THE FINAL TRIP BEGINS…
BBC AMERICA’S ORPHAN BLACK TAKES A BOW WITH ITS FIFTH AND FINAL SEASON, SATURDAY JUNE 10, 10/9c
Emmy®-winning actress Tatiana Maslany closes out an impressive run in this iconic role
New York – May 8, 2017 – The fate of the clone sisterhood will be revealed when the final trip of BBC AMERICA’s award-winning series, Orphan Black, starring Emmy®-winner Tatiana Maslany, returns Saturday, June 10th at 10/9c.
From the moment Sarah Manning (Tatiana Maslany) locked eyes with an unknown identical woman, who jumped to her death – her life has never been the same. She’s found out she’s a clone, that there are multiple clones out there, and multiple factions that sought to hunt, control, betray or kill them. Now, the final showdown with Rachel (Maslany), the one clone at the center of it all who’s sought to destroy her and her sestras from day one begins. And as the walls close in on her, Sarah must decide her next move very carefully, for this time, it’s life or death for everyone she loves.
When we last saw Sarah, she’d been badly beaten in an epic physical battle against Rachel, that left her bruised and broken. Her foster mum, Mrs. S (Maria Doyle Kennedy), and daughter Kira (Skyler Wexler) were taken hostage and her sestra Cosima (Maslany) went missing. Now, Cosima and Alison (Maslany), and their allies have been brought to heel. Even more harrowing is that Kira has joined them in surrender. Rachel, sitting at the head of the Neolution table, has carte blanche access to their clone biology, and with Helena (Maslany) pregnant with twins, her biology is the most coveted of all. Sarah in a desperate attempt to regain control, realizes she must change tactics to pursue a long game. She, and those still able to fight, will uncover the missing pieces of the insidious conspiracy – and finally free themselves from the tyranny that has taken over their lives. Despite the great risk, the fight of her life will either set her and her sestras free, or see them meet their end.
Returning cast this season include Jordan Gavaris as Felix, Kristian Bruun as Donnie, Kevin Hanchard as Detective Art Bell, Evelyne Brochu as Dr. Delphine Cormier, Josh Vokey as Scott and Ari Millen as Ira. Guest stars include James Frain as Ferdinand, Lauren Hammersley as Adele and new addition, Jenessa Grant as Mud, Cosima’s one true friend on the Island.
The clone sisterhood has been through it all together. From assassinations, detrimental illnesses, monitors and accidental murders to suburban drug fronts, kidnappings, male clones and biological warfare – there isn’t anything this lot hasn’t experienced. But through it all, they’ve remained united in their love and mission to keep each other safe at all costs. They’ve sacrificed their families, the loves of their lives, and any true sense of normalcy – all for the chance to liberate themselves from forces much bigger than any one of them. Now, they must all fight for the family they’ve chosen, for a new future and ultimately, for freedom.
Orphan Black is co-created by Graeme Manson and John Fawcett, with Manson also serving as writer and Fawcett as director; the series is executive produced by Ivan Schneeberg, David Fortier and Kerry Appleyard.
GET CAUGHT UP
Full episodes of Orphan Black are available to stream on the BBC AMERICA app, Amazon Prime as well as available for download to own on all major digital platforms.
SYNOPSES
EPISODE 1 – THE FEW WHO DARE – SATURDAY, JUNE 10, 10/9c
Sarah is deeply wounded and struggling to stay alive on the Island. Driven deep into its forest by Neolutionists and worse, she strives to make it far enough to rescue Cosima. Meanwhile, a recovering Cosima reunites with Delphine, but there’s way more going on this Island than Cosima imagined and Delphine can’t give her all the answers she needs. What is clear is that Rachel is now in firmly in charge at the right-hand of the 170-year-old founder of Neolution, PT Westmorland. Back home, Neolution puts the screws to Alison and Donnie in their hunt for Helena. The sestras couldn’t be further apart when they need most to be together.
EPISODE 2 – CLUTCH OF GREED – SATURDAY, JUNE 17, 10/9c
Captured by Neolution Sarah receives a damning ultimatum from Rachel: come into the fold, or lose your family. Her decision causes a clash with Kira who begins exploring her own maturity. Meanwhile, Ferdinand struggles to get a handle on Rachel’s new velvet glove mandate in pursuit of the clones. With Neolutionists and Ferdinand watching their every move, Felix brings an old ally into the mix to help his family get Kira to safety. On the Island, Cosima struggles to comprehend the reality of the Neolution myth made real.
EPISODE 3 – BENEATH HER HEART – SATURDAY, JUNE 24, 10/9c
Stuck on the sidelines with Neolutionists crawling all over her home, Alison seeks to return to her community center, but Bailey Downs has moved on from her. As she flounders to take back some semblance of control, the ghost of friendships’ past rears its handsome head. Art and his new partner show up at the Hendrix residence to continue their search for Helena, forcing Art to make a difficult moral judgement.
Episodes 4-10 synopses will be released at a later date.
