'Orphan Black' season 4 spoilers: Delphine really dead?

Orphan Black - Delphine (Evelyne Brochu) BBC

"Orphan Black" season 3 ended on a high note but it also broke the hearts of many fans with one shocking cliffhanger. Delphine Cormier (Evelyn Brochu) was shot in the garage after she killed Nealon (Tom McCamus), who turned out to be a neolutionist. The finale did not show if Delphine is indeed dead or if she somehow survived. 

However, as pointed out in a report from CarterMatt, no body was shown on screen. A common practice in television shows and movies is that a character isn't confirmed to be dead until a body is actually shown. Case in point, Delphine might still be alive. 

This is echoed when executive producer Graeme Manson was asked by TVLine if the character is indeed gone and he replied, "I don't know. Did you see her die?" 

"I know this will be upsetting to many fans but the story in our minds has always been a tragic love story," explained executive producer John Fawcett to Entertainment Weekly. "But trust me, this was a necessary move to make. And its necessary in Cosima's story and it's necessary going forward in subsequent seasons — in season 4 and season 5." 

Delphine wouldn't be the only character shown to have been killed during a season finale and then pop up later alive and well. Helena (Tatiana Maslany) supposedly died when she got shot in the season 1 finale but the season 3 premiere revealed she somehow survived. It is possible that Delphine may go through the same circumstances. 

If Delphine is indeed gone, then the implications and consequences will first be felt by Cosima (Tatiana Maslany). The two have developed a strong relationship thus far and throughout season 3, their storyline focused on the impact of promises and sacrifice, which culminated in Delphine's supposed death.

"Orphan Black" season 4 is currently slated for release in 2016 although no specific date has yet been announced. 

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