Orphan Black type TV Show network BBC America genre Sci-fi

Thriller

There have been plenty of hints and teases about what’s to come for your favorite clones when Orphan Black returns for season 2 on April 19. And you will get more such teases below. But what about all those non-clone characters on the show? What of Felix? And Mrs. S? And Paul? And Delphine? And Art? WHAT OF THEM, DAMMIT?!? Well, we went straight to the source to find out. EW chatted with Orphan Black co-creator Graeme Manson to get the scoop on those folks as well as some other primo intel on season 2. Read on, Clone Club!

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: So, I know you guys are really looking to expand the world more in season 2.

GRAEME MANSON: That was part of the mandate. Shooting earlier was part of our M.O. We wanted to shoot outside more, so we needed the warm weather to use some locations and get out of the urban feel — not lose it, but we like our different worlds. We had a lot of success portraying those in the first season so we felt confident that we could add more worlds. But come November, it’s like, no more going outside!

EW: The season ended on this dramatic mode of Cosima discovering that the clones were patented, and then just days later the Supreme Court actually ruled on the matter of clone patenting. Is that something you will be addressing season 2?

MANSON: Yes, but it’s not something we’re going to dwell on too much. It’s interesting stuff, but patent law doesn’t make great TV. We landed heavily on that at the end of the season. But some people take it really literally, like you can’t patent a person. Slavery doesn’t exist. It’s like, well, it’s a more complex question than that. It’s not black and white. What is synthetic is the real question in that.

EW: That patent discovery comes as Cosima is trying to learn more about her illness. Where is that headed in season 2?

MANSON: Being a scientist, Cosima is going to take the lead, with Delphine, in diagnosing and treating her own illness. And it’s hard on her. She’s such a life-affirming character to be facing her own mortality — in one sense that’s really heartbreaking. In another sense, she’s the character to do it. As my favorite clone, it’s very difficult to put Cosima in that position, facing her own mortality. On the other hand, she digs down deep and she’s a brave girl. Perhaps as brave as Sarah in her own way. I think bravery might be one of the genetic traits they do share. I don’t know how you encode for that, but it’s nature. They’re all brave and they’re all rash. But Cosima is going to have to make a few deals with the Devil to get to the bottom of her own biology and illness and step in to the belly of the beast.

EW: Let’s talk about what we can expect from the non-clone characters in season 2, starting with Felix.

MANSON: Fabulous fashion, more wit and wildness. He gets all the best lines, the bastard. But also at a certain point this season he is going to get tired of being a doormat and the one who always diligently helps Sarah when she gets into trouble. Felix has been sucked into this world just as much as Sarah has. Things aren’t going to be all wine and roses for those two this season. They’re going to go through some rough patches and in doing so we’re going to discover more about Felix. He’s going to be out on his own more. Not to say he’s not a clone ally, because he is. But a little bit more independence is definitely in order and also some really good Felix and Alison this season.

EW: What about Art, who is on the cusp of perhaps figuring this whole clone thing out?

MANSON: Art has been getting so close to the truth and he’s a really smart guy who hates a mystery. I think it’s safe to say Art’s eyes are going to get opened. Art turned into an uneasy ally by the end of season 1 and that’s a decent way to describe him again. He’s really gotten to the core of it. He understands. He knows who Sarah is and he has some sympathy for whatever it is that she’s going through. It’s a good friend to have for Sarah and the clones. He’s going to have to deal with Angie, as are the others.

EW: Tell me what’s next for Paul, who seems to still be trying to figure out where his loyalties are.

MANSON: He’s a conflicted guy trying to serve a few masters at a time. Like Mrs. S, he’s got some surprises up his sleeve as well and I don’t think they’re all going to be pleasant.

EW: What about Delphine, who is similarly caught between the Dyad Institute and her allegiance to a clone?

MANSON: First of all, Evelyne Brochu rules and we love that relationship. We love Cophine. That relationship remains fraught. Their hearts are wrapped up in it, but that doesn’t mean they’re beyond power plays. I think that Cosima, in the course of her illness is going to have to grow up and face some facts and be a little more ruthless herself. She’s a trusting, joyous, celebratory person. It’s not her normal mode of being to be mistrustful and sneaky and have to swim with sharks. But at the end of the day their hearts are caught up in this, so what’s going to win for Delphine: the heart or the Dyad?

EW: And then there is the very mysterious Mrs. S.

MANSON: Mrs. S was definitely a sleeper in season 1. We really liked spooling that character out. We obviously put quite a cliffhanger on that character and her motivations at the end of season 1 and I don’t think anyone is going to see what’s coming for Mrs. S in season 2. She’s got a lot up her sleeve. She’s a resourceful woman and her relationship with Sarah remains tense and the center of the relationship is the battle over Kira and who’s the best to at keeping Kira safe.

EW: Is Mrs. S’ loyalty to Kira or to Sarah right now?

MANSON: Well, that is malleable and it can shift in circumstances, and the season is really going to get at the crux of this. Whose side are you on? – not just for Mrs. S, but for many of the characters.

EW: We saw that photo with Project LEDA written on the back. Is Project LEDA going to be cleared up in season 2?

MANSON: We’re definitely going to be exploring Project LEDA. We have a deep backstory in Orphan Black and you don’t want to spend all your time mining backstory but it’s fascinating and it bears directly on the present. So in order to move forward, Sarah has to look back. She has to look to the origins of the experiment, as do they all. As does Rachel. People might want to check out their Greek mythology – there’s some clues there. Who knows what about Project LEDA? Mrs. S may know some, but she doesn’t know nearly as much as others do.

EW: I know that the new Proletheans, led by Henrik Johannsen, will also add a super creepy new dimension in season 2.

MANSON: Where Tomas had this really archaic old world view of religion versus science, the truth is science and religion have always been uneasy bedfellows and compliment each other — any astrophysicist will tell you that. But our new villain Proletheans are driven by their belief in divine rights, but they certainly would see science as a divine right of man. Any act of man is an act of God, therefore if we can use science, then we are correct. If you are using science in the name of God then you are fine. Now if you are a godless Dr. Leekie — who is more intent on the Neolution, personal gains of evolution — then that is not serving the will of God. You can see that there are very interesting dichotomies and contradictions, as well as a more modern and realistic view of the relationship of science and religion.

EW: Anything else you can spill about season 2?

MANSON: There’s a lot going on in that Cosima storyline and the Dyad. And some of the guys you thought we’re bad guys last year may not be bad guys this year. At the end of the season we introduced Rachel, and Tatiana does a great job with her. We’ve just finished shooting the finale and Rachel is one complicated individual.

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