Orphan Black - Formalized, Complex and Costly - Review: "Brothers & Sisters"

   Orphan Black continued its explosive third season last night with "Formalized, Complex and Costly" and once again, it was a great episode. But hmmm did we lose another clone ? It's the second episode in row ending with the death of a male clone, Seth last week and now Mark. I'm not sure I want to see episode 4... No I'm kidding, of course I want to see it but damn…
   I was so surprised by Mark’s death. Even though, his death wasn’t shown on screen there’s no way Gracie’s mother missed him. IMO, it was a fearless move from the writers, Mark was the first male clone introducted, even if at the time we had no idea he was a clone. Still, we knew him better than Rudy or Miller and he had a special relationship with the other clones, Castor and Leda. I really thought all the male clones would play a big part in this season, guess I was wrong.

    Art had a major part in "Formalized, Complex and Costly" and it was excellent. I’ve never been a big fan of Art, but I’ve always loved his special relationship with Sarah. I was so glad they mentioned Beth and Art revealed he was in love with her. I didn’t really see it coming, but it was obvious after he said it. It was the main reason he was helping Sarah and her sisters.
   At first, Art didn’t really help. I loved it so much at the beginning of the episode when he interrupted Sarah and Felix as they were trying to make Seth’s body disappear. Felix has been truly hilarious since the season premieres in each of his scenes. His line about the body and the bag of weed going up in smoke was so funny.
   Anyways, Art came with some lead on Mark. He found the mid wife from Gracie’s farm and Sarah and him paid her a not so friendly visit. She quickly told Sarah about the pregnancies, Helena’s and Gracie’s. I’m still unsure about how I feel for those pregnancies. I'm very intrigued to see where it will go, but they are both not ready to be mothers so I'm scared for those babies.

   Gracie had a rough time in "Formalized, Complex and Costly". First, things weren’t that good with Mark. He was clearly preoccupied by something he didn’t want to tell her. Their honeymoon wasn’t over just yet, they did have sex for the first time and it was really sweet. Mark was quite touching in those scenes, it showed how different he was from his brothers. He was more human and caring.
   So, Mark decided to tell Gracie part of the truth. He hadn’t defected from the army, he came to Gracie’s farm to get back what was stolen : the original samples ! Now, the army was after him, as were the Proletheans. He didn’t tell her he was a clone though, but Sarah did.
   Sarah meeting with Gracie in the dinner felt a bit weird and convenient at first, but the scene was absolutely fantastic. Sarah was badass, I loved how she reacted to Gracie and Mark’s marriage and mostly how she told Gracie about Mark. Poor Gracie, that fear and disgust on her face. She had no idea she married a clone, another abomination. That revelation shook up her world, luckily for her, she found her mother back… And she was ready to have her revenge on Mark.

   While Sarah was with Art chasing Mark, Cosima and Scott took care of Rudy’s body… Well his brain actually. She understood the Castor clones were suffering from a flaw, just like her, but a neurological one. Scott and her had to study Rudy’s brain to understand the sickness. It was hilarious to watch them do it in Felix’s bathroom. It was really gore, and yet Felix and Scott were so adorable and funny. I also liked Cosima's comment about what we are, are we just a brain or is there something more ? Can't wait to see the spiritual side of Cosima.
   Cosima quickly discovered the male clones sickness was very dangerous, acting faster than her's and way more deadly. That explained why the Castor clones are more ruthless, they can die of their sickness in one single day. But, Cosima made a better and bigger revelation. Studying the Castor DNA, Cosima and Scott discovered the Castor and Leda were actually siblings. Mark and Rudy are our sisters’s brothers. Wow… It actually made total sense, the originals were siblings and Tatiana Maslany and Ari Millen have some resemblances. I don’t know if it means one original sample can cure both clones, but the implication of them being brothers and sisters will be huge. It can bring everyone together to fight....
   Sarah was shocked to learn Mark and Rudy were her brothers, but it came handy as Mark was attacking her. Mark was also shocked with that information and he let Sarah lived, so the bond between the sisters and brothers was already starting. I can't wait to see how the other clones will react with that in formations, especially Rudy and Helena. And so, Mark chose to flee from Sarah, still trying to get the sample and protect his wife but alas, he was found by Gracie’s mother, and her gun. I’m still so shocked she shoot him twice and killed him. Those Proletheans are crazy.

