Jean and Kathy get together for a look back at their experiences of the series Orphan Black. We have had such a lovely time getting to know each other through our shared love for this show and its characters. Did the show live up to Kathy’s expectations? What’s it like not to binge watch this show? How do we introduce this show to others? This may not be goodbye forever. We have a couple ideas for some fun one-off shows to do for Orphan Black fans. And after we recorded this, AMC announced they ...
Mar 14, 2019•43 min•Ep. 51
It is as perfect a series ending as we have ever watched and we enjoyed every minute. We also reflect a bit on our journey. Kathy: “This is the podcast that really got me podcasting.” Jean: “Same here. Who knew? I had no idea. Just like our sestras didn’t know what would happen next, when Sarah stepped off that train.” We’ll do a proper wrap up as the last installment of SestraCast, but we’ll need a little time to compose ourselves. Orphan Black Season 5 Episode 10 Jean MacDonald and Kathy Campb...
Mar 03, 2019•1 hr 16 min•Ep. 50
The tagline of this watch/rewatch podcast is that “we make sure not to spoil any storylines beyond the episode we are currently discussing.” We are down to the last two episodes of this show we love, but we keep our promises. Spoiler alert: we are getting a bit emotional about the whole thing. Orphan Black Season 5 Episode 9 Jean MacDonald and Kathy Campbell Show Notes & Links Protest , a poem by Ella Wheeler Wilcox, the source of Season 5 episode titles Photo: “Helena and behbee Helena” , v...
Feb 24, 2019•1 hr•Ep. 49
The antepenultimate episode of the series, i.e. the third last. We talk about how it’s nearly impossible to avoid spoilers, and how that has affected Kathy’s experience watching the series. Felix’s Gallery Opening is the Clone Dance Party equivalent of this season, and we enjoy every fun detail, giving us strength for the very emotionally challenging parts. Orphan Black Season 5 Episode 8 Jean MacDonald and Kathy Campbell Show Notes & Links Protest , a poem by Ella Wheeler Wilcox, the source...
Feb 18, 2019•58 min•Ep. 48
An eye-opening episode. We learn about Rachel’s childhood as the “pro clone,” which means we get a flashback with the long-gone Dr. Leekie (Matt Frewer). And Alison’s back, with a new haircut and a new laid-back attitude. We also ask the question: martini or not? Rachel pours the spirits liberally, but not one drop of vermouth. Orphan Black Season 5 Episode 7 Jean MacDonald and Kathy Campbell Show Notes & Links Protest , a poem by Ella Wheeler Wilcox, the source of Season 5 episode titles Or...
Feb 08, 2019•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 47
Krystal is back! It’s another mid-season fun episode, a breather as we hurtle down the path to the series finale. Krystal takes charge, in her quest to unmask Big Cosmetics’ evil plan. (Check out Kathy’s Krystal voice!) Plus, stuff goes down on the Island of Dr. Westmorland. Orphan Black Season 5 Episode 6 Jean MacDonald and Kathy Campbell Show Notes & Links Protest , a poem by Ella Wheeler Wilcox, the source of Season 5 episode titles Orphan Black Science Recap (The Mary Sue) Blue Zones (Wi...
Jan 26, 2019•56 min•Ep. 46
Much is revealed on The Island Of Doctor Westmorland. Cosima and Delphine attend a special dinner party at the Big House, for which they must dress appropriately, Victorian-style. Says Cosima: “Frock that!” We learn what makes Kira’s regenerative DNA special, and what Neolution plans to do with our favorite little girl. Will the sestras be able to protect her? Orphan Black Season 5 Episode 5 Jean MacDonald and Kathy Campbell Show Notes & Links Protest , a poem by Ella Wheeler Wilcox, the sou...
Jan 19, 2019•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 45
Mrs. S. and Sarah go on a mother-daughter road trip to find a Neolution scientist held hostage in a psychiatric ward, and they display some excellent con artist skills along the way. Adele is admitted to Clone Club, and will be paired up with her brother on another assignment to Switzerland to research Neolution patents, even though Felix hates fondue. We are all ready for Kira’s stint as a Dyad lab rat to end. Orphan Black Season 5 Episode 4 Jean MacDonald and Kathy Campbell Show Notes & Li...
