When it comes to sci-fi TV shows, audiences expect to suspend their disbelief, or for the series to have a few bad seasons, butOrphan Blacksubverts all our expectations. Starring the incredible Tatiana Maslany in her best roles, long before she was starring inShe-Hulk,Orphan Blackunfolds beautifully throughout its five-season run,making each installment just as thrilling as the last.
Though science fiction is known for requiring a lot of exposition that comes off as clunky, this never happens inOrphan Black, which never struggles to surprise the audience while keeping us firmly rooted in the logic of the world. ThisTV show was fun to come up with theories forfrom beginning to end, asOrphan Blackconsistently revinvented the concept of the mystery box.
Orphan Black Is A Sci-Fi Masterpiece
Its Cast, Story, & World-Building Are Unmatched
Though it’s far from the first work of science fiction to explore the possibility that cloning might become possible,Orphan Blackremains one of the most groundbreaking in recent memory.Following the life of Sarah Manning after she learns that she’s one of many cloneswho were born as the result of an experiment, this is only the beginning of Sarah’s adventure.
Like all thebest sci-fi TV shows of all time,Orphan Blackdoesn’t play its full hand upfront, instead stringing the audience along, learning about the depth of the corruption and conspiracy surrounding Sarah’s conception as she does. However,it’s Maslany who sells it, embodying each of the clones with equal dedicationand realism, making them feel singular.
The reason we’re drawn to speculative fiction shows likeOrphan Blackisn’t just for their otherworldly qualities, though this is certainly part of it. However, it’s the deeper, character-driven moments andemotional investments that set a project likeOrphan Blackapart,and the series understands this by making us root for Sarah and her daughter.
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Orphan Black Was A Perfect Show For 5 Seasons
All theclones Tatiana Maslany played inOrphan Blackplay a part in crafting the texture of the world, and the same goes for each installment of the series. Never content to rely on the inherently gripping premise,Orphan Blackpushes itself to evolve with the times as Sarah does.However, the new plot developments never feel outlandish or rushed; they fit easily into the existing world.
Getting to watchOrphan Blackfor the first time today would be a thrill ride, but it’s just as fun to rewatch it.
Unfortunately, the long-awaited spinoff,Orphan Black: Echoes, was canceled after one season (viaVariety). However, this doesn’t disrupt the legacy of the originalOrphan Black, which has aged brilliantly, as it was well ahead of its time when it premiered in 2013. Getting to watchOrphan Blackfor the first time today would be a thrill ride, but it’s just as fun to rewatch it.
It helps that Maslany is the heart and soul of every season, andOrphan Blacknever hesitates to take full advantage of what her performance brings to the table.Orphan Blackroots itself in the dark, gritty reality of Sarah’s life while digging into the lore and fantastical backstories that make it unlike anything else on television.
