Orphan Black - The Complete Series (Region One USA/Canada)

BBC America has long been a source of great entertainment drama geared towards adults. An example of this was "MI-5", which kept me glued to the TV. Now BBC brings us "Orphan Black". Five stars is not enough to express my feelings for this show. It's billed as Sci-Fi, but don't expect "Buck Rogers" or "Star Trek". This is a serious drama with good writing, some occasional light moments. It's more like a Rod Serling story for "The Twilight Zone", another series I've always admired.The story begins with Sarah Manning (Tatiana Maslany) arriving at a train station in Ontario, Canada where she comes face to face with another young woman, Beth Childs, who looks identical to her. Within seconds she witness the woman leap in front of an oncoming train to her death. Sarah takes the woman's purse that she left behind and leaves the scene. She then goes to Child's apartment and proceeds to steal her identity. Sarah is after all a street hustler who knows how to make the best of a bad situation. She learns that Beth had a bank account with $ 75,000 and she makes plans to take the money out, Beth's boyfriend Paul (Dylan Bruce) pops in and she aggressively makes love to him. The next day ,however is a slight turn of events for Sarah. The bank tells her she has to wait a few days to withdraw that amount of cash and while on her way out she is taken by another man who thinks she's Beth,Art Bell (Kevin Hanchard) who insists she goes with him. It's here we learn that Beth is detective on the metropolitan police department and is up for a departmental review because of a shooting of an unarmed civilian. Can't get worse you think, Sara then meets with another woman, a red headed German look alike who is very quickly shot by sniper who almost kills Sarah/Beth. It's then that Sarah and we learn that all of the characters played Ms. Maslany are human clones. If you think I've given away the story line too much, don't worry, there are lots of twists and turns and double crosses every step of the way to hold your interest. Ms. Maslany plays all the clones that occur. By the final episode of the season we meet 5 who are still alive. She is brilliant in adapting different mannerisms and accents to play each role.I'm hooked on this series and can't wait for season 2 to start on April 19 on BBC America.April 8, 2014 - I am updating this review. I have been watching it a second time and would like to comment on the various clone characters played by Tatiana Maslany.Alison Hendrix - This character is described as a "Soccer Mom". She lives in suburbia with her husband and two adopted children. She's tough , gun toting who is quick to draw a weapon when threatened (or at least if she thinks she is.) Yet despite these characteristics, she is warm and loving around her children and even Sarah's daughter Kiera. She somehow manages to provide comic relief to the plot at times like one of the "Desperate Housewives" transplanted. This is especially true when paired with "Felix", Sarah's flamboyantly gay foster brother.Here's a clip of the Alison character:[...]Cosima Niehaus - This is the cool head one. A very brainy Phd candidate in "EVO-DEVO" (Evolutionary Development). We learn after a couple of episodes that she is lesbian (or maybe Bi).Helena - Helena is the villianess. we learn early on in the series, she is killing off the other clones. She has all the killer qualities of someone from a "James Bond" movie. Despite that we occaisionaly see a soft naive side in the series. She is victimized by her "Monitor" with tortue and abuse, permitting us to feel empathy for her at times.In much the same way you would feel for James Cagney in one of his gangster movies. Here are a couple of my favorite scenes involving Tatiana:[...][...]Sarah/ Beth = I'm pairing these two characters because I feel Ms. Maslany actually plays them as one. Beth is really like Sarah's alter ego. Sarah becomes Beth at times even after she is know longer playing Beth. Sarah starts out only concerned with taking Beth's money and fleeing with her daughter. As the series progresses, she winds up devoting herself to the cause of helping Alison and Cosima ,just as Beth did.The show provides us with different characters despite the fact they all have identical genetics. this leads one to speculate that the show is advancing the theory that we are all products of our enviroment. Why else would 5 ladies end up in so many different situations in life ?