Jan 15, 2019•50 min•Ep. 44
Remember “Variations Under Domestication” from Season 1? (Hint: glue gun.) This is the bookend. Alison and Donnie’s journey together has come so far. Bonus: Highland dancing in full Scottish regalia. Yes, really. Orphan Black Season 5 Episode 3 Jean MacDonald and Kathy Campbell Show Notes & Links Protest , a poem by Ella Wheeler Wilcox, the source of Season 5 episode titles BBCAmerica Closer Look , Kristian Bruun talks about his mad skillz in mandolin and Highland Dancing, and we learn every...
Jan 06, 2019•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 43
Helena escapes (again) and she's on the lam (again). Cosima finally meets the legendary P.T. Westmorland, who offers her the chance to do great science in his laboratories. Sarah, Siobhan, and Felix concoct the perfect plan to abscond with Kira before Rachel can commence her experiments. But Kira and MK will not play along, preferring to control their own destinies, which leads to heartbreak. Orphan Black Season 5 Episode 2 Jean MacDonald and Kathy Campbell Show Notes & Links Protest , a poe...
Dec 09, 2018•52 min•Ep. 42
Jean and Kathy continue their holiday tradition of picking fun and useful gifts for the sestras. Links to all our choices are below! Season 5 picks up where we were left cliff-hanging, on the Island of Doctor Westmoreland, as we are now calling it. Rachel emerges triumphant as the new face of Neolution leadership, while Delphine tells Cosima to keep pursuing the science (however crazy it may seem). Back on the home front, Art gets a new partner, and we come up with a new rule: assume everyone is...
Dec 01, 2018•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 41
The finale of Season 4. Our final podcast episode covering Season 4. It is shocking, heart-warming, titilating, funny, sad, and…holy freakin’ Christmas cake! We just could not make this episode any shorter than it is. We’ll see you soon to start Season 5, the final season of Orphan Black. 😠Orphan Black Season 4 Episode 10 Jean MacDonald and Kathy Campbell Show Notes & Links Simians, Cyborgs, and Women: The Reinvention of Nature by Donna Haraway (Links to the source of this episode’s titl...
Nov 21, 2018•1 hr 23 min•Ep. 40
Fasten your seatbelts, it’s going to be a bumpy ride. Rachel and Sarah join forces to save the Leda project. Helena is back from her wilderness retreat. Donnie is back from prison. Some people get their richly-deserved comeuppances. Episode 9 of Season 4 carries on the tradition of kickass penultimate episodes. Orphan Black Season 4 Episode 9 Jean MacDonald and Kathy Campbell Show Notes & Links Orphan Black Science Recap (The Mary Sue)...
Nov 17, 2018•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 39
Violent retribution plus musical theater: yep, it’s close to the end of another season of Orphan Black and they are pulling out all the stops. Will Alison play Judas to the sestrahood, while starring in a production of Jesus Christ Superstar? Orphan Black pro tip: if you’ve crossed Mrs. S., don’t let yourself get locked into a basement alone with her. Orphan Black Season 4 Episode 8 Jean MacDonald and Kathy Campbell Show Notes & Links Tatiana sings Jesus Christ Superstar with Stephen Colbert...
Nov 09, 2018•51 min•Ep. 38
It’s an episode that gives us a bit of a breather as the sestras process the traumatic events of last week’s episode. This doesn’t mean it’s a walk in the park for our favorite clones, though: Alison hosts the worst slumber party ever, Cosima nearly implants a maggot bot in her own cheek, and Sarah drinks all the bourbon in Canada. At least Felix as Super Brother-Sestra is on the scene, and we are grateful for that. Orphan Black Season 4 Episode 7 Jean MacDonald and Kathy Campbell Show Notes &am...
