'Orphan Black' Was Basically About Being a Family and Tatiana Maslany's Awesomeness

Three years ago, I fell in love with this show about a troubled, unruly young woman named Sarah Manning who witnesses the suicide of police detective Beth Childs, who to her shock is a perfect doppelganger of hers.  This opens the door for her to discover the truth of her real identity: she’s a clone and there are countless others like her around the world.  She gets to meet some of them, and, together, along with their friends and families, they assemble the “Clone Club”, with the intent of solving the many puzzles of their remarkable nature and protecting themselves from the various foes that threaten them.

It has recently aired its last episode, indicating that the story of my beloved Clone Club has come to an end.  It was a solid finale as far as finales go.  It wrapped up the series generally well.  It brought a strong resolution to the conflict and provided ample time for a heartfelt denouement.  In addition, it finally gave the definite reason – and a funny one at that – why it’s titled “Orphan Black.”

It was a satisfying finish.  However, to be honest, I’m not completely, perfectly satisfied with its run.  Yes, it’s a pretty great show as a whole, but there were some stuff I wish had been done.  For one, the “sestras” never truly expanded from the main four – Sarah, Cosima, Allison, and Helena – that the first two seasons had established.  Other clones were shown, of course.  But, disappointingly, none became part of the inner circle.  I think it would have been an improvement if some – or even just one – of them became one of the sestras.  If Krystal had become one of the sestras, she would have inserted a unique comical flavor to the sestras’ dynamic.  If M.K. had become one of the sestras, her death would have had more weighty emotional effect.  And if Rachel had become one of the sestras – meaning, she was accepted into the Clone Club despite all the evil she had done – her path to redemption would have been more powerful.

I also think that its first three seasons were where this series had been at its best.  I’m not saying that the last two seasons had been bad.  But I do believe the storytelling already peaked in its second season, mostly carrying over into the third, and by its fourth season, though still rewarding, it was no longer as fun, engaging, and well-layered as I initially found it.  In my opinion, the show’s greatest moments, biggest surprises, most stimulating mysteries, most impactful drama, and best narrative execution all happened within the first three seasons.  If I have to rank the seasons from greatest to least, this is the order: 2, 3, 1, 4, and 5.

Nevertheless, all in all, Orphan Black has been a blast.  Even at its weakest, it was superior to most other shows’ peaks.  And what truly made this show quite outstanding was Tatiana Maslany.  Due to the show’s premise, she was required to play multiple characters; it was her shot to showcase her range and versatility as an actress.  And she delivered.  She knocked it out of the park with every clone she had to bring life to.  Each one was well-realized, nuanced, and distinctive.  You are well aware that one person is portraying all these characters.  But, still, at some points, you unconsciously forget this detail, as Tatiana gets immersed and disappears in her roles.  If nothing else, Orphan Black was the opportunity to be awed by Tatiana Maslany.

Orphan Black began as a science fiction mystery thriller about a clone finding her real identity.  But, as it progressed, it didn’t stay focused on just cloning, but also dared to go to weirder science fiction directions.  And while unlocking the secrets of their biology served as the Clone Club’s initial motivation, it eventually developed into protecting and fighting for the family which they had become.  So while Tatiana Maslany’s performances kept the show fascinating no matter what, the fact that the heart of the show was about being a family – which it remained amid the ever-shifting, convoluted  story – was what kept it endearing no matter what.  All these resulted to making Orphan Black constantly intriguing and touching.

I’m definitely gonna miss this wonderful show.