Category Archives: Orphan Black

Orphan Black Season 2 Continues to Shine.

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Paul (Dylan Bruce) finds himself torn between two waring groups Source: Supplied

It’s only been a few short weeks since the end of the awesome Orphan Black season one which aired on SBS2 (thank you!) and now, on Tuesday night, our memberships to the ‘Clone Club’ will earn a gold star as Sarah, Cosima, Alison and the rest of the characters return to our screens for a kicker brand new season.

Season one was all about who the clones were and now, season two will look at who created the clones and just who is the original clone.

When we last checked in, Sarah Manning (Tatiana Maslany) was standing at her daughter’s bedroom window with the realization that Kira had been kidnapped and needless to say, when Orphan Black returns on Tuesday night, no time is left wasted as Sarah blasts into overdrive to find her kidnapped daughter.

We are literally back with Sarah as she was when we first met her in season one, on the run and separated from her daughter, but this time round the stakes are much higher as we (the viewers) are utterly and wholly invested in Sarah and Kira.

The opening scene alone is filled with so much tension and action – and there’s only four characters involved – and we only know one of them…it’s the perfect opening to continue the head first ride we were dragged along with the first season.

Where the emphasis on Orphan Black’s first season was to identify and individualize each and every clone, we’re now in a comfortable enough place with the clones to focus on developments of certain outer characters in Sarah’s life including Paul (Dylan Bruce), Felix (Jordan Garvais) and Leekie (Matt Frewer) thus closing a glaring void that was very evident in the shows incredible first season.

Felix was the witty sidekick to Sarah’s urban grit, Paul was the ‘is he bad?  Is he good?’ guy and Leekie was your stock standard evil genius who was up-to no good but now that Cosima and Alison and the other clones have been so clearly identified we’re allowed a glimpse into these side players that are playing a bigger part in Sarah’s world than we could have ever imagined.

Tatiana Maslanay as clone Cosima. Source: Provided
Tatiana Maslanay as clone Cosima. Source: Provided

But this is not to say there will be any less focus on our favorite clones.  We’ll start to see dynamics change between the three main clones – Sarah, Alison and Cosima, who all find themselves dealing with the fallout of their actions from season one.  Alison is trying to move on with her life, trying to repair her image within her picture perfect white picket fence neighborhood, Cosima is torn between her love for Delphine and trying to find a cure to her illness while Sarah wants answers….but it she looking in the right direction?

Continuing in this second season, is the subtle touches of intentional light humor scattered among each episode.  From Alison’s shining moment in a community theater production to Felix’s positively on spot outfit choices to a moment between Sarah and a child on a bus – it’s evident these glimmers of light have become an integral part of the show allowing a slice away from the full force of darkness and intensity.

Orphan Black never really stopped hitting all the right marks in season one.  There was always something happening, something being revealed, something to grab your attention and force you to watch the next episode and after watching the first four episodes of season two, this fearlessness to give doesn’t stop.

Orphan Black season 2 begins Tuesday Night, 8:30pm – April 22nd on SBS 2 or for those who can’t wait till then, is now available via SBS on demand now!

Binge Worthy TV Shows

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I’ve been seeing a lot of posts about ‘binge TV viewing’ lately and it seems, every list, is as different from the other.  We all have our favorites, those we recommend to others and those we keep to ourselves as guilty pleasures.  With quite a few shows now on hiatus or heading into break, you may need something to keep your eyes on the screen so here’s my choice picks for ‘binge worthy television shows’.

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Breaking Bad: Without a doubt, Breaking Bad makes every binge worthy list.  It should.  It’s ridiculously good.  I never watched Walter White and Jesse Pinkman when Breaking Bad originally aired….yes I know that makes me a bad television blogger, but it was one of those shows I had to be talked into watching…and watch I did.  I binged on the entire series of Breaking Bad over the space of 2 months and am somewhat glad I was able to take in the entire story-line in one sitting.  Made me appreciate what was on offer and experience the build-up to that last season without beak.

Stars: Aaron Paul, Bryan Cranston and Anna Gunn

Seasons 1-5 available on DVD

The Comeback: Season 1

The Comeback: Lisa Kudrow (post Friends) as a faded and jaded actress named Valerie Cherish who has allowed cameras follow her and her journey to reclaim her former spotlight.  A show that was well before it’s time and only really appreciated after it’s demise. Great to hear talk of a possible comeback for The Comeback!

