Orphan Black Review: 4×02- “Transgressive Border Crossing”

Sarah Manning searches for answers as we continue to get a glimpse of the past

Last weeks back to the basics premiere of Orphan Black was the perfect set- up for what was to follow in last nights jam packed second episode. We caught up with our beloved Sarah (Tatiana Maslany), still adjusting to her new family life in Iceland with Siobhan (Maria Doyle Kennedy), Kira (Skyler Wexler) and Kendall.(Alison Steadman). Jumping in right where last weeks episode left off, we catch the family just as they’re reeling from a warning about the Neolutionists from new clone MK (Tatiana Maslany). In a moment straight out of ‘The Poltergeist,’ Kira stares out of the window and suddenly warns, “They’re coming.” With no time to spare, Mrs. S torches the place and the four of them escape. In the process they end up leaving Kira’s sock monkey burning in flames on the floor. RIP sock monkey, we hardly knew ya.

Back in Toronto, Sarah goes to reunite with her sisters. She catches up with Cosima (Tatiana Maslany) in the new lab that she and Scott (Josh Vokey) have set up in the basement of a comic book store named, ‘The Rabbit Hole.’ The lab is being bank rolled with the drug money Alison (Tatiana Maslany) and Donnie (Kristian Bruun) seemed to have acquired. Cosima and Scott have been hard at work trying to cure the mystery illness that is still plaguing Cosima. While we see a slightly weaker Cosima, she seems to be holding her own for the time being.

Elsewhere, completely detached from the problems that are yet to come, and caught up in her pregnancy, Alison and Donnie are still navigating the waters of having the always hungry Helena living in their home. While being accompanied to the doctors by Donnie, Helena nonchalantly addresses how she’s been feeling during her pregnancy in a way that only she can.

“A little tired. Many farts.”

It’s great to see Helena so excited and happy about something so positive given how long it’s taken her to find some sense of normalcy in her life. During the ultrasound, both Helena and Donnie get the shock of their lives when it’s discovered that she’s pregnant with TWINS. After sharing the news with Alison, it’s evident that perhaps she feels a little jealous of Helena because she is able to have children while Alison can’t.

As Sarah struggles to make MK come out in the open in order to figure out more answers to the mysteries behind the Neolutionists and Beth’s suicide, she is caught by the two “cheek choppers” we saw in the first episode. They hold her down and examine her cheek, Sarah struggles and eventually they let her go. After running back home, she has Mrs. S check her cheek. In an insane twist, we discover it’s not MK with the worm in her cheek, it’s Sarah. What does this mean for her and the rest of the clones moving forward? How long has it been there?

Where is Delphine?

For two episodes now, Orphan Black has made us wait and wonder about Delphine’s fate. With no answers as to whether she is alive or dead, we’ve had to wait with bated breath to see just how Cosima has been handing her disappearance. In one of the most heart breaking moments of the episode and maybe even the series, Mrs. S sits down with Cosima in order to really check on her. Cosima turns to her and desperately says:

“I need you to tell me that Delphine is alive.”

Cosima breaks down in tears and when Mrs. S responds by saying:

“I can’t do that, love.”

The look on Cosima’s face is enough to break even the toughest of hearts. Mrs. S embraces her when she tells her just how much she misses Delphine. The heart to heart moment between these two women is one that people have been waiting for. Mrs. S has become a mother figure to the clones and it’s interesting to see her invested in their lives outside of their bond with Sarah. Considering Mrs. S has never been Delphine’s biggest fan, it’s sweet to see her put that aside for the sake of comforting Cosima. If Delphine is alive, where is she? Who has her? Maybe more interestingly, could she provide answers to some of the questions about Neolutionism and is that why she was shot? Delphine is a central character in the history of Orphan Black. For Cosima’s sake, hopefully it’s only a matter of time before we get the answers.

Brother Sestra

Poor Felix. Since Sarah left for Iceland to play house with Kira, Mrs. S, and Kendall, he’s been in Toronto trying to fill his time in any way he could. (Penis inspired pictures, naked painting, the usual). After Sarah returns, it’s clear that Felix isn’t sure just where he belongs in their new life. He’s envious that she has these blood relatives because he’s now the only true orphan in Orphan Black. In a shocking declaration, Sarah learns the Felix has been searching for his birth parents. (It’s assumed this was the secret that Alison told him he needed to tell Sarah). Adamant that she, Kira, and Mrs S are his family, Sarah tries to understand why Felix is pushing away. He feels lost. It’s a departure from the fun loving, giddy, overly invested Felix from previous seasons. Felix has been the linchpin of the clone club for the past 3 seasons. Not to mention he’s been Sarah’s touchstone through everything that has happened since her childhood. It’s sad to see Felix believe he has no place in her world. Will they make amends? Will he realize the clones love him like their brother sestra before he runs down a road he can’t turn back on? If their inherent bond is anything to go off of, it’s easy to believe he’ll find his way back into the club.

It looks like mush

TWINS!! Not only is Helena pregnant with one miracle clone baby, she’s pregnant with twins. Helena has been through hell and it’s so nice to see her finally happy. Watching the look on her face while she is staring at the ultra sound is actually incredibly heart warming. The “reformed” serial killer with an adorable accent is starting to find her place in the world. She has a home, a family, and babies she’ll undoubtedly do anything for. Although it’s all unusual, it’s perfect in it’s own little way. The only drawback? What does Alison actually think about her husband spending so much time with Helena. It’s made clear that she’s jealous of Helena’s ability to have children when she sarcastically refers to her as:

“Fertile Myrtle”

Will the babies put a strain on the clones relationship? Will all this happiness be thwarted by something yet to come? Please no. They all deserve some happiness.

Final Verdict: The pieces are coming together in Orphan Black

Orphan Black has done something that very few shows have ever done. Four seasons in and it’s making the viewers want to go back to the beginning and start all over. In this second episode of the 4th season, more puzzle pieces came together. When we realize the scene in which MK and Beth embrace and say goodbye chronologically comes immediately before the moment Beth jumps in front of a train in the pilot, we immediately want to start a binge from the beginning. Answers to questions we forgot we had in season one are finally starting to be answered while simultaneously creating new questions.

Questions/ Comments:

• WHAT WERE THOSE WORMS?
• Will MK meet her sestras?
• Can Felix find his way back to Sarah?
• I have to believe that Delphine is alive. Why would they spend so much time making Cosima suffer otherwise.
• Did Maslany win her Emmy yet? Seriously, it’s way overdue.