Orphan Black 5×08: “Guillotines Decide” Roundtable

Orphan Black reminds us that no one is safe as we say goodbye to the most important character yet

Orphan Black has shown week after week that it’s not going to shy away from doing things that the audience will be terrified of seeing. It has killed off clones, introduced truly despicable characters, shared gruesome moments at unexpected times, and broken our hearts. “Guillotines Decide” was just the latest in a long line of Orphan Black episodes that left us with our jaws on the ground and lumps in our throats. In what was set up to be one the happiest episodes we’ve seen in a long time with the clones all on track to attend Felix’s (Jordan Gavaris) art constellation, we were excited to see what would happen. Cosima (Tatiana Maslany) and Delphine (Evelyne Brochu) were finally on the same page after seasons of disagreeing and trust issues. Which led to arguably the cutest moment of the episode when Delphine bought Felix’s painting of Cosima and Cosima said:

“You own me.”

To which Delphine replied with a smile and said:

“Yeah, you’re mine.”

Cue all the butterfly’s. Alison (Tatiana Maslany) and Donnie (Kristian Bruun) were trying out a new, more relaxed life style, and Helena (Tatiana Maslany) was sharing the happiness of her babies with Gracie (Zoie De Grand Maison). Deep down we desperately hoped that maybe the ominous promos and warning tweets from the Orphan Black writers, actors, and fans were all just to hype us up and get us excited and we wouldn’t really have to be worried about our favorite characters. Man, were we wrong.

RELATED | ORPHAN BLACK 5×08 SYNOPSIS, PROMOS, PICTURES

Felix’s art constellation was one of the brightest moments in Orphan Black history. Each clone was honored for who she is and what her personality is. Felix delivered a beautiful speech to Sarah (Tatiana Maslany), her sestras and Mrs. S (Maria Doyle Kennedy) in which he thanked them and praised them for being strong, smart, brave, and awe-inspiring. We knew right away that Orphan Black doesn’t let you be happy that long. When Mrs. S discovered that her plan to get Ferdinand killed at the hands of Neolution didn’t work, we quickly realized that things were going to go downhill quickly. Leaving her “chickens” behind to celebrate the evening, she left to find Ferdinand in her home, gun in home. In a moment that literally made us gasp out loud, he shot her in the heart. In true Mrs. S style though, she shot and killed him before she took her last breath. Way to ruin us Orphan Black, way to ruin us.

Mrs. S and Delphine laid the ground work for the sestras to truly be free. No one will ever forget Mrs. S and what she did for the Orphan Black family. With so much to discuss and a life to honor, let’s meet our roundtable:

Eam – (@CloneClubGlobal) “Music fan, Publicist and Founder at Clone Club Global.”

Ile (@clonileana) – “Gamer, clone club member, movie lover, Shay Davydov deserved better”

Anne-Nicole (@CloneNic) “Television water and live- tweeter.”

Kay (@Gouldeniehaus) “Clone clubber and wacky theorist.”

Camila (@lovatomaslany) “Orphan Black gives me anxiety”

1) Do you agree with Delphine and Cosima’s don’t ask don’t tell policy? Is it good for them?

Camila (@lovatomaslany): I feel it is good in a way because it avoids those impulsive actions that leads them to get involved into something they should stay away from. As they said on 5×05, their relationship is based on, “I push too hard and you do things without my consent.” They could either end their relationship or accept as it is. This policy was much needed and during this episode Cosima understood why Delphine was keeping all of those secrets. She was working on setting them free and in order to achieve that. She needed to lie and keep secrets. This “policy” might be painful sometimes but it was worth it and shows that they can trust each other and what they are doing.

Kay (@Gouldeniehaus): I totally agree with Delphine and Cosima’s “don’t ask, don’t tell ” policy. I think after 5×05 Delphine proved her loyal and trustworthiness to Cosima. Alas Delphine can’t divulge in everything and put any of her loved ones in danger. The policy they’ve put in place is one of the best things they could’ve done for their relationship, instead of having the constant trust issue arguments.

Ile (@clonileana): I think more than a “policy” it’s just a way to say they completely trust in each other. They both know the other one wouldn’t do anything to hurt each other, but all the opposite. You can see it so clearly in every single one of their scenes and in the last scene we see of them in this episode when Cosima clicks to send the files along Delphine is her way of saying “we are in this together, we’ve always been in this together.” Their love is something so pure and good, I’m glad they can finally chill after all they’ve been through. They have freedom now and how they’re gonna spend it is something I look forward to.

