*1. Was there any specific reason given for why Beth killed herself? *
I think she was basically pushed over the psychological edge by everything that happened to her. I think this is partly because she not only had to deal with all the stuff the other clones did - identity crisis, fear, paranoia, loss of trust in those closest to her - but also the stress of essentially being alone on the front lines of this battle.
She was the one investigating the Proletheans and trying to protect her sisters and find their killer. I can see how she might have felt guilty and responsible every time another clone was killed: yet another one she failed to save in time. She was also trying to locate other clones, and to figure out where they all came from. And she had to accept the fact that she killed Maggie Chen. It’s not clear what actually transpired between them, but I think it’s entirely possible that Beth basically killed her in cold blood, rather than in self-defense. I suspect that Maggie wasn’t directly threatening her life, but Beth knew she was with the Proletheans and would tell them about her, and so she killed her to silence her. But whether or not she felt justified in killing her, she then had to involve Art in the coverup, but still keep the real events a secret from him. And the longer the internal investigation went on, the greater risk there was of the clones being exposed. So perhaps she decided she was ultimately doing her sisters more harm than good, and felt the only way to protect them was to remove herself from the equation entirely, and cut off that line of investigation for both the police and the Proletheans.
2. Why did she leave her purse and shoes on the train platform like that? It is a great symbolic gesture (“Here Sarah Manning, take a walk in MY shoes”) but was there any in-universe reason for it?
I agree with ZipperJJ that it’s a “suicide” thing. But it’s not just a tip-off to the viewers; if it was clearly suicide, it would discourage further investigation into her death, which would threaten exposure for the clones. It’s also possible that she wanted to make sure her body was identified as Beth, since otherwise, they might find multiple matches for prints, DNA, etc. (as they ultimately did when trying to identify Katja).
3. Did Beth expect to meet Sarah there? Or was that a complete coincidence?
Yep, coincidence. And I’m sure Beth saw her and was just like, “Oh, hell. Another one. Yeah, definitely fuck this noise.”
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4. Did Paul know off the bat that “Beth” was another clone impersonating her? He was well aware of the whole clone program and when so when he first appears in the story and questions “Beth” (who is actually Sarah) about why she is acting so unlike herself, he probably should have guessed what had happened.*
As gracer said, like Donnie and most of the monitors, he initially only knew that he was supposed to monitor her, but not why*.
*5. (This is more of a debate topic than a basic question) I guess the show sides with the long-standing debate that sexuality and gender identity are learned behaviors and not innate genetic predisposition?
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I think the show’s view is that there is no such thing as ‘nature vs. nurture’; the two can’t ever be totally teased apart. I think Cosima even says something like that more or less verbatim at one point. Here are some thoughts on the subject from the showrunners:
[QUOTE=Graeme Manson]
Delphine, a conflicted straight girl, gives our thesis on sexuality in episode eight, when she says “… as a scientist I know that sexuality is a spectrum, but social biases codify sexual attraction, contrary to the biological facts.” So, yes, the biological facts: People are definitely “born this way.” That’s the nature side, whether it’s genetic, or epigenetic, or whether womb chemistry plays a part. As each of our clones were carried by different surrogates, that could explain differences in sexuality. But who wants to run around blaming mothers and their hormone levels for the sexuality of their children? Haven’t we had enough of that, since, like, forever? Maybe it was the lipstick in Daddy’s glove box? Or Great Uncle Arthur’s? Okay, then how about the nurture side of things? Cosima grew up in the Bay Area, in a permissive community and a progressive home fostering intellectual and social tolerance. She learned to approach sexuality without shame, with curiosity. I think Cosima’s been “bisexual” (if you had to codify it), but maybe she’s ready to self-identify as gay. She would defend her freedom to choose, no matter where nature placed her in the spectrum. And Delphine too makes a choice to follow her heart for an individual, even though she’s always been “straight.” Awwwww … isn’t that sweet, shippers? So, sexuality is a spectrum of many factors, and even though we’re a show about clones, we celebrate individuality and the crazy contingencies of nature.
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And more on this from Cosima Herter, the show’s science consultant (who is a PhD. student in the History of Science, Technology, and Medicine Program at the University of Minnesota, working on the History and Philosophy of Biology). See her full essay for much more (with footnotes!):
[QUOTE=Cosima Herter]
But, insofar as sexuality has a genetic component (like all biological characteristics) it is not so simply explained by genetics alone. Moreover, it is not regulated by any one single gene. Despite how studies on the genetics of sexuality are represented in the popular press that either decry or redeem the genetic basis of sexual orientation, none of the research to date that espouses to have found the “gay-gene” (or, more recently the “male-loving gene”) are actually supported by a claim that one gene, and one gene alone, determines sexual orientation. Sexuality is complex, both as a biological component and a political identity. Our genes do not define who we are, and while certain genes may indeed be present, they may or may not be expressed depending on a whole spectrum of environmental and biological circumstances. The reductionism of either ‘nature’ or ‘nurture’ is far from adequate to explain sexuality.
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*Let’s discuss this point further after you’ve seen Season 2.