Netflix Thriller Sends Viewers Spiraling as Lead Star Secretly Juggles Five Identities

Ever thought playing just one solid TV character was tricky enough? Imagine having to juggle five, each with their own quirks, quirks, and you know—occasional life-or-death clone drama. Welcome to the mind-bending world of Orphan Black, where Tatiana Maslany isn’t just stealing scenes… she’s practically stealing the entirety of the show from, well, herself . Honestly, if multitasking were an Olympic sport, Maslany would be going for gold and probably presenting herself the medal at the podium.

Now, let’s be real—most series struggle to keep a single season from turning to melodramatic mush. But Orphan Black? It’s got five jaw-dropping seasons, a cult-like fanbase, and that cherry-on-top 93% rating on Rotten Tomatoes . The premise alone is so deliciously weird: you witness someone jump in front of a train and realize—wait, is that me?! Clone chaos ensues. And that’s just the first episode.

If you’ve ever found yourself at 3 a.m., eyes glued to your screen, swearing you’d only watch “one more”—yep, I see you—this show will absolutely wreck your sleep schedule in the most satisfying way . With an 8.3/10 on IMDb and nearly universal praise, Orphan Black isn’t just a sci-fi thriller. It’s a masterclass in acting, narrative twists, and seriously addictive television.

Curious how one actress can out-act entire ensembles while unraveling one of the wildest mysteries on TV? Trust me—you won’t want to miss what happens next. LEARN MORE

Playing one role in a show so good that it gets a huge fan base is hard enough.

In the case of a show so acclaimed it got 93 percent on Rotten Tomatoes and a rabid fanbase however, the lead actress plays a whopping five major characters, on top of a number of others.

The series, which has five seasons, is available to watch on Netflix and for free on ITVX, making it the perfect bank holiday watch.

The concept alone is mind-bending, following a young woman who witnesses a suicide only to realise the person who killed themselves looks exactly like her.

Called Orphan Black and star Tatiana Maslany predominantly plays the protagonist Sarah, who goes on to find out that the person who died was her clone.

Over the course of the series Maslany plays five major characters, as well as a number of cameos and short appearances as other clones.

The series came into discussion on a recent post on the subreddit r/NetflixBestOf when a fan asked for recommendations for ‘shows so addicting that you had to keep watching the next episode right away?’

One comment was shocked that the Maslany led show hadn’t been mentioned, saying: “Orphan Black definitely….can’t believe this hasn’t been mentioned.”

Another reply that didn’t realise that the series was even on Netflix went on to say: “That show had me up until 3:00 a.m on a work night I could not stop watching.”

The series was incredibly well reviewed, with four of the five seasons all receiving a score of 94 percent or higher on Rotten Tomatoes.

Add to that an impressive score of 8.3/10 on IMDb and there is a clear consensus that this is an unmissable show.

Tatiana Maslany stars as multiple clones of herself (BBC America)

Produced by BBC America, the show’s five season run spanned just four years, and ultimately led to a spin-off show Orphan Black: Echoes.

William Thomas of Empire Magazine said of the show: “[Orphan Black] flits happily between creepy and comic without missing a beat.”

Kelly Lawler of USA Today was full of praise for star Tatiana Maslany’s performance.

She said: “The first few outings of BBC America’s light science fiction drama were a revelation, and not just because of star Tatiana Maslany’s Emmy-winning performance as multiple clones with distinct personalities.”

Maslany ultimately won a Primetime Emmy in 2016 for her role in the show, as well as two further nominations.

Speaking about the show after the season five finale, Maslany told the Hollywood Reporter: “It’s a show about outsiders and people relate and empathize with that and see themselves in that.

“I don’t think any of us really feel like we’re inside of that; at least I certainly don’t.

“I guess people are just willing to go on a journey that felt imaginative. It felt genre-bending, so people were excited by how different it was.”

Orphan Black is available to watch on Netflix and ITVX in the UK.