CAST AND PRODUCTION CREDITS
Sarah and the Leda Clones
Tatiana Maslany
Felix
Jordan Gavaris
Mrs. S
Maria Doyle Kennedy
Donnie
Kristian Bruun
Art
Kevin Hanchard
Delphine
Evelyne Brochu
Kira
Skyler Wexler
Scott
Josh Vokey
Ira
Ari Millen
Hell Wizard
Calwyn Shurgold
PT Westmoreland
Stephen McHattie
Guest stars
Ferdinand
James Frain
Mud
Jenessa Grant
Adele
Lauren Hammersley
Co-Creator/Executive Producer/Director
John Fawcett
Co-Creator/Executive Producer/Writer
Graeme Manson
Directors
David Wellington
Helen Shavr
Grant Harvey
David Frazee
Aaron Morton
Executive Producers
Ivan Schneeberg
David Fortier
Kerry Appleyard
Producer
Claire Welland
Production Designer
John Dondertman
Director of Photography
Aaron Morton
Costume Designer
Debra Hanson
Orphan Black is produced by Temple Street, a division of Boat Rocker Studios, in association with BBC AMERICA and Space.
CHARACTER BIOS
SARAH MANNING (Tatiana Maslany), the streetwise chameleon who inherited a motley band of clone sestras that she’s bravely led through a maze of fierce enemies, is on the brink. Of what, she doesn’t yet know – but it means annihilation or freedom. When they lost the “original” from whom the clones were created, they lost the cure that would subsequently save their lives. This shoved Sarah down a familiar reckless path and straight into a confrontation with Rachel. Now wounded, stranded, and powerless to help her foster mum S and daughter Kira when Ferdinand comes calling, Sarah’s number might finally be up. With S's network compromised, and Neolution more powerful than ever, Sarah realizes she can no longer go off half-cocked. Guided by her mum's mantra of patience and precision, Sarah can be the leader clone club deserves… One who will lead them into a desperate and bloody last stand for their freedom.
HELENA (Tatiana Maslany), Sarah’s identical twin estranged at birth and raised by nuns in an oppressive and harsh Ukrainian convent, has finally found her place amongst the sestras she once tried to assassinate. Last season, Helena sought solitude to spare Alison’s feelings about her pregnancy and fled deep into the wilderness. Now isolated from her family as Neolution closes in, Helena has no choice but to protect her twin’s miraculous biology, bringing the once indomitable Helena to her knees. Determined to keep her precious offspring from walking her dark and lonely path, she’ll be forced with a choice between her chosen family and her biological imperative as a mother.
ALISON HENDRIX (Tatiana Maslany), the soccer mom that married young and sought out domesticity, is wife to Donnie Hendrix and an adoptive mother. On the surface, she appears the epitome of control, but in truth, she is a pill-popping addict, a recovering alcoholic and former drug dealer…. oh, and an adulterer and murderer, but those were just incidental. However, with Neolution and the police on her heels, those incidental infractions may finally send her house of cards tumbling down. She and Donnie have fled to the woods, putting Alison very much outside herself. This season she’ll set off on a journey of self-discovery as she grows to despise her own controlling nature and the superficiality of suburban life. But Alison will need to overcome her biggest insecurity – her clone identity – in order to justify her place within the sisterhood.
COSIMA NIEHAUS (Tatiana Maslany) is the laid-back geeky stoner who was once a PhD student in Experimental Evolutionary Developmental Biology. She dropped out of school to study the female clones’ biology. With the congenital respiratory illness that has killed other clones still threatening her life, Cosima is running short on time. Reunited with the love-of-her-life, Delphine, after a close brush with death, Cosima has never been more determined or reckless. With or without Delphine, she will do whatever it takes to uncover the twisted science at the core of the Neolution agenda, and hopefully, save her own life.
RACHEL DUNCAN (Tatiana Maslany) was the first female clone raised self-aware of her origin. Raised as a corporate cutthroat, Rachel learned to make ruthless decisions toward Neolution’s end goals. but growing up this way only served to bolster her desire for power and harden her against her sisters. After being nursed back to glory by her mother, Susan Duncan, and forming a delicate alliance with the sestras, Rachel turned on all of them in grab for power. The season, she sits at the head of the snake. Neolution has become more than a means to an end for Rachel. More than power, it is belief and belonging. But now that she's reached the top of the pyramid, she is quickly discovering that not everything is as it seems.
KRYSTAL GODDERITCH (Tatiana Maslany) The newest member of clone club, and still not super sure about this whole clone thing, Krystal is a truth seeker. Since the events of last season, Krystal has been on a crusade to expose the shady underbelly of Global Cosmetics. Her crusade has already put her on Dyad’s radar, but as she digs deeper she brushes against a truth scarier than anything she could possibly imagine.
FELIX DAWKINS (Jordan Gavaris) is Sarah’s younger foster brother and most trusted confidante. A struggling artist, Felix has been a pillar of strength for clone club. Caustic, dramatic and quick-witted, his tongue often lands him in hot water. This season, Felix goes to great personal lengths to help secure the sestras' freedom. His artistic voice however finds new maturity, celebrating the clones' unique identities while providing a vital respite from the darkness all around them.
