"It's taught me that we are all mysterious works of chance, of choice, of nature vs. nuture. So to my galaxy of women, thank you for the nuture." — Felix, Episode 508
Orphan Black is coming to a close on Saturday. I'm not sure I want to say good-bye to these characters, writers, creators, and actors. But the end is upon us.
Season 5 has been about learning answers to the big puzzle. Characters, minor and major, being killed off. Sestrahood being lived out where nuture and nature combine to form a bond across the many different characters, all played by Emmy-award winner Tatiana Maslany.
Orphan Black Season 5 preview
Tatiana Maslany wins the Lead Actress Emmy for Orphan Black
Tatiana Maslany, Molly Parker get Emmy nods
Orphan Black Season 4 finale airs tonight
Orphan Black Season 4 preview
Orphan Black Season 3 wrapup: Hoping Delphine will return
Orphan Black returns for Season 3 on Saturday
Tatiana Maslany (finally) gets Emmy nod for Orphan Black
Orphan Black has made wonderful use of Toronto, Canada, Canadian actors in a way that was Canadian though "Canada" was rarely spoken. We've met so many Canadian actors that we may have seen for the first time and a few we've known in other places (e.g., Evelyne Brochu). We look forward to seeing them elsewhere and thinking, "Oh yeah, that person was on Orphan Black."
Orphan Black is strongly Canadian
Though Canada has come up in a very subtle fashion, in Episode 508, Felix says in a speech about Mrs. S that she "carried two little London urchins on her wings to Canada."
Maslany has done a few films of late. The Other Half as well as Two Lovers and a Bear are Canadian films while Stronger, coming this fall, is an American film about the bombs at the Boston Marathon.
Maslany and the show will also be eligible for the 2018 Emmys, so we may have another moment for celebration.
Orphan Black should open doors to more Canadian drama being available in the United States. BBC America played a significant role in this show. There are U.S. partners who are interested in Canadian TV, such as Pop TV with Schitt's Creek and IFC with Baroness von Sketch Show.
How Canadian should Canadian TV be?
CRTC reducing requirements to carry Canadian content
CanadianCrossing.com television coverage
“My sexuality is not the most interesting thing about me." — Cosima Niehaus
Along with nature and nuture, we've seen the complexities of women (and one male) in the many characters that Maslany plays. Her characters are flawed. As Maslany has noted, her characters aren't chasing after a man as their main goal.
We've seen them in action when fighting for their survival. We've seen Alison struggle with drugs and alcohol. We've seen Sarah's stubbornness, Beth's insecurities, Helena's unimaginable deplored childhood, Cosima's trust concerns, and Rachel's struggles with feeling loved.
As horrible as Helena was in the beginning and Rachel for most of the series, there is a sense that the sestras belong together in a nature over nuture stance enhanced by the nuture of the bond between sisters.
Even if good times are around the corner for the clones, we do imagine there would still be strains among the sestras but a lot of love as well.
The show has also drawn strong, male, sensitive characters who are supportive of the sestras. Art, Felix, Donnie, and Scott bring a male energy but a very aware presence. They each came to it in their own way but definitely found their way to be a great help to the sestras.
This also speaks highly to the mad skills of Maslany who interacts with these men in very different ways, depending on the clone she is in the moment.
The Castor clones were mostly insensitive, though Ira was kept separate and was more in tune with the feminine side being raised by Susan Duncan.
My Canadian Valentines 2016
We have had a soft spot for Cophine, the union of Cosima and Delphine. Their relationship is beautiful with the flaws. It's knowing that Cosima knew that Delphine was her monitor and still falling for her. We've watched their relationship mature in Season 5. The moment when they are about to send off the material that will damage Neolution: Cosima shows her appreciation for all that Delphine and the others did in getting the information. They click the send button together. Cosima laughs and then switches to tears. Delphine in the moment holds on to Cosima. A very touching moment for them and us.
Cosima is absolutely right: her sexuality isn't that important. Cophine is about science nerds in love and talented actresses playing their part.
Day 1 for Kelly and Ryan in Niagara Falls: Justin Trudeau and Tatiana Maslany
Fans in the United States missed Helena's singing over the end credits of Episode 509. BBC America rolls through the credits with a promo that didn't really show anything. Space in Canada actually aired a promo for Episode 508. The BBC America promo was about how they couldn't show anything. I would take Helena singing over any promo.
Canadians also got an extra season of the after show After the Black. We heard that Space was offering partial time for episode recaps this season.
The final episode will tie into the sestra bond between Sarah and Helena, the original twins for whom the clones were based. The singing reminds me of the time Sarah and Helena were on the road in the truck and somehow landed on singing Sugar, Sugar by the Archies.
The final episode of Orphan Black airs Saturday at 10 pm Eastern on Space in Canada and BBC America in the United States. The episode does run long so adjust your DVR/PVR accordingly.
photo credit: Orphan Black/Space/BBC America
video credit: YouTube/tank bait
Comments