Tuesday, April 14, 2015

What Freud Said: Orphan Black's Helena, Sarah, and Rachel as Id, Ego, and Super-ego

ORPHAN BLACK: Cosima and Delphine may like Eskimo Pies, but in a psychoanalytic interpretation of Orphan Black, it’s all about the icebergs. That’s right. Hold on to your psyche, because Sigmund Freud is about to become the newest member of Clone Club.

Sunday, July 6, 2014

Catch of the Day: The Sisterhood of the Traveling Air Vent Hiding Spot

CATCH OF THE DAY: For those of you who are fans of both Rob Thomas' series Veronica Mars and of Joss Whedon's plethora of work, you might know the latter was quite an outspoken fan of Thomas' show. While Whedon guest starred in one episode of Veronica Mars (2x06 "Rat Saw God"), a simple credit was not all he took from the series. The sisterhood of the traveling air vent hiding spot made its way into Whedon's show Dollhouse as well! Check it out!

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Slaying Expectations: Elevating Genre and Character in the Whedonverse

In the Whedonverse, it's not unusual for viewers to expect one thing when they'll end up getting something else entirely. In Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Firefly, and Dollhouse, Joss Whedon plays with genre and character in strikingly original ways that expose the nuances of what we think we want from our entertainment and what we actually want.

Saturday, May 17, 2014

Who Am I?: Postmodern Ideology and Identity in Orphan Black

ORPHAN BLACK: In a world wracked with constant change, humanity is battered again and again with the question: who are we? What does it mean to be human, and more specifically, what does it mean to be me? Orphan Black takes on these highly subjective, postmodern questions with the intellect of a science fiction show, and the nuance of a literary work.

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Catch of the Day: Follow the Leda

CATCH OF THE DAY: Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World may have inspired many parallels in Orphan Black, but the connections don’t stop there. Huxley, in addition to being a foundational figure for dystopian literature, was also a poet. In 1920, he published a collection of poems titled Leda. Yes, that’s right, the massive overarching Orphan Black origin project mystery not only shares a name with the Greek myth of Leda, but Huxley’s poetry as well. And it’s a beautiful connection.

Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Catch of the Day: Splitting Hairs on Orphan Black

CATCH OF THE DAY: While it was obvious that we didn't see much of Kira in Orphan Black's Season 2 premiere, you might not have noticed that it was Kira who bookended the episode, making for a very ominous start to the season.

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Thrills in the Dark: Orphan Black in the Shadow of Alfred Hitchcock

ORPHAN BLACK: Orphan Black’s homage to both the traditional and contemporary facets of the film noir genre doesn’t stop at the presence of train station junctions and cynical anti-heroines in hats. In addition to trends in story, character, and setting, the series presents a wealth of stylistic cinematic clues that impart an important visual identification with the genre. You simply can’t have film noir without labyrinthine urban settings, chiaroscuro lighting, or the occasional Dutch angle, and Orphan Black has plenty to spare.

Monday, April 7, 2014

Catch of the Day: The Force of LoVe

CATCH OF THE DAY: Marshmallows (specifically the respective sub-division of Veronica/Logan shippers), today is your day to feel the feels. Since we have all recently undergone an intense 64 episode re-watch in preparation for the Veronica Mars movie, it's no surprise we've found some parallels within the series that will only amplify your love for "LoVe."

Friday, March 21, 2014

Pure Noir Heroine: Orphan Black in the Shadow of Alfred Hitchcock

ORPHAN BLACK: While Orphan Black's opening sequence may be considered the quintessential establishment of a contemporary take on the film noir and suspense thriller genres, the noir nods don't stop there. In fact, there's plenty to be said for identifying the show's protagonist—the shifty London-blooded street hustler, Sarah Manning—as a film noir inspired heroine.

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Is Not Life a Mirror Maze: Fragmented Identity in the Cinematography of Orphan Black

ORPHAN BLACK: The theme of identity is inherent to Orphan Black. In a show where a multitude of identical characters seem to materialize around every corner, it’s bound to be. As we follow our leading lady, Sarah Manning, through her journey of self-discovery, however, we also witness the confrontation and fracture of this identity. But, the plot isn’t the only thing that emphasizes this reflection and fragmentation of self that Sarah encounters; it’s also underlined quite clearly in the show’s use of mirrors and cinematography.