Orphan Black Season 3 (1 Viewer)

[mattCR]

That sequence where they discuss Her daughter.. That was a moment you realize that whether you think it is a gimmick or not, Maslaney fully realizes these characters. One of the best episodes this season I thought on the acting front... I stand by my yearly thoughts that she deserves a nomination

 

[TravisR]

I think part of why Tatiana Maslany doesn't get all of the awards recognition she deserves is because too many voters think of what she does as a gimmick. But if you ignore everything else in the episode and ignore that Maslany is also performing Helena's half of the conversation, and just take the scene where Sarah confesses why she left Kira with Mrs. S, she still deserves an Emmy.

Personally, I think the biggest thing against her is that she's on a channel that the Emmy voters don't watch. Even with the award 'handicap' of being science fiction, if Orphan Black was on a more popular or more critically regarded network like HBO or AMC, there's a good chance that she'd already have one Emmy (nominations in both seasons seem like a guarantee) and would probably get at least one more before the show ends.

 

[Adam Lenhardt]

Personally, I think the biggest thing against her is that she's on a channel that the Emmy voters don't watch. Even with the award 'handicap' of being science fiction, if Orphan Black was on a more popular or more critically regarded network like HBO or AMC, there's a good chance that she'd already have one Emmy (nominations in both seasons seem like a guarantee) and would probably get at least one more before the show ends.

The network and the genre are definitely huge strikes against the show, too. "Game of Thrones" being on HBO definitely helps it get nominations, but with the exception of Peter Dinklage's first season Emmy, it only ever wins in the technical categories. So voter snobbery definitely comes into play.

Another thought about last night's episode:
Having last seen Ksenia Solo in "Life Unexpected" when she was 23 and had her natural jet black hair, I barely recognized her as Cosima's blonde holistic healer online date Shay (who may or may not be her new monitor?). Also, was it just me or was she uncredited for the episode? I didn't see her after the main credits like Michiel Huisman or Michelle Forbes would be, but I didn't see her in the end credits either.

Last night's episode title and next week's episode title came from the same sentence of Eisenhower's farewell address:
"Such a confederation must be one of equals. The weakest must come to the conference table with the same confidence as do we, protected as we are by our moral, economic, and military strength. That table, though scarred by many past frustrations (Episode 5), cannot be abandoned for the certain agony of the battlefield (Episode 6)."

Synopsis for next week's episode:

Spoiler

Certain Agony of the Battlefield
Season 3 | Episode 6 | Original Airdate: May 23rd, 2015 | 9:00PM

Paul learns the truth about Coady's plans for Castor and has no choice but to make a dangerous play.

 

[mattCR]

Ksenia Solo is, IMHO, one of the most attractive women in the world and this is a VERY different look for her from Lost Girl. That's OK.. it is definitely different and for people who have seen her in other roles, it was a great switch of character as well.

 

[DaveF]

I had a moment, during Cosima's blond date, where I thought to myself: they've added Saragh Manning's body-double to the cast, maybe this blind date is Cosima's body double...

Because I'm now wholly taken in by the gimmick.

 

[joshEH]

"WE'RE CHANGING!!!!"


That Alison/Donnie twerking-scene is hands-down the greatest thing ever in TV history. And DAT GLITTER.

How many sides is Paul on? He's a quadruple-agent at this point. He's totally giving Dean Pelton a run for his money. He going to double back on himself before too long, here. Dude's already pulled like a 270° up to now.

 

[joshEH]

Only Donnie would get a Subaru for a Pimpmobile.

 

[joshEH]

"...Yeah, fffffffffffff you, too."


Great job, writers -- I'd actually been wanting to see some further Beth-stuff somehow, but not necessarily at the cost of having to do flashbacks. These hallucinations are the perfect way to bring it into the show.

 

[joshEH]

Ewwww, why are we getting all stalkery, Delphine? You forget that you're the one who broke up with Cosima? She's not supposed to move on from you and your brand of fuckery?

 

[joshEH]

Paul, you can't die! We still don't know which side you're on!!

 

[joshEH]

Explosion gets rid of science!

