SestraCast (Orphan Black)

We kick off our new podcast series with a comprehensive review of the premiere episode. In particular, we analyze the stunning opening scene, two and a half minutes of television guaranteed to hook the viewer on the Orphan Black. Orphan Black season 1, episode 1 Jean MacDonald and Kathy Campbell Referenced Works Orphan Black [Amazon] Show Notes & Links

While cataloguing favorite Felix quotes, Jean and Kathy watch Sarah become more entangled in the mystery of her apparently identical twins. Orphan Black season 1, episode 2 Jean MacDonald and Kathy Campbell Referenced Works Orphan Black [Amazon] Show Notes & Links How the first scene with Sarah and Alison was shot

We can use the “c-word” now, but our heroines wish they could find a new label for themselves. The mysterious assassin is revealed, but that raises even more questions. Your hosts know way more about TV police procedure than poor Sarah, but resolve not to be overly picky. Felix is our new favorite babysitter. Orphan Black season 1, episode 3 Jean MacDonald and Kathy Campbell Referenced Works Orphan Black [Amazon] Show Notes & Links The conversation when Kathy learns they are clones Police “10” codes: United States Police “10” codes: Ontario “Adios, dragsters!” Back Scars (Graphic Image)

Kathy and Jean marvel at how much can happen in one episode that’s only 44 minutes long. Alison pretends to be Sarah, Sarah pretends to be Beth, and even homicidal maniac Helena manages to play a convincing Beth. Somehow Felix still gets the best lines. Orphan Black season 1, episode 4 Jean MacDonald and Kathy Campbell Referenced Works Orphan Black [Amazon] Show Notes & Links

Jean and Kathy get new answers, but that only leads them to new questions. Paul is definitely monitoring Beth/Sarah, but why? Donnie is definitely keeping secrets from Alison, but what? And did you know that DNA can have barcodes? Orphan Black Season 1 Episode 5 Jean MacDonald and Kathy Campbell Show Notes & Links Why Wasn’t Tatiana Maslany Nominated for a 2017 Emmy? Century, music video by Feist, featuring Maria Doyle Kennedy, aka Mrs. S. Oops: Jean Spoils Orphan Black For Kathy What is DNA Barcoding? Cell Line Identification and Cytochrome C

Jean and Kathy welcome their first special guest, Jason Snell, founder of The Incomparable Network. Jason told us that “Variations Under Domestication” is his favorite episode of Orphan Black, and now it’s one of our favorites too. This is the episode where we first learn of Neolution. We imagine what the reception would be like to a TED talk given by Neolutionist ringleader Dr. Aldous Leekie (played by one of our favorites, Matt Frewer). And we are immersed in the crazy suburban farce where a golf club, a glue gun, and a burnt sausage roll can all be used as a weapon of retaliation. Orphan Black Season 1 Episode 6 Jean MacDonald and Kathy Campbell with Jason Snell Show Notes & Links Jason’s tech site, Six Colors Jason at Relay.fm network Big Boob Blowies - GIF

From last episode’s twisted yet lighthearted romp, we delve deep into the basement of depravity and evil. One “part” in particular has us totally cringing. On the other hand, it looks like romance is budding, and that makes us happy. Orphan Black Season 1 Episode 7 Jean MacDonald and Kathy Campbell

Alison uses Chad to get back at Aynsley. Delphine uses Cosima to get info for Leekie. Mrs. S. uses tea to comfort her expanding brood. We use a lot of tissues. Kathy needs a hug after this one. Orphan Black Season 1 Episode 8 Jean MacDonald and Kathy Campbell Show Notes & Links Bitch by Meredith Brooks—not Alanis Morrisette

Revelations, revelations, revelations. Sarah finds out why she and Helena feel a connection. Cosima learns the hard way that she can’t trust Delphine. Alison spills the beans on Aynsley. Art discovers who really died that night on the train platform. With the introduction of one more mysterious woman, the stage is set for a dramatic season finale in Episode 10. Orphan Black, Season 1 Episode 9 Jean MacDonald and Kathy Campbell Show Notes & Links The Glasgow Coma Scale aka GCS

A satisfying season finale, despite its cliffhanger ending. Cosima and Delphine unravel the secret encoding in the clones’ DNA. Alison takes care of her Aynsley problem. Helena has mother issues. Sarah has sister issues. And finally we learn how “sestra” became the favored term of endearment on Orphan Black. Sestras, brother-sestras, sibling-sestras: thanks for listening to our Season 1 (re)watch. Jean and Kathy look forward to bringing you Season 2! Orphan Black, Season 1 Episode 10 Jean MacDonald and Kathy Campbell Show Notes & Links Nucleotide - Wikipedia The Discovery of DNA Structure

We are back for Season 2! Kira and Mrs. S are missing, but who has them? Is it the cool elegant evil Rachel or the wild-eyed guy trying to capture Sarah in the diner who wears a Prolethean flying fish belt buckle? Meanwhile, Alison is promoted to lead in her community theater musical, while simultaneously procuring a clean piece for Sarah. How do you convince your friends to watch Orphan Black? Jean and Kathy talk about their recruitment strategies. It’s hard to avoid spoilers! Orphan Black, Season 2 Episode 1 Jean MacDonald and Kathy Campbell Show Notes & Links How Kathy learned they were (spoiler!!) clones Alison Bechdel talks about the Bechdel-Wallace test Bechdel-Wallace test applied to Star Trek Blood Ties is a Real Musical! (Creators Anika Johnson and Barbara Johnston even appear in the scene.) Kathryn Alexandre, the amazing Orphan Black acting clone

