‘Orphan Black: Echoes’ Recap – ‘The Dog’s Honest Truth’

8/5/2024

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Krysten Ritter and Keeley Hawes as Lucy and Kira in Episode 107 of ‘Orphan Black: Echoes’ – ‘The Dog’s Honest Truth’. (Photo Courtesy of Sophie Giraud/AMC.)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Seven of ‘Orphan Black: Echoes’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.

One particularly fascinating aspect of stories that explore the consequences of chasing the truth, is how… personal that exploration can be. Since so many of them focus upon the fear such a quest instills in people and the worry that it generates as well. Alongside examinations of the emotional fallout that happens when a person uncovers a rough truth. All of which, while important and realistic in its own right… is narrow in vision. For the reveal of a tough truth harms more than just the person seeking it, especially when someone else orchestrated the lie, and that is why Orphan Black: Echoes on AMC, AMC+ and BBC America is of note. Because it is eager to examine the more global consequences of the truth… as evidenced by its next episode.

For ‘The Dog’s Honest Truth’ took the time to really examine the lasting impact of what Kira Manning has done. For her grief-fueled decision impacted multiple new lifelines and this exploration was kicked into overdrive… by the reveal that Lucy met Eleanor and told Eleanor… everything. Which brought about immediate conflict in the Manning/Miller home and that allowed for the story to look at how the person who kept the truth at bay, will pay the piper for their actions. Something that isn’t explored often, but this episode made it clear that such a person… would suffer great consequences externally and internally. Since Kira had to bear the reality she crossed a lot of lines, and lost Eleanor in the process, again… since she left… and that put Kira in a dark and drunken place from which it seemed there was no return. Because the emotional weight of her actions nearly broke her.

But that was merely the tip of the iceberg when it came to this powerful exploration. For this episode also examined what this truth did to Eleanor. Since she was of course, the person with the most to lose in this scenario and she rightfully took the news of her existence and her future hard and well… found solace in family through Lucas and also made sure to inform him of the disturbing facts surrounding her. All because she felt so betrayed and so hidden that she wanted the truth to be everywhere. To help in processing it and to help in hurting Kira for her actions. For the truth can devastate someone and bring them to their emotional knees and that was rightfully the case for Eleanor, who was now facing the end of a strange existence she did not understand.

Rya Kihlstedt, Amanda Fix, and Krysten Ritter as Eleanor, Jules, and Lucy in Episode 107 of ‘Orphan Black: Echoes’ – ‘The Dog’s Honest Truth’. (Photo Courtesy of Sophie Giraud/AMC.)

However, while those made for devastating moments, another particular aspect of the truth that also doesn’t receive its due also appeared in this story. Such as, it can inspire good in others and push them to take part in bold actions with it in hand. Which for Lucy, involving being concerned less about the reality that she and Elanor, and Jules, were fated clones… and was more concerned about security and finding a safe future for each of them. So, that was why she went full speed ahead in going to the Miller/Manning residence and why she also made a stop to meet Jules’ ‘shrink’. So that she could garner information and intelligence to save her younger/alternate self and that was why she also worked to help Eleanor process the truth and learn from her, since their time together did inform her (hopefully) of that dark memory.

Sadly though, she didn’t get the information she sought to save Jules from Darros… but she didn’t need to. Because Jules was able to ascertain that Darros and Xander would do their best to try and smooth over their mistakes to get to her and get her to sign up with the cause. Which allowed for her to take advantage of the situation, surprise Xander and finally be free of this place. Because she too, had enough of the agenda surrounding her genetic origins and wanted freedom and she also saw this moment, as a grand opportunity to fight back. That was why she adopted a stray dog on the property to teach Darros quite the lesson. Since she lured Tom into a trap that wounded him deeply. To make sure that Darros would know this trio, who united at last… were through running and through with being controlled.

Not to mention, Kira did find agency through her mistakes, since she realized she had to let go and make things right. Which prompted her to say goodbye to Eleanor and look deeply into Josh’s files and find concern over a launch day, and that in turn prompted her to speak with Emily about such matters, a dangerous move no less. But that came forth… because the truth did in fact, set Kira free and well, that was the perfect way to cap off a story that really did examine such matters in a far more refreshing light. Since it finally shifted focus from the self, to the global when it comes to what the truth does when revealed, and that made for an amazing story with amazing moments, and it does get us excited for what comes next. Especially now that three iterations of Eleanor are united and working toward a common good, because that many brilliant minds can only mean bad news for Darros, who also lost his mini-me to his ego, and it will be interesting to see what they have planned to finally be free of the unwholesome machinations that gave them life. Until next time.

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