TV Review: Orphan Black 2×01, “Nature Under Constraint and Vexed”

One of my favorite new shows of 2013 is back, and just in time to go against heavy hitters like Game of Thrones and Mad Men. This show has not lost any of its momentum and comes back stronger than ever.

We find Sarah right after finding out Mrs. S and Kira have disappeared. Presumably they have been taken by Rachel (business executive clone) after Sarah refused her offer. Unable to get a hold of anyone, she takes a break in a nearby diner to collect herself and try to get someone to answer their phone. She doesn’t get to rest much before two men claiming to have Kira start a shoot out with the diner owner trying to defend Sarah. She manages to escape and go to the only logical place Felix would be: a gay bar. Sarah finds Felix on drugs, in some very flattering ass-less chaps, and a few drinks away from an orgy.

Ever the cock block, Sarah fills Felix in on everything that has happened  so they decide to enlist the help of Alison, who has obvious gun connections that might come in handy. Meanwhile, Cosima and Delphine try to look into the shared disease that seems to affect the clones. Delphine wants Cosima to join the DYAD so that they could help her find a cure, but Cosima doesn’t trust them and would rather research it herself. Delphine still decides to take a blood sample to Dr. Leekie at the DYAD so he could look into it, but that still doesn’t mean she isn’t on Cosima’s side.

Sarah, needing to stay incognito, sends Felix to get a gun from Alison. She reluctantly decides to help, mainly because she is trying to get her life back to what it was pre clone drama. This “normality” takes the form of community theater production of a musical (not Cats) where Alison becomes the lead after Aynsley’s unfortunate accident. Alison tells Felix to have Sarah come meet her after her rehearsal outside of the community center, while Alison goes to her connection, “Ramon”. Unfortunately, Detectives Art and Angela intercept Sarah on her way to Alison, but after investigating the now crime scene diner, they release her not just because they have no case against her anymore, but also because the detectives can see something suspicious is going on.

Paul (reluctantly) tells Sarah to come in if she wants to see Kira, but Sarah will only go in on her own terms. She does find out from Paul that Rachel will be at a special DYAD event that night honoring Dr. Leekie. The same event she also finds out that Cosima was invited to. Now all she needs is a gun, which comes special delivery from Ramon in the form of a floral bouquet. After disguising herself as Cosima (including her prescription glasses), she manages to fool everyone except Delphine, who actually helps her find Rachel. After an awkward hug with Dr. Leekie, she confronts Rachel, who doesn’t have Kira or even knows where she is. Sarah knocks Rachel out (when she could have easily killed her) and Paul let’s her escape.

Sarah has no where else to go so she goes to Art’s place and tells him Kira is missing, and that Rachel didn’t have her. Art already knew because they were able to identify one of the dead men from the diner as a Prolethean religious extremist, the same group Helena was part of. If that weren’t enough, we find out that our beloved, left-for-dead Helena is actually (miraculously) still alive, as she stumbles and collapses in a hospital. Then there is a final, creepy shot of a man with Kira, taking pictures of her in a dimly lit hotel room. 

This is a great start to the season, playing off of the cliffhanger from last season. We still have no idea where Kira is and who exactly took her, or for what purpose even. That’s the way we like it though. Orphan Black, despite many plots holes and some disorganization, it is full of mystery and intrigue, and this episode answered the question of who is behind Helena and the flying fish imagery, but they also raised more questions. There was also a moment when Sarah was face to face with Rachel, where you see a glimpse that Rachel might not be as in control of everything  as we had once thought.

This episode kept up it’s adrenaline high throughout by having very few rest breaks and giving us action from the very beginning with the chase, shoot out, and even the gay bar. As always, this episode is not without its humor, especially from the comedic exchange between Felix and Alison. This episode of Orphan Black promises this new season will be a clone of the last only in how exciting, mysterious and well-acted it was. But like the clones we are used to, they may look similar, but they are also very different, which is the part I’m excited for. I would like some more questions answered, but the thrill of the chase will do just fine for now.

RATING: ★★★★★★★★(8/10 stars)