Orphan Black: Top 10 Moments From “One Fettered Slave” That Gave Us All the Feels (Season 5 Episode 9)

We are one episode away from the series finale of Orphan Black, and it feels like these last few episodes have been a master course in storytelling.

Here are 10 scenes from Orphan Black Season 5 Episode 9 “One Fettered Slave” that defined “all the feels.”

1.Young Helena

I am not sure why Orphan Black is going back and digging into the clones’ backgrounds more this season, but I can’t say I am not enjoying it.

We never really saw Helena’s upbringing. She talked about it, and it seemed gruesome enough. But watching Father Tomas begin to indoctrinate her added another dimension to an already-complicated character.

Plus, you gotta love how the girl who plays young Helena was motivated by food — which got her into trouble in the first place. How many times did Helena come back into the storyline with the phrase: “She’s eating!”

2. Mrs. S’s Funeral

When Mrs. S dies in Season 5 Episode 8 “Guillotines Decide,” it feels like a part of the show’s spirit leaves with her. After watching her death, my biggest hope was that we would get a proper sendoff for her and see Sarah, Felix, and Kira mourn properly, even with Helena’s kidnapping.

The writers deliver this week, giving Maria Doyle Kennedy’s character a funeral that is both heartbreaking and touching at the same time. Plus, that farewell letter was just… it was so Mrs. S!

Plus, I noticed Felix’s portrait of Mrs. S on the mantle. I get the feeling there is no way that is leaving their home anytime soon. (Not for sale!)

3. Westmoreland Starts to Lose It

While everyone is grieving the loss of Mrs. S, they can’t ignore that Helena has been kidnapped, and Mr. Westmoreland (aka John) is starting to become more and more unhinged.

I am very happy to see this bad guy scrambling to keep a hold on his empire. He’s lost the nice cushy Victorian home on the island, and he is barely keeping a hold on Dyad and the rest of Neolution.

But he’s still closing ranks and focusing in on the one thing he wants now — Helena’s babies. In the short term, that is only going to serve to make him more dangerous, as he now has nothing left to lose.

Plus, the way he shouts “The Future is Female” makes my skin crawl!

4. Coady “Terminates” Castor

Oh, how I was hoping for the last remaining Castor clones to go out with a bang instead of a whimper.

Coady follows P.T.’s orders to terminate the last loose end from the Castor project. Although a part of me doesn’t want to believe that Mark (and Ira) are truly gone, the sendoff given to them in this episode does seem to close out a loop — especially when you consider how Coady meets her end.

5. Art’s Story Starts to Mirror Beth’s

Remember way back in the first season, before we knew about clones, we saw Sarah being questioned as Beth for a line of duty shooting? (The shooting was later explored in Season 4 Episode 1 “The Collapse of Nature.”)

Art has a similar incident in this episode, where he just reacts and kills Mr. Frontenac. This moment brings him and Beth into a parallel. He may not have known that Beth was a clone when he helped her cover up Maggie Chen’s death, but he is as deep into this now as any of the Ledas.

There’s a bit of poetry in that when you consider how Art loved Beth.

6. Helena Tries to Save Her Babies

I don’t think I need to remind you that Virginia Coady is not a nice lady! So when she takes a jab at how Helena would be a horrible mother, you bet your socks I was ready to take up arms.

I was even more “up in arms” when Helena manages to get a hold of the surgical tray and jab a pair of scissors into her vein. The scene is emotional to watch, but I can’t say I don’t understand why she did it.

As the young Helena being raised by Tomas showed us this episode, she’s been a tool — an experiment — all her life. She didn’t want her babies to be an experiment, and she’s in the heart of a Neolution fortress. Running away wasn’t an option when she made the decision that she did.

7. Rachel Makes Herself Useful

Ah, Rachel! Your wavering allegiances seem to have finally found a stronghold now that you’ve realized Neolution never cared about you in the first place.

Rachel’s storyline is one I have been eyeing with suspicion since she freed Kira on Season 5 Episode 7 “Gag or Throttle.” She’s still planning to flee as the Neolution Board starts turning up dead, but at least now she’s helping instead of hindering the other Ledas.

The Leda clones’ suspicion about Rachel’s involvement in S’s death serves as the perfect excuse to get Scott and Rachel in the same room again! (To which I say: What? You didn’t bring Agricola?)

8. Sarah and Helena Are Reunited

I love whenever Helena and Sarah get to share some screen time. They haven’t really had much since they came to understand each other a little bit better in Season 3. Their reunion on this episode presents the terrifying idea that Sarah could lose her twin and sister, not to mention her nieces.

Keeping in perspective that Sarah just lost Mrs. S four days ago, this scene carries a lot of emotional gravity. I am very happy to see them back together, and I’m excited about the final episode, since it’s clear they’re all going to have to work together.

9. Helena Kills Coady

Would it be inappropriate to start singing “Oh Happy Day”?

Coady is a character that has been destined to bite it since she was reintroduced this season. I never expected any other outcome for her. She’s been loyal to P.T. from the start, so much so that when P.T. tells her she’s acting like Susan it comes across as a cutting insult!

Meeting her end at the hands of Helena, whom she held captive twice and said would make a terrible mother, is very fitting.

10. The Babies Are Coming 

What is there to say but: “FINALLY!”

As my mom likes to point out when we watch Orphan Black: “That blonde one’s been pregnant forever!” (Really it’s been three seasons, and those seasons don’t take place over the course of a year!)

Of course, it’s not going to be easy: they’re still stuck in a Neolution stronghold. They have to get out and avoid John, which is going to make for a tense final episode.

What did you think of this episode of Orphan Black? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

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Orphan Black airs Saturdays at 10/9c on BBC America.

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