Anne-Nicole (@CloneNic): If it works for them who am I to judge? If they can make it work then good for them. And after tonight’s episode it seems that all is out in the open so maybe from now on they can share everything. Although there are two episodes left so who knows what will happen!

2) How nice is it to see all of the main characters in the same episode? We haven’t seen it in awhile.

Camila: I think seeing all of the main characters, especially during Felix’s showcase was one of the most emotional things about this episode. The entire episode was a roller-coaster of feelings. We went from seeing Felix’s happiness while his artwork was being recognized and he was around his loved ones; to a very dark scene where Mrs. S is shot dead. I feel like having all of the characters present in this episode was really important to shape the impact of those events.

Kay: It was SO nice to see all of the main characters in one episode, it’s been forever. I’ve missed them all so much so my heart was full of love and warmth.

Ile: It’s so good to see them all. I think episodes where we can see them interact and spend time together as a family are the best ones. I know it’s such hard work to put them all in the same episode, but it’s definitely so worth it. Thank you, Orphan Black team.

Anne-Nicole: I loved seeing everyone in one episode, but was also so stressed out for the episode that I almost couldn’t handle having everyone around? Each time a character would show up I’d be convinced they were going to die so this episode was clearly not good for my blood pressure.

Eam: Very nice indeed! It’s too bad we can’t be happy for two minutes as in true Orphan Black fashion, they rip our hearts open and break it into million pieces. It is another whirlwind, roller coaster ride episode, that needed a re-watch to let everything sink in- all the feels, both good and bad. Yes, we love pain.

3) We saw Rachel turn Kira over to Sarah and Mrs S last week, but she’s been a bit of a mystery all season. Where do you think her alliance lies?

Camila: I think Rachel has struggled a lot with herself when it comes to which side she wants to be. Throughout the seasons we can notice that she has changed a lot. In the first seasons she was being the clone, “at the top of the chain,” because she was raised by science and was aware of everything even before the other clones knew about one another. But towards the end she starts to realize that a lot of what she believes and a lot of things she was taught are nothing but lies, her eyes as an example. She was always being monitored, she has never had her own privacy, her freedom. Rachel is a product of Neolution. After this realization that she is stuck with Neolution and that they do in fact own her, I think her alliance starts to lean towards her sisters. She wants to end Neolution, she wants to find a cure, and put an end to PT. Rachel sees the other clones have something that she doesn’t have, and sometimes that leads her to be against her sisters, as an action of jealousy. She wants to have someone who loves her and fights for her as Delphine does for Cosima and Ms. S does for Sarah and her sisters. Sarah and Helena have a strong connection and both of them were able to have kids and we can clearly see how that affected Rachel, the connection Sarah and Kira have, she wants to feel it somehow. Now, I would say that Rachel is being this “double agent” but she realized that if her alliance lies with her sisters, she can have all of that, she can be part of the family and I think that is what she is working on, helping them from the inside.

Kay: I have been truly unsure about where Rachel’s alliances have lied all season, one minute it seems like she might care slightly for her sisters, the next she’s doing Neolution’s and PT’s dirty work. I think Rachel truly wants to be free, to be her own person for the first time in her life. So her alliances lie with herself. If helping her sisters gets her there, she’ll do it I think.

Ile: I think what Rachel really wants is her freedom just like the rest of the sestras, she thought for so long she had that “freedom” but it’s only till episode 5.07 when she realizes it was all an illusion and who really has the control in this has always been Neolution. Like Tatiana has said in a few interviews, this season is about fighting back and to stand up against the patriarchy. We’ve seen along the seasons how men have used Rachel for their own benefit, Rachel finally realized of this and we all know she’s a tough fighter.

Anne-Nicole: Based on what happened tonight it appears that her alliances lie with her sestras. I don’t think she had anything to gain by for herself by betraying Ferdinand other than earning the favor of the family she needed to desperately. No matter how much she tried to pretend otherwise.

Eam: Rachel’s motivation for her recent actions remain unclear. Her turning over Kira to Sarah and Mrs S didn’t necessarily mean she’s siding with the Ledas, if anything, it was self-serving. Though she did save Kira from further harm, ultimately, it was an act of defiance for the betrayal she’s experienced at the hands of Neolution particularly P.T. Westmoreland that drove her. She struggles with her inner feelings even on this episode where she helps put an end to Neolution by providing key information. However, she did so only because it could be her way out to freedom. While she yearns for love and acceptance, she’s also probably resigned to the idea that she will always be alone. So her allegiance may be to no one but herself.

