On a train platform, she accidentally witnesses the suicide of an identical stranger named Beth.
As she encounters clone after clone, Sarah learns she’s never been an orphan.
Maslany got into character for several additional clones (RIP) and carefully assigned individuality to each iteration.
Image via Federico Napoli
By the series 2017 series finale, it had gained an immense fan following and critical praise.
Maslany garnered a staggering 39 acting nominations, including a Primetime Emmy Award fora performanceThe Guardiancalled “Olympic-level acting.
“Here are some episodic highlights.
Alison calls Sarah to help, and she obliges an increasingly inebriated Alison with a bit of clone swap.
There’s a lot to unpack in “Variations Under Domestication.”
Hot glue as a torture tool?
Uninvited party “guests” to raise the stakes?
Seed of affection growing betwixt Cosima and Delphine?
Check, Check, Check.
While Sarah investigates a derelict church containing clone files, Helena stirs up trouble at a local bar.
Helena is hauled off to the police station but let go, escorted out by a former cult member.
Some of the best moments in the episode occur during Helena and Sarah’s bonding excursion.
image via BBC America
Back at the ranch, Sarah learns of Helena’s kidnapping at the hands of an unhinged P.T.
Convenient timing aside, “One Fettered Slave” was a compelling hour of television.
The episode is primarily centered around Helena, which suits fans (and the plot) just fine.
image via BBC America
Props to everyone involved for demonstrating how to finish a series with fireworksandthoughtful cohesion.
The episode finds Sarah implementing destructive patterns of old (partying, excessive drinking, random sex, etc.
), exacerbated by Mrs. S’s assertion that Sarah is to blame for Kendall’s fate.
image via BBC America
Sarah has reached rock bottom, assisted by a harsh Ghost Beth at the train station.
Felix is dispatched and saves the day while Rachel gets a history lesson.
“The Antisocialism of Sex” got dark.Reallydark.
image via BBC America
Despite their bond, Sarah, Cosima, and Alison exercised willful stoicism instead of leaning on each other.
While individual character reactions were understandable, fans breathed sighs of relief when Cosima scrapped the cheek-worm plan.
Obviously, with a title containing the popular 18th-century French-preferred method of capital punishment, heads wereboundto roll.
image via BBC America
The Season 4 opener finally produced pieces of her backstory in an illuminating, ultimately sad series of flashbacks.
Paul adds a last-minute layer to his historically one-dimensional character and takes one (grenade) for the team.
Audiences have waited patiently for illusive Beth morsels and are gifted a savory appetizer through Sarah’s drug-induced dreams.
image via BBC America
High stakes and scorpion snacks for the win.
Fans can exhale, too; all primary clones survived and lived to see and celebrate Helena in motherhood.
With so many series finale misfires,Orphan Blackhit the bullseye.
image via BBC America
Familiar themes of impulsivity (Sarah!
), misplaced blame, and missing information converge as viewers watch in horrified awe.
It’s a hell of an episode and an excellent series.
image via BBC America
KEEP READING:Krysten Ritter Joins the Clone Club in New ‘Orphan Black: Echoes’ Images
image via BBC America
image via BBC America
