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Season 4 Tagline
Season 4
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No. of Episodes: 10
Premiere: "The Collapse of Nature"
Finale: "From Dancing Mice to Psychopaths"
Run: April 14 - June 16, 2016
DVD release: TBA
Episode Guide

Season Four
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Season 3
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Season 5

Season 4 of Orphan Black is set to premiere in April 14th, 2016 on BBC America at 10/9c and aired its season finale on June 16, 2016.[1][2][3] It had 10 episodes like seasons prior. However, unlike past seasons, rather than air on Saturdays, it aired on a new night on Thursdays at 10/9c.[4] The show's renewal was officially announced on May 7, 2015.[5]

Spoilers and Notes:

  • There will be new clones introduced that will be portrayed by Tatiana Maslany.[6]
  • After introducing Krystal Goderitch in Season 3, her role will be expanded more in Season 4.[7]
  • Production began again on September 28, 2015.[8]
  • On the other hand, Beth's death will push Sarah to begin her own investigation and figure out once and for all how the clones were made. In addition to that, she will follow Beth's trail down the rabbit hole to find some answers. As her investigation progresses, Sarah will be alienating her loved ones. This can also lead her to revert to her old habits, going back to being irresponsible self. Thus, the show will be diving into stories that tie “back to the beginning” of the entire series.[9]
  • Moreover, executive producer Graeme Manson teased during The Paley Fest that the production team is planning for something explosive as Sarah reconnects with Cal (Michiel Huisman). Graeme hints that even though Sarah is busy with her personal mission, she will nevertheless find some time for engaging in an intimate relationship.[9]
  • Ari Millen officially confirmed that he is set to return in the upcoming season 4 of Orphan Black, on November 5th as Mark Rollins, the last CASTOR clone standing, and that fans will witness his character make a big twist in season 4.[9]
  • Kevin Hanchard will “be big this year” as Detective Bell.[10]
  • There's also been some talk about an Orphan Black video game.[10]
  • Ari Millen also confirmed that there will be clones introduced but when asked if he could divulge any more details beyond that he said, "It's a clone show, you never know. Don't be surprised, but don't get your hopes up."[11]
  • A new female LEDA clone named M.K. has been announced to be featured in season 4. Graeme Manson called her "mysterious" and Fawcett added that M.K. has a dark past, which has left her traumatized.[12]
  • Manson also added: "Yeah, she comes out of the shadows and for the first time we're meeting someone who knows more than us. Sarah is meeting a clone who has got more answers than she does, and yet she's a slippery character."[12]
  • While Fawcett also said that M.K. is elusive and very smart. The new character has been aware of the fact that she's a clone for quite some time already.[12]
  • M.K. and Sarah will have a lot of interactions in season 4, and the former can help her find answers with regards to her identity. On the downside, M.K. comes with a lot of complications because she's dangerous.[12]
  • On January 4th, 2016 production for the season began in Toronto and will run through March 2016.[8]
  • On Friday, January 8th, 2016, it was reported by EW that BBC America will give one lucky Orphan Black fan will the chance to design the show’s season 4 poster. From now until Feb. 15 at 11:59 p.m. ET, Orphan Black fans can submit paintings, drawings, illustrations, stop-motion animation, embroidery, photos, videos of performance art pieces, interpretive sculptures made of gelatin, and other forms of artistic expression to www.bbcamerica.com/orphanblackposter (According to BBC America, only five submissions per person will be accepted.).[13]
  • As part of the contest, fans are also encouraged to post their art on social media using the hashtag #OrphanBlackPoster.[13]
  • The winner of the fan art contest will receive $10,000 and a private screening of the premiere of the new season, hosted in their hometown for up to 50 other people. (In addition to the winner, there will also be 20 finalists, each of whom will receive a custom print of their artwork signed by the Orphan Black cast.) The chosen poster will also be used as part of the BBC America marketing campaign for Orphan Black, and appear in a print ad in Entertainment Weekly. A panel of judges, including Orphan Black creators, Graeme Manson and John Fawcett, BBC America President Sarah Barnett, and Entertainment Weekly’s own Dalton Ross will select the winning piece of art.[13]
  • When the drama returns this spring, heroine Sarah Manning sets off to track down an elusive and mysterious ally tied to the clone who started it all – Beth Childs. She’ll follow Beth’s footsteps into a dangerous relationship with a potent new enemy, heading in a horrifying direction that could end the sisterhood and their lives forever.[14]
  • BBC AMERICA also revealed new clone M.K., the masked self-aware loner who has lurked unseen in the shadows of the conspiracy from the beginning. This new addition will finally be able to provide answers to the most haunting questions. What new truths will she reveal to the sisterhood and how will it change their lives? But more importantly, is she a friend or foe..?[14]
  • On January 27th, 2016 it was announced that Orphan Black was nominated for OUTSTANDING DRAMA SERIES at the 2016 GLAAD Awards.[15]