Stars: Lisa Kudrow, Malin Ackerman and Kellan Lutz

Series one available on DVD

Melrose Place 2.0: Season 1. Bringing back the iconic apartment building with a handful of original tenants, Melrose Place 2.0 offers a rather guilty pleasure for binge viewing.  There's only 18 episodes in this single season that works around a whodunit murder of Sydney Andrews (Laura Leighton) where most of the tenants currently residing in Melrose Place, plus those from her past, Michael Mancini and Amanda Woodward, are all suspects.  Season One available to buy on DVD via Amazon or you should be able to find a copy floating around eBay.

Melrose Place 2.0: The beauty here is that fans of the original series like to claim this re-boot never happened but for those new to the series, we’ve got an 18 episode single season that follows a       who-dun-it murder mystery of Melrose’s junkie landlord Sydney Andrews. Everyone is a suspect and it’s great to watch while playing drinking games (that mostly involve guzzling your wine anytime Ashlee Simpson appears to act or whenever a character from the original series pops up!)

Stars: Laura Leighton, Katie Cassidy, Thomas Calabro and Ashlee Simpson.

Series One available on DVD (from Amazon or eBay)

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The Chicago Code:  Jennifer Beals post The L Word as tough as nails Teresa Colvin, Chicago’s first female police superintendent who plans to bring to light the mass of political corruption currently polluting the town.  There’s connections to the Irish Mob, undercover cops, and this accents all-round.

Stars: Jennifer Beals,  Jason Clarke and Matt Lauria

Availability:  None as yet  😦

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Tim Daly and Laura Leighton. Source Provided

EYES: Tim Daly as a smarmy and cocky Harlan Judd, who is the head of J.R Investigations, a risk management firm that will bend all aspects of the law to get results.  His company is in financial crisis, his competitor wants to buy him out, there’s a mole within the company, his staff have secrets of their own and his love interest is a do-good lawyer who has issues looking the other way.  ABC shamefully only ever aired 5 episodes of this 12 episode first series back in 2005.

Stars: Tim Daly, AJ Langer, Laura Leighton and Natalie Zea

Series One is not available on DVD but can be found on YouTube.

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ORPHAN BLACK:  Fast paced sci-fi thriller that looks into the world of human cloning and accelerated human evolution through the eyes of young mother Sarah who’s world comes crashing down when she discovers she’s not as unique as she originally thought. Edge of your seat stuff that keeps knocking out reveals and epic scenes.

Stars: Tatiana Maslany, Jordan Garvais and Dylan Bruce

Season one now available on DVD.

miranda_2433175bMiranda: Britt comedy at it’s best, Miranda Hart is an unlucky in love, bumbling and fumbling joke shop owner/operator who manages to give the crazy that goes on inside her head a life all it’s own and spreads it among those around her including her highly posh and overbearing mother, her vertically challenged best friend and co-worker and the man of her dreams who works down the road.

Stars: Miranda Hart and Tom Ellis

Seasons 1-3 available on DVD

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Dawson’s Creek: You can’t have a binge list that doesn’t include Dawson’s Creek.  It’s the mega 90’s teen drama that gave us James Van Der Beek, Joshua Jackson, Katie Holmes and Michelle Williams.  Joey has feelings for Dawson but Dawson is too interested in his movies to notice Joey, that is until new girl Jen Lindley comes along while Pacey is having secret meetings with his teacher.  Drama, ugly crying, teen sex…this has got it all.

Stars: James Van Der Beek, Katie Holmes, Michelle Williams and Joshua Jackson.

Seasons 1-6 available on DVD

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Nip/Tuck:  Christian loves drugs, money, women and sex.  His professional partner Sean McNamara loves his son, his wife and his professional career.  It’s the lives of two plastic surgeons trying to rule the roost, deal with their inner demons and still come out on top regardless of who they end up hurting.  One of the greats to come out of the 90’s/00’s period.

Stars: Julian McMahon, Dylan Walsh and Joely Richardson.

Seasons 1-6 Now available on DVD.

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Cougar Town:  Bad title, good comedy says it all.  Cougar Town feels very Scrubs with it’s humor (created by the same team) and as you watch through the seasons, you’ll see this great show evolve from it’s ‘cougar’ story line into a very tight and funny comedy around friends and family.  Don’t judge this show by it’s title!

Stars: Courteney Cox, Busy Phillipps, Christa Miller and Dan Byrd.

Seasons 1-4 now available on DVD.

Orphan Black Season 2 Fast Tracked by SBS2

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Express from the US!  That’s what SBS2 have said in a statement released yesterday revealing that they will be fast tracking the second season of cult hit Orphan Black to our screens!

In a move that should have many Aussie fans excited, SBS2 have teamed up with SBS on demand to make the new series of Orphan Black available to viewers as soon as it’s aired in America meaning each episode will be available to watch via their On Demand service each and every Sunday at 12pm – what better way to spend a casual Sunday afternoon than with our favorite clones?!

