“If last week’s episode, ‘Governed As It Were By Chance,’ showcased each clone cut off of the others and facing their own issues, ‘Ipsa Scientia Protestas Est’ brings most of them back together, showing how deeply they’re all connected — both biologically and emotionally.” – Jonathan Raeder
Finally, the mystery begins to unravel, small thread by small thread. Project Leda — run by Mr. and Mrs. Duncan/Swan Man and Woman — suffered a devastating fire that destroyed the original genome and several other important elements of the project. It’s literally an orphan — it looks like all the characters are clones without an original. The mystery of their background isn’t just a mystery to Clone Club; it’s a mystery to the Dyad Institute as well. The only one that could know what’s going on may be alive after all.
If last week’s episode, “Governed As It Were By Chance,” showcased each clone cut off of the others and facing their own issues, “Ipsa Scientia Protestas Est” brings most of them back together, showing how deeply they’re all connected — both biologically and emotionally. Rachel is out to get Sarah, Sarah and Helena are working together, and Cosima’s relying on Sarah’s data to save her life.
We don’t see much of the Prolethians this episode except for an unsettling picture of what Hank and his crazy wife will do to their own daughter for not talking. In sewing her mouth shut, these guys have crossed the line from disturbing evil cult to terrifying and deeply disturbing evil cult. Many fan theories posited that Gracie will have to carry Helena’s child — this episode just adds more fuel to that argument. Poor Gracie. At least she has a murderous henchman in love with her.
If last episode was more of a Prolethian episode, this one is very much about the Dyad, specifically, the highest ranking member we’ve seen so far: Rachel. The latest clone to be revealed has had a slow start in characterization, as until this episode all we really knew about her was that she’s English, classy, cold, and self-aware of her status as a clone. “Ipsa Scientia Potestas Est” reveals that she’s addicted to power: reveling in her self-awareness and her control of her monitors, sexually dominating Paul, deciding to let Cosima die just to rein in Sarah, and in her general sense of superiority. However, there’s still a shred of humanity inside her, inside of that VHS tape of her “parents” playing with her in the leaves. There’s still so much more to learn about her in the next few episodes.
Which brings us to Paul, the blank faced pretty boy with a dark past and an inscrutable motive. Whose side is Paul really on? Why do we have no idea about this character’s motivations, opinions, personality, etc? The show-runners of Orphan Black have made it clear that they’re intentionally trying to subvert gender stereotypes with the show, and they’ve done a remarkable good job with it. In this episode, Paul is literally an attractive man being used for sexual pleasure by a rich corporate woman to satisfy her own dominance. It’s understandable, but still, having bland characters (even if they’re making a much-needed statement) is still lazy storytelling. It’s hard to tell whether Paul’s actor is purposefully portraying him this way or if he’s just not a good actor, but we should really know much more about a character a season and half into the show.
Now even more characters have been sucked into the whirlpool of the clones: Felix is in jail, Cal and Kira are being watched, Alison is trapped in a recovery house, Cosima’s life is in the hands of the Dyad, and Sarah can’t make any sudden moves without risking harm to any of the others. The only character left with enough agency to fight back against both evil organizations is — ironically — the one confined and abused at the beginning of the season: Helena. Tempted by Art’s food, Helena opens up to him and drops that Maggie Chen had a locker, likely (and eventually proven) to have important documents and clues stashed away inside. Despite being helpful — and revealing a love of powdered donuts — Helena ultimately escapes and tracks down Rachel. Sarah frantically tries to stop her from killing Rachel in flagrante delicto, to which a confused Helena retorts that Rachel has become a problem, and Helena is simply getting rid of the problem.
Sarah’s seemingly heartfelt speech — whether or not it’s true — has the desired effect and Helena steps down for a moment. She may be able to be influenced by Sarah, but Helena is still a loose cannon and a serial killer, and no amount of sisterly love can change that. She’s a damaged and tortured little girl at heart, but she’s still a weapon, one that can and probably will be used against both the Dyad and the Prolethians, but only when the time is right. Clone Club can’t act until Felix is safe, Cosima is cured, and Kira is spirited away somewhere far from the fighting — an event that doesn’t seem likely, especially given the reveal of Cal’s stash of a gun, multiple currencies, and fake identification. It looks like the only way to save these people is for Sarah and Helena to go on a wacky road trip adventure to find their long-lost creator, the Swan Man. Buckle your seat belts and bring the mixtapes; it’s gonna be good.
Tidbits:
– Helena is such a bizarre mix of a terrifying psychopath and a hilarious little kid. I didn’t like her much in season one, but now I think I’ve come around.
– “Do not call me this.”
– “I want to tell you something. These I like.”
– “Very pretty dirty sexy Rachel.”
– No Alison this episode. Maybe the actress had a busy schedule.
