Hello readers, and welcome to Dork Shelf’s recap of Orphan Black season 2, episode 8, “Variable and Full of Perturbation." Something strange happened this episode, and that strange thing was that this episode was kind of... bland and boring?
“The Mountain and the Viper” is about history. Some people dwell on the past and worry, others look back and find identity. One specifically unfortunate man has allowed his past to fester, making him prone to a mind-crushing lust for vengeance.
This week on Orphan Black, countless secrets were revealed to each of the characters, with some hilarious and devastating consequences.
What happened this episode of Orphan Black? Well, for one we’re finally getting somewhere with our clone mystery, and by “somewhere” I mean we’re at the equivalent of that one pit stop with the big ball of twine—nowhere near the destination, but delightful nonetheless.
Hannibal is a show about the pain of empathy, and "Mizumono" hurts. The finale brings the Ravenstag story arc to a conclusion in a brutal way.
When it comes to understanding exactly what to expect from Hannibal, the two most important characters are symbolic representations of who Will Graham and the titular serial killer are not. At least not anymore.
“Mockingbird” is all about unfunny jokes: lies that are told to make sense of chaos and control the actions of others. Game of Thrones is not a funny show, but this episode illustrates that it still has a use for humour.
Hidey-ho readeroonies! I hope you enjoyed Orphan Black’s season 2, episode 5, “Ipsa Scientia Potestas Est” (translation: “knowledge itself is power”), because otherwise this recap wherein I gush over the skillful storytelling is going to be weird. Don’t make it weird.
“Tome-Wan” is Hannibal at its most distilled and sustained. Showcasing the series’ underlying dark humour, this is the tightest, most mesmerizing hour of the series. To use the words of Mason Verger: I am enchanted and terrified.
Game of Thrones: The Exhibition returns to the Bell Lightbox for the show’s fourth season. A virtual tour of The Wall, props from the Purple Wedding, and the hidden contents of a box make Westeros feel more real than ever.
“The Laws of Gods and Men” sticks with the season’s contemplative pacing, taking inventory of its characters past deeds while demonstrating how much catharsis a well written and performed monologue can evoke.
On the last episode of Orphan Black, everyone made terrible, terrible life choices.
“Ko No Mono” shifts to an unreliable narrator, allowing us to experience the first truly heartbreaking moment in Hannibal. Using the most iconic image from Red Dragon, we also get a glimpse at who’s really pulling the strings in this show.
Tween King Tommen Baratheon may be the "First of His Name" this week, but several characters show new sides of their personalities for the first time, and multiple throwbacks to Game of Thrones’ first season rear their heads with major implications for the future.
“Mingling Its Own Nature with It” featured very few lighthearted moments. Shit’s getting real folks. Where season one introduced us to the women, season two is delving deeper into the worsening psychological effects of realizing you’re a clone.
