AMC’s new show Orphan Black: Echoes had an exciting reveal in its latest fifth episode, involving actress Rya Kihlstedt’s (Dexter, Heroes Reborn) debut on the show. In an interview with Comicbook.com, Kihlstedt shared some insight on her experience onset and how she approached the emotionally driven episode.
For context, Orphan Black: Echoes is a spinoff series from its predecessor, Orphan Black, which premiered in 2013. According to mxdwn, the original followed character “Sarah Manning as she discovers she is part of a scientific movement entitled Neolution that is under the belief that through the process of cloning, humanity can gain the necessary scientific knowledge to directly influence their evolution.” Orphan Black: Echoes, however, takes place in the same universe as the original show but 37 years later and follows the lives of a group of women who must navigate their human experiences in a world manipulated by science, as per mxdwn.
Spoilers ahead for Orphan Black: Echoes episode five! While the series has had its central focus on a woman named Lucy, played by Krysten Ritter (Jessica Jones, Breaking Bad), episode “Do I Know You?” shifts its attention onto scientist Kira Manning, played by Keeley Hawes (Body Guard, Line of Duty).
According to Comicbook.com, the episode elaborates on Kira’s backstory, showcasing her younger self falling in love with a woman named Eleanor Miller, also played by Ritter. Kira and Eleanor grow old together as Kira gains recognition for her work in “printing” human organs.
Eleanor, now played by Kihlstedt, begins to develop Alzheimer’s, and while Kira tries to use science to save her from its effects, she ultimately loses Eleanor. Devastated, Kira uses her skills to clone a younger Eleanor, but the plan backfires when the clone has no memories of Eleanor. Kira then escapes to live her own life, establishing herself as Lucy.
When asked how she approached her character with Alzheimer’s, Kihlstedt said, “I talked to [showrunner] Anna [Fishko] a lot about it, about what she wanted, about how to do it. There are so many ways to do it, and how to do it. The truth is, I really, really just trusted Anna and all of the directors in that moment of ‘How much is too much? How much is not enough? What works?’ I did a lot of reading. I read a lot of Oliver Sacks, actually. He writes all these incredible books about people with memory lapses. Just in terms of feeling, I watched a lot and I just read a lot” via Comicbook.com.
When asked what surprised her the most about working on the show, Kihlstedt responded, “I constantly keep bringing up, because to me, it was such an important thing, being on a set surrounded by this many women everywhere, from our producers, to our writers, to our director.”
To see Kihlstedt’s performance in Orphan Black: Echoes, the series is available to watch on AMC+, AMC and BBC America, with episodes airing Sundays at 10/9 central time.