Nov 03, 2018•53 min•Ep. 37
A heartwrenching episode on so many levels. If it weren’t for Felix posing as a detective from Scotland Yard, complete with deerstalker hat, there’d be nothing to smile at. Get out your handkerchiefs. 😠Orphan Black Season 4 Episode 6 Jean MacDonald and Kathy Campbell Show Notes & Links Directory of all the music on Orphan Black Burn by Cody Crump (final scene music) Orphan Black Science Recap (The Mary Sue)...
Oct 14, 2018•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 36
We set a record for length on this one, but we just couldn’t help it. Donnie and Cosima scope out Brightborn, where Krystal is also sleuthing. Meanwhile, Sarah is unconvinced that Adele is really Felix’s biological sister, and uses underhand means to find out the truth. We witness the shocking, true evil of the Brightborn perfect baby factory, and honestly, there is too much to unpack about ethics, science, parenthood, siblings, and trust to fit into a 50-minute podcast episode. If you’ve watche...
Oct 08, 2018•1 hr 20 min•Ep. 35
An old nemesis from Season 1 and 2 heads over to the lab at the Rabbit Hole. Helena says farewell to the science babies and the Hendrix family. For comic relief, we have Donnie and Felix posing as prospective parents at Brightborn Designer Baby Factory. Jean: “I’m very glad you are not pregnant for this story arc, Kathy.” Orphan Black Season 4 Episode 4 Jean MacDonald and Kathy Campbell Show Notes & Links Donna Haraway (Wikipedia), author of The Biological Enterprise: Sex, Mind, and Profit f...
Sep 26, 2018•1 hr•Ep. 34
Content warning for maggotbots and other stuff that is icky. Sarah goes further down the rabbit hole, looking for a way to remove the neolution tech from her cheek, when an old adversary shows up at just the right time. Alison, Donnie, and Helena provide the much needed comic relief. How much do jackhammers cost anyway? Orphan Black Season 4 Episode 3 Jean MacDonald and Kathy Campbell Show Notes & Links Orphan Black Science Recap (The Mary Sue)...
Sep 08, 2018•56 min•Ep. 33
“A secret lab underneath a comic book store: what more could a girl ask for?” Cosima is ensconced with Scott, doing the crazy science. Something’s bugging Sarah (and it’s grossing us out). At least there’s good news from the obstetrician for Helena, and copious footage of Felix painting wearing only an apron. Orphan Black Season 4 Episode 2 Jean MacDonald and Kathy Campbell Show Notes & Links Orphan Black Science Recap - The Mary Sue . Good info on viral vectors in gene therapy....
Sep 03, 2018•48 min•Ep. 32
It’s the start of Season 4, and wow! One of the best season openers of any show. In a fantastic episode-length flashback to Beth Child’s life in crisis, we learn so much about our favorite characters. It’s the Orphan Black universe before Sarah Manning took that fateful train ride that opened the series, and we enjoyed it so much. (Well, except for the icky bits…) Orphan Black Season 4 Episode 1 Jean MacDonald and Kathy Campbell Show Notes & Links Donna Haraway (Wikipedia), author of The Bio...
Aug 25, 2018•53 min•Ep. 31
A wrenching rollercoaster of a season finale. Story arcs are tied up, new stories are being launched. The sestras come together (another clone special effects triumph) in an ending that is emotionally satisfying. Save room for the ethnic cake! We can hardly wait to watch Season 4. Orphan Black Season 3 Episode 10 Jean MacDonald and Kathy Campbell Show Notes & Links Dwight Eisenhower’s Farewell Address Almost Faded by Message to Bears (YouTube)...
Aug 17, 2018•59 min•Ep. 30
A cryptic clue (“In Londontown, we all fell down”) means a road trip for Mrs. S. and her foster kids. Siobhan the Bomb fronts her old band at the pub, putting on an amazing show. Felix wouldn’t eat jellied eel and Sarah wouldn’t mind her mother. Meanwhile, on the home front, Donnie makes a dad decision and Helena gets refund. Orphan Black Season 3 Episode 9 Jean MacDonald and Kathy Campbell Show Notes & Links The Mary Sue Orphan Black Science Recap : trust us, you will need to read this afte...
