Orphan Black

If you know me and have seen me in the past few years, you have probably heard me mention (aka talk obsessively about) Orphan Black. The reason for this is that it is an awesome tv show that deserves much praise, with an uber-talented lead actress who deserves all of the Emmys. It is a show about clones becoming aware of each other and fighting for their independence and safety from those who created them. It is a science fiction endeavor with exploration of nature vs nurture, medical ethics, and gender roles.

In the opening scene of the show we see our main protagonist, Sarah, on a train platform arguing with someone over the phone. When she hangs up she makes her way toward a woman who is crying loudly. The woman (later identified as Beth) turns just as Sarah is about to reach her and we see that she looks just like Sarah. Then Beth takes her own life by walking off the train platform in front of an incoming train. Our anti-hero of a protagonist, Sarah, freaks out and then runs off with Beth’s purse, deciding to impersonate her in order to steal her money. Did I mention our protagonist was a drug dealing con artist?

The story certainly starts off with a bang and continues to increase in intensity throughout the first season. As we move along we meet the clones, particularly the wonderfully suburban Allison, the science nerd Cosima, the psychotic Helena, and the corporately corrupt Rachel. There are other clones along the way, but these are our main crew.

There are two things character-wise that make this show amazing. The first is that Tatiana Maslany plays all of the clones and you have to watch each episode more than once because during half of the first viewing you are thinking, “oh my god, this is the same actress – how…” Second, it would be very easy for a show about clones to pigeon-hole each character into a stereotype. But it doesn’t. Each character is wonderfully deep and complex.

Yes, Allison is a suburban housewife and mother but she also secures a gun for Sarah and teaches her use it. Her relationship with her husband, which at the beginning we see as strained and superficial, becomes one of the best on television. “Hello Donnie!”

The makers of the show know all this, and as they are aware of Maslany’s acting talents, often have her play one of the clones impersonating another clone. It would be easy for Maslany to slip into playing the impersonated clone, but no, you can see elements of the original clone in those scenes. How does she do it?!

Another aspect of this show is its female-centricity. It easily passes the Bechdel Test and even fails a reverse test. The women in this show are the main attraction here and the male characters are the support roles. The most complex and featured of the male roles is Sarah’s foster brother Felix, who is a gay anti-hero in his own right. In an industry where complex female leads are rare, it is refreshing to see so many wonderful characters in this show.

Outside of the show, Tatiana Maslany is an amazing person; a feminist, an LGBT ally, and a comedian. Don’t you want to support her? I do!