SBS2 will also air the new series the following Tuesday at its usual 8.30pm with the premier episode starting April 22nd. It is a classic win win for viewers!

Watch: Season 2 Trailer for Orphan Black.

For those silly enough to have not yet seen this brilliant series, SBS 2 will run a Season 1 marathon screening over two nights on Sunday  April 13 and Monday April 14 from 10:30pm.

“The new season hits the ground running with Sarah (Tatiana Maslany) in a desperate race to find her missing daughter – a wild pursuit  that brings her head-to-head with ruthless pro-clone, Rachel (Maslany). Sarah’s bond with her clone sisters Alison (Maslany) and Cosima (Maslany) remains strong as they struggle to keep their clone world a secret. They have all made choices that have dire consequences, leaving Sarah to navigate a dangerous world of new enemies and shifting allegiances.”

Great to see SBS2 continuing with great programming decisions and making Orphan Black so readily available to Aussie viewers!

Orphan Black Full Length Season Two Trailer Released

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Cosima (Tatiana Maslany) searches for clues into her illness

It’s here!  After several teaser videos via the BBC America Instagram account, the network have finally released a first look trailer of what’s coming up in the highly anticipated second season of Orphan Black.

From action, romance, kidnappings, knife fights…this trailer has got a lot of members of the clone club excited!

Check out the trailer below:

Orphan Black Season 2 kicks off April 19th on BBC America with a date to be announced for Australia on SBS2

Orphan Black Season 2 Mini Trailer Surprises

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Tatiana Maslany as Neolutionist pro-clone Rachel

Talk about making us all anxious for the new season of Orphan Black!  The show is releasing season 2 mini trailers every day for 8 days through the official Orphan Black Instagram page.

The first mini trailer, posted on Wednesday, shows Sarah (Tatiana Maslany) having a fisty cuff fight (with guns included) with Neolutionist pro-clone Rachel.  “Nobody lays hands on me,” Rachel warns. “You don’t own us,” Sarah replies as she points a gun to Rachel’s head.

While in yesterdays (Thurs 27th Feb) clip sees Cosima (Tatiana Maslany) narrating “This is my biology. This is my decision” with inter-cut scenes of needles and swabs.

Both mini trailers can be found below:

Season 2 of Orphan Black premieres April 9th on BBC America (USA)

Season 1 of Orphan Black is currently on repeats on SBS2 (AUS)

Orphan Black Season 2 News and Spoilers!

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Tatiana Maslany from BBC’s Orphan Black

When BBC America’s Orphan Black returns on April 19th (for Aussies, season one airing on SBS2 – no date for season two yet), expect to see an extended cast roster as Sarah, Cosima and the other clones fight to save their lives and identities from the Neolutionists.

Actress Michelle Forbes (The Killing, True Blood) has signed on to appear in the sci-fi hit show’s second season and recently spoke with BBC about the role – although, keeping very tight lipped about what to expect.

When asked about her role as Dyad Agent Marion Bowles for the second season, Forbes says “Marion Bowles has lot invested in the clones. In their science. I’ll leave it at that.”  Forbes added that she hadn’t seen the show before being cast, but has since watched and adored and is in awe of lead Tatiana Maslanay’s performance of all the clones.

Rachel and Sarah face off in season 2
Rachel and Sarah face off in season 2

In addition to Forbe’s as Marion Bowles, Season 2 will introduce new characters to the clone world including Cal Morrison (played by Michiel Huisman) and Henry ‘Hank’ Johanssen (Peter Outerbridge) who is a modern day cowboy leading a gang that have broken off from the Prolethean brotherhood.

Orphan Black’s second season will kick straight into Sarah’s frantic search for her kidnapped daughter Kira while a season length story-line will see a power struggle between Rachel Duncan and Sarah (both played by Tatiana Maslany).

Also expect some tension to rise between Sarah and Felix (Jordan Gavaris) as Felix’s back story is delved into and we learn more about Sarah’s best friend and confidant.  Orphan Black creator Graeme Manson stated we will learn more about Sarah’s past while Alison will find herself consumed by bthe mystery surrounding Aysnleys (Natalia Lisinska) death and Cosima will find herself in a heart-breaking situation while battling a mystery illness.

Orphan Black Season 2 premiere’s on BBC America on April 19th

SBS2 premiere date to come!

Top OMG TV Moments of 2013

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There’s no denying that there has been some shocking and incredible “OMG” moments this year on television.  From Game of Thrones to The Walking Dead and Pretty Little Liars, these moments immediatley incur bouts of crying, laughing, anger, yelling and everything in between.  Check out my list of my top OMG moments from 2013!