   Helena got to meet Rudy, “the ugliest Mark yet” (that was hilarious) while still being captive at the Castor base.. The have stopped the test on her, for now. Rudy’s meeting was great, and now Seth is gone, Rudy and Helena might have the funniest clones relationship. I also loved Helena little attention to “Dirty Paul”. Nothing special happened to Helena in "Formalized, Complex and Costly", but she got some excellent lines.
   The most interesting part of the base camp was Rudy coming back with Paul to Dr Coady / Mother. I’m really starting to like her character more and more. She's a bit of Mrs S and Dr Lekkie. Her scene with Paul was excellent. We learn the army was apparently willing to shut them down, if they can’t find the original and cure the clones. I also like to see how Paul how implicated in all that. He served with the clones, he cares for them, he’s not that bad.
   The best part of the base scenes was Mother and Rudy’s scene. I was surprised to see how close they actually were. It was actually touching to see Rudy so fragile in his mother’s arms. It was also great to see how different the male clones are from the sisters. Only Rachel knew she was a clone and she had a special relationship with her parents, but the males clones apparently all had Mother.

   Rachel came back this week in "Formalized, Complex and Costly". It was great to see her Again, and she was actually improving. She wasn’t lying down. She was still having phrasing problems, and it was really sad when she understood she was finished, Delphine remplaced her, she was finished... But I’m confident she’ll get better and she'll be an asset again. The woman is a lion.
   And another lion in"Formalized, Complex and Costly" was Allison, as usual. I must say I’m particularly fond of her new jobs, and her relationship with Donnie. I’m just missing to see their children more but they’re the best couple. They spent their time campaigning for school trustee, while selling home made soaps as a cover for the drug business. Genius and hilarious. I was really surprising to see that being a drug dealer was actually an asset for become the next school trustee. The suburbs are weird.
   Marci, Allie’s opponent as school trustee, decided to make an offer to Allie and Donnie, a wonderful house, in another school district. Donnie seemed to love it. But, Marci, you can’t buy Allison Hendrix. Allison has set her mind on being the new school trustee and she won’t stop until she is. Even though, being that good as a drug dealer won’t go unnoticed very long by the other drug dealers in town. Anyways, I was so proud and touched by Allison's speech to Marci. That woman has so much determination.

   "Formalized, Complex and Costly" was a spectacular episode of Orphan Black. I’m really enjoying this new season, each episodes are full of surprises and twists. The male clones are dropping like flies, I've never expected that. Does this mean some new male clones are coming ? Otherwise, I don’t really understand why make the Castor and Leda related, if there are no more Castor clones. Only Rudy and Miller, and Miller is still a mystery, he barely got 3 lines since he was introduced. I really appreciated the dynamic with four clones on each side. We’ll see what will happen in the next episodes !
   What did you think of "Formalized, Complex and Costly" ? Were you surprised and shocked once again to lose a clone ? Who do you think is next or are we safe for next week ? What did you think of the revelation about Leda and Castor being siblings ? Hit the comments !

Clones notes :
- Delphine ?! Where is she ? I know sh's busy running Dyad and all but still... I miss her
- Allison "Go sell a house" was so good.
- Dead body via Skype was quite funny too. The whole Sarah/Felix/Cosima/Scott dynamic was excellent.
- No scorpion this week... Too bad

About the Author - Romain Ossust

I'm a 29 TV addict. Here is a non exhaustive list of my favorite shows : 12 Monkeys, Ab Fab, 24, Alias, American Horror Story, Banhsee, Bates Motel, Black Sails, Carnivale, Daredevil, Daria, Dead Like Me, Desperate Housewives, Dexter, ER, Fargo, Fringe, Game of Thrones, Girls, Grey’s, Hannibal, Homeland, HIMYM, HTGAWM, Looking, Lost, Agents of SHIELD, Agent Carter, Medium, OUAT, OUAT Wonderland, Orange is the New Black, Orphan Black, Pan Am, Penny Dreadful, Person of Interest, Power, Pushing Daisies, Raising Hope, Rectify, Reign, Scandal, Sex & The City, Six Feet Under, Sleepy Hollow, Spartacus, The 100, The Affair, The Americans, The Big C, The Fall, The Killing, The Leftovers, The Missing, The Strain, The Tudors, The Walking Dead, Transparent, True Blood, True Detective, Tyrant, Ugly Betty, United States of Tara, Utopia, V, Veronica Mars, Weeds.
For SpoilerTV, I'm reviewing The Walking Dead, Banshee, American Horror Story, Bates Motel, Girls, & Orphan Black

Recent Reviews (All Reviews)