[TV] Orphan Black - season 1
It's been a good year for me up to this point as far as TV watching goes, at least in terms of quantity compared to the last couple of years. The latest series of Sherlock was decent, the second season of Arrow is entertaining and possibly stronger than the first, and I've been able to catch up with some old shows that I enjoyed when I was younger. Then there was Orphan Black. I'm a bit late to the party with this one, and despite being only ten episodes long it's taken me some time to get through the first season. That's definitely not a comment on the quality of the show, more on my own viewing habits, but I am so pleased that I took the plunge as it's an excellent sci-fi show.
Orphan Black doesn't exactly make a secret of the fact that it's about clones. (Credit: geekwire.com)
The show's premise is that it's set in the current world, making everything very familiar to its viewers, but that genetic manipulation technology is far more advanced than is the case in reality. Specifically, human cloning has been achieved, illegally and in secret, hence all the women with the same face. That might seem like a spoiler, but the idea that the main character is a clone is hinted at in episode one, and revealed in episode two. After that it's just the way things are, and the show is more about the characters, their relationships, and their drive to find out who they are, where they came from, and why they were created. The fact that they're clones remains the focus, but it's more the motivation for everything that happens rather than the be all and end all of the show. It's dealt with quite matter of factly actually, which I found refreshing.
Sarah, Helena, Alison, Cosima, and 'Beth'. Tatiana Maslany gives each clone their own distinct personality,
in a fantastic display of quality acting. (Credit: etonline.com)
What makes this show really work is the performance of Maslany, who portrays every single version of the main character. In this first series alone there are four main clones - Sarah, Cosima (a genetic biologist), Alison (a soccer mum), and Helena (the crazy psycho killer). There are also appearances by three more, two of whom show up only fleetingly before dying, and the last of whom I suspect will become increasingly important. What's amazing is that each is clearly a distinct character, and that it is always possible to tell them apart, even when they're pretending to be each other (which gets confusing!). Yes, there are differences of makeup and wardrobe that help, but Maslany imbues each with their own vocal and physical mannerisms such that you would believe they were played by different people if it wasn't for the face. Clever camera work means that two clones very, very rarely have their faces in the same shot, so it really is Maslany doing all the personification. It's a superb performance, and the show is worth watching just for that alone.
Gratifyingly though, there are other reasons to watch as well. The story has moments of high drama and incredible tension, as well as some truly shocking turns of events (one in particular involving Kira made me literally jump out of my chair). The rest of the cast too are at the top of the game; I'm particularly fond of Felix, Sarah's gay adopted brother, and the grumpy police officer Art, who she's forced to work with as part of her deception. This is, at its heart, a mystery show, and one which is loathe to reveal the answers. Or at least, each answer brings with it new questions, and there are plots going on here the full extent of which have yet to be made clear.
These two are my favourite supporting characters, and couldn't be more different. Felix, the day foster brother,
and Art, the serious, down-to-Earth police officer. (Credit: bbcamerica.com & digitalspy.co.uk)
Something else that's worth noting about the show is its inclusivity, and how little fuss it makes about gender, sexuality, and race. It's just the way things are, and everyone accepts it. You've got heterosexual characters, homosexual characters (of both genders), various different ethnicities and nationalities, different income levels, etc, etc. None are place above the others, and it's just incidental detail. However that fact that this is notable says something about the current state of television an politics in both the USA and this country; I think Orphan Black should be applauded for effectively making some very important points without seeming to make a fuss about them in any way.
Orphan Black is worth watching, not just for fans of sci-fi, but for fans of good, solid drama too. In some ways it reminds me of Lost, but less fantastical (which seems odd to say about a show with human clones). Do yourself a favour: watch it, and marvel at one of the best acting performances you'll have seen in some time.
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