  • Ksenia Solo's Shay may be appearing this season.[16]
  • On February 18th, 2016, the official season 4 trailer was released as well as the premiere date.[17]
  • In other news, more information about Sarah's daughter Kira (Skyler Wexler) will be revealed. While speaking with The Hollywood Reporter, executive producer Graeme Manson said that Kira will also have an important role to play when it comes to her and her mother's clones. "We have definite plans to get more answers about Kira in season four. The most human part about her can't really be explained by science," he said.[18]
  • The teaser for the hit BBC America series showed Kira predicting the arrival of an unknown group of people. "They're coming," she said to her mother.(source)
  • Jessalyn Wamlin  has joined the fourth season cast of BBC America’s clone drama Orphan Black. She will play Evie Cho, a spokesperson advocating research for women’s health. Evie is a powerful, seductively articulate bio-engineer that preaches empowerment to those oppressed by sexism and physical aliments.[19]
  • Peaches will appear in an upcoming episode of the show. While we don't know the specifics of her appearance just yet, we do know that the long-running Canadian provocateur will perform on the show. Her episode was shot at Toronto's Bovine Sex Club.[20]
  • On Wednesday March 9th, 2016, the series wrapped its fourth season.[21]
  • Orphan Black season 4 recently tapped Canadian musician Peaches to appear in one episode. Peaches will be playing herself in one of the later episodes.[22]
  • An established clone may die this season, putting Alison and Cosima in danger of being on the chopping block.[23]
  • On March 17th, 2016 the winner of the fan-made poster was unveiled by Entertainment Weekly.[24]
  • BBC America is giving fans even more Orphan Black this season when the after-show, After the Black, makes its debut on BBC America, Thursday, April 14th at 11/10c, following the all-new season premiere of Orphan Black. Led by veteran InnerSPACE hosts Ajay Fry, Morgan Hoffman, and Teddy Wilson, After the Black is a 30-minute in-depth, lively discussion with cast, crew and special guests, about plot hints and twists, theories on future episodes and special segments including behind-the-scenes footage from set. But most importantly, fans will see an exclusive first look at the next episode of Orphan Black.[25]
  • Award-winning writer and actor Joel Thomas Hynes will play an "edgy hacker who scours the internet for conspiracies and dances around the peripheries of these weird sub-organizations." this season.[26]
  • One of the things this season will focus on will be Felix's relationship with his sister Sarah. Felix and Sarah's once-close relationship will be put to the test because of Sarah's decision to learn more about Beth Childs' past as well as her true identity.[27]
  • Meanwhile, Alison and her husband Donnie (Kristian Bruun) will also face some struggles in Season 4. We will see them this season trying to live a normal life but realizing that it's more difficult than they initially thought, especially now that Helena has become their housemate.[28]
  • The villainous Rachel Duncan will be back this season and more information about her backstory will be unveiled. However, unlike her sestras, she will remain an outsider.[29]
  • Cosima has just lost Delphine so she's in the middle of dealing with that while at the same time pushing forward her own research about her biology, and where she fits into the mystery.[29]
  • With regards to Sarah's relationship with Rachel, the former will take advantage of her vulnerability to get some information about their true identity. "She's really in the most vulnerable place. She knows so little, and yet she's supposed to be the one who knows the most," Maslany said.[29]
  • Now that they have become stronger than ever, Alison is ready to take on her own path without necessarily taking her clone sisters into consideration. "She's not going to always be in line with the other girls, but she will definitely come into the fold a little bit more," Maslany said.[29]
  • The first three episode titles for Season 4 were confirmed via Zap2it.com's Episode Guide.[30]
  • All the Season 4 episode titles are quotes from the works of Donna Haraway.[31]
  • Typically the best way to tell if the series will be cancelled or renewed. In this case, the show’s UK ratings may have a greater impact on the series’ future.[32]
  • More episode titles were revealed the week of April 20th, 2016.[33]
  • On May 4th, 2016, a day before the premiere of the 4th episode of Season 4, it was revealed that there had been a title change.[34]
  • On May 30th, 2016, it was revealed by showrunner John Fawcett that the shooting of the finale had finished.[35]
  • For her "camp" look, Evelyne Brochu went almost completely without makeup for Episodes 4.09:The Mitigation of Competition and 4.10: From Dancing Mice to Psychopaths. Producers also thought it was time to bring back some of her infamous curls, for practical and realistic reasons and for the Cophine fans.
  • On Thursday July 14th, 2016 the Emmy's released its nominees for this 2015-2016 year in television. Tatiana Maslany received a nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series.second Primetime Emmy Award® nomination for the complex multi-character performance of a young woman who discovers she is a clone—12 in total. [36]
  • On September 18th,2016 Tatiana Maslany won an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her work in Orphan Black.[37]


