What I’m Watching: Orphan Black

Orphan Black: Season 5, Episode 5 “Ease for Idle Millionaires” (B)

I recognize fully that getting five seasons of this show has been an incredible gift, hardly guaranteed due to its unique genre, and I won’t lament an early cancellation or anything like that since the creative forces behind it are clearly aware of just how long they have. Yet I still get the feeling that this final season is proceeding along a bit too slowly, digging deep into the mythology and therefore ignoring the forward-moving plot. We only got to see two of the clones in this episode (three if you count Rachel, I guess), and instead were treated to a lengthy dinner party during which Cosima was made very aware of just what’s going on and why Kira is of such interest. It was affirming to see Cosima defy the unnecessary charade she was told to contribute to and don a tuxedo as Delphine’s guest, but that was all the humor to be found in this episode, which ended on a miserable note as Cosima stepped in front of the poor “monster” to save his life only to have Westmoreland shoot him with her sitting right there. It’s good to know that Delphine is working with Mrs. S and that all the other allies they’ve amassed along the way, with the possible exception of Art, who’s in a precarious position of his own, are working together to ensure that the clones are able to win whatever this war really is and survive and endure. I’d like to fast-forward past some of the slow exposition as we enter the second half of this final season.