4) What did you think of Felix’s goddess showcase of the sestras? It was a brilliant idea from the writers to showcase each of their personalities.

Camila: I COMPLETELY LOVED IT!! It was such an amazing idea to show their personalities in pictures. Each one of the sestras are unique in their own way and I love how Felix show their uniqueness of each of them in his art. I really enjoyed seeing Felix around his family. He is always helping Sarah and her sisters in every way he can and the fact that he was having HIS moment, was something very nice. He deserves to be recognized not only for his artistic talents but also for being the unique, strong and reliable brother he is. He really deserved his “time to shine” moment and I was so happy to see Adele there. She’s part of the family too and it warmed my heart to see her there. His showcase was one of my favorite scenes of the season so far.

Kay: Felix’s Goddess showcase of the sestra’s was one of the highlights of the show for me, each sestra representing a Goddess that suited each of their personalities to a tee was everything I needed. It was also further proof of how different they all truly are.

Ile: It was truly brilliant, I wasn’t expecting that at all. Showing their personalities through goddesses is just another way to say how powerful they are. I love mythology and the fact that the writers has always been playing with that is awesome.

Anne-Nicole: I LOVED that. I was so nervous that something was going to go horribly wrong, but then again I was a bundle of nerves for that whole hour. It was such a great way to show who the clones are and also to, once again, showcase just how amazing Tatiana is. This show has always been great at showcasing the differences between the clones and the writers hit it out of the park on this one.

Eam: It was a fantastic and clever idea to present the sisters as goddesses! It was a very Felix-y thing to do! Any excuse to see Cosima dancing, reminiscent of the ‘dance scene’ in Season 2 is always welcome!

5) Did Gracie’s death affect you at all?

Camila: Honestly, not that much. My thoughts on Gracie were never too steady to be honest. She is very peculiar to me. I would love to know a bit more about her and I really wanted Mark and her to be happy. I know she did a great thing when she lied to Mark, but her death was still not that big of a deal. Especially when you have Rachel almost being killed and Mrs. S. death on the same episode.

Kay: No, well, yes, only because of how broken Helena was about her death.

Ile: It was shocking for me, I didn’t expect her death. She deserved more than that. It was an unnecessary death more than for shock value. It would’ve been better if they left her and Mark being together somewhere else. Her death will affect Helena and I hope Cowboy girl is ready to catch some anger from our angel.

Anne-Nicole: I didn’t much like Gracie based on all that she’d done to Helena, but I don’t think she deserved that. I’m not sure it affected me much, but it did have me swearing at my TV because I knew that couldn’t be the most shocking moment of the episode.

Eam: With three deaths happening in one episode, Gracie’s death somehow got minimized. Yes, we are affected! Zoé De Grand Maison’s portrayal of Gracie’s conflicted and torn character is notable and memorable, and we know Helena is going to do right by her!

6) Do you think anyone has done more for the sestras than Mrs. S and Delphine?

Camila: They were both pretty involved since the beginning and their goal was always to protect the sestras. Each and every one of the others had their parts to play, but I think if you put that in a balance Mrs. S and Delphine have done a bit more. Delphine was willing to let the love of her life go in order to “love all of [Cosima’s] sisters equally” and she took a bullet to keep that promise. As far as Mrs. S, I won’t say much because I think it is pretty clear that without her, they wouldn’t survive half way through this crazy journey. She’s a hero.

Kay: Personally as a Delphine lover, I’m obviously going to say no. It’s the truth though, no one has done more than Delphine and Mrs. S for the girls they love. They’ve both risked their necks time and time again to cure, protect and insure LEDA’s freedom from Neolution.

Ile: I don’t think it’s a good term to say “more than the others.” Everyone has played a good part in this hell of a mess, all on behalf of the sestras’ safety. No matter if it was small or big, it’s all help at the end of it. Those big or little acts of help have helped the clones to reach what they achieved in this episode finally, their freedom. That kind of help has cost people’s lives even, so I thank all of them for helping the sestras.

Anne- Nicole:  I’m not sure one can say they have done the most. I think between S, Delphine, Donnie, Felix, and Art the sestras have an army fighting by their sides. Mrs S and Delphine may have done some of the riskier, sneakier things, but I think many people have really risked a great teal to save the Ledas.

