Orphan Black
Orphan Black
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Orphan Black

"She's been duped."

7.8
Yr 2013
Rt 43m
Status Ended
Drama Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Your Verdict

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Series Brief

Overview

A streetwise hustler is pulled into a compelling conspiracy after witnessing the suicide of a girl who looks just like her.

Critical Reception

What critics are saying

Score 82 /100

Orphan Black is widely praised as an inventive, confident, and highly entertaining science fiction drama. Critics frequently highlight the exceptional performance of lead actress Tatiana Maslany, who is noted for her ability to inhabit multiple distinct characters with nuance. The show is celebrated for its unique blend of mystery, quirky humor, and biological sci-fi themes.

While largely acclaimed for its refreshing vision and pacing, some critics characterize the show as a mixture of high-concept drama and occasionally predictable, clichéd tropes. Despite these minor criticisms, the series is generally regarded as a smart and compelling genre entry that successfully balances dark, suspenseful plot twists with lighthearted character dynamics.

“An edge-of-your-seat mystery thriller, quirky comedy and bizarre family drama.”

“Tatiana Maslany... superbly plays many distinct characters.”

“This is a series that feels as confident as any you’ll see on TV right now.”

“Jordan Gavaris... manages to steal every scene that he appears in, and his subplot and antics add the splash of comedy that really helps the series take off.”

Why fans love it

Tatiana Maslany anchors this 2013 science fiction drama by navigating the complex boundaries of identity. The premise hinges on a high-stakes conspiracy involving genetic enhancement and clandestine experiments, but the core narrative remains focused on the disparate individuals caught in the crosshairs of a eugenics program. These characters are bound by biological origin yet separated by vastly different upbringings and motivations.

The show succeeds by balancing its darker questions about the ethics of human cloning with the grounded, occasionally messy reality of life for the protagonists. It explores how a shared genetic code shapes a person while simultaneously testing the limits of loyalty and sibling relationships under extreme duress. Rather than centering solely on the mechanics of the science, the writing favors the personal stakes involved in an involuntary, life-altering experiment.

