Orphan Black: Variable & Full of Perturbation Review & Recap

By Jamie Ruby

Orphan BlackEvery week Orphan Black gets crazier and I love it even more. This week we were introduced to a new clone, Tony, a transgender. The scenes between Tony and Felix are some of the best of the week. I was laughing while also cringing when he kissed Felix (Sister Kisser!).

The show does such a fantastic job week after week of juxtapositioning the comedy against the drama. So many times what is going on is something serious, but hilariously so. Another example this week is when Donnie confesses to killing Leekie. You really can't help but laugh at the absurdity of Alison and her husband, but of course in the best way possible.

TonyThe story moves forward quite a bit this week: they may have found a solution to Cosima's illness by giving up Ethan Duncan to Rachel rather than using Kira. It's unclear whether the fact that Dr. Leekie is dead will end up being a good thing or bad. I'm curious to see, however, how long it takes for the rest of the characters to figure out (or be told by Alison) how Leekie really died and that it wasn't some conspiracy for once.

Other points to note is that Cosima revealed to Scott that she is in fact the clone he's been studying. I think though he probably would have figured it out eventually on his own.

The big story bomb, however, is really dropped at the end of the episode when Duncan reveals to Rachel that Sarah wasn't the success in regards to being able to conceive - she was the failure. They were barren by design.

Meanwhile, it looks like Cosima may not be able to wait for Duncan to get the synthetic DNA sequences, which is probably leading to Kira giving her bone marrow.

We weren't given any scenes with Helena this week, but there was enough in the episode that it didn't matter. Though I think one of the big questions still involves her, which is why Sarah (and presumably now Helena) were able to conceive. Did it have something to do with the embryo becoming twins?

Other questions that I have are, for one, does Duncan's comment to Kira about not being a pawn mean he is up to something? Also, what is up with all the code and formulas in the book that he purposely left with Kira? Is it a backup plan in case the shit hits the fan?

Also of course exists questions with the absence of Paul. What had Sammy discovered about Beth's monitor? And was Sammy a monitor as well?

Full Recap:

The episode opens with the introduction of a new clone, Tony - a male clone. His partner in crime, Sammy, has been shot after a robbery, and before he dies he tells Tony that he has been in contact with a cop that wanted to talk to him, and he has a message he needs to pass on...to Beth Childs.

Meanwhile, Mrs. S wants to wait to see what Rachel does. She's willing to kill Ethan Duncan if she has to.

Back at Dyad, Cosima is pissed at Delphine and has locked her from the lab. Scott thinks girl fights are mean. He drills Kira's tooth - it would be so much easier with bone marrow.

Back at the Hendrix's, Alison finds Donnie in bed surrounded by empty mini alcohol bottles. She is not amused.

Meanwhile, Art is approached by Tony, looking for Beth. He calls Felix for help.

RachelBack at Dyad, Rachel reveals to Delphine that Leekie is dead, claiming it was a heart attack. She also says that a line of communication has now been open with Sarah and they may have a breakthrough for Cosima.

Felix and Art discuss the transgendered Tony, who knows nothing about being a clone. They debate about what to tell him, and eventually decide on revealing that Beth is dead. Evidentially Beth had said that she and Tony might be related. Tony won't give them the message for Beth, but they won't tell him what's going on either, at least until Art checks him out.

Sarah is making a mobile of origami "angels" with Kira when Delphine shows up. Rachel sent her with a solution to their problem - they can get the cure via Duncan's DNA sequencing and leave Kira and her stem cells alone. Sarah's not sure, but Mrs. S tells her to tell Rachel that they will consider the proposal.

Orphan BlackCosima walks in on Scott and some friends playing Runewars in the lab, but instead of scolding them, she joins in and kicks their asses.

Delphine comes in to tell Cosima that Leekie's dead, and she thinks they had him killed. They are running out of time. Kira's just a bandaid, but they may have found a cure with Duncan. What does Cosima want to do? Get baked with Delphine.

Felix talks to Tony, trying not to reveal anything, but does admit that Sarah was an orphan. Tony wants to borrow some clothes and take a bath, meanwhile he's been flirting with Felix, who calls him a "trans bandit." His response to Tony's request to run his bath:

FELIX: Run it yourself, bitch.
TONY: Ouch. He's meaner than he looks.
FELIX: You are so much like my sister.

Meanwhile, Alison finds Donnie sneaking away in the night. He's about to leave her, because he thinks she's better without him, and obviously because he killed Leekie. She starts questioning if he loves her or ever did and he starts apologizing for everything.