Eam: No one could have come close. Since the beginning, both have shown extreme loyalty to the Leda sisters, albeit their actions were often questionable. In the end, Mrs S. and Delphine orchestrated the whole take down, but the two are also well aware that their alliance with Ferdinand and Rachel were just as important to realize their plans.

7) Did Felix’s speech make you tear up after watching the ending? It broke us.

Camila: YES!!! I was literally sobbing after the ending. I felt so happy for Felix, and his speech was so touching, it broke my heart. When he says that he and Sarah are who they are because of Siobhan I couldn’t hold my tears anymore. The part when Mrs. S hugs him and says that she is proud of him, it was the most simple but meaningful and beautiful scene. I can’t imagine how he and Sarah are going to react once they find out about her death. It’s gonna break them, a lot.

Kay: I was in tears during Felix’s speech, it hit me so much harder after the ending. I’m still a little emotionally unstable over it.

Ile: The speech made me tear up even before seeing that ending, it was so beautiful. The words Felix used fitted perfectly (as usual). After seeing the ending it resonated in me even more. I’m glad they got some kind of farewell for Mrs. S.a

Anne-Nicole: I was sobbing during the speech. I’m so glad he and Sarah got to tell S how much she meant to them. But then when she said “chickens” while looking at their picture I just kept thinking of the speech and damn I almost drowned in my own tears.

Eam: Felix has been sidelined for most of the season and this was his moment to shine in a way. Felix has grown and Mrs. S was gleaming with pride. That moving speech was very fitting and surely resonated to everyone watching. We are in tears.

8) What are your last words to Mrs. S?

Camila: No words can express how much I am grateful for everything she has done for them. She is such a brilliant, intelligent, talented, brave and strong woman. She has given literally her all for her family. I know she died in peace knowing that she raised two wonderful children and a granddaughter. She knows that they are going to be okay and free. but it breaks my heart in a bazillion pieces to know that she won’t be there to see this happy ending she fought so much for. Mrs. S, thank you so much for being the hero that you are. You will always have a huge part in our hearts and you will forever be reminded. Without you, none of this would’ve been accomplished.

Kay: S, I love you and I thank you for giving me a mother figure to look up to. I will carry the love and strength you had with me for the rest of my life.

Ile: You’ll always be our mum, we will always love you and you’ll always stay with us in our hearts. We couldn’t have asked for a better mom. Thank you for everything.

Anne-Nicole: Thank you for protecting them and for being one of the most badass characters on TV. You will be missed. Also, Maria Doyle Kennedy, you played S brilliantly!

Eam: Hats off to you Maria Doyle Kennedy for giving us such an inspiring, empowering character in Mrs.S — one of the best on television! Mrs. S’ memory will live on. She is already missed. We imagined this classic poem could have been said by Mrs. S going out like a boss:

“Beyond this place of wrath and tears

Looms but the horror of the shade,

And yet the menace of the years

Finds, and shall find me, unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,

How charged with punishments the scroll,

I am the master of my fate:

I am the captain of my soul.”

Invictus, by William Ernest Henley

Orphan Black 5×08 “Guillotines Decide” Final Verdict: No one can ever come close to the Super Woman that is Siobhan Sadler

Orphan Black decided yet again that they were going to kick us square in the feels. With absolutely no regard for how the audience feels (yes, we’re exaggerating), they delivered the biggest blow to fans of the series by killing off the most important character they’ve killed off to date. Obviously we know that Mrs. S’ death will be a giant catalyst moving forward the next two episodes, especially for Sarah, Felix, and Kira, we’re just still wiping away our tears over losing her. Orphan Black attached us to Mrs. S in a different way than we’ve grown accustomed to. We didn’t just like her as a character, or as a major background player, we loved her as a mother hen. As a caregiver. As a woman who would be there when times were tough and it didn’t seem like there was any hope. Mrs. S wasn’t just strong, she was brave, kind, loyal, compassionate, and down right heroic. Everything you’d admire in a woman and strive to be, was Mrs. S. So, while “Guillotines Decide” emotionally destroyed us in every way, like by honoring each clone for who each and every one truly are, and a brilliant speech by Felix to his “galaxy of women,” the most devastating was watching Siobhan hold a picture of Sarah and Felix while passing away. Maria Doyle Kennedy deserves an Emmy simply for uttering the word, “chickens.” We’re in disbelief that Orphan Black is almost over and we only have two episodes left, but as Mrs. S would say, “try to smile, dear”

ORPHAN BLACK airs SATURDAYS at 10/9C ON BBC AMERICA