Orphan Black

Sarah Manning
Season 1, Episode 1.

One of my favourite shows, is Orphan Black. Orphan Black is a Canadian science fiction television series created by Graeme Manson and John Fawcett. The show is majorly underrated, and is about to begin its fifth (and final, sadly) season in June.

The series begins with Sarah Manning, played by Tatiana Maslany, who witnesses a woman, Beth Childs, also played by Maslany, commit suicide and she takes her identity. Oh, and they’re clones. But Sarah doesn’t realise this until she meets more of her follow clones, including Soccer Mom-of-two Alison Hendrix, and PHD student Cosima Niehaus. The series raises issues about the moral and ethical implications of cloning and follows the clones as they fight to survive, discover themselves as individuals and search for answers.

(L-R)
Top row: Katja, Rachel, Sarah
Bottom row: Alison, Cosima, Helena

Tatiana Maslany is an actress that everyone should know the name of. She plays many of the characters in the show, playing up to 4 characters in the same frame, with the help of some pretty badass special effects, of course. Each character she plays is completely different. Sarah, a rebellious Brit who wants to regain her relationship with her daughter. Alison, a clone of Canadian origin with a more uptight personality. Cosima, an American clone with a passion for science. In season one we also meet Katja, a German clone, Helena, a Ukrainian clone who spent her childhood in a convent, and Rachel, a clone raised self-aware. There are many other clones we meet throughout the series, and Tatiana plays them all phenomenally.

One actor playing two characters in a movie isn’t unheard of, such as Tom Hardy in Legend, and Lindsay Lohan playing twins Hallie and Annie in The Parent Trap, but those performances arguably pale next to Tatiana’s performance in Orphan Black. Each clone has their own mannerisms, sayings, accents, walk and style. Of course, there is credit to be given to her co-stars, who also work with multiple characters at once in the same frame. There’s Jordan Gavaris, who plays Felix, Sarah’s gay foster brother, Dylan Bruce as Paul Dierden, Beth’s ex-military boyfriend, Maria Doyle Kennedy as Siobhan Sadler, Sarah and Felix’s foster mother, and Kevin Hanchard as Art Bell, Beth's detective partner. And that is just naming a few of the talented cast that make the show.

Sarah, Alison and Cosima

As far as plot goes, Orphan Black never lacks in interesting story arcs. It twists and turns constantly, with surprising plot twists that nobody could have seen coming. It mixes science as suspense, creating a story that is both believable and intriguing as the clones try to suss out their lives and the people around them. As more questions are answered, more appear but don’t let this put you off – the show progresses just as the clones do as they learn more about themselves.

As a HUGE fan of the show, I recommend it to anyone who is looking for something interesting and original to watch. With a unique concept, amazing cinematography, complex characters and a story line that draws the viewer in, the show deserves every piece of appreciation it gets.

I for one can't wait to see what the final season holds!