"Orphan Black" By Means Which Have Never Yet Been Tried (TV Episode 2014) Poster

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9/10
For the safety of Kira, and Sara, a lot of deals are made. But one deals also allows access into information which will make you say: "Oh Sh..!"
Amari-Sali22 June 2014
Warning: Spoilers
I don't think I have genuinely been left anxious and giddy by a season finale in a while. The shows I cover from fall to spring didn't leave me excited, nor the shows which come on late winter and end mid-spring, but damn if Orphan Black finally reminded me how a proper season finale is done. For one, you are left almost wanting to bite your nails as you think one of the sisters are going to die, then there is the issue of a possible traitor, and then final scene when you discover Project Castor which, I won't say is mind blowing, but just the potential for season 3 makes me giddy due to possibilities.

Topic 1: Backroom Deals – Mrs. S, Paul, Marion, and Cosima

With Kira captured, Sara decides to give herself up to Dyad. Though it seems there is a plan. Well, one made expeditiously. It begins with Kira showing she is her mother's daughter by stealing a nurse's phone and calling Cal. Then with Cal and Mrs. S joining forces, and us discovering what Paul has been up to. Apparently, he has rejoined the military, but still has a soft spot for Sara. But, for anything to be done the final ally has to arrive. Said person: Marion (Michelle Forbes), who thus far simply seemed like one of Rachel's superiors. The truth is though, Marion maybe working for one of Dyad's competitors when it comes to the clone market, and with Mrs. S promising something, and a trade between Paul and Marion, it seems a deal is made dealing with "Project Castor" at the center of it all.

But while Mrs. S works her magic Cosima helps from the inside, with Scott assisting her. You can see though that Cosima's days are certainly numbered, especially with Delphine being relieved and no sign of Kira's bone marrow being used. However, being that Cosima dragged Sara and Kira into this, it is only right she tries to get them out.

Topic 2: Time To Say Goodbye – Sara & Rachel

As we have come to know, Rachel is hell bent on having kids. Be it through her dad revealing the sequence to fix her or even taking one of Sara's ovaries. Thing is, neither Ethan nor Sara seem to want to cooperate until Cosima is better. In fact, Ethan commits suicide to stop Rachel's ambitions and, thanks to Cosima and Scott's device which is a combination of a metal hose, a fire extinguisher, and a pencil, Sara finds a way to not only escape, but shoot Rachel in her left eye! Mind you though, she is still alive.

But even with Rachel down, how is Sara to escape Dyad? Much less with Kira? Well, that is when Marion comes in. This woman, who I still associate with perhaps being one of the best villains on True Blood, I naturally don't trust. For one, I see her as Delphine's replacement in the whole 2x agent business, much less I don't believe anyone with her kind of power would let Sara go free. But, alas, she does. However! Before Sara leaves, Marion mentions the two meeting privately so Marion can uncover the truth and after all we have seen thus far, you are left wondering what is left to really discover?

Topic 3: Meet Your Family – Sara, Helena, and Marion

That mystery though waits until the next day for that night all the known sisters, and Felix, get together. Oh, and Tony is thankfully nowhere to be seen and not invited, much less mentioned. But even without him, this get together is a bit strange. For one, after Mrs. S seemingly wanted Helena nowhere near Sara, Helena finds herself invited to the party. With this, she not only gets to meet Cosima and Allison, but also has a tear inducing moment with Kira. And the rest of the night is just everyone dancing to reggae music with very little rhythm.

But once the fun was over, things get real for a moment and a second moment of tearing up occurs. For, as we increasingly see, Cosima is on her last leg and her conversation with Sara almost seems like a goodbye. Especially when Kira tries to wake her up and she doesn't respond. What really makes Cosima seem like she is to bid farewell is her seeing an angelic version of Delphine, which made me think Delphine not only died, but is ready to guide Cosima to the light. Thankfully though, Cosima wakes up and spends some time with her favorite niece reading books and soon discovering the book Ethan left Kira, the one with the clones' genetic sequence.

The real kicker though comes from Sara visiting Marion, as well as us seeing Helena sneaking out and getting kidnapped. Focusing on Sara first though, Marion introduces a young girl named Charlotte who I was going to quickly write off as Marion's kid until Marion revealed that Charlotte is Sara's little sister. Someone who, after 400 others, survived the cloning process. The fun doesn't end there though! With one new mystery comes another as Project Castor is revealed, leading us to talk about Helena.

While Helena is getting kidnapped, Mark and Gracie get married. Then, as we see military men all over, as well as Paul and Mrs. S., we see Mark's face again. Then once more when Marion reveals a 3rd Mark in a glass, Magneto style, prison. Leading to the reveal that while Dyad got Project Leda, and the girls, the military got Project Castor, and the boys. Leaving us not only wondering what the military wants with Helena, but what is the story behind Project Castor? As well as so many questions which sadly we'll have to wait a whole year for any semblance of answers.
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9/10
Moves at a cracking pace but are there gaps in the narrative?
DVD_Connoisseur23 December 2018
Without a shadow of a doubt, "By Means Which..." is a strong episode. However, it moves at such a cracking pace, there are jumps in the narrative that the viewer has to fill themselves.