 

[TravisR]

That episode seemed like a season finale. Hopefully, the next 4 episodes focus entirely on Alison and Donnie's sure-to-be-doomed and sure-to-be-funny drug operation. Donnie in his underpants is comedic gold.

Paul, you can't die! We still don't know which side you're on!!

No matter how many times Paul's allegiances changed, I just always assumed he would turn out to be a good in the end... and I was right.

 

[joshEH]

R.I.P., Pupok.


Foolish Pupok. You were the sandwich in this getaway all along.


What will Helena call the next reincarnation of Pupok? Pupok 2? Or better yet, 2Pok?

 

[Adam Lenhardt]

I'd been warned to watch this episode live, and it definitely wasn't one you'd want spoiled. Just a riveting hour from beginning to end.


And even though I have absolutely no idea how Helena knew to look for Sarah in that tunnel, their reunion and the fact that Helena came back for her was one of the true soaring moments of the series so far for me. I love Sarah's relationships with all of her "sisters", but her relationship with her one true twin sister is just on a different level. The two wild ones again presenting a united front.


It was also interesting to seeing what Sarah, an adept reader of people, imagined Beth to be like, and the guilt and self-judgment she holds for not trying to save her.


The protein sterilizing the women validates my theory that the STD they transmit was designed as a more insidious form of the infertility designed into Castor. And much like that planned infertility, it has had unforeseen consequences.


The Felix-Rachel confrontation was a brilliantly executed scene. Felix is absolutely terrifying for so much of it, and then when he realizes he's gone too far he lets Rachel see just how terrified he is. And then after he's gone the rigid facade of Rachel the ice queen crumbles and a bit of humanity peeks through.

That Alison/Donnie twerking-scene is hands-down the greatest thing ever in TV history. And DAT GLITTER.

For me, it was the Canadian bills that gave it that pushed the rap video cliche gloriously past its breaking point.

Only Donnie would get a Subaru for a Pimpmobile.

I thought the exact same thing.

Ewwww, why are we getting all stalkery, Delphine? You forget that you're the one who broke up with Cosima? She's not supposed to move on from you and your brand of fuckery?

What I got out of Delphine's scenes is that she knew it would be hard taking on this new role, but didn't know how hard. It seems to turn people cold. But whereas Rachel used domination sex as her outlet, Delphine seems to be turning to the bottle.

No matter how many times Paul's allegiances changed, I just always assumed he would turn out to be a good in the end... and I was right.

Yes, looking back everything Paul did was consistent with what we were presented at the end: he infiltrated Leda because he thought it would provide answers to the problem inflicting Castor, the good soldier trying to save his men. When he was Beth's monitor, he was able to maintain the necessary distance to keep focused on his objective. Perhaps Beth picked up on that distance, and that contributed to her stepping out in front of that train. Perhaps she was always headed to that end. Either way, once Sarah entered into Paul's life, things got more complicated. His love for her colored every decision he made after that point, right through sending Sarah down that tunnel.


Ultimately, though, he chose his own end. He weighed his personal loyalty to the Castor "brothers" against his horror at the biological weapon they could be used to create. He tried to turn Dr. Coady from her path. But she made him choose, and when so forced he wasn't willing to put the lives of the Castor clones ahead of the rest of humanity.


Terrific arc, and a great final episode performance from Dylan Bruce. Entertainment Weekly has a good wrap up interview with him.

R.I.P., Pupok.


Foolish Pupok. You were the sandwich in this getaway all along.


What will Helena call the next reincarnation of Pupok? Pupok 2? Or better yet, 2Pok?

I think this was probably like the seventh incarnation of Pupok. Next time Helena finds herself forcibly confined to a small place for days at a time, Pupok will probably reemerge.

 

[joshEH]

"Now NUT UP, and lead me to the Cyclops."

I honestly feel bad for Rachel. Not for getting the pencil in the eye, but she's so disabled now, and has had some time to contemplate some shit, like the fact that nobody indeed cares about Rachel.

Felix is going nuts about trying to find Sarah, and Rachel hasn't even had anybody visit her that didn't have a motive for helping out the other clones, and Rachel quite literally gets tortured for it each and every single time.