Yes, a lot happens in this episode: Sarah finds Kira; Helena is whisked out of the hospital by a flying-fish-belt-buckle-wearing dude; Alison finds shocking messages on Donnie’s phone and immediately resumes drinking. But the most important thing we learn: Do NOT doublecross Mrs. S., especially when sharp cutlery is handy. Orphan Black, Season 2 Episode 2 Jean MacDonald and Kathy Campbell

Jean and Kathy draw names of clones for a fun Secret Santa segment. Check out the show notes to see our picks for the ideal gifts for Alison, Rachel, Cosima, Sarah, Felix, and Helena. (And feel free to share your picks with us on Twitter or Facebook.) This week’s episode is a bundle of cliffhangers and one big reveal. There will be all sorts of mingling! Orphan Black Season 2 Episode 3 Jean MacDonald and Kathy Campbell Show Notes & Links For Alison from Kathy: Flask Scarf and Flask Bracelet For Rachel from Jean: Naipo Cordless Neck and Shoulder Massager For Cosima from Kathy: Giant Microbes Romantic Heart Warming Gift Box For Sarah from Jean: Eagle Creek Systems Go Duffel Pack For Felix from Kathy: Short Silk Kimono Robe For Helena from Jean: Giant Box of Pixie Sticks

The blood really hits the fan in this episode. Alison is locked up in rehab. Helena escapes from the Proletheans. Sarah tries to figure out what Mrs. S. has been up to. We can hardly contain ourselves when we get to the scene of badass beautiful Mrs. S. tracking down an old flame in a dive bar. Another amazing episode! Orphan Black Season 2 Episode 4 Jean MacDonald and Kathy Campbell Show Notes & Links YouTube: Rita Mae Young by The Record Company. (Must watch! Amazing song in this episode for Mrs. S. making her entrance at the dive bar, and amazing video with hula hoop artist) Krav Maga (Wikipedia) HIMYM S1E4: Turns out, krav maga is not a type of yoga.

Knowledge itself may be power, according to the title, but we have all the feels this week for our sestras as they undergo serious trauma and shocking revelations. There’s even one really awesome date, or at least it starts out that way. “You make me cry, sestra,” says Helena to Sarah. No, you make us cry, Orphan Black. Orphan Black Season 2 Episode 5 Jean MacDonald and Kathy Campbell Show Notes & Links How to Pronounce Ipsa Scientia Potestas Est More cool music. From the bar scene with Sarah and Leekie: The Colors: music video by the Hexes and Ohs

Sestras hit the road! It’s like a Girl Scout camping trip, except you’re sharing a tent with your insane clone and professional killers are on your heels. When Sarah finds what she was looking for, she learns about the science that is responsible for her existence. Orphan Black Season 2 Episode 6 Jean MacDonald and Kathy Campbell Show Notes & Links PCR - Polymerase Chain Reaction: the lab technique to make multiple copies of DNA STR - Short Tandem Repeat: a technique for comparing DNA “Crazy” by Diana Salvatore - Helena and Jesse’s slow dance song. ♥

In the tradition of last season’s favorite, “Variations Under Domestication,” Felix, Alison, Sarah, Vic, and Donnie treat us to another fantastic romp of rehab hijinks and identity switching. We also love the musical tie-in to our favorite Christmas movie, Love Actually. (Haters, don’t @ us.) Jean MacDonald and Kathy Campbell Show Notes & Links Ensign Ro Laren (TNG) aka Michelle Forbes on Memory Alpha Admiral Helena Cain (BSG) aka Michelle Forbes on Battlestar Galactica Wiki The Troggs, Love Is All Around Billy Mack aka Bill Nighy, Christmas Is All Around Love Actually on IMDb

In this episode, a lot of pieces are being moved around the chessboard (or should we say the Runewars board) as we hurtle toward the season finale. Donnie and Alison are united again, in love and in felony. Rachel gets some bad new from her dad. Sarah tries cooperating with DYAD for Cosima’s sake. Cosima schools the lab’s battle bitches in their favorite board game. Oh, and there’s a new clone in town who’s got a unique perspective. (“Not our usual identity crisis,” notes Sarah.) Reminder: March is membership drive month at The Incomparable. Support SestraCast and all your favorite shows with a monthly pledge, and get cool members-only perks, including a special SestraCast exclusive. Orphan Black Season 2 Episode 8 Jean MacDonald and Kathy Campbell Show Notes & Links Runewars on Amazon The Island of Doctor Moreau by H.G. Wells (Wikipedia) The Island of Lost Souls - 1932 in the Criterion Collection. “A twisted treasure from Hollywood’s pre-Code horror heyday!”

How dark and tense is this episode? Well, the light-hearted bits are all about burying a dead body in the garage. Kathy and Helena have something in common that might surprise you. We are one episode away from the season finale, and things do not look good at all for our sestras. Orphan Black Season 2 Episode 9 Jean MacDonald and Kathy Campbell Sponsors Incomparable Memberships!: Sign up, help support this show, and get some fun bonus material. Show Notes & Links Vigenère cipher: Dr. Duncan uses this to encode the genetic sequence he is guarding.

It’s the Season 2 finale, another triumph for our sestras and for the series. We loved this episode and this season. Excellent ending with a special treat for sestra fans and a peek at a new clone we’ll learn about in Season 3. Orphan Black Season 2 Episode 10 Jean MacDonald and Kathy Campbell Sponsors Incomparable Memberships!: Sign up, help support this show, and get some fun bonus material. Show Notes & Links Castor Mythology (Wikipedia) The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society - new movie starring Michiel Huisman aka Cal What is an Oophorectomy? (Wikipedia) The Making of Clone Dance Party (YouTube) Mini Clone Dance Party (YouTube) Water Prayer Rasta Mix (YouTube) Adham Shaikh (Wikipedia) Nearer My God To Thee performed by The Londonderry Choir (YouTube)