This season finale leaves the viewer dangling. With new questions raised and at least one of the main characters facing an unknown fate, I look forward to devouring the third season.
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10/10
From action to celebration to revelation. Warning: Spoilers
This episode hurls us right into the action. Sarah turns herself in to save Kira. However, she and everybody else is betrayed by Rachel. This leads to the tragic death of her father, and the cipher along with him (alledgedly). Luckily, she gets her just desserts; a pencil in the eye! Ouch!

We then get some time to relax. The clones have a dance party to celebrate. Unfortunately, they don't have long to relax afterwards. Sarah is brought out to the country to learn about "castor". This lead to the big twist of the season. It leaves you hungry for more. It also might make Paul relevant again, as he was barely in this season.

Overall, a great season closer that answers many questions and creates many more.
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10/10
One of the key episodes of the series
SJulien128 January 2023
Warning: Spoilers
For me, it's one of the strongest episodes of Orphan Black because of the number of revelations and the dancing scene which is a technical and acting feat. We never really know what Ms. S is thinking, we still don't know how Cal will fit in the story, Alison and Donnie are still the funniest couple, and Cosima's condition doesn't improve. Helena finally meets her other sisters even if it's a brief break for her. My favorite scenes from the episode are the touching death of Duncan, the book revelation, and the dance party. Orphan Black knows how to end seasons by giving explanations and asking new questions that are just as interesting as the ones just answered like the Castor and the new younger clone, Charlotte. And now, it's time for the two best seasons, namely the third with its comical and touching moments and the fourth which dives back into Beth's life in a wonderful way and for which Maslany got a well-deserved Emmy.
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8/10
[8.5] You dance (get it out), you rest (put it back in)!
cjonesas28 July 2021
A strange episode which felt more like around an hour (in a good way). It's full of the usual clone drama development and a cliffhanger for the sake of a third season that better be good, cause this season while having some flowing development, felt a bit repetitive.

How many times can Maslany outshine herself, before going nuts and "crumble" beneath the heavy writing full of episode by episode mumbo sub-plots, some of them mostly unrealistic.
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8/10
Another Kind Of Clone!?
ZegMaarJus29 July 2021
Warning: Spoilers
This episode begins with Sarah and Siobhan, they are fighting about Kira's abduction. Sarah surrenders, she got arrested by Dyad. Ethan commits suicide, he took an overdose. Sarah throws a pencil in Rachel's eye. Sarah takes Kira with here. Cal and Sarah kissed. Helena finally meets Alison and Cosima. The sisters are dancing together with Felix. Helena got ubducted by two unknown man. Sarah has a meeting with Marian, she also meets her sister: Charlotte. Helena got transported, Siobhan has something to do with it. Mark married with his own sister: Gracie. Sarah sees a clone of Mark, what is his name?. Nice Final of Orphan Black Season 2, Mark has two other clones. What will this mean for the storyline?
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5/10
Time to say goodbye
gridoon20248 June 2021
Warning: Spoilers
I loved the first few episodes of "Orphan Black". They were like a gripping puzzle that the viewer had to solve piece-by-piece, with a new discovery around every corner. Tatiana Maslany is amazing and the special effects / editing tricks that allow her to interact with herself are so seamlessly done that they can be considered a breakthrough in the order of, say, the "Jurassic Park" effects. And Felix, Art, Mrs. S et al form a strong supporting cast. But in the entire 2nd season nothing happened. Or, to be more accurate, three things happened (spoilers): 1) Leekie was killed (before the character could have any real impact on the series), 2) the creator of the clones was revealed (another wasted character in the end), and 3) we meet Kira's father. That's pretty much it. The rest of the season is basically people meeting and agreeing that the matter is serious and that they'll take care of it, Helena is captured, kills people, escapes, is captured, kills people, escapes, repeat, Kira is put in danger whenever they need to prolong the storylines so that Sarah can rescue her so that she can be put in danger again, and worst of all, Cosima is "dying from a disease" (I thought they had retired this hoary plot device three decades ago). Tatiana Maslany continues to be amazing, and there are two or three GREAT scenes in this season, where one sister pretends to be another; even though they're all played by the same actress, the characters are so well defined that it still comes as a shock. But the novelty does wear off, and the show becomes a glorified sitcom; I cannot possibly imagine sitting through 30 (!!!) more episodes. The 2nd season does end with a bait-and-switch cliffhanger, but I won't be biting. ***1/2 out of 4 for the first half of season 1, *** out of 4 for the other half, and ** for season 2 as a whole. Goodbye!
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