Jennifer Pitt

Orphan Black – The Newest Offering from SPACE

I tend to be a little on the selective side when it comes to what I spend my television time on – what….Y&R is a classic!!!!! I don’t often indulge in pointless television watching – I need something that draws me in and keeps me wanting more. Y&R aside (come one, we all need that brainless comedown at the end of a busy day), and at the risk of sounding like a pretentious hipster (I’M NOT!), there isn’t a lot on right now that I am drawn to.

Sarah finds herself in the middle of an unravelling mess as she witnesses the suicide of a woman who could be her twin, and subsequently takes her purse with the intention of solving all her own problems by draining the woman’s bank accounts. Deciding quickly to plunge herself into this Beth Childs’ life headfirst, things very quickly go south but the sure-footed and streetwise Sarah is quick to adapt to her ‘new’ life. Her old life, however, is not so keen on letting her go – she has a past that she is determined to shake.

Starring Tatiana Maslany (Cas & Dylan, Picture Day) as Sarah, Kevin Hanchard (Republic of Doyle, Four Brothers) as Art, Beth’s coworker, Jordan Gavaris (Degrassi: TNG, Unnatural History) as Felix, Sarah’s foster-brother/accomplice, and (one of my favourites) Maria Doyle Kennedy (Downton Abbey, The Tudors) as Sarah and Felix`s foster mother, this show does not disappoint. Packed with intrigue, action, and even a little sex, it is intelligent enough to let you put some things together yourself, while still showing you enough to do it  – I take issue with shows who dumb it down because they don’t trust their viewers to put it together themselves; conversely, it also is exceedingly irritating to watch a show that is so highbrow that no one gets it. The writers on Orphan Black have struck a perfect balance and have hit that sweet spot in which we are given enough information to be able to put it together ourselves. And believe me, there is pieces to put together. There are no loose ends left in setting up the background of the story, and the only thing that I was left with at the end was an intense need to see the rest.

Co-creators Graeme Manson (Flashpoint) and John Fawcett


(Spartacus) wear more than a few hats on getting this show to air, with both serving as Executive Producer, and Manson as writer and Fawcett as director.

Premiering on March 30th at 9:00 0n Space, Orphan Black could very well be the new must-see TV.

Orphan Black will air Saturdays at 9:00 ET on Space. Check your local listings.

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