The first season of Orphan Black: Echoes concluded tonight as a new generation of the Clone Club came together and learned that there are sisters out there. While the series was entertaining, much like our first impressions of the series premiere, it doesn’t quite live up to the original.
Early on, the show manages to draw the viewer in with its intriguing mysteries and suspenseful thrills. Things move at a good pace, gradually providing answers as shocking moments and bigger questions emerge. Unfortunately Orphan Black: Echoes fails to maintain momentum in the second half. The revelations aren’t as impactful, and the clearer the bigger picture becomes, the harder it is to buy into the grand, nefarious plan.
This is partly due to a very one-note villain. James Hiroyuki Liao plays Paul Darros as cold and calculating, but there isn’t much substance after that. There is only a brief flashback to paint a more sympathetic character, but it is ineffective and fails to overcome his dark deeds in the present. Additionally, while his plan does come with ethical concerns, there is no clear threat, so it is difficult to see the urgency.
Although Krysten Ritter stars as Lucy, the story surprisingly revolves more around the development of Jules Lee, the younger version we meet. Of all the other versions, she is the most in the dark, and we learn everything that happens through her eyes. Amanda Fix shows her versatility, being everything from a teenager with a lot of self-confidence, to a crafty bully who can wriggle out of hostile situations, to a person with a big heart who has to fight for what is right. Jules is more of the heir to Sarah Manning than Lucy is.
Orphan Black: Echoes adds a clever generational perspective to the Clone Club that gives the show a unique feel. The moments when they’re all together are fun and playful because of how they interact and tease each other. There’s good chemistry between Ritter, Fix, and later Rya Kihlstedt. It’s undeniable that Fix’s Jules is the heart and soul of the team, so the season finale is very frustrating and unexpected.
The show could have benefited if it had not had the Orphan Black name and the expectations of a passionate fanbase. Much of the narrative revolves around the adult Kira, Manning’s daughter from the original. Knowing her backstory gives her actions some context, but ultimately she does what she does out of love. If that’s the reason, she could have been any brilliant scientist, and there are probably more people interested in what happened to her mother than in her.
That’s not even counting the glorified cameos by Jordan Gavaris and Evelyne Brooch, who reprise their roles as Felix and Delphine respectively. Their use seems forced rather than natural, designed to provide fan service to the franchise. Gavaris in particular seems uncomfortable in his dated makeup and beard, as Felix is a far cry from the flamboyant artist we met all those years ago, even if we’re supposed to mellow with age.
The first season starts off strong but can’t sustain the momentum in the second half. Although the latest version of Clone Club has a fun twist, the connections to the original do more harm than good, and the series could have benefited from standing on its own.
Orphan Black: Echoes S 1 review
The first season starts off strong but can’t sustain the momentum in the second half. Although the latest version of Clone Club has a fun twist, the connections to the original do more harm than good, and the series could have benefited from standing on its own.
Great performance by Amanda Fix, whose Jules is the heart and soul of the team.
A clever generational revamp of the latest version of the Clone Club.
A one-dimensional villain with a disappointing master plan.
The appearances of the legacy characters seem like forced, glorified cameos for fan service.