RICK SENDS CAROL PACKING: The Walking Dead

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After admitting to Rick (Andrew Lincoln) that she was the one who killed Karen and Dave, Rick takes it upon himself to tell Carol (Melissa McBride), while out on a supply run, that she is no longer welcome to stay with the survivors within the camp grounds.   We’ve seen Carol, who has been a member of the group from the beginning, emerge as a strong player this season and Rick’s decision and her subsequent absence split fans right down the line.

TRAVIS AND LAURIE KISS: Cougar Town

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Travis (Dan Byrd) and Laurie (Busy Phillips) have always had a fun and flirty kind of relationship, but it’s always been that one where the guy likes the girl more than vice versa but when Laurie decides to explore her growing feelings for the teenage son of her best friend, it results in a rather awkward feeling kiss between the two.  We’d all been hanging for Travis to finally get his, but now it’s happened, most of us were wishing it didn’t.

THE BIG TWIST: Homeland

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Well were we all not played for fools!  Here we all are bitching and moaning about how bad Homeland had become.  We couldn’t figure out why or where such a great show had gone wrong.  Brody (Damien Lewis) was MIA and Saul (Mandy Patinkin) had Carrie (Claire Danes) committed to an asylum and we were getting too much focus on Dana only to have it all turn around and be revealed that Saul and Carrie were in fact working together all along in a bid to draw out a foe that could become an ally.

ASHLEY MARIN HITS DETECTIVE WILDEN WITH HER CAR: Pretty Little Liars

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Poor Ashley Marin (Laura Leighton) found herself on the receiving end of some unwanted harassment from an overly inquisitive Detective Wilden (Bryce Johnson) who demands that her daughter Hannah (Ashley Benson) keeps quiet about an indiscretion she witnessed involving him and a young lady.  never one to listen to demands, Ashley finds herself in a screaming match with Wilden before suddenly putting her foot to the pedal and throwing him over the bonnet of her car before speeding off!

THAT TAMPON SANDWICH: Orange Is The New Black

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New inmate Piper learnt the tough way not to piss off the lady who rules the prison kitchen!  When word get’s back to prison chef Red (Kate Mulgrew) that Piper (Taylor Schilling) has been less than impressed with the food on offer, Red takes it upon herself to ensure that Piper will never make comments like that again by serving her up a bloody tampon sandwich!  The scene itself was highly unsettling and intentionally confronting.

DEBRA MORGAN DIES: Dexter

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In the series finale, we knew someone was going to die.  Most of us expected it to be Dexter, or even Hannah, perhaps Quinn…it was never meant to be Dexter’s sister Deb.  After being involved in a shoot out with Oliver Saxon, Deb is wounded and is rushed to hospital.  The doctors all seems to think all should be ok but complications following the surgery lead Deb to have suffer a massive stroke leaving her in a permanent vegetative state.  It’s here Dexter lands the final blow, removing Deb off her life support effectively killing her.

RAYMOND DENIES BEING LIZ’S FATHER: The Blacklist

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It’s the theory that everyone seems to have – Raymond Reddington (James Spader) is actually Elizabeth Keen’s (Megan Boone’s) birth father.  It’s been hinted at right from the get go…his selecting her to be the only one he deals with, his wanting to know more about her life, his knowing certain things about her husband, but in the closing scenes of the final episode of the first series, Liz flat out asks Red over the phone “Are you my father?” to which Red replies “No.”

THE BOMB: Home and Away

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Known for it’s annual end of year shake-up, Home and Away offered up one heck of an explosion involving fan favourites and unexpected faces and leaving us not knowing who has survived.  After continuously butting heads with her boss Bianca (Lisa Gormley) and Bianca’s husband Heath (Dan Ewing) Jade (Tasma Walton) decides to get her revenge in the form of a bomb placed inside Bianca’s laptop bag.  We then spent the whole episode wondering when the bomb will go off as the bag changes hands numerous times before going off inside the hospital in which pregnant Ricky (Bonnie Sveen) is being treated.  Irene (Lynne Mcgranger), Bianca, Heath and Doctor Nate Cooper (Kyle Pryor) are also there when the bomb goes off.

HELENA CUTS OFF OLIVER’S TAIL: Orphan Black

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Things got a bit weird when it was revealed Neolution club owner and believer in self-directed evolution Oliver (David Richmond-Peck) was actually sporting a real life tail.  After coming to Sarah’s (Tatiana Maslany) aid while in a fight with Oliver, psychotic clone Helena wins the upper hand and swiftly chops Oliver’s tail off…then makes her way back to the dancefloor to partake in a rather ghastly dance with said tail still in her hands.