DONNIE: I'm sorry about the porn, and I'm sorry about putting you in rehab, and I'm sorry for hating your mother, and...
ALISON: Everybody hates my mother.

They've both made mistakes, but he thinks his is much worse.

Duncan says that finding a cure means handing Dyad the keys to kingdom synthetically speaking, though he admits, he can do it. Sarah agrees she's willing to give up Duncan. They'll see which side he's really on.

Art calls Felix and tells him that Tony was actually originally Antoinette Sawicky. Sammy Maldine and Tony were both thieves, and Sammy got shot in the middle of a job. Felix thinks that Sammy was Tony's monitor. Art confirms that Beth had been talking to Sammy, and warns Felix that whoever shot him is going to come after Tony next.

Meanwhile, Tony is taking that bath, and after exiting, sneaks and looks through some of Felix's paintings of the clones. Felix's plan is to get him drunk to get him to open up. He offers Felix a testosterone shot, which Fee declines. Tony, however, accepts the drinks. There's more flirting on Tony's part.

Duncan reads The Island of Doctor Moreau to Kira, an apt book to the audience that unsurprisingly Sarah doesn't find humor in. When it's time for him to leave he tells Kira not to worry because he's nobody's pawn. This may have significance later.

Felix calls his sister finally and tells her that there is another naive clone, but it's a he. She thinks he means he is from a whole new batch of clones. Not so much.

Felix and TonyTony questions who Felix was talking to then kisses him. Felix is kind of distraught, obviously a bit weirded out because Tony looks like his sister, and he stops him.

Tony is tiring of Felix not telling him anything and starts asking about the paintings.

Meanwhile, Cosima and Delphine get high and admit they love each other.

Alison whispers to Donnie admitting what happened to Ainsley, which gets him to admit about Leekie.

Meanwhile, Felix isn't telling Tony much, using the excuse it's not his place and just to wait until Sarah gets there and they will explain everything, and that he wouldn't believe him anyway. Tony's had enough and leaves, bumping into Sarah on the way out.

Sarah and TonyAfter the introduction to Clone Club, Tony eventually tells them the message that Sammy, who was ex-military, gave him. "Tell Beth to keep the faith. Paul's like me. He's on it; he's a ghost." Sarah and Felix are of course confused as to what that means.

Meanwhile, Paul is a ghost, at least to Rachel, who can't find him or even a trail.

RachelRachel meets with Duncan. He's much more pleased to see her than she is him. He parallels a part of The Island of Doctor Moreau of being forgiven for hate but not for irresponsibility. He wants forgiven for being glad Leekie is dead. Rachel seems fine with that.

Alison and DonnieBack in suburbia, Alison and Donnie discuss him accidentally "whacking" Leekie while he shows her the body in the trunk.

DONNIE: He just got in and I whacked him. I didn't even mean to. Oh God!
ALISON: Okay, Just relax Donnie...This is not at all well wrapped.
DONNIE: You're worried about the trunk?!
ALISON: Yes. I'm going to make a new liner, and I hope that you threw the weapon in the lake.
DONNIE: I put it back in your gun locker.
ALISON: You used my gun?!

Felix stays with Tony, who tells him that he would get along with "dreadlocks" but that Alison in the painting looks like she's a douche. Fee corrects that she's a functioning alcoholic but not that bad. However, he's lucky because for now they need to keep him away from the other clones.

Duncan gives Rachel a list of what he needs to unlock the synthetic sequences, including a floppy disc drive. He comments that even with the sequencing the child is still the prize for Rachel.

Rachel wants to know one thing: why Sarah? Why was it the "unmonitored tramp" who was successful in conceiving. Duncan reveals that Sarah was a failure, not a success. They were all designed not to reproduce. Rachel bitterly and cheekily understands that he wouldn't create a reproducing protype; that would be irresponsible, which would be unforgivable.

Delphine comes in to get Duncan so he can, according to Rachel, fix his mistakes.

CosimaMeanwhile, during the whole previous scene with Duncan, Rachel is (assumingly later) in her office flipping out and breaking things in anger.

Felix gives Tony a clone phone with three numbers: his, Art's, and Sarah's. On the way out Tony quickly kisses him goodbye.

TONY: Later, sister kisser.

Cosima finally reveals to Scott that she is 324B21. He's honored to be working with a clone.

Duncan and Delphine come in, but it may be too late. Cosima collapses and starts having a seizure on the floor, blood pouring from her mouth.

Kira is in bed with her mother when she gets up to read the book Duncan gave her. It's filled with handwritten notes and formulas.

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