Plot

"Burning with curiosity, she ran across the field and down a large rabbit hole. Never once considering how in the world she will get out again. Not a moment to think about stopping herself, before she found herself falling. She tried to look down and make out what she was coming to... But it was too dark to see. Down, down, down... The only way forward is to go back." Sarah Manning reluctantly returns home from her Icelandic hideout to track down an elusive and mysterious ally tied to the clone who started it all – Beth Childs. Sarah will follow Beth’s footsteps into a dangerous relationship with a potent new enemy, heading in a horrifying new direction. Under constant pressure to protect the sisterhood and keep everyone safe, Sarah’s old habits begin to resurface. As the close-knit sisters are pulled in disparate directions, Sarah finds herself estranged from the loving relationships that changed her for the better.[38]

Cast

Main Cast

Special Guest Star(s)

Supporting Cast:


Episodes

Image Title Original Airdate Episode
S4-01 The Collapse of Nature April 14, 2016 31 4.01
After two months of respite, Sarah’s hard-won refuge in Iceland is shattered by a Neolution attack. Once again forced to flee, she realizes no matter how far her family runs it will never be far enough.The episode was written by Graeme Manson and directed by John Fawcett. This episode was watched by a total of 0.229 million viewers. (Source)
71 Transgressive Border Crossing April 21, 2016 32 4.02
After evading a Neolution attack in Iceland, Sarah returns home to track down an elusive new ally. She follows breadcrumbs and uncovers the next facet of Neolution’s agenda – implanting dangerous technological devices in humans. However, those she left behind are wary about her return, not wanting to relinquish their semblance of normalcy. As Cosima struggles with Delphine’s disappearance, Alison and Donnie host a pregnant and ever-hungry Helena. Meanwhile Felix, feeling like an outsider, embarks on his own journey of self-discovery.
Ob-403-6 The Stigmata of Progress April, 28, 2016 33 4.03
As Sarah reels from the shocking discovery of Neolution’s biotech, she’s desperate to find answers. Always impulsive, she follows a lead into a harrowing encounter that requires the help of a reluctant new player. Eager to assist, Mrs. S strikes an alliance with an old nemesis. Rachel receives a visit from her keeper and takes a fraught step forward towards recovery. Meanwhile, Helena is mistaken for “Mrs. Hendrix” when she answers a visit from suspicious visitors.
ChjR1X-VEAAs0GD From Instinct to Rational Control May 5, 2016 34 4.04
Sarah realizes her goals have aligned with her once enemy and forms a precarious alliance in hopes of getting to the head of Neolution. Meanwhile, on her end, Alison dispatches Felix and Donnie to infiltrate a Neolution fertility clinic that Beth investigated. Back at the lab, Cosima and Scott receive a revolting delivery from Alison. As Rachel grows closer to Charlotte, Susan Duncan leaves a devastating decision in her hands.
Human Raw Material Promo 405 Human Raw Material May 12, 2016 35 4.05
Sarah's day off to reconnect with Kira quickly turns into a sleuthing mission aimed squarely at discrediting Felix's new ties. Cosima steps up with Donnie to further investigate the Neolutionist fertility research center. While Donnie bumps into an all too familiar face, Cosima makes a shocking discovery that leads her into a dangerous encounter. (Source)
Giphy The Scandal of Altruism May 19, 2016 36 4.06
When Cosima admits doubts about finding a cure in time to save her life, Sarah makes a lone decision that exposes Kendall to those she's spent years hiding from. Meanwhile, Art and Felix team up to protect naïve clone, Krystal Goderitch, from herself. (Source)
13267691 994783920557133 2349470571879088215 n The Antisocialism of Sex May 26, 2016 37 4.07
Sarah regresses to old habits while struggling to cope with the consequences of her decisions - reconnecting with Beth on a dark night of the soul. Back at the lab, Cosima, haunted by vicious memories and news of Delphine, attempts a dangerous Hail Mary to find a cure. At the Hendrixes, Alison is more determined than ever to create normalcy for her kids. As she forges ahead with a birthday party, Donnie is caught in the Neolution crosshairs. (Source)
Orphan Black Season 4 Episode 8The Redesign of Natural Objects1 The Redesign of Natural Objects June, 2, 2016 38 4.08
As Alison is terrified by Neolution threats made against Donnie, Sarah, and Mrs. S question her loyalty to her sestras. While Sarah is distracted, Siobhan sneaks out to seek vengeance. Meanwhile, Cosima and Susan Duncan work together in a final attempt to discover a cure. (Source)
Orphan Black S4 Episodic 409 30 Thursdaysss YouTube Preset 001 1920x1080 697637955693 The Mitigation of Competition June 9, 2016 39 4.09
With Susan Duncan deposed, Sarah finds herself in the same position as Rachel — under the heel of a new HBIC — causing the archenemies to come together for the greater good. Cosima and Susan butt heads on the ethical implications of human experiments. Meanwhile, when the Hendrixes' legal counsel, Adele, further investigates Donnie’s case, she begins to suspect Felix is keeping deep secrets. Helena’s arrival forces Felix to make a difficult decision. Elsewhere, Cosima and Susan Duncan continue their search for a cure. (Source)
CophineS4Reunion From Dancing Mice to Psychopaths June 16, 2016 40 4.10
When communication with Cosima is cut off and Neolution appears to be within striking distance, Sarah's alliance with Rachel goes out the window. Sarah lures a high-level Neolutionist into a trap, and sets out to bring down Neolution once and for all. (Source)