TULLY CHEATS ON HER GIRLFRIEND: Big Brother

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Fun and funky social media expert and lesbian Tully quickly turned into a sullen and sobbing mess after entering the Big Brother house.  She missed her girlfriend Tahlia but thankfully she had housemate Drew to lean on and talk to.  Quickly though that talking turned into sleeping in the same bed and sharing sneaky kisses when suddenly the two swapped secret “I love you” bombs leading to Tahlia to make a very public break-up via twitter.

MATT AND KIM’S FIRST ROOM REVEAL: The Block

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Not ones to be left hidden among the pack, West Australian couple Matt and Kim had planned to something controversial when it came to styling their first room – the guest bedroom.  Their inspiration?  Artist Jackson Pollock, he of the abstract expressionist movement (or paint splash era).  While the final result was clearly shocking, it was more ‘kids gone wild’ than Pollock admiration.

THE RED WEDDING: Game Of Thrones

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I don’t watch Game of Thrones, but even I found myself on YouTube watching the events that led to THAT video going viral showing fans reactions to the wedding as it aired.  While I may have no idea who was who or why everyone was being killed, but the red wedding sure stuck to it’s name after half the people in the room celebrating were slaughtered, including a very heavily pregnant woman!  “May the rivers run red with the blood of the non-believers.”

Orphan Black Season 2 Air Date Announced

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Card carrying members of the clone club can rejoice!  Orphan Black’s long awaited season 2 air date has finally been announced! Bad news is that we will have to wait until April 19th next year before catching with Sarah and her clones.

The news was revealed during BBC America’s screening of “Doctor Who’s” “The Day Of The Doctor” 50th anniversary special along with a very quick teaser trailer (which can be watched below!)

The official synopsis of season two states: Season 2 of the series hits the ground running with Sarah (Tatiana Maslany) in a desperate race to find her missing daughter Kira (Skyler Wexler, Carrie). Her scorched earth tactics spark a war with pro-clone, Rachel (Maslany), dividing and imperiling all the clones. As Sarah discovers more about her past, mysterious newcomers appear, but can they be trusted?

Back in September, it was revealed that production on season two had begun with lead Tatiana Maslany back along with Jordan Gavaris, Dylan Bruce and Maria Doyle Kennedy all returning for the new episodes.   “We’re truly amazed at the incredible response we received from TV critics and fans alike since the beginning of this series,” David Fortier and Ivan Schneeberg, executive producers and co-presidents at Temple Street Productions, said in a statement. “We’re delighted to have the opportunity with our supportive partners BBC America and Space to continue on this amazing journey and to answering some of the impending questions fans were left with from the end of last season.”

Orphan Black season 1 is set to air for the first time in Australia on SBS2 in early 2014.

 

 

SBS2 Picks Up Orphan Black and The Walking Dead

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Tatiana Maslany as emotionally damaged Helena in SBS2’s Orphan Black

Finally!  I can happily say one of – if not the best new shows to air this year – BBC America’s sci-fi action drama Orphan Black is FINALLY coming to our screens and it’s thanks to SBS2 it was announced yesterday.  SBS2 also announced they will be airing slow-tracked episodes of The Walking Dead (the first on free-to-air in Australia) starting from season 1.

For those who are not in the loop, Orphan Black has been touted as literally one of the best new shows of 2013 and has generated a slow burn cult following that now has many many people (myself included) hanging for more.  The premise of Orphan Black see’s a down-on-her-luck Sarah Manning (the incredibly talented Tatiana Maslany who was clearly robbed of any sort of acting nomination) who’s life changes dramatically upon witnessing a woman of similar appearance to her, jump in front of an on-coming train.  Before she knows it, Sarah’s life is turned upside down and will never be the same again!

The show is incredibly fast-paced.  We learn something new with each episode, but end up with more questions (just to keep us hanging) and every single episode keeps smashing along with a bang while introducing an interesting array of characters, each with their own personalities that you’ll either love, hate or love to hate!  You’ll find yourself questioning who can and can’t be trusted!  Without spoiling too much, the theme of human cloning is the basis of this series.

The Walking Dead most of us know and love and i’m not going to rattle on too much about it, but for those, like me, who originally tried to watch the show when it first began and couldn’t understand the mix of drama and zombies, then this is the perfect opportunity to give it a second shot.  For those who have already seen it, this is a great chance to relive those classic first episodes!

The Walking Dead is slated to start Tuesday November 19th on SBS2 (Check your local guide for times) while Orphan Black begins early 2014 on SBS2!!