Comic

The panel talks Paul's butt, mourn Helena and more

Anyone who waited even a few moments too long to get into the line for the panel for the " Orphan Black" panel at Comic-Con 2013 probably didn't get into the crowded (and undersized) room. While some people still don't know about the BBC America break-out hit (many of them Emmy voters), it's not a good idea to underestimate the loyalty of the fan base.

Shortly before the panel began, fans chanted, "Orphan Black" as a camera man shot footage of the crowd, screaming as the camera swept over the crowd. Then, as a montage of clips from season 1 played, there was more screaming. Co-creator John Fawcett and Graeme Manson joined stars Dylan Bruce, Jordan Gavaris and Tatiana Maslany on the panel, and after fans screamed a little more and stood to take pictures, the questions began. The first one went to, of course, Maslany. How difficult was it to play so many characters? "I went into hiding after we finished shooting, because I was exhausted. It was such an exhilarating experience... There was always a new character to switch into. I was running on adrenaline the entire time." Then, it was time for everyone on the panel to reveal the name of their favorite clone. Gavaris said, "I know this is very jarring because you were expecting an English accent. I think to play off of Allison, but I think I'm kind of Team Cosima." "It's probably jarring because I'm not speaking in my batman voice, but I would say Allison as well. One word -- yoga pants," Bruce joked. "I love Cosima because she's very West Coast and she's based on a real person. She's our friend, and she's our science advisor who studies the history of science at the University of Minnesota." "Normally I would say Allison, but I'm going to say Helena, because we fussed over that costume for so long, how are we going to get her sneaking into the police station. What's more fun than having someone that's crazy? The fun of Helena was making someone who's dangerous and scary sympathetic," Fawcett said. When it was suggested that Allison was based on Fawcett's own sister, he sighed, "Yes, but she doesn't know that, though." Next, Bruce was asked to discuss his character. "He's a very conflicted individual to be sure. I knew where the arc was going, but I would tell everybody he's just the perfect boyfriend, and now I'm like ha ha fooled you. I think he's suffering from PTSD and the guilt he's stricken with from Beth's suicide. He doesn't know where he should do. His morals are very compromised in the show. I think they'll take him somewhere very interesting next year." The issue of the U.S. Supreme Court's recent decision that human DNA could not be legally patented also came up. "I think thematically definitely. That decision was really crazy coming on the heels, and... what is synthetic? We will be looking at the legal issue. It's always cool when you hit some kind of zeitgeist and the world is reflected in your show," Manson said. But it was time to get on to the actual issue of the show. Will there be more clones? "We are making this wacky little clone show and we do like our clones. I don't think anyone would be surprised if we unveiled a couple new clones in season two," Fawcett hinted. Then, it was time for Maslany to talk about the music that inspires her when getting into character. "I think I was listening to "a boy like that kill your brother," [from] 'West Side Story' for Allison. For her, it's all show tunes; she's in a heightened reality, [Cosima] is electro indie grind, she's been known to do a rave dance minus the glow sticks, Sarah is The Street and The Prodigy, Helena is also the Prodigy and Anthony and the Johnsons. Rachel is me. Rachel is my '90s slow jams with a z." The panel started joking about Felix's luxurious (and, in real life, expensive apartment. "Teddy's been coming over a lot lately," Gavaris joked. "We did a little Nerd HQ panel before hand, so you all heard me sing." The rest of the panel as well as the crowd then urged him to sing, and he finally decided on Taylor Swift's "Little Sparks Fly." For the record, Gavaris has a lovely voice.

He also discussed Felix's artwork. "I kept thinking Banksy, all these urban artists from LA. And I walk in and they say we have a surprise... penises! I was like great, yes, sure, this is fantastic! So that's the origin of the homoerotic art in Felix's loft."