Orphan Black: Season 2/ Episode 8 “Variable and Full of Perturbation” – Overview/ Review (with Spoilers)

Overview

Meet Tony.

Review (with Spoilers)

Well, well. Rather than show what the hell is happening with Helena, instead we are introduced to Tony. Who pretty much is a male version of Sara, with weird looking hair. But even while Tony’s introduction is a highlight, what is really interesting is Ethan telling Rachel that the clones were made barren by design. Thus creating the flaw which seems to be killing everyone.

Topic 1: Where’s Beth – Tony

As Rachel tries to find out where Paul is, we learn that seemingly he is hunting down old military buddies. One including Tony’s good friend, maybe lover, Sammy. Now, whether Sammy was Tony’s monitor or not isn’t confirmed, but what is known is that he was in contact with Beth before she died and seemed to want to get Tony connected with her, but ultimately he fails to do so.

However, with Tony still having Beth’s phone number, he contacts her and gets Art. Who, since he is suspended, has to meet Tony at Felix’s place since that is current Clone Club detective agency HQ. Now, upon meeting Tony, Felix is quite stunned. For one, Tony isn’t Toni, but a trans boy, and also he is a bit too much like Sara for Felix’s taste. To make things odder though, Tony comes onto Felix. But things really get weird when Tony finds out he is part of clone club when Sara introduces herself. But, from what it seems, Tony may not stick around for Art is ready to ship him off who knows where. Which I’m kind of glad about because Tatiana Maslany looks utterly ridiculous as Tony. Especially with the weird facial hair.

Topic 2: Marital Confessions – Allison

With Allison out of rehab, it seems Donnie is ready to go in. Post-Leekie murder has made him a mess and now he is the one drinking profusely. But, once he sobers up, he tries to leave Allison and the kids and go on the run. Allison catches him though, and this leads to the two having a nice heart to heart. She confesses to the Aynsley thing, and he confesses to killing Leekie. Thing is, unlike Allison, and many of the clones, Donnie is an idiot. Leekie is still in his truck and the fool used one of Allison’s guns. Meaning she is really screwed right now and has a dingbat for a husband. Yet loves him nonetheless.

Topic 3: Welcome to the Dyad Institute – Sara, Cosima and Rachel

Leaving us with the meat of the episode which deals with Cosima trying to figure out a way to not only save herself, but the rest of the barren clones. Originally, the idea is they have to use Kira, but Rachel believes, as well as Delphine in extension, that by using Ethan instead, work can be done quicker and more efficiently. Which he agrees, though he does slightly feel that he is being used so Kira can be protected, and even speaks to Rachel a bit to see if maybe he can throw Kira under the bus real quick, at least it seemed that way to me.

In reality though, he left Kira a very important present which seems to hold all the information everyone wants. But while Ethan learns to play the game, things have gotten serious for Cosima. For one, she is ready once more to cut Delphine out her life, but with her having no choice but to rely on her, Cosima warns her that if she withholds pertinent information again, something may happen. Which Delphine doesn’t take seriously because she knows Cosima is wrapped around her finger. Though considering Scott now knows Cosima is the test subject, it seems Cosima is diversifying who she entrusts her secrets to, and Scott seems quite honored that she finally seems to almost fully trust him. Making for a slightly cute moment.

Leaving us with Rachel. As noted, she brings her dad on board to help, but wishes to keep things professional, something Ethan isn’t for but agrees to. But as much as she surely missed and loves her daddy, he says one thing which may make him end up like Leekie. You see, before their conversation, Rachel assumed Sara was the prototype, the best, etc., but in truth she was a mistake. Ethan designed the girls to be barren for reasons not fully gone into, and this infuriates Rachel. Making it seem this poor lady may have wanted kids, perhaps with Daniel, and now knows despite being raised by her creators, the would be favorite, in truth she wasn’t being barren wasn’t a flaw, it was a fate forced upon her. Her own dad made it so something which could have made her very happy is out of her grasp, and I think she is just looking for Ethan to fix the problem of them dying, but maybe also fixing things so maybe Rachel, as well as the others, may have a shot at kids.