Orphan Black 5.10
Aug. 15th, 2017 12:59 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
selenakIn which we get a LotR or Babylon 5 type of ending, and it's lovely.
Which is to say, Dr. Coady and Not!Westmoreland are dispatched with post haste, and then the rest of the episode is devoted to Our Heroes living that long missed normal life, or trying to: a quiet, peaceful epilogue instead of a last moment twist to produce an action showdown. For which relief, much thanks, authors: as mentioned in my previous review, I was afraid they'd have Rachel do one last villainous thing after all and make her the final antagonist. Instead, she actually makes it out of the show alive, along with everyone else.
I really enjoyed this love letter to the cast finale, including the late, great Mrs. S, present via Sarah having flashbacks to her own pregnancy and giving birth to Kira while Helena gives birth to her twins. Though I still think killing Siobhan off had no narrative necessity whatsoever. Speaking of narrative necessity, honestly, there was no need to let Coady and Not!Westmoreland be only wounded by last episode's throat cuttings so Helena and Sarah could kill them once more in the opening ten minutes; they could have remained dead with the entire finale devoted to "where are they now?" type of scenes.
Which were lovely, did I mention that? Including the touch that Sarah, once the need to fight is removed, finds it hard to tackle every day life again, has barely begun to process Siobhan's death and nearly gives into the temptation to run as was her life long pattern. But she now has her sisters to confide in. The scene in Alison's backyard where the Ledas all confide their doubts and strengthen each other was in a way the summation of everyone's emotional journeys.
Meanwhile, Rachel had only one scene, but that one was just right. Given all Rachel did, I wouldn't have believed it if she'd joined the backyard party and been accepted. (See also: my issues with the too quick universal acceptance of Helena in the s2 finale, and Helena hadn't done nearly as much as Rachel overall before that.) Otoh, her giving Felix the list with the names and contacts of all remaining Leda Clones (so they, too, could be innocculated by the cure) shows that Rachel has changed; she didn't gain anything from this and there was no more need of an alliance of necessity with Sarah & Co. She simply did it so these women could live, whom she once hated for sharing her face. Felix wishing her a good life in return was also the right measure of grace without ignoring the past.
Details:
Helena turning out to be the author of Orphan Black explains all the occasionally convoluted and bonkers storylines as well as the dark humor, she says, tongue firmly in cheek. Also, I've seen bewilderment that her twins turned out to be boys, but I thought that was a good idea, not least because even the temptation to do a generation xerox with female twins as Sarah and Helena replicas, and instead emphasizes the randomness of fate. These kids are not part of anyone's plans and experiments anymore.
Cosima and Delphine touring the world with the cure was a good ending for them. I mean, I still don't like Delphine, but such is fannish life. Meanwhile, the Alison and Donnie scene was perfect for them, hilarious and tender, and as I said in my review of Alison's big episode this season: who'd have thought in s1, but they are my favourite romantic couple on this show bar none.
Art and his kids being part of the great family at the end: also wonderful. Appreciated that Art while taking out his "partner" of evil did handcuff and arrest her instead of killing her; am a big fan of cop characters NOT going the killing road, since the rl examples do it so often.
In conclusion: all in all, it was a wonderful show, and I can only hope Tatiana Maslany's amazing talent will continue to find worthy vehicles.
Which is to say, Dr. Coady and Not!Westmoreland are dispatched with post haste, and then the rest of the episode is devoted to Our Heroes living that long missed normal life, or trying to: a quiet, peaceful epilogue instead of a last moment twist to produce an action showdown. For which relief, much thanks, authors: as mentioned in my previous review, I was afraid they'd have Rachel do one last villainous thing after all and make her the final antagonist. Instead, she actually makes it out of the show alive, along with everyone else.
I really enjoyed this love letter to the cast finale, including the late, great Mrs. S, present via Sarah having flashbacks to her own pregnancy and giving birth to Kira while Helena gives birth to her twins. Though I still think killing Siobhan off had no narrative necessity whatsoever. Speaking of narrative necessity, honestly, there was no need to let Coady and Not!Westmoreland be only wounded by last episode's throat cuttings so Helena and Sarah could kill them once more in the opening ten minutes; they could have remained dead with the entire finale devoted to "where are they now?" type of scenes.
Which were lovely, did I mention that? Including the touch that Sarah, once the need to fight is removed, finds it hard to tackle every day life again, has barely begun to process Siobhan's death and nearly gives into the temptation to run as was her life long pattern. But she now has her sisters to confide in. The scene in Alison's backyard where the Ledas all confide their doubts and strengthen each other was in a way the summation of everyone's emotional journeys.
Meanwhile, Rachel had only one scene, but that one was just right. Given all Rachel did, I wouldn't have believed it if she'd joined the backyard party and been accepted. (See also: my issues with the too quick universal acceptance of Helena in the s2 finale, and Helena hadn't done nearly as much as Rachel overall before that.) Otoh, her giving Felix the list with the names and contacts of all remaining Leda Clones (so they, too, could be innocculated by the cure) shows that Rachel has changed; she didn't gain anything from this and there was no more need of an alliance of necessity with Sarah & Co. She simply did it so these women could live, whom she once hated for sharing her face. Felix wishing her a good life in return was also the right measure of grace without ignoring the past.
Details:
Helena turning out to be the author of Orphan Black explains all the occasionally convoluted and bonkers storylines as well as the dark humor, she says, tongue firmly in cheek. Also, I've seen bewilderment that her twins turned out to be boys, but I thought that was a good idea, not least because even the temptation to do a generation xerox with female twins as Sarah and Helena replicas, and instead emphasizes the randomness of fate. These kids are not part of anyone's plans and experiments anymore.
Cosima and Delphine touring the world with the cure was a good ending for them. I mean, I still don't like Delphine, but such is fannish life. Meanwhile, the Alison and Donnie scene was perfect for them, hilarious and tender, and as I said in my review of Alison's big episode this season: who'd have thought in s1, but they are my favourite romantic couple on this show bar none.
Art and his kids being part of the great family at the end: also wonderful. Appreciated that Art while taking out his "partner" of evil did handcuff and arrest her instead of killing her; am a big fan of cop characters NOT going the killing road, since the rl examples do it so often.
In conclusion: all in all, it was a wonderful show, and I can only hope Tatiana Maslany's amazing talent will continue to find worthy vehicles.
no subject
Date: 2017-08-15 09:15 pm (UTC)And he seemed truly horrified that he had killed Frontenac (sp?). I've thought Art was a dead man walking since his very first appearance, and aside from all the other ways I'm pleased with the ending, I'm delighted that he survived.
no subject
Date: 2017-08-16 11:07 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-08-18 12:55 am (UTC)Sarah, once the need to fight is removed, finds it hard to tackle every day life again, has barely begun to process Siobhan's death and nearly gives into the temptation to run as was her life long pattern. But she now has her sisters to confide in.
I really, really loved this part because while some things were wrapped in a bow, this part wasn't and I love seeing that Sarah has a hard time adjusting to peace time. She's like (is?) a warrior with no more wars to fight.
And I really love where we end with Rachel, it was a good grace note. I know some people are discontented with it but I felt it rang true for the characters. I never knew I would love Rachel so much after her first introduction where I had a hard time getting Rachel. Rachel, I think, is a character that gets better on rewatch especially now knowing her motivations.
I would like to think, after several years and the wounds have faded there will come a time the sisters can welcome her into the fold.