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

Thriller

Orphan Black kicks off its fourth season on April 14, and a retro vibe means that everything old from season 1 will feel new again. We spoke to star Jordan Gavaris to get his take on the new season as well as some intel on what we can expect in the future for fan-favorite Felix.

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Season 4 really begins as a throwback to season 1, doesn’t it?

JORDAN GAVARIS: Yeah. It’s exciting for me because part of what I loved about the first season was the idea that we didn’t really know who was pulling the strings. There was this sort of anonymity to the villainy. And then as the seasons went forward we learn who Dyad is and it gets very corporate, and we learn who the figureheads are at the top. But the interesting thing about Neolution is that it’s not a corporation, it’s a concept. So, we have that they’re everywhere and nowhere vibe, or it could be anyone and no one,

It adds a sense of paranoia to the season, which I think the first season had a lot of, but then as the mystery unfolds and you learn who these people are the paranoia tends to quiet a little, because it’s really loud normally. But we have that back this season and it just adds to the hair trigger mystery effect.

You often need, like, a flowchart to follow everything that’s going on with this show. We started with Neolution, and then there were the Proletheans, and then Dyad, and Topside, and Castor. But now, with everything coming back to Neolutionism, it’s sort of stripped down a little bit in season 4, right?

Yeah. I mean, there is a flowchart. We don’t see it, it’s in the writers’ room. They hire someone specifically to man the flowchart. I don’t know what their job title is. Probably “Flowchart.” Season 2 and 3, the show expanded. There was just so much expansion in terms of character and plot. And we’re differentiating all of these women and we’re following all of these plot threads, and it was dizzying in a wonderful way, in the best way possible. But I think we’re coming back and getting answers to questions posed in season 1. And I think it’s fair to say that Sarah might have to try and understand Beth a little bit more.

Felix has struggled at times throughout this journey a little bit with feeling out place in this family and wanting to be more than just Sarah’s sidekick, and that’s going to continue here in season 4, isn’t it?

Their bond — for me anyway, where I started with the character — his bond with Sarah hinged largely on the fact that they were both wayward orphans. They had no home to speak of. They had no family to speak of. And that was something that they connected over. And then, this revelation that Sarah has a blood tie to Kendall and S, it’s hard for him. It’s really hard for him. It would be tremendously alienating and you would feel like you’re an orphan all over again, or you’re just somewhat excluded. And he didn’t go to Iceland with them. I think he’s just grappling with where he fits in, where his place is in the family, and I think it might mean he gets to explore new relationships. I can’t necessarily say with whom.

There were some really great scenes that I had so much fun. I can’t begin to explain to you the fun I had working with Tat in some different scenes at the top of the season. It’s just always fun to stretch relationships. I think that the worst thing as an actor is to fall into a monotony with characters. It’s always thrilling when you get to stretch those relationships and find new space for them. Just keep exploring different dynamics with the same people.