Orphan Black 2.04
May. 13th, 2014 06:49 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
selenakIn which more things are found out, or found again.
First of all, the plot that was most worrying me: looks like Helena wasn't sexually raped. But her body did get violated, i.e. the Chekovian cow fertilzation device introduced two episodes agowas used on her and aapparantly the result withdrawn, since Johannsen is at the end of the episode watching it under the microscope. (Which presumably also means Helena is not currently pregnant and the Prolethians, American branch, are planning to use a host mother. While this is still a gross violation I can see a Doylist reason for it: this way, the narrative establishes that Sarah isn't the only fertile clone without having to introduce another child character. Also, it lends support to the fannish theory I've read elsewhere that the reason why Sarah was able to have Kira while the other clones were sterile was that Sarah was never monitored and thus didn't have to go through all the medical testing all the time. Because this, of couse, was true for Helena as well - she was brainwashed and hit, but certainly not medically tested by Tomas. The irony: asjesuswasbatman pointed out, Helena would probably have agreed to have a child IF someone had asked her, fascinated as she was by Kira. But nobody asked, because that's not what evil fundamentalists do.
While I was glad to see Mrs. S. back, her meeting her old flame from the people smuggling days actually wasn't that interesting (other than adding to the backstory confusion because going by their conversation Mrs. S. hadn't known Sarah was a clone when originally getting her, but if so, why then did she have the article about the Duncans?). The revelations about Rachel, on the other hand, were. Cosima theorizing about how Rachel must have been raised without attachments and as the ultimate cooperate weapon while Sarah was watching the video of a child Rachel happily playing with her parents was a good return of the show's ability to make a point about not assuming anything and putting any woman too quickly into preconceived, no pun intended,notions. If the Duncans died in the lab explosion and said lab explosion was connected to Project Leda, then one reason Rachel feels no solidarity with the other clones not just the sense of superiority due to self awareness Cosima deduces but her blaming the others subconsciously for her parents' deaths. Which, btw, makes me wonder whether in fact the Duncans weren't killed by Dyad Instiute people and that's something Rachel is going to find out later that season.
The other thing coming up in Sarah's and Cosima's conversation was the soldier in the background, and the way "Project Leda" sounds military, pointing to military involvement. Which fits, because if s1 fingered corporate greed and religious fundamentaliism as two forces of the patriarchy against our heroines, the military is another traditionally connoted as masculine.
Alison in rehab: I've watched too much Elementary to believe you can skip a habit in one week. Also, Donnie's none too subtle hint that if she doesn't go with the program he'll get the kids in a divorce according to his lawyer sounds pretty ominous. And worst, the reason why Alison started to drink and self medicate more and more won't go away once she gets out - her situation then will still be exactly the same.
Felix being angry at Sarah didn't last long; after a few pointed remarks re: Cal he goes back to doing what Sarah asks him to do, which makes me wonder whether there'll actually be more to come at a later point or whether this was it as much as Felix wanting more from his life than being the helpmeet was concerned?
Speaking of Cal, I suspect he got introduced mainly so that there is an explanation why Sarah can go back into the main action instead of bieng on the run with Kira. That he just happens to have the prefect van ready makes me suspicious, though. These two aren't mutually exclusive; I think Cal will take (good) care of Kira for the next few episodes, leaving Sarah worry free on that score and able to stay in Toronto with the rest of the clones, and then will be revealed as connected to either the Dyad Institute or their biggest competitor (there has to be one, right?) in time for the finale.
The Helena and Sarah reunion scene with Helena in her while bridal dress from the Prolethians blood splattered (from killing Daniel who was about to torture Sarah) and Sarah between freaking out (no wonder) and breaking down was operatic in the best sense, on a level with their great scenes last season and, I have to admit, gave me a reason to come around on the "Helena's survival: good or bad?" question.
First of all, the plot that was most worrying me: looks like Helena wasn't sexually raped. But her body did get violated, i.e. the Chekovian cow fertilzation device introduced two episodes agowas used on her and aapparantly the result withdrawn, since Johannsen is at the end of the episode watching it under the microscope. (Which presumably also means Helena is not currently pregnant and the Prolethians, American branch, are planning to use a host mother. While this is still a gross violation I can see a Doylist reason for it: this way, the narrative establishes that Sarah isn't the only fertile clone without having to introduce another child character. Also, it lends support to the fannish theory I've read elsewhere that the reason why Sarah was able to have Kira while the other clones were sterile was that Sarah was never monitored and thus didn't have to go through all the medical testing all the time. Because this, of couse, was true for Helena as well - she was brainwashed and hit, but certainly not medically tested by Tomas. The irony: as
jesuswasbatman pointed out, Helena would probably have agreed to have a child IF someone had asked her, fascinated as she was by Kira. But nobody asked, because that's not what evil fundamentalists do. While I was glad to see Mrs. S. back, her meeting her old flame from the people smuggling days actually wasn't that interesting (other than adding to the backstory confusion because going by their conversation Mrs. S. hadn't known Sarah was a clone when originally getting her, but if so, why then did she have the article about the Duncans?). The revelations about Rachel, on the other hand, were. Cosima theorizing about how Rachel must have been raised without attachments and as the ultimate cooperate weapon while Sarah was watching the video of a child Rachel happily playing with her parents was a good return of the show's ability to make a point about not assuming anything and putting any woman too quickly into preconceived, no pun intended,notions. If the Duncans died in the lab explosion and said lab explosion was connected to Project Leda, then one reason Rachel feels no solidarity with the other clones not just the sense of superiority due to self awareness Cosima deduces but her blaming the others subconsciously for her parents' deaths. Which, btw, makes me wonder whether in fact the Duncans weren't killed by Dyad Instiute people and that's something Rachel is going to find out later that season.
The other thing coming up in Sarah's and Cosima's conversation was the soldier in the background, and the way "Project Leda" sounds military, pointing to military involvement. Which fits, because if s1 fingered corporate greed and religious fundamentaliism as two forces of the patriarchy against our heroines, the military is another traditionally connoted as masculine.
Alison in rehab: I've watched too much Elementary to believe you can skip a habit in one week. Also, Donnie's none too subtle hint that if she doesn't go with the program he'll get the kids in a divorce according to his lawyer sounds pretty ominous. And worst, the reason why Alison started to drink and self medicate more and more won't go away once she gets out - her situation then will still be exactly the same.
Felix being angry at Sarah didn't last long; after a few pointed remarks re: Cal he goes back to doing what Sarah asks him to do, which makes me wonder whether there'll actually be more to come at a later point or whether this was it as much as Felix wanting more from his life than being the helpmeet was concerned?
Speaking of Cal, I suspect he got introduced mainly so that there is an explanation why Sarah can go back into the main action instead of bieng on the run with Kira. That he just happens to have the prefect van ready makes me suspicious, though. These two aren't mutually exclusive; I think Cal will take (good) care of Kira for the next few episodes, leaving Sarah worry free on that score and able to stay in Toronto with the rest of the clones, and then will be revealed as connected to either the Dyad Institute or their biggest competitor (there has to be one, right?) in time for the finale.
The Helena and Sarah reunion scene with Helena in her while bridal dress from the Prolethians blood splattered (from killing Daniel who was about to torture Sarah) and Sarah between freaking out (no wonder) and breaking down was operatic in the best sense, on a level with their great scenes last season and, I have to admit, gave me a reason to come around on the "Helena's survival: good or bad?" question.
no subject
Date: 2014-05-13 11:57 am (UTC)