Reviewer Rating: 4/5.0
4
In Orphan Black: Echoes Season 1 Episode 5, viewers once again got more than they bargained for, answering as many questions as new ones and sending viewers into a theory frenzy.
Honestly, this episode seemed to be heading in a slow direction, and while that was true for the first half, it kicked things up a few hundred notches halfway through.
Orphan Black: Echoes did a great job of providing an appetizer of action and drama, and now it looks like the series is ready to start serving up the main course.
The episode title is Do I Know You? After reading it, I was even more shocked.
Once you understand what these words mean, you won’t be blind or heartless.
The Orphan Black series takes viewers into a future that still feels like home
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While Orphan Black: Echoes is a series that proudly has a sci-fi premise, the show is much more than that.
At its core, the play is about what makes people who they are, not what makes them their possessions.
The show does a great job of keeping the audience hooked on a story filled with endless possibilities.
While Orphan Black: Echoes maintains a balance between comedy, drama, and thriller.
However, this episode got off to a relatively slow start compared to the high energy of the previous four episodes.
“Do I know you? There’s a disturbing drop in pacing in service of Kira’s backstory.
Solidifying what got Kira to where she is now is crucial, but it also means sacrificing momentum.
But once viewers get beyond Kira and Eleanor’s cheesy cute encounter, the show delivers something unexpected.
It transitions seamlessly into a heavy drama, using Kira’s intense sadness to help the audience connect.
If there’s one thing the Orphan Black series knows how to do well, it’s balancing science with soul.
Whether it’s Lucy or Eleanor, she’s still the heart of Orphan Black: Echoes
At first, it was strange to watch the original Lucy (aka Eleanor) as she met and fell in love with Kira.
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There is a natural sense of loyalty to rejecting this “not Lucy” character.
However, once a different actress played her older self, it became easier to accept this version.
It’s constantly hinted at a close connection between Kira and Lucy’s true form, but it’s unexpected.
Having Eleanor published as a younger person is a great way for the screenwriter to throw off the audience.
In retrospect, it’s a little strange that not a single character mentioned Lucy’s true identity.
In retrospect, it’s as if each character was talking to Kira about the printout very carefully.
This is not a continuity error, but adds to the subtlety and preciousness of the experiment.
It’s great that Lucy and the audience now know why her memory is the way it is and who the baby in the photo is.
However, it also opens up a number of possibilities for how Krysten Ritter might use this new information to portray Lucy.
Will she feel a maternal bond with Lucas?
Love can make anyone omnipotent, and Kira is no exception
It’s clear from the beginning that whatever Kira’s intentions are, they are based on love.
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Now knowing that Eleanor is the love of her life makes the character even more relatable.
Scientists using their research and expertise to solve their personal dilemmas is nothing new.
It’s a concept that’s been used in countless movies and TV shows, but Orphan Black: Echoes redefines the parameters.
Kira’s strength lies in her faith and belief.
That’s why it took at least the loss of the love of her life, played by Rya Kihlstedt (Superman & Lois), to change her stance on cloning.
As Kira herself says, it’s highly illegal and her childhood trauma would never let her do it.
This heartbreaking incident proves how far anyone is willing to go for the one they love.
What’s more, now Kira’s reasons for dabbling in this taboo subject make sense.
The cutest part of the episode, however, was seeing Kira explain Lucy’s tattoo to her.
Incredibly cute.
‘Orphan Black’: ‘Echo’ loves dealing with bad guys, but Paul Dallos doesn’t fool anyone
What’s not so cute is that Kira drops the bomb at the end and she doesn’t take responsibility for Jules.
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Since her assistant Josh is the only one who knows the key parts of the printing press, we think it’s safe to say that Paul Dalos found him.
Now, the real question with the series comes down to why Jules was printed.
The “how” is clear, but what does young Eleanor Miller mean to someone like Daros?
As Kira tells it, Paul is a tech billionaire trying to get into the humanitarian industry through acquisitions.
Jules proves to be a scientific wizard, designing drugs with side effects that can be used for medical purposes.
With proper guidance and training, Jules has the potential to usher in many medical advancements.
Eleanor was so young, there was plenty of time to develop a cure so she wouldn’t have to die.
Regardless, we know that Paul Dallos, played by James Liao (Barry), is far from a selfless humanitarian.
If nothing else, we should all be grateful that we can escape Tom and his utter fornication.
I’ll be completely honest.
I really thought I wasn’t going to enjoy this episode due to the slow start.
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But by the end, I was a sobbing mess and any show that inspires so much emotion is a hit.
The writing, acting, and overall production of Orphan Black: Echoes set a new standard for science fiction.
AMC has cemented itself as a mainstay of quality programming with stories filled with great characters played by equally talented actors.
Are you surprised that Lucy was printed from the dead love in Kira’s life?
What is your theory as to why Jules was printed?
Let us know in the comments below, and join us again as we review the next episode of Orphan Black: Echoes!
