly bonding makes our hearts ache. Kira (Skylar Wexler) is close by playing video games when MK surprisingly joins them. We learn that she used Kira as a bridge to Sarah as she was concerned that Sarah may not accept her back. Kira is dismissed and Cosima is introduced. I can’t help but feel an overwhelming sense of family when three clones’ scenes occur and this first meeting of Cosima and MK is no different. From science sestra to technological sestra, they definitely have commonalities. MK comes bearing good news; however, because she was able to track a signal from an island and intercept footage of the discussion between Susan (Rosemary Dunsmore) and Evie (Jessalyn Wanlin) regarding dismantling Leda. Uh-Oh. After sitting on the information from MK, Cosima comes up with a solution – they need to talk to Susan.

Meanwhile, Felix (Jordan Gavaris) is by Alison’s side as she waits to visit Donnie and not only that, has enlisted Adele’s (Lauren Hammersley) help. Adele is a lawyer – really? Adele has had her fair share of reprimands. Does that surprise us? Add to that the fact she doesn’t know about the “clone” situation so when she first meets Alison, she’s completely taken aback by the whole “twin” story Felix cooks up. Tatiana is hilarious in this scene, no words, all facial expression and so typical to Alison. Comedy gold.

Back on the island, Rachel and Ira confront Susan while she’s in the middle of teaching Charlotte (Cynthia Galant). She’s not happy with her mother’s decision to stop fighting for a cure. Speaking of mother’s, Sarah and Kira arrive back at the safe house where Mrs. S (Maria Doyly Kennedy) is looking completely heartbroken while making tea. I think it is universal that when Sarah refers to S as “mum” our souls melt and with the weight of the current situation when Sarah reaches for Siobhan’s shoulder and offers support our hearts collectively break. Maria Doyle Kennedy is unbelievably gut-wrenching in her portrayal of the emotion, not overly dramatic just simple and moving.

With the help of MK, Sarah is able to connect with Susan – understandably concerned about Evie – and offer the possibility of working together. While this exchange is happening, Mrs. S leaves with a sniper in tow as she’s going to exact revenge. Can you blame her? Sarah’s proposal involves Cosima and Susan working together, sharing ideas, opinions and information. Susan seems onboard and when Rachel and Ira enter the room, they seem all in, too. Rachel and Cosima share a sassy exchange, another beautifully comedic nuance from Maslany. It all seems positive, that is, until Scott (Josh Vokey) enters and passionately objects to working with Rachel. Being loyal (as we know she is), Cosima stops any further communication. During this, we also discover that Mrs. S is stealthily tracking one Detective Duko (Gord Rand).

We check back in at the prison, where Alison and Adele have both successfully made it through security to visit Donnie. He’s looking frazzled and continually looks over his shoulder (who wouldn’t when the Neolution thug is following him everywhere). Adele can’t really offer any advice, but instead informs Donnie he won’t be getting out for another two days. Finally getting some alone time, Donnie informs Alison about the Neolution thug trailing him and the fact that he won’t make it. Externally, her eyes start to water, but we all know internally that Alison Hendrix is about to burst. But her trouble isn’t stopping there. Detective Duko is still squeezing her for information regarding Sarah and when Mrs. S spies their rendezvous she calls Sarah immediately. Talk about suspicious. Thankfully, Alison is able to get some of this stress out in her rehearsals. However, as we watch her throughout the episode struggle with whether to turn Sarah over to save Donnie, she nearly reverts back to old ways.

With this information, Sarah and Mrs. S employ Felix’ services to ensure Alison isn’t going to do anything brash. Weirdly, Alison calls just as this exchange is happening and she summons Felix to her. Talk about sixth sense! Meanwhile, Cosima and Susan are continuing their joint project – Rachel and Ira not involved – and as they throw ideas around. Cosima suggests why not create a blastocyst – an embryonic stem cell. Adding to all this new information, MK calls Sarah again with more dirt of Detective Duko – he’s been working for Bright Born for years. Not only that, MK urges Sarah to be cautious he’s dangerous. As they say goodbye, MK (the beautifully weird clone she is) thanks Sarah for letting her back in. For some reason MK has seemed a little more distant, quietly spoken this episode and as she says goodbye we learn why she’s sick as well. In the meantime, Felix has arrived to meet Alison who is all over the place, more so than normal, but Felix seems to calm her nerves. That is until she receives a text from Duko to say that he is there. He needs to know Sarah’s location or Donnie will be stabbed, through the eye, into his brain.

In the closing moments, we are waiting to see whether Alison has in fact sold her sestras out when we see an unknowing Sarah arrive back at Rabbit Hole Comics with Detective Duko close by our palms start to sweat. He enters and does his best to connect with the store clerk, but just ends up threatening the boy guy. Luckily though, the Clone Club team is there, guns at the ready. Art, Sarah, and Mrs. S are all there and the audible cheers are heard. This whole sequence is cut with the beating of Donnie in jail as he awaits to the call from Duko and just as the knife is about to be drive through his brain, the phone rings. Duko calls the inmate off and Donnie is safe. Please note how this entire episodic moment is coupled with Jesus Christ Superstar the musical and editing decisions made by the creative team at “Orphan Black” raise the show to a whole new level of stark contrasts. Alison is relieved and continues with her impassioned performance (Tatiana should sing more often) while Sarah and Art are ushered out of the store leaving Detective Duko with a vengeful Mrs. S. There is no way he’s getting out alive. Maria Doyle Kennedy is haunting in this moment, a woman grieving the loss of a part of her so we can understand the lengths she goes to exact revenge. And upon receiving all the information needed, she sits across from Duko and shoots him.

Poor Scott is left to clean the remnants of the shooting up when Sarah returns and he instructs her to go downstairs as Cosima has news – it’s big. Building upon the discovery earlier in the episode, Cosima, Susan and Scott have discovered that if they put a fertile Leda egg with Castor, it could be what they need to find a cure. Sarah, understandably, is horrified at the proposal but with a hand hold and longing look from Cosima, this is the breakthrough they’ve been waiting for. It’s what they need to do. Unfortunately, they don’t have the resources so Cosima must (and does) fly to the island to work with Susan. This news doesn’t go over with Rachel, so much so, she encourages her mother to let her go back. She wants to work with Sarah. We end on a hopeful Cosima talking to Scott and we somehow feel that hope, too. Scott seems nervous though and in his completely endearing way. He’s seen what she’s been through and she’s become important to him. A mentor. He just wants to find a cure. We all do.

Other key plot points:

• Alison didn’t sell the sisters out.
• Cosima is now headed to the Island – is this a good thing?
• MK is sick. Cosima sick. And I am not sure I can take it.
• Helena returns next week, super pregnant.