Orphan Black: Season 2/ Episode 1 “Nature Under Constraint and Vexed” [Season Premiere] – Overview/ Review (with Spoilers)
Overview Last year’s sleeper hit returns to let people know, Orphan Black does live up to the hype. Review (with Spoilers) Last year, Orphan Black came in like a summer breeze and stormed out like a tornado, and since the 1st season, Tatiana Maslany has found herself winning and being nominated for many accolades for…
Overview
Last year’s sleeper hit returns to let people know, Orphan Black does live up to the hype.
Review (with Spoilers)
Last year, Orphan Black came in like a summer breeze and stormed out like a tornado, and since the 1st season, Tatiana Maslany has found herself winning and being nominated for many accolades for her role(s). However, with such a dramatic rise, especially from a show hosted on BBC America, which I have honestly never watched before this show, there is the question: Does this live up to the hype? Well, whether fans from the beginning or seeking this out of curiosity, let me tell you that the season 2 premiere doesn’t just live up to the hype, but may even up the ante.
Topic 1: Where is Kira? – Sara
For most of the episode, Sara is trying to figure where, if not who has Kira. Of course, though, as much as she is looking for her daughter, Rachel is looking for her. She even sends two men after her, one of which ends up dead due to a rather nice diner cook. But, thankfully, Sara finds a way to escape him.
However, with Kira’s whereabouts still unknown, Sara looks to the one person who may have her: her clone sister Rachel. Thing is, with the Dyad institute being almost a well-established company, supporting 27,000 employees, Sara is quite outnumbered, and even with Allison helping her to get a gun, and two double agents, one being Delphine and the other being Paul, she still has quite the uphill battle.
Luckily, though, with Dr. Leekie having a strong desire to have Cosima on his team, she uses their similar look to get into Dyad’s Gala and find Rachel. In this moment, Sara shows us that truly Rachel isn’t as bad ass as she seems, for with a warning shot and getting pistol whipped, Rachel begins whimpering like a coward. But, then Paul shows up, seemingly ready to betray Sara, but then lets her go. What makes matters horrible though is that Sara was looking into the wrong organization for Kira.
But, perhaps realizing that her clone sisters, Felix, and the double agents may not be enough, it seems Sara may turn to Art in order to gain some strength in her fight for Kira. However, with Angie not trusting Sara after the whole masquerading as Beth, it seems she nearly turns Sara away from trusting Art. For, firstly, she puts her in handcuffs and Art doesn’t say much since he really does want answers out of her. Then, it almost seems like Angela is ready to give Sara to the feds until Art finally puts his foot down when it comes to Angie’s attitude.
And seemingly, after Sara poses as Cosima to get into the Dyad’s gala, and realizes they don’t have Kira, she goes to Art’s apartment to tell him everything. Now, whether this will help or just lead Art to knowing enough to become a liability, who knows? But it is nice to see him still being someone reliable she can turn to.
Topic 2: Say Hello to Old Friends – Cosima, Allison, and Helena
As for the rest of the clones, Cosima is still dealing with her sickness, while having her strange relationship with Delphine. However, she reassures everyone she isn’t going to be played for a fool again, but considering how Delphine seems like she may not be the best double agent, it seems but a matter of time before Cosima trust in Delphine bites her in the butt. Especially since she hands Delphine some of her blood, and Delphine hands this over to Dr. Leekie with the code 324-B21 on it. While also alluding to two other clones of which are theirs. Of which, I assume, they maybe referring to Sara and Allison.
Speaking of Allison, as seen last season, despite the tornado that ran through her life as soon as Sara and the clones came into her life, much less her torturing her husband and letting her former best friend die, Allison seemingly has gotten her life back together. She is working on her family life, has stopped drinking, and has even moved her guns out of the house. However, when Sara asks to find a gun, Allison knows just the man, one named Ramon, who has everything from guns, to prescription pills, to weed. I guess things get dull in the suburban life huh?
But, one clone who is never dull is Helena. Yes, because there is a God, and it is Easter, Helena has arisen from what seemed to be her grave and seemingly the Prolethians have taken note. In fact, we learn not only were the people from the diner, earlier in the episode, were the Prolethians, but also that they are the ones who took Kira? Making it seem that the two sisters will be reunited again, and though their last meeting was quite the violent one, considering Helena’s love for her niece, maybe they can set their differences aside?
- Plot and Dialog - /100
- Character Development and Performances - /100
- Visuals and Sound - /100
- Pacing - /100
- Value For Intended Audience - /100