'Orphan Black' Recap: This Show Is on Fire
Warning: This recap for the “From Instinct to Rational Control” episode of Orphan Black contains spoilers.
To borrow a line from Tony-record breaking Broadway phenom, Hamilton, the fourth episode of Orphan Black’s fourth season made you wait for it. For much of its runtime, “From Instinct to Rational Control,” was a slow, deliberate place-setter of an episode, connecting more of the dots in Sarah’s ongoing investigation into the Neolutionist threat and the genetically-coded maggot inside her mouth. There was also some comic relief along the way with Donnie and Felix’s trip to a fertility clinic, posing as a baby-minded gay couple. But “Rational Control” didn’t really get raw until the final act, when we picked up some crucial intel about this season’s new clone, M.K., and discovered another arm in the giant octopus that is Neolution.
Out of touch with M.K. since their aborted laundromat conversation at the end of the second episode, Sarah reconnected with her newest sister this week by teasing her possession of a digital SOS she’s received from missing clone, Rachel, concerning both her whereabouts and the location of Susan Duncan. Unfortunately, the skittish M.K. is still keeping her distance, particularly after she recognizes deadly Topside cleaner Ferdinand (James Frain), Sarah’s temporary, tentative ally since saving her from the dentist’s chair last episode. “We’re finished; I can’t trust you now,” she informs Sarah in no uncertain terms. So Sarah instead turns to M.K.’s hacker helper, Dizzy (Joel Thomas Hynes), who hadn’t been clued into the whole Clone Club thing. He definitely knows now, though, and being of the conspiracy-minded persuasion anyway, it’s not hard for this information to square with his paranoid worldview.
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While Dizzy and Sarah poke around M.K.’s booby-trapped trailer, the mystery clone lures Ferdinand into a trap and unveils her true agenda for him… and us. Turns out that her real name is Vera, and she’s part of a Helsinki clone cluster that Ferdinand had previously been tapped to “clean,” an operation that claimed the life of her best friend, Niki, as well as their extended families. “I understand — this is your revenge fantasy,” he says, awakening to the precariousness of his situation, which grows more dangerous when Vera douses him in gasoline. It’s only Sarah’s timely intervention that saves him from being turned into a human match, along with the transfer of a significant amount of his funds, to the tune of $3.7 million. And with that, Vera vanishes back into the night — presumably to find her next target of vengeance, Rachel — and Sarah and Mrs. S are left to… um, clean up the mess with Ferdinand.
Meanwhile, the Felix and Donnie’s comedy-laden fertility clinic excursion paid off in dramatic ways, introducing us to BrightBorn, a new service that Neolutionists are advertising to would-be parents. This seemingly innocent, but secretly sinister operation is headed up by Evie Cho (Jesalyn Wanlim), this season’s version of Dr. Leekie — whose decaying skull made a cameo earlier in the episode, funnily enough. And since we now have confirmation that those Neolutionist-built cheek monsters can alter DNA, it’s not much of a big leap to expect that BrightBorn is introducing that kind of genetic technology into the wombs of their expectant mothers as well. You know what that means — Superbaby’s coming, y’all!
And while those embryos grow, here’s our weekly Clone Power Ranking.
1. Vera
The Clone Formerly Known as M.K. vaults to the top of the charts this week, revealing her long con game to Sarah and snagging Ferdinand in her clutches. She doesn’t get the “eye for an eye” revenge that she initially craves, but her bank account is flush now, and money buys lots of eyes.
2. Sarah
Learning that she’s been played all along by Vera is a big personal setback for Sarah, but at least she’s back in control now. Just in time to deal with the ticking DNA clock that’s embedded in her cheek.
3. Allison
Proving that she comes prepared for any occasion, the suburban dynamo created carefully detailed identities for her husband’s trip to the fertility clinic with her “brother.” She also came through for Donnie when he needed her most… in the donation room.
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4. Helena
Helena’s farewell to her “science babies,” (the embryos housed in a liquid nitrogen tank), which she buried in the Hendrix backyard, was sweet and surprisingly moving. It’s just another example of how motherhood is proving central to this season’s overarching storyline.
5. Rachel
She may have gotten her SOS message to the outside world, but she also got caught by Mama Susan for breaking the house rules. Of course, it’s not like she can be grounded more than she actually is.
6. Cosima
Still lab-bound, Cosima literally cracks into Dr. Leekie’s skull and cracks the mystery of the genetically-spliced maggot in the process. She also previews the BrightBorn video with Felix, which may result in her finally getting outside in the next episode.
Non-Clone MVP: Donnie
Mr. Hendrix has inherited some of his wife’s taste for amateur theater. He got super into character at the clinic, even chastising his fake husband for not wearing his wedding ring. He also encourages Allison to adopt a role in his private comedy of errors while trying to produce a sample, having her play an Air Italia stewardess who helps him join the Mile High Club over the phone. “I’ve got two spicy meatballs for you,” are words that will undoubtedly go on Donnie’s tombstone.
Orphan Black airs Thursdays at 10 p.m. on BBC America.