Critical Reception

The fourth season received very positive reviews from critics. On Metacritic, the season has a score of 80 out of 100 based on 5 reviews.[70] On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds a 97% approval rating from critics, with a rating average of 8.1 out of 10. The critical consensus reads: "Orphan Black makes a 180-degree return to its roots with an experimental fourth season that delves deeper into the show's strange, innovative premise.[49]

Videos

Images

Episode Posters

References

  1. Orphan Black Listings
  2. Ecu News: 'Orphan Black' on Season 4
  3. NY Daily News: 'Orphan Black' Trailer for Season 4
  4. 'Orphan Black' Season 4: Absolutely Everything We Know So Far
  5. BBC America Greenlights 'Orphan Black' for Season 4!
  6. 'Orphan Black' season 4 spoilers: More Sarah clones will be introduced
  7. 'Orphan Black' season 4 spoilers, plot rumors: Delphine is alive? Second trailer released
  8. 8.0 8.1 'Orphan Black' Season 4 Begins Production!
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 'Orphan Black' Season 4 Premieres Spring 2016: Ari Millen returns; EP reveals details on Sarah's lovelife
  10. 10.0 10.1 Orphan Black PaleyFest panel: What we learned
  11. 'Orphan Black' Season 4 Spoilers: Ari Millen Speaks About Being a Clone
  12. 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 'Orphan Black' Season 4 Spoilers: New Leda Clone M.K. Teased
  13. 13.0 13.1 13.2 Orphan Black season 4 fan art poster contest announced
  14. 14.0 14.1 Orphan Black Season 4 Trailer Slips Further Down the Rabbit Hole
  15. Black-ish, Arrow, Orphan Black, and Sense8 Are Among the 2016 GLAAD Media Awards Nominees
  16. 'Orphan Black' Season 4 To Feature More Of Ksenia Solo's Shay? John Fawcett Teases 'Interesting Plans'
  17. (source)
  18. (source)
  19. (source)
  20. Exclusive: Peaches to Appear in Season 4 of Orphan Black
  21. (Source)
  22. (Source)
  23. (Source)
  24. (Source)
  25. (source)
  26. (Source)
  27. (Source)
  28. (Source)
  29. 29.0 29.1 29.2 29.3 (Source)
  30. (Source)
  31. (Source)
  32. (Source)
  33. (Source)
  34. (Source)
  35. (Source)
  36. http://www.bbcamerica.com/anglophenia/2016/07/bbc-america-earns-four-emmy-nominations-for-orphan-black-and-luther
  37. http://www.theverge.com/2016/9/18/12965764/tatiana-maslany-emmys-2016-orphan-black-award-win
  38. http://nerdist.com/new-orphan-black-season-4-and-character-details-emerge/
  39. http://www.bbcamerica.com/shows/orphan-black/cast-crew
  40. http://www.ew.com/article/2015/12/28/orphan-black-tatiana-maslany-season-4-new-cloneg
  41. http://www.bbcamerica.com/shows/orphan-black/cast-crew
  42. https://twitter.com/CloneClubTO/status/649378393180499968/photo/1
  43. http://deadline.com/2016/02/jessalyn-wanlim-orphan-black-kerry-omalley-annika-marks-the-last-tycoon-1201708007/
  44. http://exclaim.ca/music/article/exclusive_peaches_to_appear_in_season_4_of_orphan_black
  45. http://www.bbcamerica.com/shows/orphan-black/cast-crew
  46. http://www.bbcamerica.com/shows/orphan-black/cast-crew
  47. http://www.bbcamerica.com/shows/orphan-black/cast-crew
  48. http://www.bbcamerica.com/shows/orphan-black/cast-crew
  49. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/orphan-black/s04/
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