First, I loved it on BD. Next, several 1 star reviewers got it wrong. For example, one says it's a one season wonder, while "Entertainment Weekly" on July 17, 2013 has an internet article about: " 'Orphan Black' creators tease season 2: 'Expect to hit the ground running' ". Another critic here points to an aspect ratio of 1.33, which is a known, occasional error made by Amazon for NTSC [USA standard] high def. The show on BD is now shown by Amazon to be 1.78 widescreen, as expected.This show is a suspense, science-fiction containing, mystery-procedural starring Tatiana Maslany as the title "orphan" [Sarah]; although Black is not Sarah's last name. The "s' " is not a typo; and Tatiana Maslany plays all the "twin" clone characters. That she slips smoothly from Sarah's personality to the distinct character of other clone(s), is a measure of her fine acting chops. [The finest example of this I have ever seen, is one unforgettable scene in Kirosawa's "Kagemusha" where the lowly person character transforms "on stage" to the feudal lord character.] There are multiple puzzles to be worked on in the series, as to who is doing what to whom, what the various relationships are, etc. Some portions of a brief graphic nature may offend, yet they are in harmony with the spirit, sense of the show. [Minor spoilers] There are some "street-life" characters, and there is a gay club scene in one part. However, the world is as it is, and it includes all kinds, as a fair observer will agree. One clone is the proverbial, suburban soccer-mom!As a suspense mystery with someone murdered at one point and others in danger, the show has a somewhat dark or overcast look, with a somewhat dull color scheme so the colors underscore the nature of of the show as a murder mystery. Yet, on BD the show has a crispness and wonderfulness in its color palette and design that is seductive, wonderful. The last episode of season 1 is action packed throughout, and leaves multiple cliffhangers for season 2. I can't wait. Grrrrr.I first tried this show as the "HD" trailer, then the first episode [then free via Amazon Prime] with my 50 MB/s internet connection, and the Amazon prime streaming was lacking, mediocre at best. The window on my computer showing the episode was smallish, and the crispness and richness of my later BD experience was very much lacking. Streaming sucks the life out of what is otherwise a fine show IMO. Not to mention that the sound is much improved on BD into my HDTV's A/V setup, compared to listening to computer audio. On Blu-ray Disc, I find this show to be compelling, very enjoyable, while the "same show" was sort of a bust, okay at best, for me when streamed. I would think that the show is about PG-13, NOT for small kids.There are a number of strong female lead TV shows on these days, including Continuum, Covert Affairs, and Orphan Black, all of which I like in various ways. "Orphan Black" is its own unique thing, a treat for those who like intelligent puzzles and tolerate various lifestyles. The DNA, nature vs. nurture, or heredity vs. environment question is intelligently investigated in this intriguing show.

- I had heard from many people that this series was good. GOOD is an understatement !! - The storyline is amazing. Captivating would be better a better word. - Superb acting. With great direction. - I will be ordering the other seasons. - I would highly recommend this series.

Die Hauptdarstellerin hat einen Oskar verdient und nicht die alten säcke aus Hollywood die uns mit 4o kg abnehmivents beeindrucken wollen . Gehört zu meinen Lieblingsserien

Première saison absolument géniale car le scenario et top et très bien développé de cette série ma foi un peu trop longuette car un peu moins captivante au fil des saisons qui s'enchaînent.Difficile de rester concentré car le développement devient un peu trop délayé à partir de la troisième saison.J'ai voulu regarder les cinq saisons, mais j'ai été déçue par la fin de l'histoire.Par contre le jeu des acteurs des principaux personnages est très bon.

Produzione BBC americana che è un ibrido tra l'eleganza inglese e il ritmo statunitense.La trama è improbabile, una serie di eventi che hanno le stesse possibilità di verificarsi di una vincita al super enalotto, ma superato questo particolare gli episodi avvincono e non poco.Sarah, orfana e ragazza madre, torna in città per rivedere la figlia in affidamento e il fratellastro, ed è testimone alla stazione dei treni, del suicidio di una ragazza in tutto e per tutto identica a lei. Scioccata dal'evento si appropria dei documenti della misteriosa sosia, scopre che si chiama Elisabeth, visita la sua casa, scopre che ha un sostanzioso conto in banca che la può aiutare.Ecco che con l'aiuto del fratellastro scambia la propria identità con quella della sosia defunta e si finge morta appropriandosi di una nuova vita. Ben presto scoprirà di avere altri sosia, tutti monitorati da conoscenti insospettabili, e tutti in pericolo di vita.Qual'è il passato di Sarah? Cosa la lega alle altre donne identiche a lei? Quale esperimento c'è dietro a tutto questo? Insomma non ci si annoia nemmeno per un istante.Trama originalissima e improbabile, ma tensione degna di Hitchcock. Attori nella media, sufficiente la prova della Maslany, ottimo lavoro su inquadrature, movimenti di telecamera e commento sonoro molto contenuto.Una serie diversissima dalle altre, una bella sorpresa, che spero esca anche in versione italiana.

Me gusta mucho este pack de DVD, su calidad me ha sorprendido, pues he comprado muchos DVD que se veían como a rayas. En esta ocasión se ven con mucha nitidez.Otra cosa positiva es que la temporada se divide en los 10 capítulo, y, a su vez, cada capítulo en 4 escenas, así que es sencillo localizar escenas concretas que queramos ver, sin tener que pasar media serie.Lo único que he echado en falta son contenidos extras.Y por decir otra cosa, creo que deberían haber puesto a Alison en lugar de a Beth en el segundo DVD, al menos sí han puesto a Sarah y Cosima en el 1 y el 3.