When TV shows hype up a particular episode beforehand, I'm always left underwhelmed. Not this time, buddy. Jesus balls, that was some damn fine television.

 

[joshEH]

 

[Parker Clack]

And the shot of 5-foot-7 Gracie at the end of the hallway in the much more petite Sarah's sluttiest clothes was a hilarious little sight gag.

I was wondering what Gracie was thinking putting that on. "Hmm....I am rebelling. I know. Let's go for the slutty look!" Now the real question is since she was so isolated how did she know which cloths would be slutty? Or did she really not know and just threw something on that she liked?


It was fantastic to see Knesia back. I really was bummed when she left Lost Girl and I hope they keep her written into the show. I second the nomination by matt that she is "one of the most attractive women in the world". She is not only beautiful but like Tatiana a fantastic actress too. And like

Tatiana needs lots more accolades and big time parts. They would smash any role you give them.

 

[Adam Lenhardt]

I was wondering what Gracie was thinking putting that on. "Hmm....I am rebelling. I know. Let's go for the slutty look!" Now the real question is since she was so isolated how did she know which cloths would be slutty? Or did she really not know and just threw something on that she liked?

I think slutty clothes are kind of like pornography: not so easy to define, but most people know them when they see them.


I kind of like how Gracie's just another stray that Mrs. S has taken in now. I also think it's so interesting and counter to mainstream societal expectations that when she discovered that she'd been sterilized she was kind of relieved that she didn't have to worry about getting pregnant or becoming a mother.

 

[joshEH]

BTW, did anyone else notice Dylan Bruce seemed kind of subdued on After the Black last week? I thought something was probably up when I watched it.


More stuff I learned from the after-show:


The twerking/making-it-rain-scene with Donnie and Alison was inspired when they were filming the scene in episode 2 of this season, where they were meeting with the drug-dealer at the soccer field. Between takes, Tatiana and Kristian Bruun (Donnie) spontaneously started dancing exactly like in the episode.


I eagerly await Donnie and Alison hitting the town in high style and assless (yes, assless) chaps. In the middle of winter. Though perhaps a preliminary shave-job by Felix would be in order for one of them.

 

[DaveF]

Yes, looking back everything Paul did was consistent with what we were presented at the end: he infiltrated Leda because he thought it would provide answers to the problem inflicting Castor, the good soldier trying to save his men. When he was Beth's monitor, he was able to maintain the necessary distance to keep focused on his objective. Perhaps Beth picked up on that distance, and that contributed to her stepping out in front of that train. Perhaps she was always headed to that end. Either way, once Sarah entered into Paul's life, things got more complicated. His love for her colored every decision he made after that point, right through sending Sarah down that tunnel.

Ultimately, though, he chose his own end. He weighed his personal loyalty to the Castor "brothers" against his horror at the biological weapon they could be used to create. He tried to turn Dr. Coady from her path. But she made him choose, and when so forced he wasn't willing to put the lives of the Castor clones ahead of the rest of humanity.

Terrific arc, and a great final episode performance from Dylan Bruce. Entertainment Weekly has a good wrap up interview with him.

I'm still thinking it over, but my initial reaction was, it was a retcon too far. I don't believe Paul was always deep undercover for Castor while in Leda. They did too good a job of portraying Paul as a compromised person, extorted into working as a monitor.

It also robs his previous difficulties of their power: every seeming bind was in fact a charade. He was never in any danger from his monitor? He was ever in any danger from Rachel? He never had any difficulty leaving Leda? Because he could always walk back to Castor? It also makes Mrs S even more a fool for "helping" Paul was return to Castor. She was duped into feeling for him, thinking he needed to escape. Doubly so thinking she had to sell Helena to pay for Paul's transition.

His deep love for the castor boys? I believed he was a man loyalty his own safety, with Sarah confounding everything. His putative relationship with Castor violates the "telling me, not showing me" rule of TV storytelling. Was this ever demonstrated? He never seemed to have anything more than the same ambivalence for Castor than he did for Leda, based on his actions.

An interesting episode, but it would have been better without the throwaway line about Paul always working for castor.