‘Orphan Black’ Creator On The Surprise Return Of Two Fan Favorites

Warning: This article contains spoilers for Orphan Black.

As Orphan Black draws nearer to its season finale, individual story arcs are coming together in a way that more than hints that Orphan Black will end its fourth season with a big bang. This week’s Orphan Black reinforced the adage that “the enemy of my enemy is my friend” and cast Sarah Manning (Tatiana Maslany) in a conspiracy with Rachel (also played by Manning) to bring down Evie Cho (Jessalyn Wanlim), but perhaps even more compelling, “The Mitigation of Competition” also brought back two fan favorites, characters beloved for the compelling dynamic they each bring to the series.

Orphan Black Brings Down A Formidable Foe In “The Mitigation of Competition”

If there’s one thing Orphan Black does well, it’s the double cross, or, in the case of this week’s episode, the triple cross, and although some might feel the plot device is used all too often on the series, there’s no denying that it worked quite well in eliminating Neolution nemesis Evie Cho. Much of the shock experienced from watching Rachel successfully bring down Cho in the most public way possible stems from expecting her to betray Sarah Manning and the rest of Clone Club, seeing that prophesy fulfilled, and finally finding out it was all a ruse meant to ensure Cho’s downfall.

Also just as compelling in this week’s Orphan Black was the return of Helena, who returns just in time to spare Alison a rather gruesome interaction with one of those Neolution face maggots, a first-generation version that, as Alison’s Neolution attacker says, was “glitchy as hell” in many previous recipients. It seems there’s no hope for Alison or for Donny (Kristian Bruun), who lays bound and gagged, forced to watch his wife’s demise, until Helena makes a grand, last-minute entrance and takes down the villain with an arrow to the head. The bow and arrow seemed to match Helena’s Daniel Boone outfit, complete with that hat she fashioned from an animal she no doubt hunted herself. Even looking so pregnant that her water may break at any given moment, Helena seems to be the sestra with the most strength, willing to act on impulse to save those for whom she cares.

In the last moments of the episode, Orphan Black revealed the fate of another character, Delphine Cormier, played by Evelyne Brochu, and although the scene was brief, it was just enough to answer the concerns of Orphan Black fans fearing they might never see the character again.

Orphan Black Co-Creator John Fawcett Opens Up About Bringing Back Two Fan Favorites

Out of all of the clones, Helena seems to be the most fickle, even if she can be the hardest, deadliest killer among them as well. Orphan Black showrunner John Fawcett recognizes this and admits that Helena, who is also played by the talented Tatiana Maslany, sometimes needs to be off on her own, away from the madness. Sometimes, Helena needs to step away and refocus her thoughts, but in the end, she will always return to her loved ones, says the Orphan Black co-creator.

“Helena’s always been concerned about Sarah, and it’s nice that she’s formed bonds with the Hendrixes, and there’s an urge to protect now that she’s found her sisterhood,” Fawcett added. “She was a bit hurt when she left Donnie and Alison’s, but this shows her true loyalty that she wanted to come back and help out.”

Cosphine fans were happy with the second Orphan Black reveal, which came at the end of the episode, but the biggest question the return of Delphine stirred has to do with her location. Some suspect the recurring Orphan Black character is living on the island of Rachel’s dreams. If that is the case, it would seem to suggest the Orphan Black season will end with an explosive reunion on that mysterious island.

Still, the Orphan Black showrunner would neither confirm nor deny any theories on Delphine’s return.

“As much as it’s made the fans crazy, it is part of the drama and the journey our characters have to go through to discover the truth,” Fawcett says.

Even so, Fawcett did suggest that they have created a powerful, shocking episode for the end of Orphan Black‘s fourth season.

“It’s the finale, so of course let’s go out with guns blazing, and it’s big!” he teased. “I’m so excited to show people the end of this season. It’s a roller coaster, and I think there’s gonna be a lot of things that people aren’t expecting.”

The season finale for Orphan Black airs Thursday, June 16, on BBC America.

[Image by BBC America]