Featured Players

Cast

Credited 75
Regulars 10
Longest run 50 eps
Tatiana Maslany
Tatiana Maslany
as Sarah / Cosima / Alison / Helena / Rachel
50 episodes
Dylan Bruce
Dylan Bruce
as Paul Dierden
32 episodes
Jordan Gavaris
Jordan Gavaris
as Felix 'Fee' Dawkins
50 episodes
Josh Vokey
Josh Vokey
as Scott Smith
39 episodes
Maria Doyle Kennedy
Maria Doyle Kennedy
as Siobhan 'Mrs. S' Sadler
50 episodes
Michael Mando
Michael Mando
as Victor 'Vic' Schmidt
20 episodes
Ari Millen
Ari Millen
as Mark / Rudy / Miller / Ira
38 episodes
Kevin Hanchard
Kevin Hanchard
as Detective Arthur 'Art' Bell
50 episodes
Show 67 more
Kristian Bruun as Donald 'Donnie' Hendrix 45 episodes Evelyne Brochu as Delphine Cormier 33 episodes Matt Frewer as Dr. Aldous Leekie 11 episodes Skyler Wexler as Kira Manning 39 episodes Ron Lea as Lieutenant Gavin Hardcastle 11 episodes Daniel Kash as Tomas 5 episodes Natalie Lisinska as Aynsley Norris 7 episodes Eric Johnson as Chad Norris 3 episodes Michiel Huisman as Cal Morrison 6 episodes Matthew Bennett as Daniel Rosen 6 episodes Diana Salvatore as Bobby 5 episodes Millie Davis as Gemma Hendrix 16 episodes Drew Davis as Oscar Hendrix 10 episodes Jean Yoon as Janis Beckwith 4 episodes David Richmond-Peck as Olivier Duval 5 episodes Terra Hazelton as Sarah Stubbs 8 episodes Peter Outerbridge as Henrik "Hank" Johanssen 5 episodes Kristin Booth as Bonnie Johanssen 6 episodes Zoé De Grand Maison as Gracie Johanssen 17 episodes Julian Richings as Benjamin Kertland 7 episodes Andrew Gillies as Ethan Duncan 6 episodes Tom McCamus as Dr. Alan Nealon 7 episodes Amanda Brugel as Marci Coates 5 episodes Kyra Harper as Dr. Virginia Coady 15 episodes Justin Chatwin as Jason Kellerman 4 episodes Alison Steadman as Kendall Malone 5 episodes Sarain Boylan as Astrid 3 episodes Raymond Ablack as Raj Singh 4 episodes Allie MacDonald as Trina 4 episodes Rosemary Dunsmore as Professor Susan Duncan 14 episodes Joel Thomas Hynes as Dizzy 4 episodes James Frain as Ferdinand Chevalier 8 episodes Jessalyn Wanlim as Evie Cho 8 episodes Lauren Hammersley as Adele 8 episodes Inga Cadranel as Detective Angela "Angie" Deangelis 15 episodes Nicholas Rose as Colin 8 episodes Tony Cianchino as Pouchy 3 episodes David Vena as Joao 3 episodes Priya Rao as Meera Kumar 4 episodes Earl McLean Jr. as Teddy 3 episodes Kristi Angus as Charity Simms 3 episodes Alex Karzis as Alexander 3 episodes Anika Johnson as Pianist / Backup Singer 4 episodes Barbara Johnston as Kelsey / Backup Singer 4 episodes Kent Sheridan as Conrad 3 episodes Carter Hayden as Paul 3 episodes Raven Dauda as Yvonne 3 episodes Cynthia Galant as Young Rachel / Charlotte 18 episodes Ryan Blakely as Reverend Mike 7 episodes Carlos Gonzalez-Vio as Dr. Silva 4 episodes Ksenia Solo as Shay Davydov 6 episodes Tom Barnett as David Benchman 4 episodes Ian Matthews as Frank 4 episodes Miranda Edwards as Roxie 5 episodes Gord Rand as Detective Martin "Marty" Duko 9 episodes Calwyn Shurgold as Hell Wizard 15 episodes Scott Wentworth as Dr. Ian Van Lier 5 episodes Géza Kovács as The Messenger 6 episodes Jenessa Grant as Mud 5 episodes Elyse Levesque as Detective Maddy Enger 6 episodes Andrew Moodie as Simon Frontenac 7 episodes Stuart Hughes as Cooper 4 episodes Sirena Gulamgaus as Aisha Yasin 5 episodes Homa Kameh as Aisha Yasin's Mother 4 episodes Stephen McHattie as Percival "P. T." Westmorland 7 episodes Eileen Sword as Sister Irina 6 episodes Alex Ozerov-Meyer as Ramone 4 episodes
Production Board

Crew

Costume Design
Debra Hanson Laurie Drew
Set Designer
Doug Slater
Construction Coordinator
Allan Westlake
Camera Operator
Kaelin McCowan
Art Direction
Michaela Cheyne Kim Karon
Director of Photography
David Frazee Aaron Morton
Actor's Assistant
Jessica Stein
Post Production Supervisor
David Huband
Property Master
Geoff Murrin
Steadicam Operator
Sean Jensen John Colavecchia
Lead Set Dresser
Frank Consiglo Jeff Fruitman
Prosthetic Designer
Paul Jones Chris Bridges
Transportation Captain
Jerome McCann
First Assistant Camera
Benjamin Smith Andy Jekabsons
Production Design
Ian Brock John Dondertman
Stunt Coordinator
Randy Butcher
Set Decoration
Andy Loew
Assistant Costume Designer
Darci Cheyne
Unit Publicist
Cynthia Amsden
Key Grip
Paolo Perin
Key Hair Stylist
Katarina Chovanec
Transportation Coordinator
Chris Radley-Walters
Signal Match

Similarity

Where Orphan Black overlaps with other shows, and exactly what they have in common.

Keyword Cloud

Keywords

sibling relationship clone experiment eugenics identity swap genetic enhancement
Technical Sheet

Details

First Aired
March 30, 2013
Status
Ended
Episode Runtime
43 minutes
Origin
US, CA
TMDB Votes
1,394