Jul 25, 2018•51 min•Ep. 29
Like a good spy novel, this episode keeps us guessing right to the end. The much sought-after copy of The Island of Doctor Moreau could fall into the wrong hands; who will end up with it and what will they do with it? Kathy helps Jean figure out some of the nuances of the plot, even though Jean has watched this episode at least five times. That’s what sestras are for. Orphan Black Season 3 Episode 8 Jean MacDonald and Kathy Campbell Show Notes & Links Eisenhower’s Farewell Address The Island...
Jul 18, 2018•48 min•Ep. 28
In an unusual episode where Sarah and Helena are minor characters, it’s time for a crazy romp with Donnie, Alison, Cosima, and Felix as Alison’s school board campaign heats up. The big surprise this week? Donnie speaks Portuguese, but it doesn’t assuage Pouchy the Portuguese drug dealer and his papercutter. Orphan Black Season 3 Episode 7 Jean MacDonald and Kathy Campbell Show Notes & Links Eisenhower’s Farewell Address...
Jul 11, 2018•48 min•Ep. 27
Kathy is back! We celebrate her return with a kickass episode that features not four, not five, but six clones! Kathy has been Team Paul since the beginning, so we definitely needed her back for this episode. She also needed to be here to comment on the best dancing-on-the-bed-in-underwear sequence on TV. Orphan Black Season 3 Episode 6 Jean MacDonald and Kathy Campbell Show Notes & Links Eisenhower’s Farewell Address Dolce & Gabbana by Riff Raff (YouTube), from Donnie and Alison’s bed d...
Jun 17, 2018•1 hr•Ep. 26
This week, Allison Sheridan (that’s Allison with two Ls) is our guest co-host, while Kathy is on hiatus. Allison introduced Jean to Orphan Black a few years back, using the classic strategy of “Hey, I’ll watch the first episode again with you.” In this episode, the drama unfolds at Castor Base, where Sarah and Helena are imprisoned in side-by-side cells. There will be blood. Don’t act all surprised by this. Orphan Black Season 3 Episode 5 Jean MacDonald and Kathy Campbell with Allison Sheridan S...
Jun 01, 2018•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 25
With Kathy on hiatus, we welcome Tim Mitra as guest co-host this week. He is a mobile apps developer and producer of both a tech podcast and a scifi podcast. Of greatest interest to SestraCast? Tim lives in Toronto, practically next door to the Dyad Institute. We talk about the Canadian-ness of Orphan Black and its cast, and how the show was received in Canada. We also try to untangle ever more complicated genetic shenanigans. Orphan Black Season 3 Episode 4 Jean MacDonald and Kathy Campbell wit...
May 26, 2018•54 min•Ep. 24
Kathy is taking a break, due to being pregnant. (Spoiler alert: she had the baby! Everyone is healthy and happy.) For the next three episodes, Jean has invited some special guests to co-host. Kelly Guimont, podcaster , volunteer , and friend extraordinare fills in, and offers some personal insights on the nature of family ties. (“My family is a PowerPoint presentation, it’s not a tree!”) We also vote for our favorite (and least favorite) mother figure on Orphan Black. Season 3, Episode 3 Jean Ma...
May 17, 2018•49 min•Ep. 23
Cosima’s feeling better, and so are Jean and Kathy, after a short hiatus during hay fever season. Alison and Donnie become entrepreneurs. Helena would like to see the mangos. Sarah and Kira play house with Cal for too brief a moment, before finding themselves stalked by another clone on a mission. Don’t doubt our stones. Orphan Black Season 3 Episode 2 Jean MacDonald and Kathy Campbell Show Notes & Links Eisenhower’s Farewell Address Orphan Black S3E2 Science Recap on The Mary Sue Rate Sestr...
Apr 24, 2018•53 min•Ep. 22
