Orphan Black 5×03 was a glorious episode for Alison Hendrix, everyone’s favorite suburbanite clone. Although Alison’s life has been turned upside down by discovering she’s a clone just as much as everyone else’s has, she’s never truly had a chance to show her true strength. Even when Alison was involved in some of the most high-stakes drama of the series, she always managed, somehow, to be Orphan Black‘s comic relief. Alison never had the power of Rachel Duncan, the terrifying nature of Helena, or the grit of Sarah Manning. She wasn’t as smart as Cosima Niehaus. Somehow, Alison was always Orphan Black‘s “other” clone — the housewife who, while involved in the bigger story, just didn’t have the centralized focus of her sisters.
But Orphan Black 5×03 changed all of that. After spending quite a lot of time feeling sorry for herself because Bailey Downs no longer needed or wanted her, Alison finally realized her true power. More importantly, she realized that she, too, had value in this situation — something that Mr. Frontenac, Rachel Duncan’s henchman, nearly convinced her that she lacked.
Orphan Black 5×03’s flashbacks.
Remember when Alison Hendrix actually was nothing more than a suburban housewife? It’s ok if you don’t, Clone Club. A lot has happened since then, after all. Just as a reminder of what those days were like, Orphan Black 5×03 spent a lot of time on flashbacks to one of Alison and Donnie’s last “friendly” dinners with Aynsley and Chad. It was a time when life still made some kind of (boring) sense for Alison, and everything was painfully normal.
At that point, Alison already knew about Beth Childs, but she was still living in deep denial. She didn’t want anything to do with being a “c-word” (no, not that one — clone); and she figured that, just because she looked like Beth, it didn’t have to mean anything. Fast forward a few flashback scenes, interwoven with the present-day Orphan Black 5×03 story, and Alison was forced to confront her new reality when she received a surprise visit from Cosima Niehaus.
Why do I have this face? I could’ve been born with many faces. I could’ve been a cop. Or I could’ve been a scientist.
Maybe it was on this night, pumped full of magic mushrooms, that Alison first began to think of her life as somewhat of a letdown. Or maybe she’d had those thoughts sooner. Regardless, we all know the way the story unfolded from there: Alison soon found herself buried so deeply in a major clonespiracy that her old life was, essentially, stolen from her. Despite being such a key part of the story, though, Alison never really fit in anywhere.
So, what do you do when you can’t go back to your past life, but your present life makes no sense?
If you’re Alison Hendrix, you live with a lot of regret. You blame yourself for your friend’s death — you could have saved her but didn’t because you were convinced that she was your monitor. And you spend a great deal of time making mistakes. One day, you find yourself with zero control over your church’s Fall Fun Fair. It’s something you used to love, however mundane it was, but that’s been taken away from you. Your children are gone, and you’ve had some rough times with your husband.
Nevertheless, you persist.
Because if you’re Alison Hendrix, you have no choice but to keep going. Your sisters need you, whether they know it or not. There are secrets to keep, like the identities of the dead bodies in your garage and the location of your pregnant sister, Helena. Helena and her babies are valuable, after all. Unlike you.
…or so you think.
In Orphan Black 5×03, Alison Hendrix reclaims her value.
The thing is, Alison was always just as valuable as any of her sisters. It’s after Donnie collapses, having accidentally stumbled upon the poison she’d created for her replacement at the Fall Fun Fair — created but ultimately didn’t use — that she finally, finally realized this.
Better late than never.
I’ve given my heart to this community, and I can’t help but feel a little bit hurt that you’re pushing me to the side. But, you know, I’ve atoned for my sins. And I have a life that is so much bigger than Bailey Downs. I am part of a sisterhood that you couldn’t even begin to understand.
Following this epic moment, Alison showed her strength even more. She decided to make herself “useful for once” (girl, you’ve always been useful) by confronting Rachel Duncan herself. Given the brutal nature of MK’s death and some of Neolution’s other high crimes, Alison was fully aware that she was putting her life at risk with this move. Bravely, she did what had to be done to save the others, regardless of the potentially fatal consequences.
In the process, she realized that there was no reason to look down on her simple life because she, too, had a place in the clones’ story.
I know you look down on me, Rachel. You probably wonder why on Earth my sisters even bother with me. But I’ve been in this fight since the beginning. With Beth. Even before Sarah. And I’m in it for the long haul.
The only reason the cops were snooping around Alison’s garage was to put pressure on the Hendrix family to reveal Helena’s location, but Alison realized she had leverage over Rachel that would prevent any further investigations. She delivered Dr. Leekie’s head to Rachel, reminded her that any police activity would bring unwanted attention to DYAD, and demanded to be left alone.
In the type of epic standoff that can only occur when Tatiana Maslany confronts Tatiana Maslany, Alison told Rachel to do whatever she wanted with her — but leave Helena alone. Rachel admitted to wanting to wrap her hands around Alison’s neck and squeeze. Alison’s answer? “Then, we’re not so different, you and I.”
And they’re not. They are part of the same sisterhood; and both Rachel and Alison share a certain amount of intelligence, of strength — of determination — that only this sisterhood can possibly know.
Additional thoughts on Orphan Black 5×03:
- That ending with Donnie and Alison…So bittersweet and beautiful. I’m pretty sure that’s the closest the couple has ever been, and I sincerely hope Alison won’t be gone for long.
- Where’s Helena? It looks like we’re about to find out. She’s in some kind of convent, writing in some kind of journal…If it’s the convent, then someone at Orphan Black has created a serious plot hole by failing to have a single character think to look for Helena in the very place from which she came…
- I might have said that Kira’s allowed to have her choices after last week’s episode? But um…I don’t think that means she’s allowed to give her mother the silent treatment. It also doesn’t mean that she should allow herself to be bought. Also, if that child really did what I think she was about to do after Mrs. S. (so motherly — love her) left her room? Girl, no.
- “Why do I love my sisters so much, when they’ve ruined my life?” Why indeed.
- Back to the naked painting. Felix, never change.
Make sure to catch the next all-new episode of Orphan Black on Saturday, July 1, at 10/9c on BBC America.
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