Orphan Black “Effects of External Conditions”

Nature versus Nurture is one of the main themes of “Orphan Black” as a whole and is really interesting to consider while watching Tatiana portray many different personalities within identical bodies.  Sarah, Tatiana Maslany, has already been established as a clone so all of her other embodiments (Alison, Corina, Helena, and Katja) are genetically identical copies.  So all of the clones should have turned out exactly the same, but they in fact they are drastically different due to how they were raised and what they have experienced.

This week we learn more about the n/.0ew clone, Helena.  Last episode ended with her sewing up the wound she received from Sarah.  Helena has been hunting down the clones in Europe for some time and has presumably followed Katja over into Canada.  She is bent on killing the clones because she sees them as atrocities towards God. 

Sarah stays undercover with the police as a way to help within the group of clones.  Beth used the police resources to help the clones hunt down others like them before and now the group needs Sarah to stay on the inside to help hunt down the one killing them.  But as the case grows more intense, Sarah’s personal life becomes dire.  Mrs. S has allowed Sarah to visit Kira, but Sarah is too busy hunting down Helena to get there so Alison has to fill in for her.   This is one of my favorite scenes of the episode because it creates a bond between Alison and Sarah.  Ever since they met they’ve had problems.  Alison saw Sarah as a hot-headed, irresponsible punk who doesn’t think actions through, like when Sarah showed up to soccer practice.  Sarah saw Alison as a stuck-up, pretentious bitch.  Now, Alison has a new respect for Sarah because she has a kid and Sarah appreciates Alison because without her help she would never see Kira again.  I like how their relationship is progressing.

The end reveals a few secrets about the lives of the clones.  Katja was coughing up blood at the end of the first episode.  Likewise, Helena seems to have a liver problem, I assume this because of her pale skin, and she mentions to Sarah that she is sick.  The apartment where Helena has brought Sarah is the apartment of Maggie Chen, the woman Beth shot.  Helena explains that Maggie helped create the clones, but had a change of heart and began eradicating them.  Sarah almost kills Helena, but lets her go as Art breaks into the apartment.  Later, Helena collapses and her body is picked up by a mysterious van.  This is another example of why this show excels.  Every answer, every plot point, drives the story forward and answers questions, but the answers always lead to more questions and, more importantly, more plot points.  Every episode brings us deeper into the story and the mythology, but always hints at something even deeper.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, “Orphan Black” is one of the best shows I’ve watched recently and belongs right alongside “Hannibal” and “Game of Thrones” as this year’s best shows.

5/5