MRS. S (Maria Doyle Kennedy) is Sarah and Felix’s adoptive mother whose compassion is matched only by the hard love she dishes out. The caretaker of Sarah’s daughter Kira – S has spent much of the latter part of motherhood keeping Kira safe from Sarah’s unpredictable world. After reuniting with her mother, the clone ‘original’ Kendall Malone, S suffered a striking blow when she was killed by Neolution. With her Network in disarray, it's clear to S that it's time for desperate measures. She’ll do her best to guide Sarah through this next phase of motherhood, while maintaining a dark alliance behind the sisters' backs... an alliance that she fears may tear all their lives apart.
DONNIE HENDRIX (Kristian Bruun) is Alison’s bumbling, but generally harmless husband who spent most of their marriage doubling as her monitor. But don’t be fooled, Donnie’s pretty bad ass too! He offed Dr. Leekie, sold drugs with Alison, albeit ineffectually, and pierced the lair of the mob with Helena to get what his family was owed…ending in a disastrous triple homicide. But those are just pesky circumstances…what’s really important is the odd but tightly knit relationship Donnie’s formed with Helena. Her trust in him however, puts him in a bind as Neolution continues to squeeze his family on her whereabouts. Donnie will be forced to decide between his wife and his sestra, an unimaginable choice…. especially since both know where the bodies are buried!
ART BELL (Kevin Hanchard) is a veteran detective and former partner to the late Beth Childs, who’s become unwittingly enfolded in the clone conspiracy. After discovering how far Neolution tentacles stretched into his department, Art has made decisions that he’d never thought he’d have to. Feeling pressure from that fallout of Detective Duko’s mysterious disappearance, at the hands of Mrs. S, this season he has a new partner who’s expressed a great deal of interest in finding him. Despite everything Art has been fiercely loyal to Sarah, but Neolution’s renewed interest in him could very well stretch that loyalty to its limit.
DELPHINE (Èvelyne Brochu) returns this season after surviving an assassination attempt by Detective Duko. Delphine has been ally, monitor, enemy, and lover to the Leda sisters, specifically Cosima. We met her first as a lab assistant working as Cosima’s monitor. Delphine famously fell in love with the nerdy clone and has been surreptitiously working from the inside of Neolution to find a way to save her beloved. After succeeding Leekie at Dyad Delphine found herself in a power struggle with Rachel that led to her eventual attempted assassination. Believed dead, Delphine spent her time recovering on the Island and has since found a role as a researcher and physician. Cosima’s presence on the island is a relief to Delphine, but it causes questions about her loyalty, putting her double agent status at risk. As much as Delphine wants to be with Cosima, honesty has never been the foundation of their relationship, and her continued work in the shadows may very well save the sisters, but cost her the love of her life.
KIRA (Skyler Wexler) is an anomaly in the clone world, born of the should-be sterile Sarah Manning. Though Kira’s world is a turbulent mess, she possesses an eerie calm for a child her age. After recent experiences of loss and violence, Kira grows distrustful of her mom’s promise that everything will be okay. Her deep connection with the various clone sisters tell her otherwise. As Neolution and Rachel take a renewed interest in her biology, Kira has plans of her own to secure freedom for herself and her family.
SCOTT (Josh Vokey) is Cosima’s former lab partner and loyal friend. Aiding her since the beginning, Scott’s loyalty to the clones he’s given up all his life ambitions for is commendable. This lovable nerd has dedicated himself to finding a cure for the congenital disease that threatens their existence.
IRA (Ari Millen) the only Castor clone not raised in Virginia Coady’s rigid pseudo-military regimen, Ira is more "West End" to their "Westpoint.” Taken by Susan Duncan as a young boy, Ira was raised in the science of Neolution and later became Susan’s lover. After Susan’s falling out with Rachel, Ira is uncertain as to where his loyalties should lie. Fully aware that as a Castor his life span is currently limited, Ira’s continued trust in Susan, or Neolution entirely, may very well be misplaced.
NOTE TO EDITORS
Hashtag: #OrphanBlack
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Created in 1998, BBC AMERICA is a hub of innovative, culturally contagious programming like the ground-breaking un-scripted series Top Gear, the top-rated science-fiction phenomenon Doctor Who, and the fan-favorite Orphan Black. The influential network has been the launch pad for talent including Ricky Gervais, Gordon Ramsay, and Graham Norton — all adopted as American pop culture icons. A joint venture between BBC Worldwide (the commercial arm of the BBC) and AMC Networks, BBCA has attracted both critical acclaim and major awards including five Emmy® Awards, five Golden Globes® and 12 Peabody Awards. The irrepressible network has garnered one of cable’s most curious, educated and affluent audiences, with many properties boasting super-fan levels of engagement. Available on cable and satellite TV, BBC AMERICA broadcasts in both standard and high-definition, is available On Demand across all major digital platforms and offers full episodes online at bbcamerica.com. Find out more by follow us on twitter.com/bbcamerica.
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