What I’m Watching: Orphan Black

Orphan Black: Season 3, Episode 5 “Scarred by Many Past Frustrations” (B)

This was a fine episode, but it only featured a few clones and didn’t move the story forward on too many levels. Sarah’s reunion with Helena wasn’t quite as warm as she had expected it to be, especially considering her sestra broke out of her cell and then left Sarah behind to fend for herself as payback for abandoning her. I enjoyed Helena using her sense of humor, telling Sarah that maybe she had been institutionalized as well, but clearly that’s about all the sentiment she has left for someone she believes has betrayed her. Paul’s role in everything is much more direct, telling Sarah that he tried to keep her out of it and then marching straight to Virginia to reiterate that Helena being brought in had been his bargaining power to keep Sarah safe. The exiled Gracie really wants to have fun, and who better than Felix and Mrs. S to help her do it? If only she hadn’t collapsed in terrible pain with red eyes, a symptom also exhibited by Art’s contact, which suggests that the Castor gene is highly volatile and may affect those who aren’t clones as well. Cosima’s date with Shay, on the hand, went swimmingly, giving her the first real dose of happiness she’s had since Delphine’s departure. It's hard not to suspect that she has some ulterior motive given the history of our clones and their love interests being monitors. Photos being taken of them doesn’t point to Shay as the culprit, but it does confirm that someone has an interest in what’s going on with Cosima.